It was mid-summer when Michaelo Bonifacio travelled to Tacloban, a visit he soon won’t forget.
He gathered together, with friends and family, not knowing this would be the last time he would see many of the buildings, streets and even some of the people. Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) would soon change the Bonifacio family’s world along with so many others around the globe.
In light of the circumstances, the tragedy has brought together small communities, like Lethbridge. The Bonifacio family is just one family affected by the typhoon and last week they looked to sell what they could to raise money for their relatives overseas. Their daughter suggested they gather any belongings they didn’t need. From Nov. 19-24 at the Bill Kergen Centre they sold their items to raise as much funds as possible for their families.
“I cannot believe it…but what can I do? I am here, I cannot help, I cannot. [Sending money] is the only thing I can do to help them,” says Bonifacio.
Bonifacio heard about the typhoon before it hit the shores of the Philippines through a phone call from his brother. He remembers his family reassuring him that they were prepared and had a months worth of supplies. When he called back again, he was unable to get through to his brother. A few days later he heard the news that his sister was dead.
He immediately called his sister in Manila. She just kept crying and confrimed their sister had drowned and would not be returning home. He often looks up her Facebook page, still not believing that she is gone. Only days before the typhoon, his sister posted a picture of Christmas decorations, but now her page is filled with heartfelt goodbyes and shared memories from family and friends.
“This is all of my memories. Sometimes if I’m alone at home I watch the picture of what we have,” says Bonifacio.
How he can go back to the Philippines or Tacloban, to the place where he grew up, where buildings once stood and where his sister once walked, Bonifacio is not sure. The country has been changed forever, memories washed away by the water and buildings brought to the ground from the heavy storm. For many Filipinos their country is now a different place, somewhere they no longer know, a place that will take some time to rebuild. If you are interested in donating towards the typhoon Haiyan fund, visit www.redcross.ca.