Guian, Eastern Samar—Every waking day after Typhoon Yolanda is an opportunity to rebuild a life.

When the Duran family of Barangay Campoyong in this town moved to a bunkhouse in January from a makeshift tent, they made sure that every day brings them closer to their new permanent home.

At daybreak, Renato, the head of the family, goes fishing to earn  for his wife, Regina, and 4-year old son, Oliver.

Before noon, he comes back to shore to continue constructing their home. He will later be joined by Regina who will help her as much as she can.

“Kaming dalawang mag-asawa ay pinagtulungan naming itayo muli ang aming bahay. Taga-abot ng materyales ang karaniwan kong itinutulong sa kanya (Renato and I help each other to rebuild our house. Handing him materials and equipment is basically my role),” shared Regina who at the same time watches over their son as he plays around.

As she gazes at their nearly completed house, Regina cannot hide her pride and contentment that from a long journey after ‘Yolanda’ left them homeless that night in November, they will soon have, once again, a place they can finally call their own.

From tent to bunkhouse

After the typhoon, the family made a makeshift tent in an old warehouse just across where their old home once stood.

The tent was barely enough space for the three of them and was no match to the heat during the days and the cold during the nights.

Consequently, Regina and son got sick.

Worried about their health, the couple had to do something.

“Napagpasyahan naming pumunta kaming mag-ina sa Maynila. Sumakay kami ng C-130 at doon kami sa tent city sa Villamor Air Base ng isang buwan. Naiwan dito ang asawa ko at siya ang dumiskarte sa paghahanap ng mga materyales para maitayo ang bahay namin (We decided to move to Manila. We took the C-130 plane and in Manila we stayed at the tent city in Villamor Airbase for one month. My husband stayed back home to fix the house),” recalled Regina.

In the tent city managed by the Pasay City Social Welfare and Development Office, their basic needs were provided. Soon, their health improved.

“Pero mas nagpapasalamat ako dahil natulungan kami doon na makalimutan ang trahedya na nangyari sa amin. Maraming mga activities doon na talagang nakatulong sa amin. Kaya noong bumalik kami dito sa Guiuan  mas okay na kaming mag-ina ( But I am also thankful because our stay at the tent city has helped us cope with the trauma of our experience. My son and I felt better when we came home to Guiuan),” she narrated.

With Regina and Oliver back home, the family was identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a beneficiary in one of the bunkhouse units constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The couple was grateful for the temporary home which is better that the tent, but they were still determined to build their own home.

The comfort of home

“Iba pa rin talaga kapag may sarili kang bahay, mas masarap sa pakiramdam (It is still better if you have your own house. You will feel safer),”  Regina remarked.

With scrap wood that Renato gathered after the typhoon and a few new materials they bought from their savings, the couple was able to construct a house that is big and comfortable enough for them.

Just this month, the couple already moved in to their new house.

“Pagkatapos ng bagyo, ngayon ay masasabi kong normal na ulit ang buhay namin. Kaya na namin magpatuloy muli. Nagtatrabaho na ang aking asawa bilang construction worker para suportahan ang pamilya namin. Mahirap naman kung aasa at aasa lang kami sa kung sino man para bumangon ulit (After the typhoon, I can say that our life is slowly returning to normal. My husband now works as a construction worker. We prefer to rise on our own than to depend on others),” she added.

For the Duran family, the warmth and comfort of a brand new home is only the start of a lot more things to come.

A product of their own sweat, this new home will be a witness of how a family continues to dream of a good future and finds ways to make it happen.###