Human Scars Haunt Tacloban One Year Later

TACLOBAN, Philippines -- Thousands of Filipinos gathered this past weekend to remember the day when one of the most powerful storms in history battered their nation.

A year ago Typhoon Haiyan slammed into eastern Philippines with winds of 235 miles per hour, causing widespread damage and killing thousands.

The human scars remain as destroyed communities struggle to rebuild.

At a mass grave for thousands of typhoon victims, Filipinos gathered for a memorial service to remember those killed on Nov. 8, 2013. 

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"We lost not only our homes and humble possessions, we lost mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, neighbors, co-workers, best friends, family and friends alike," Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez said.

The service was attended by numerous dignitaries, including former first lady Imelda Marcos.

A year later there are many reminders of that horrible day last year. For example, a massive cargo ship still sits along a busy street.

The hard-hit city of Tacloban and other communities are slowly crawling back to life. But building thousands of new homes for the poor is proving to be more difficult. The typhoon destroyed about a million homes in the region.

"Not only did so many of us lose our homes, but we lost loved ones, too, and that is really painful for us," resident Maricris Alaga said.

The typhoon destroyed a large section of the Philippines already deemed among the poorest of the poor, leaving so many vulnerable to the next big storm.

The government, backed by international aid agencies, including CBN Disaster Relief, has been working to restore services.

"We've also had to help the local governments because they, too, were victims of the typhoon. All basic services were destroyed so it has been a collaborative effort," CBN's Disaster Relief Wilfredo Dalumpines said.

In the last 12 months, CBN Disaster Relief teams built 336 temporary houses, restored nine schools, two day care centers, given 90 new boats to fishermen, delivered care packs of essential items to more 300,000 people, and conducted medical camps reaching some 30,000 people.

"CBN Disaster Relief is helping because we saw the need of the victims of the typhoon. We saw the hopelessness of the people and we had to respond to bring healing. We are in this for the long term," Dalumpines said.

But the human scars will take longer to heal. Merriam Cabuquin lost her mother in the typhoon. She, like many here, are clinging to faith in God.

"I say in my prayers, 'Lord, even if it is difficult, I know this is your plan for my life," she said. "Even if it is hard to accept, I will accept it.'"