When Super Typhoon Kristine (international name: Trami) hit Gainza, Camarines Sur last November, Rizza, 32, and her family had to make a quick and painful decision: leave everything behind or risk their lives as floodwaters rose into their home.
“That night, water was already entering our house. I told my husband we should evacuate to my aunt’s place across the street. Her house has a second floor where we can stay for a night,” Rizza recalled.
At first, they didn’t think the water would rise too much. Her husband went back for their television, hoping it could still be saved.
Rizza recalled thinking the floodwaters would stop, only to realize the full strength of the typhoon as they continued to rise. They only managed to save the TV. Sadly, the rest of their belongings were drenched in floodwaters.
“All our clothes got soaked, our things were damaged. But I told my husband, it’s okay. What matters is we got out safely,” she added.
By the time they left their home, the water had reached knee-deep. A few hours later, it was already chest-deep and still rising. Electric power was cut in their area, and the entire neighborhood was quickly submerged by the flood.
“I was scared, we were really thinking of our child. We only have one, and we knew we had to leave right away before the water got any higher. If we waited too long, we might not be able to get out,” Rizza recalled.
Unable to stay at the already crowded barangay evacuation center, Rizza and her family chose to take shelter at her aunt’s house, where only a couple of people were staying. For her, it felt like a safer option for her family, and they remained there for about a week.
When they finally returned home, they were met with mud and debris everywhere.
“It was heartbreaking to see the mess, but we didn’t have a choice. We started cleaning right away. We just wanted things to feel normal again, especially for our daughter. I didn’t want to keep relying on others. Even if it was difficult, we had to do what we could,” Rizza said.
In March, Save the Children provided P5,000 worth of multi-purpose cash assistance to 661 households in Gainza and Bato, Camarines Sur, including Rizza’s family, as part of its ongoing recovery efforts for communities affected by Super Typhoon Kristine.
A SAFE SPACE. Rizza takes care of her daughter Mikah* (not her real name), 3, inside their home while his husband is working, she said she wants to create a safe space where they can both feel protected. Jet Ines/ Save the Children
The cash assistance aimed to support families in meeting their urgent needs, whether for food, house repairs, or other essential expenses. This approach allowed families the flexibility to prioritize what mattered most to them in the aftermath of the disaster, helping them feel more in control of how they recover.
For Rizza and her husband, it meant taking one step closer to rebuilding their home. Their goal is simple: to make it strong enough so they won’t have to evacuate again if another flood comes.
“It doesn't have to be beautiful, what's important is that it's safe, and we have a place where we can transfer and bring our things to when it floods. And our child doesn't have to live through the same experience again,” she said.
She believes in doing what they can, little by little, to make things better not just for today, but for the future of their daughter.
Rizza also expressed their hope to repair the house while their three-year-old daughter is still young, so she can grow up without going through the same hardships they’ve experienced.
“It's a big help, especially for our daughter. She’s still young, and we want her to grow up in a safer, more stable home,” Rizza added.