A Survivor’s Story

Advocacies, Military 645 comments

Lieutenant Colonel Fermin Carangan is the Commanding Officer of TOG 8, the Air Force unit tasked to provide air support for the islands of Samar and Leyte. On the morning of Friday, November 8, he and his troops were in their office near the Tacloban Airport on red alert, having been informed of an incoming Super-Storm named Haiyan (local name: Yolanda). Here’s how he narrated his ordeal to Lt Col Allan Taguba, as Haiyan unleashed her fury on the city of Tacloban on that fateful Friday morning.

We were out of the office at 6 am Friday observing. Winds brought by Yolanda were already strong around that time. We (the Air Force troops in Tacloban) were prepared for the possibility of rescue missions days before the expected landfall of Yolanda. Just before 7 am, the rains started to pour, so we took shelter.

2h28

Around the same time, we noticed that water was slowly entering our office, so we went out again. Then suddenly, we saw that the water was getting higher and higher, until we were forced to get up the ceilings of the building. We had to bore holes on the ceiling just to get up there, and I was the last one up.

Suddenly the building collapsed and I saw my men falling into the surging water and very strong winds. There was also no more roof on top of the building. I was able to hold on to a piece of wood – a truss which I forcibly removed just before I was taken by waves and the strong current.

More damage in Tacloban

I didn’t notice that my two junior officers were now gone. Both were fresh graduates from the PMA, and they were beside me before we were swallowed by the water. Then I saw one of my soldiers trying to hold on to an uncollapsed wall of another destroyed building. I tried to reach for him but the current was too strong and there was confusion and hysteria.

I was going farther and farther out into the sea and all I saw were tips of coconut trees starting to disappear into the swelling water. Suddenly, I saw a child hugging tightly to a floating coconut tree. By a stroke of luck, the current led me to the child, and I was able to pluck him from his very unfortunate situation. He then held on to the piece of wood I was myself holding on to. Then we floated until we were out there in the middle of nowhere.

This photo was taken as the storm neared Leyte.

At sea, we went through another hell. We were slapped by waves, great big waves from all directions. We were also toyed by swirling winds. And we couldn’t help but drink a lot of salt water. I was now getting so tired. And so was Miguel (the boy’s name). He was just 7 years old. Too young to die, I thought. I thought of my family. I prayed to God to take care of my wife and kids. I thought I’ve done to them what every father could – that is, to take good care of them.

I also thought of my men. Days before, I had told them to ensure the safety of their families, especially those in Tacloban since the city could be hit hard and everyone of us would be busy in the rescue missions after Yolanda. They might not have time to check on their families during the rescue. Then I thought of the two new graduates of PMA 2013. I thought that if something happened to me, at least I had been able to give professional and honorable service for a time. And that I’ve done enough since graduation. These two young guys were just starting and still have a very bright future ahead.

2h13

Then I looked at Miguel. He was trembling hard due to the cold. His very young body could not just cope up with the elements. He said, “Kuya, I will sleep now. I’m so tired already.” Then I thought, maybe I survived because of this child. Without him I could have given up. Maybe he’s the reason I’m still alive because God wants me to make sure this child will live. I shouted at Miguel’s ears: “Don’t sleep! You can do it. Look, we are near land already.” Then I pointed at what I thought was another wall of swell, just to lift the spirit of Miguel. And then I realized that it was indeed the shoreline!! I thought there really is a Powerful Being!

The two survived Storm Haiyan and the rough seas between Leyte and Samar during the onslaught of the typhoon. They floated around the bay near Tacloban airport and were eventually rescued along the shorelines of Basey, Samar at around 1pm the same day. They had been floating for around 6 hours before they were rescued. Basey and Tacloban are separated by the San Pablo and San Pedro Bay. The devastation they saw along the Basey shoreline is another story worth telling. Some of Lt Col Carangan’s men are still missing. These men were supposed to take part in the relief and rescue operations for Leyte and Samar. Alas, it turned out that they too would be the very victims to Haiyan’s wrath.

For more stories on Super-Typhoon Yolanda, pls visit:

(Photos courtesy of AFP, Reuters)

645 comments

    1. Very true, Angelo. Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Leyte and Samar. And oh by the way, we were worried for a while for Tio Dodong in Bantayan, for we didn’t have contact with him for more than a day. We finally breathed easy when he was finally contacted yesterday.

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      1. hello kabayan, saan sa bantayan ang relatives mo na nakontak mo na? dun kc ang ate sa tominjao, daan-bantayan. may signal na po ba dun?

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    1. the only thing to do now is to extend our help to the victims of the super typhoon. let me however say that aside from leyte and samar, there were also other areas which were also hit as badly. coron, bantayan, two ‘touristy’ also were right on the path of the storm.

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        1. thanks, rach. we have relatives in guian who are still unaccounted for. and i know that there are a lot among us who have the same problem. it is time we all come together to help.

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    1. of course, i won’t mind. i actually will appreciate if you can reblog this and ask your readers to help out in any way they can. they are right now desperate for food, water, shelter. it is a sorry situation, and we just have to do what we can do for them.

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  7. Pingback: Watch out my brothers. This one is bad - typhoon Haiyan - Page 6

    1. thanks for spreading. we hope that we can all come together and help our brothers and sisters in leysam and elsewhere. it is time for the world to come together for tragedies like this.

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  8. PRAYER : O Allah ! we beg of thee the good of this wind and the good of that which is therein and the good of that which hit hath been bidden and we seek refuge in Thee from the evil of this wind, and the evil of that which is herein and the evil of that which it hath bidden.

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    1. I’d like to think that there is more we can do than that. for the longest time, we have been donating cash and food and so on. But everytime things like this happen, there’s always certain items that there’s a shortage in. Things like water purifiers. Perhaps we can donate (and insist that the money be used to buy more of this stuff. Another is a redundant communication system. Hay naku, hindi pa rin talaga tayo natututo. We should invest in radios so that if cfons, etc are down, we have a back up in place. In Guian, we have relatives still missing. If only we had a redundant system in place, coordination would be a lot simpler.

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  11. I am so proud for the sense of duty of the officers and men of TOG 8 (Tactical Operations Group 8) which I have the honor of commanding. My thoughts and prayers are all with them and to the countless victims of this horrendous calamity. Let us all get together, and in our humble way, help our suffering kababayans. God bless all of us.

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    1. thanks, pasky. am sure your good influence was part of the proud legacy of tog 8. i once had the honor of working with your unit, when it was still casf 8 then. in the middle of a firefight in hilongos, southern leyte, your people were there to evacuate my wounded. my salute to you and your men!

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  12. I salute you sir BOYZIE, your story amidst terrifying conditions depicts that of a true hero and I pray for those yet to be found, GOD BLESS

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  14. Glad to read you made it sir! And hopefully your troops will be rescued soon. The Almighty speaks to us in mysterious ways. You were swept by the surge, because of Miguel. To be his savior. Hope that his family survived too.
    Ill repost if it is ok with you.

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  17. Sir, Saludo ako sa inyong kabayanihan at ganun din sa mga ibang kasundaluhan na sa kanilang pamamaraan ay tumulong at patuloy pa ding tumutulong sa mga nasalanta at biktima ng nasabing bagyo dyan sa kabisayaan.

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    1. jun, kamo na sad diha sa bohol mauy muhatag ug tabang. your girl, liza (macalandag) is already on board organizing a medical mission for leyte. I think she’s there already.

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      1. yep. i’m reposting below what i’ve posted in my FB page:

        To our brothers and sisters in Leyte, Samar and other provinces bearing the onslaught of Yolanda:

        We here in Bohol are reeling yet from the great quake. But we also share and feel your pain. Yes, we are still hurting. Yet this will not stop us from extending and offering our own broken arms to reach out to you. We are coming to your side. We will help you get up, limping we may be. We will strive to have you healed, wounded though we are. All of us are hobbling now, but if we lean on each other’s arms, perhaps the arduous journey will be not too difficult to trod.

        Take it from us. Many out there will also offer their hearts and hands. They are with us in this plight. They, too, will come to you.

        “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.”

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  20. Sir, saludo din po ako sa u!pwede mag request to look for Ricardo Carrillo and family at Tacloban City. He’s a retired soldier and we cannot receive reply from calls and fb. Hope u can help us also.
    Myrna Damiles Carrillo, MSU-IIT, Iligan City

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  21. im glad you made it. give your family an extra tight hug when you see them. i too am an army wife who worries but understands that country and nation comes first before family. i pray that your men be found. ingat po.

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  23. Thank you Sir Chay for posting this! Boy C is a member of PMA 92, former squadron commander of 252nd presidential helicopter squadron, 250th PAW. He is now at PAFGH. His two dead soldiers are now also home.

    Arnold

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  25. When I delivered my privilege speech during our SB session this morning just to put on record that we in Sta. Josefa who were once victims of typhoon Pablo really and truly care for our countrymen who were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda, I can not help but my voice was cracking while i spoke. With our Mayor, other officials and our people, we will help in anyway we can most especially with our prayers since no amount of material assistance will be enough to comfort the victims and their families.

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  28. Every Filipino should read and know this story-A Filipino’s indomitable spirit and God’s Sovereign and Miraculous Power.I salute you Lieutenant.

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  31. We here in Socsargen are doing our best to gather donations to be sent there. Keep the faith! We are one with you in this difficult time. 🙂
    I’, also sharing your blog post in my FB timeline.

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  32. Salute and Respect to Lt. Col. Fermin, a survivor, an inspiration and a hero.
    I can’t hold my breath while I was reading this story.
    God is Good.
    Hope his troop members are survivors too..

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    1. yes. start forming a collection group in your neighborhood to try to consolidate items they may wish to dispose of. you will be surprised how these can be a great joy for those in need.

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  34. Praying for our fellow countrymen at the South. Stories of survival, though it sheds just a little light to a bigger, darker situation, is still good news. Help is coming, mga kababayan. Kudos to the unsung heroes of the Yolanda Fury.

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    1. true, there are biggerand darker situations out there that we will have to face later. for now, let us help our kababayans in leyte, samar, bantayan, coron, and other areas that were waylaid by yolanda.

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      1. I was in the Sendong and Frank and Ondoy too, as I’m Ilonggo and have lived in CDO, but this seems far worse than all of the above mentioned typhoons combined. Bangon Lang tayo friend!

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  38. teary eyed with the story.. heart breaking… brave men, soldiers and those who helped, to the victims as well… I salute you… for your strength and resilience.. Bangon Pilipinas!

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  39. I can’t help but cry…at the same time I smile because they survived. The Lord is good.
    Our prayer goes to our kababayans in Tacloban and we’re gathering financial help in the office.

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    1. i made mention in a previous reply that more often than not, the donations given are utilized to buy food or clothing or whatever. however, everytime we have a disaster like this, we always encounter problems of lack of water, lact of communication, etc. maybe it’s time we insist on these guys to invest on water purifying machines, and redundant communications. let’s – together – sound off our disaster guys to clean up their acts.

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  42. What an inspiring story of heroism! I really admire you for that. You survived for the boy to live more…,and the boy survived to motivate you to live during that time. God is really Good All the Time. God bless you more.

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  43. Teary eye while i was reading this story, very inspiring. Thank you for your dedication sir. Our prayer is with you. god bless you and the people of the philippines.

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  44. It tears my heart upon reading ds story, thinking of my 7yrs old boy….seems I can’t have another one….I can’t breath to think of those struggling to survive….God please help them overcome what they’d been through. My prayers to those who never make it…Rest in peace! Godbless everyone!

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  46. Sir, God bless you… you are just one of a million people on earth, sharing good thoughts through your blogs. it was an overwhelming feeling, knowing that even in the midst of the calamities for those who are less fortunate victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, that sharing such concern, and the recognition of that fearless strength of one of our good men in the AFP-PAF as such mentioned in your very inspirational story, has accordingly contributed a deep sense of kindness and of great efforts of self-awareness as well as concern for all individuals in the environment. The story did touch my heart, and I felt as if I was likely on that situation. I am just so proud of the said officer. More power, sir! Almighty God is great all the time!;-)

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  47. Horrible & terrible this Yolanda Typhoon! Thousands died..so sad! God bless their souls…I was crying while reading this story! God bless you, Sir Lt. Col. Fermin, for saving a boy’s life! You’re a strong survivor! U’r an inspiration & a hero! A big salute & respect to u, Sir! Praying your troop members are survivors too! I live in Norway! The norwegian government donated 20 million norwegian crowns ( 140 million pesos) to the typhoon victims! I hope this will go directly to the victims & the survivor’s needs! Blessed are those who care & share….

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  48. Hi Lt. Col. Fermin…..my dear classmate….i hope you are doing well this time and i hope your wife and kids are safe and doing well also…..our prayers will always be with you and the rest of those severely affected by recent super typhoon….please let us know how we can be of help….there is God’s purpose why you and the boy survived…..keep well…..

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  49. Sir, God gave you a 2nd chance because your family still needs you… I hope you will become a good Military Officer and not be blinded by the Money… Serve as a role model of the young PMA graduates. bring back the integrity of the military…

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