By Sr. M. Carmelita Arenas RGS
(Cagayan de Oro City) Miracles do happen. When one’s strength is almost superhuman due to the adrenalin of love and the will to survive, miracles did abound in the many life stories of the survivors of Sendong. These stories are worth telling because they speak of the impetus of love to save/regain life for oneself or for others.
Photo: Sr. Carmelita Arenas with the children in Cagayan de Oro.
An Uncle Hero: Francis Christopher, a young 23 year old uncle of 5 kids with ages from 4-3-2- year ol d to 11 and 10 month old babies, showed heroic courage. Sendong struck; the water rose high to the second floor, he ran to carry the children; he broke a window for the families to climb to the roof. When the house would give way, he swam back and forth to ferry the kids and the babies and another cousin grabbed the children from the second higher roof. He swam about 100 meters back & forth; his legs stiff in the turbulent waters until all were safe. Francis’ little cousins & the children’s parents were ever grateful to their hero.
The Running Priest: Fr. Robert Reyes, the famous running priest, came to CDO to run from one evacuation center to another, waking up the sleeping evacuees nd challenged them to run with him, calling “Calisthenics to thwart off depression and lethargy”. They laughed at him but one or two did join in the “singhot sa paglaum” (Perspire in hope).
The Pig, Man’s new Best Friend: A church worker narrated his Sendong survival. He held on to his pig who swam. He would steer him to go closer to the river bank to avoid the debris of wood, broken branches and galvanized iron roofing. They did make it and he is keeping his pig, alive and well fed. Although the church worker Is a good swimmer. His friend, his new pet, kept at it and saved them both.
A long Swim to Camiguin: The two sisters fell into the raging Cagayan River, separated from the rest of the family when their house was washed out They tried to hold on to the branches, the plastic container, to anything they could hold on. They did float all the way to Camiguin. They found the rest