“DI bale nang wala ng bahay, ang importante, lahat kami ay buhay (It doesn’t matter if we no longer have a house, what’s important is, all of us are alive).”

This was how Annaliza Ambrosio of Brgy. Calidquid, Mambusao, Capiz summed up her story as she looked back on her experience during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda when she and members of her family were invited to speak in the Forum on the International Day of Families. The activity, held recently in Manila, had for its theme “Celebrating the Filipino Family: Resilient and Caring.”

Annaliza recalled how she was able to ensure the safety of her family despite the fact that their house was flattened to the ground by the super typhoon’s fury. Some two weeks after staying in the evacuation center, she and her family started rebuilding their house – and their lives.

A Parent Leader of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Annaliza’s concern and quick thinking also led her to call and convince her fellow beneficiaries to transfer to safer places.

Annaliza said she considers it a blessing that they were able to survive typhoon Yolanda.

Annaliza, along with husband Ronald and two of their four children, Jaypee and Joylen, were recognized for their resiliency and concern during the national forum. Also in attendance in the said activity were members of the Padoc family from Basey, Samar who likewise survived the disaster brought about by the super typhoon. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)