Typhoon Haiyan Relief Effort: The Concrete Gym (Some Graphic Content)

We entered the large openings to see a large gymnasium filled with people. Massive concrete steps that made what should have been stadium-like seating were covered with blankets, chairs, and the belongings of the survivors. Children congregated together in groups running around and playing until they saw us. The other adults looked up at us curiously. ZEDRU immediately walked to the center and borrowed a table to set up their stations. The heavy backpacks filled with medicine and equipment was unloaded. Walter and Chantel sat next to Beth as a line instinctively began to form around them. They were tasked with recording people’s names, pulses, and blood pressure while Beth prescribed medicine based on Jabar’s and her own diagnosis. The rest of the crew spread out in teams to begin disinfecting and bandaging wounds.  

I once again took on the duty of finding the resistant and uncertain to come to the EMTs. I wandered around talking to the children and asking them where some of the hurt were. A younger girl, I’m guessing around 17, had a massive bandage on her leg and she was limping around. I walked over to her and asked how long it had been since she had dressed the wound. She responded with some straight sass and defiance. I began talking with her more informally trying to establish a more trusting relationship but she was very stubborn. She began to cause some commotion and a group of children and other young ones gathered around us to hear our conversation. The children began answering for her saying that her bandage had been on for a long time and that she was pregnant. I tried to convince her of the importance of redressing the wound to ensure that the infection was stayed but she was having none of it. Brylle, one of our crew, walked over and began helping her insistently move towards a place where we could treat the wound. Her expression changed from defiance to fear as she pulled back saying that it was going to hurt too much to remove. 

After a while we finally got her to sit down and dismiss the children. Olsen came over to remove the bandage and look at the injury. It was bad… very bad. It was one of the more gruesome injuries I’d seen in. I don’t know what the medical term for it is – a laceration? It was a large gaping open wound that was deep and very separated. The wound was infected. Olsen tenderly administered a cleansing agent and then broke open anti-biotic capsules to powder her injury (that white stuff). They re-wrapped the injury and she began crying and shouting in pain. Olsen administered quickly and she was taken care of. We instructed her to return to the municipal in a few days to redress the wound again. 

After about an hour or so of finding the injured and distributing medicine things began to die down. As the last few wounds were being cleaned and bandaged Chantel and Brylle started playing with the children. Brylle is incredible at magic and the children couldn’t get enough of it. Chantel played with the younger ones introducing American games such as “down by the banks.” Though Chantel could hardly communicate with the kids they absolutely loved her. With wide eyes they tried to decipher Chantel’s instructions and with big smiles tried to play her game. Eventually they caught on and the kids began laughing and getting really into it. Some of the parents came up to me and asked about Chantel. They were surprised to hear that she was not a teacher, nanny, or caretaker, rather, she was an accountant. It was pretty funny thinking about it.  

I asked them about their experience with the storm and they told an incredible story of the gym being flooded fifteen feet high. As the storm surge began enveloping the city everyone ran in from the streets to clamor to the top of the massive steps. They told of a dramatic and heartbreaking scene of people trying to swim into the gym but being carried away out of sight. The storm raged and it was quite some time before the water receded. With horror and sorrow they looked at the floor of the gym to see bodies lying there. The mothers shielded the eyes of the children as the remaining men and teenagers descended to carry out their lifeless friends and family members. 

What a contrasting image that was as I sat back for a moment and admired the happiness and calm that prevailed in this new community. I looked at the children’s smiles radiating and full of life. I noticed their mothers watching with soft smiles and relaxed faces – a grateful reprieve from the stress of survival. I couldn’t help but catch Chantel’s contagious vibrancy as with inexplicable vitality (because we should have been exhausted) she interacted with everyone with excitement, energy, and sincerity. It appeared to be charity. Complete acceptance, unconditional love, and full investment into strangers. It was charity. Chantel embodied that in these moments. I looked to my side to see Olsen and some of the other EMTS observing the same thing. It was vitalizing. It rejuvenated my desire to continue helping and I was filled once again with that unified vision we had to administer relief. 

We said our goodbyes to our new friends and moved back out into the streets. We still had a few hours left of daylight. We passed by a functioning well and our philippino companions headed straight for it. It was blazing hot outside and the cool water from the well was incredible. The temptation to drink the water was excruciating. That water was likely contaminated and dangerous to drink. Some of the Philippinos went at it regardless and even Olsen quenched his thirst. We were dehydrated and low on water. Was it worth the risk? I decided against it and Chantel wisely declined as well. That didn't stop either of us from showering in it though! A kind woman who owned the property the well was on came outside to watch the spectacle. When she saw Chantel soaking her hair she entered into her home and came back out with a pack of shampoo. Chantel couldn't believe her generosity. This woman lived in a half-collapsed home with so little, yet she was willing to share what she did have with a stranger. I'm reminded of the widow's mite. We were touched by her humble kindness. That experience still resonates very strongly with me. That is the way of the Philippino. I wish we were more that way.

We progressed further into the outskirts and came across what seemed to be a massive concrete/cement apartment complex that appeared to be still very much intact. We cautiously entered the complex and asked around if there were survivors in need. We took over one of the abandoned rooms and began to set up our stations once again. Mom Beth commissioned me once again to go out and search the large complex for survivors and to bring them in. I chased down a group of children and began there.