Our Family’s Situation in Guinob-an, Lawaan, Eastern Samar
It’s been 48 hours since we finally got word from one of our relatives. I posted about it on Facebook and have been to busy to do anything with it here — so I’m going to just embed the Facebook post so friends who are not on Facebook will get the news. Here’s the post. I’ve been using the comments to update the story – which starts with the first word coming in from our family telling us they are safe, and which ends (as of two hours ago) with our first load of food, medicine, and a solar cell-phone charger leaving Manila for delivery in Guinob-an tomorrow. We are very blessed to know that our family is okay — but are also very conscious that many others have received no word, and are worried and anxious to get news.
Post by Michael Sellers.
-
-
Robin Krasny Great news…I envision them all eating and comfortable…sending prayers and hopefully loads of assistance RIGHT NOW!. Thank you for the update, Michael! Keep them coming! -
Diane Miller Now you can sleep! -
Michael Sellers Still a bit of a scramble …. he’s stuck in Catbalogan — doesn’t have money to buy rice and medicine….family is hungry and in need of meds (insulin and asthma meds most urgently) ….and he can’t go back until we get money to him ….. but all of these are manageable compared to just not knowing …… very grateful to have this new level of problem to deal with…. -
Sue-On Hillman Good news, Michael:-) -
Diane Miller Perhaps he can get some food from a relief agency.
-
Bill Hicks Great news Mike , I know what it’s like to sit and wait , still no news for us. -
Theresa Varley thank u lord -
Robin Krasny How can we get aid to them ASAP? How are the air strips? Red cross?
-
Michael Sellers We are organizing a micro level relief effort to the town.
-
Michael Sellers On a larger scale — yes, Red Cross etc … for sure. We are just banding a few famiies together to get medicine and supplies into them…..Rena is on the phone now working on it.
-
Michael Sellers Bill Hicks hoping you get good news soon.
-
Michael Sellers Diane Miller it’s really chaos there now. The relief agencies are all in Tacloban and there is so much need there that they’re not yet getting out to the many other places that need it. Right now we’re just trying to get a full sack of rice and urgent…See More
-
Kevin Leversee Glad to hear it – same issue with my daughter and her mother-trying to get them funds no ATM on the island so W|U with no electricity- and alive but dealing with the aftermath. Happy they are ok. -
Raffy Ruiz Nice to hear they are safe -
Manuel Monge Sigh of relief! nice to know they are alive…just received text message from my folks that they survived too this wrath of nature. -
Robin Krasny Can I donate some money somehow to you to help? It’s not much but I know every bit helps…do you have square or PayPal set up so people can donate directly to you and Rena to help them?
-
Nelson D. Trinidad God will provide, in His time… Just keep the spirit high… -
Sparky Santos a touch scary, glad to hear the family is safe. -
Thelma Baldomar Becher Glad to hear that Ate Rena family are safe,same as my family they are safe,but as you said they are Hungry food is running out store dont sell there staff.. -
Patrick H. Moore Thank God they’re safe. I realize they’re not out of the woods yet but at least now they have a fighting chance. -
Michael Sellers Robin Krasny you’re awesome. I’ll talk to Rena — she’s still on the phone.
-
Michael Sellers We could not get money to him — all Western Union outlets in Catbalogan are not offline because of no electricity. We’ve been on the phone with Western Union in the Philippines … the closest one they could guarantee is working is southern Leyte, w…See More
-
Kevin Leversee I just got some sent to my daughters mom – they had to have the western union SMS a working western union in Luzon- then SMS back the ok. see if they can do that
-
Michael Sellers Kevin Leversee where is she? Are you saying that if you route it through a working Western Union in Manila you can get it to someone in Samar (or other affected area) via SMS?
-
Kevin Leversee She is in Masbate Ticao island. Yes if that branch has a sister branch that is working- the deciision is made at the branch level. but yes, they can process it anywhere that is working and release it. sometimes (locals) do not know this
-
Michael Sellers That’s a good lead. We should share that around as there are going to be many, many folks facing this problem. It’s a far better solution than having someone mule the money down from Manila on a bus, which is what we had been considering.
-
Susan Johnson Hooray!!!! -
George Harris We are with you xxx -
Evelyn Dubuc Great News Michael… I bet that’s a load off your mind. I’ll continue to hold good thoughts that they find food and shelter and remain healthy. -
Scott Tracy Griffin Glad to hear that–avoiding dysentery & illness is now the challenge. -
Dan Lodovica ‘Safe’ — good news! Thanks for the update. Prayers are keeping people to stay strong. -
Richard De Angelis I am so glad to hear this! I hope you continue to get good news and that all your loved ones remain safe. -
Patrick Malloy Thank God! -
Khanada Taylor I’m sooo happy to hear they’re okay!!! I hope they get food and water soon! -
Betty Louise Great news!! -
Anna Bantug- Herrera Glad to hear this mike!!! -
Patrick Dearen That’s great news, Michael. -
Harry Lim Prayer for your family Mike! -
Joe Huling I hope my extended family in Samar is all OK . -
Jim Thompson Excellent news! -
George Jatico What a great news Mike. . . -
Peggy Adler Such graet news about your family!!!!! -
Kathy Cade Persha So happy that you have received good news. -
Agnes Mayfield I’m glad that your family is ok. -
Bel Ami Thanks God! Very happy to hear that. I been watching the news it’s so overwhelming what’s going on over there… Glad your family are ok. -
Michael Sellers Update…..in the end it was impossible to get money to him — all Western Unions are not functioning on Samar (the island is big…think Pennsylvania) …..so he eventually took the money he had and bought rice. He had 2,000 pesos (about $69) and wan…See More
-
Kathy Kitner Liebrum The footage is heartbreaking. So relieved to hear your loved ones are safe, Mike. -
Debra Fisher Please tell them to be so careful, Michael. I heard on the news that the relief caravans are being robbed on the roads back to the hardest hit areas. People are beyond desperate. -
Ruveem Rox Thanks God they are all fine. My prayers to the families who have lost -
Michael Sellers Debra Fisher … .yes, we are acutely aware of that. They are traveling in armed convoys. The government will get a handle on the banditry before long — I’m pretty confident about that. But for the next few days it is really an issue.
-
Rebecca Ferguson I am so glad they are safe. Hope relief gets to them soon. -
Denise Ilgenfritz Houghton Glad to hear the “good” news for your family, Mike. I’m ashamed to say it makes me revisit my “attitude of gratitude” and compels me to bow my head to send blessings and healing to all. -
Bard Rupp Great news Mike, glad they are safe. Living in Florida I know what damage wind and rain can do, but not to that extent. -
Juusan Wers Praise God! So good to hear! -
Michael Sellers Rena’s Nephew from Manila, JR, is now headed dow on a bus with a fifty pound sack of rice, a solar cell phone charger, and fifteen days suppy of medicine. Rommel will come out to meet him in Catbalogan and get the items into Lawaan.
We were lucky to …See More -
Judith M. Lenhart · Friends with Denise Ilgenfritz HoughtonGood news, yet so much more to do. God Bless… -
Judith Ann Murphy My thoughts have been with you and your family. Glad they are safe, but this is so heartbreaking…
Share this:
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Hi Michael! My name is Karin Phillips. I heard my dad James Phillips survived the storm. Please contact me @ (604) 771-6927 ASAP. U see my dad’s British passport expired & before typhoon hit I was trying to help him get his passport renewed. He is still a resident of Canada & I’m trying to get him back here! U can also email me @ karinjphillips@hotmail.com thank u for finding my dad:) god bless your soul!
Hello Michael!
Found your Facebook profile from your blog, which reported about Guinob-an, Lawaan, Eastern Samar.
I need help. My friend’s father was living in the same town and she has not heard any news from him since the storm.
Here’s more info about him we posted on Google person finder: http://google.org/personfinder/2013-yolanda/view?id=2013-yolanda.personfinder.google.org%2Fperson.86667126
Can you ask the people you know there for more information to find out if he is alive and well? Thanks and God bless!
Hi Mariah … I sent you an email. If for any reason you don’t get it, pls post another comment here and we’ll go from there, but you should have an email from me. There were no fatalities in Guinob-an so if he was there, he should be okay.
Mariah … more news about James. He is okay. His house was damaged, but since it’s one of the stronger houses in Guinob-an, it’s one of the ones that are still standing. Roof and other damage, but not destroyed. We asked Rommel to go speak to him today and let him know that we got a query from you, and have told you he’s okay. If he wants to send a more detailed message, Rommel will bring it out and we’ll relay it.
Hi Michael!
Thank God, I was able to talk with Susan a few minutes ago. Thank you!
Hi Mr. Sellers!
I am trying to get in touch with Susan Llevado who lives in Gunoban, Samar. Am hoping your wife, Lorena, knows her. I live here in Manila. Thanks!
Hi Manolo. She just went to sleep a few minutes ago — she’s pretty much on Manila time now. When she wakes up I’ll show her this. I’m sure she knows her. All the Llevados are okay. Houses are mostly gone except for Loreto and Tarcila’s house, which survived with roof mostly gone. But no one got hurt and they are okay. We have a micro relief project sending rice down there and Rena has been posting updates there about the status. https://rally.org/typhoonreliefphilippines
Thank you Mr. Sellers! God bless!
Hi Manolo — Rena confirms that Susan LLevado — wife of Ronnie (who is son of Loreto) — is fine. Like everyone else, their house is gone. But they are okay, and the home of Loreto and Tarcia is still standing so there is a sort of “family headquarters” there. By the way there are more details on the status of Guinob-an in the updates that Rena has been writing for her relief project for Guinob-an — https://rally.org/typhoonreliefphilippines
Thank you! I was requested to see them personally. I am hoping to establish communication with her, if cell sites are already available. I am hoping ,too, that somehow this message will be read by her.