By Ricky J. Bautista
ELEVEN years ago, on November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda (International Name: Haiyan) struck the heart of the Philippines with winds roaring at over 235 kilometer per hour, leaving devastation in its wake.
In Eastern Visayas, most towns were flattened – around 6,300 reported dead, 28,689 people injured, and around 1.14 million houses were damaged, including my own home in Basey, Samar, which lay exposed to the unforgiving storm.
This story—one I rarely share—reveals how a simple camping tent, the lessons of survival, and a preparedness instinct honed from years in the outdoors saved my family.
As a seasoned camper, I knew the importance of preparation. By November 7, just a day before Yolanda tore through our community, I had gathered what little we could: noodles, eggs, dried fish, rice, candles, and every piece of camping gear I owned—headlamps, a small stove, sleeping bags, and especially my tent. Little did I know just how essential these items would become.
When Yolanda struck, it was as if the world around us was being torn apart. The winds ripped the roof off my house, sending it tumbling through the air to the barangay plaza. Every corner of our home leaked water; there was no dry ground, no protection from the relentless rain.
In that moment of chaos, we turned to the only shelter we had left—my tent.
As we huddled inside, the howling winds and pounding rain surrounded us, testing every ounce of resilience we had. The tent, though humble, became our fortress, holding steady against the storm’s fury. Hours passed like an eternity, but within those thin walls, we were safe.
My knowledge from Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Courses and various media safety training played a crucial role in those hours. I was trained to keep calm, to manage limited resources, to assess risks.
Survival in the wilderness had taught me valuable skills—food preparation, emergency sheltering, and gear use—that became our lifeline during this catastrophe.
Every single piece of equipment mattered, from headlamps that cut through the pitch-dark night to the portable stove that allowed us to cook whatever little food we had.
In the days that followed, as food and water ran low and help felt impossibly far away, we faced moments of sheer desperation. But the discipline of survival, the endurance of hardship, and the readiness honed from countless nights under the stars had prepared me for this. In the face of Yolanda’s wrath, our spirit held strong.
This experience taught me the power of preparedness and resilience. Survival isn’t just about gear or skills; it’s about the determination to persevere when all else fails.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the training that turned a simple camping tent into a haven in the midst of one of the world’s strongest storms.
In times of disaster and emergencies, it’s the simplest knowledge of survival that can be our greatest ally. And for me, that knowledge, along with this humble tent, became the difference between despair and hope. | The Samar Chronicle
