Kaizen, 12, remembered the hardship her family endured when Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) struck their home in Dinalungan, Aurora in November 2024.
Strong winds tore off their roof and floodwaters damaged most of their belongings, leaving them with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
“We thought we were safe inside our house. But when we saw the river rising and starting to reach our home, we had to evacuate. We saw trees in the mountains already falling,” Kaizen said.
Her father told them to stay alert and prepare to head uphill into the mountains to seek temporary shelter, as the nearby river beside their home was rapidly rising and threatening to flood their house. Together with her mother and two siblings, they fled to higher ground.
However, as Pepito gained its strength and made landfall to their area, Kaizen and her family had to cling tightly to tree branches and plants in the mountains just to avoid being swept away.
“My father told us to lie flat on the ground to avoid getting hit because we heard someone died after being struck by flying metal sheets,” she added.
Kaizen admitted that those were the most terrifying moments she had ever experienced in her life. “I was so scared. So many thoughts were running through my head. I kept thinking, ‘Is this where we’re going to die?’”
It was only when they reached the mountain and began to pray that she noticed the winds gradually calming.
When Pepito exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the full extent of its devastating impact slowly began to unfold.
At the time it struck, the country was still in the early stages of recovering from the destruction caused by Super Typhoon Kristine (international name: Trami), which had battered communities just a month prior.
WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION. An aerial view of the Dinadiawan Elementary School in Dinalungan, Aurora shows the devastating aftermath of Super Typhoon Pepito. Months after the storm, some homes remain damaged, and families continue to rebuild despite limited resources. Jet Ines/ Save the Children
According to the situational report from the local government of Aurora, around 6,903 families, or approximately 20,298 individuals, were forced to evacuate from several municipalities, including Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dingalan, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, and San Luis.
Kaizen and her family eventually left their temporary refuge in the mountains and sought shelter at her grandparents’ home. When they returned to what was once their home, they were met with a heartbreaking sight—the house was in ruins, and most of their belongings had been either washed away or destroyed beyond repair.
“The side of our house was destroyed. Most of our things got soaked. I had a hard time going back to school because all my notebooks and school supplies were wet,” she said.
Kaizen shared, like many others in their area, she was worried about how she would be able to return to school without any materials.
Although they received some assistance such as educational materials from some organizations, Kaizen said it wasn’t enough to cover all her school needs and had to use only one notebook for all her eight subjects.
To help children get back on track, 822 learners in Dipaculao, Aurora received back-to-school kits containing essential items such as notebooks, pencils, lunch boxes, tumblers, boots, and raincoats.
LEARNING IN EMERGENCIES. An aerial view of Dinadiawan Elementary School in Dinalungan, Aurora during the back-to-school kit distribution. Jet Ines/Save the Children
In addition, 10 teachers’ kits were also distributed to ensure that educators had the tools they needed to support their students and continue delivering quality education.
“This is a big help for us because all of us students really need school materials, especially now that it's difficult to find work. Many of our parents are struggling to earn enough money to buy what we need for school,” she said.
Kaizen also mentioned that her family received household kits while staying at the evacuation center, which helped them slowly recover and rebuild after the typhoon.
“I’m grateful to Save the Children for helping us continue our education and for the school bags and supplies you provided. We’re thankful because you helped our school rise again,” she said.
For Kaizen, the learning materials she received are a big help to continue her education and achieve her dream. “Someday, I want to be a policewoman and help my family to give them a better life,” she added.