The families of four Filipino teachers who remain missing after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar are desperately calling for quicker rescue operations, holding onto faith as they await any news.
The quake, which struck last Friday, flattened a 12-story condominium in Mandalay where the teachers had been living. As of now, over 1,000 lives have been reported lost in the disaster.
Among the missing is Barren Barcelo. His mother, Rosalia, has been overcome with worry.
“Lagi na lang akong umiiyak nang palihim, naghihimutok ang dibdib ko. Parang naiisip ko, hirap na hirap na siya sa ilalim ng building na ‘yun,” she said in a 24 Oras report.
Also unaccounted for are Francis Aragon and married couple Edsil Jess and Alexis Gale Adalid. Their families, back home in the Philippines, continue to hope for a miracle.
“Hindi po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Alam ko po na mahahanap rin siya,” said Mae Kathleen Aragon, wife of Francis, as she struggled to stay strong for their young children.
“Sobrang hirap po kasi may dalawa pa rin kaming anak na maliliit, at nag-sacrifice lang talaga kami na magkahiwalay kami dahil nga po sa kahirapan din ng buhay,” she added.
In Negros Oriental, the Adalid family has been gathering daily for prayer vigils.
“Yun na lang yung natitira sa amin, yung surrender, yung trust sa Lord,” said Edsil’s mother, Hermosa.
Some of the couple’s personal items have been found beneath the debris, including their jackets. Fellow Filipino teachers in the area are doing what they can to help.
One of their colleagues, Teacher Dan, voiced frustration over the pace of the rescue operations.
“Kasi mabagal po talaga ‘yung rescue rito. So, mas maigi na mga Pinoy sana,” he said.
The Philippine Embassy in Myanmar has already dispatched a team to the site.
“Kumikilos naman po lahat, ginagawa natin lahat para malaman ang nangyari doon sa mga Pilipinong unaccounted for,” said Angelito Nayan, Philippine Charge d’Affaires.
Back in Manila, Malacañang confirmed the deployment of Filipino rescue teams to support local efforts.
“114 personnel ang ating ipapadala bukas… kasama na rin dito urban search and rescue team ng Bureau of Fire Protection at Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communications Office.
Despite their desire to join the search themselves, the families have been advised against traveling to Myanmar due to difficult conditions.
“Hindi ho biro ang biyahe dito dahil sira-sira ang daan at hirap ang komunikasyon… labing limang oras po sila bibiyahe by land,” explained Nayan.
Still, for the families, doing nothing is the hardest part.
“Gusto ko man makita yung anak ko, ako ang maghahanap, hahanapin ko siya kasi baka hindi siya kilala ng tao roon eh,” said Rosalia.
