Mother’s love radiates amidst disaster

Teresita, 58 years old, is a mother of 10 children. She is a Abaca Handicraft weaver who, throughout years of hardwork, has built a strong home made of full cement while the roof is made of metal sheet. Her husband has already retired from his work due to old age.

There are only six of her children who are staying with them because some are already married and are raising a family of their own.

When Typhoon Goni (Supertyphoon Rolly) struck her community in November last year, it left some one of her children homeless. She opened her home once again to shelter Glaiza, her daughter, Glaiza’s husband, and three young children.

Glaiza’s family were displaced because the supertyphoon wiped out their home which was mostly made of nipa and bamboo,

Returning to her old home, Glaiza considers it as an opportunity to reconnect with her parents and siblings. She is also happy to see her children bond with their uncles and aunts.

But there are times that their food supply runs out. Glaiza and her husband also double their efforts to earn for their children’s needs including milk and diapers.

With the Family Hosting Cash Assistance under the Sueprtyphoon Goni Humanitarian Response funded by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), and co-implemented by ADRA, World Vision, Coastal Core, PDRN, and OXFAM, the household receives P2,000 cash aid per month while Glaiza and her family remain displaced. The assistance will run up to 6 months.

“The money is very helpful while we, as a family, recover from this disaster,” shares Teresita. “ We will mainly use this for food supply and for the needs of my grandchildren.”

The project has already reached 93 households or 384 individuals in Albay province.