Arlyn Artugue lost two of her three children during typhoon Yolanda. One was her 12-year old son and the other, her 3-year old daughter. “Mas masakit, kasi malakas pa sila nung time na yun”, she said. And in a few minutes, they were gone. She almost gave in to depression when both children passed away during the height of the storm. Because of the strong water current, she was unable to hold on to her 3-year old daughter while her son wasn’t able to make it safely, as well. Her husband, however, told her not to give up, since she had his love and support and they still had a seven year old daughter. A year later, the couple was gifted with a baby daughter, now almost a year old, whom Arlyn and her husband have prayed for in exchange for the two they have lost. Arlyn now faces life calmly, accepting that one’s life is borrowed and that her family now has two angels watching over them.

Arlyn happily welcomed her mother and brother to Ridgeview Park 1 as her family members were two of those who just moved into their new house. Arlyn came to Ridgeview with her husband and two children a few months earlier, and she is thankful that her mother and brother have finally joined her. A DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) beneficiary who underwent training in dressmaking with other Tacloban and Palo bunkhouse residents, Arlyn conveyed her gratitude for the sewing machine that was given to her and the training allowance that she added as capital to her little sari-sari store. “Ngayon, nagsisimula na po kami ng aking pamilya ng maliit na tindahan at tumatanggap din po ako unti-unti ng pananahi,” she says. (Now, my family and I are starting a little store and I am slowly accepting sewing jobs.) She also tells how being an SLP beneficiary has helped her a lot: “Malaki ang naitulong nito sa pamilya ko kasi ang asawa ko, habang nagtatrabaho po siya, ako naman po, kahit nasa bahay lang, e, nakakatulong po ako sa asawa ko sa dagdag income. Para kahit papaano nakakasya ko po ang pera.” (This has helped my family a lot. I am able to contribute to the family income while my husband is away at work and I am just a stay-at-home-Mom.) To her co-Yolanda survivors, she has this to say: “Halimbawa, may natanggap sila na mga livelihood o ano mang tulong na galing sa gobyero, gamitin nila sa maayos na pamamaraan. Palagu-in pa nila lalo, at yung iba naman na hindi pa nakakatanggap, huwag po silang mawawalan ng pag-asa. Kasi, darating yung time na talagang lahat naman matutulungan. Kaya lang po sa dami ng naapektuhan ay hindi kaagad maabutan ng tulong, pero darating din yan. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa tulong na ibinigay sa amin.” (If they have received livelihood or any help from the government, they have to use it well. They have to make it flourish. And for those who have not received assistance yet, let them not lose hope. Time will come when everyone will be accommodated. But because of the great number of those affected, help has not immediately reached everyone at the same time, but don’t lose hope. Thank you very much for all the help extended to us.”)
Arlyn is also a Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) beneficiary of DSWD.