“Sobrang hirap po talaga… [Hindi ho namin alam] kung saan po kami pupunta,” (It was totally difficult… [We do not know] where we are going to stay) recounted thirty-year old Liezel Elloran, when she was asked what her family had gone through in 2012.

Her statement sums up the despair that all people from Wawa in Lumban, Laguna experienced in 2012. The place was flooded because of the typhoon Maring, strengthened by the southwest monsoon or habagat. Liezel’s house is located in the middle of a vast rice field, along with other families who depend on farming for livelihood. Because the place is a low land, flood here could reach as high as five feet. She was pregnant at that time and has a three-year old kid with her. Her husband was in Manila during that time, working as a pahinante (porter). Without any assistance, she treaded the flood and camped out on the street, before being transferred to the nearby elementary school.

Not far from Wawa, Editha Espeña, 39, lives in Lambak, a dead creek that was settled in by many people who also depend on farming and embroidery (the main livelihood in Lumban) for livelihood. Editha raised ducks, for livelihood and personal consumption. When the flood arrived, they also evacuated to the school, but later found out that their ducks were stolen. They could have harvested vegetables from nearby vacant lots like everybody else does on ordinary days, but those were also washed away by the flood. The problem now of all the affected residents is how to survive for the next few days, without a single centavo that can buy food for a family of four to six.

Relief goods are the only hope for daily sustenance of these families affected by the flood. A normal pack of relief goods (usually in plastic bags or eco-bags) contains two kilos of rice, a few canned goods, and noodle packs. Last September 2013, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Inc. (PHILSSA) provided relief goods that were distributed by the local people’s organization (PO) Kanlungan ng Sambahayan ng mga Dukha Tungo sa Liwanag ng Concepcion, Lumban (KSDTLCL) to affected beneficiaries. The local PO was very strict in its distribution, only taking into consideration families that were heavily affected by the flood, and those families who were heavily affected were poor. PHILSSA provided the relief goods in large blue and red pails containing ten kilos of rice, half-kilo malagkit (glutinous rice), monggo seeds, tuyo, daing, canned goods, sugar, and cooking oil. “Anlaki po ng tulong, lalo po ‘yung bigas,”(It was a big help, especially the rice), Liezel said.

Apart from providing relief goods contained in large blue and red pails, PHILSSA also provided a medical mission for the affected residents. It was again organized by the local people’s organization KSDTLCL, employing strict implementation of ‘first come, first served’ rule to better serve all the people. “Tiyaga lang, pila lang… kahit maraming tao, (We were patient, falling in line.. even if there were many people),” Editha, a public relations officer of the local PO, said about her experience during the medical mission. She was able to get medicines for colds and cough, vitamin supplements and ointments for alipunga or athlete’s foot. Residents are thankful for receiving those medicines.

On the average, the relief goods provided by PHILSSA lasted for one to two weeks. Households were able to survive during that period through the plenty contents of each pail. After all contents were consumed, the pails were reused into many things: household pail, bigasan (rice storage), and storage for clothes. Medicines also helped in alleviating expenses for colds, cough, flu, and other conditions. Beneficiaries were very thankful to the help that PHILSSA provided to them when they needed it the most. They got hit by the flood and now, they have to struggle for their daily needs. Liezel removes stray fabrics of piña cloth, for thirty pesos per piece of cloth, while Editha washes clothes for a living.

It will be more effective and efficient to give a pail full of food (and even clothes) that can last for two weeks. Maybe not all organizations, government and non-government, can provide a pail full of relief goods. Yet based from the events that occurred last year, a pail full of relief goods can not only last longer than the regular-sized relief packs distributed.

Are they hopeful for the future? Yes, they are. Just like all poor residents of Lambak and Wawa, getting by everyday through farm work and embroidery is the main source of livelihood, but a better life, which perhaps can be found on a parcel of land that they can call their own, to live on and to start vegetable plots, is just around the corner.

Gene Lloyd Torres graduated with a Political Science degree from University of the Philippines – Diliman. He is exposed to qualitative and quantitative approaches to research, and has employed such for his papers on the Sangguniang Kabataan, day care services and ASEAN. Given his background in research, his personal interest in Korean popular culture comes not as a surprise.