HOM (House of Mamita) is where the heart is

The happy house perched on top of the Maris de Lara slope has been home to many of my family members for the past 45 years. My mom, her siblings, their cousins, my cousins, and my own siblings share fond memories growing up in this haven my Papito and Mamita built. This house has been a refuge for those who feel lonely and those who are in need of comfort. Numerous birthdays, graduations, baptisms, wedding anniversaries, inumans, tambayans, prayer sessions, Christmases, New Years, send-off parties, prom preparations, tutorials, swimming parties, reunions, and meetings were done here. Many kids were born and raised here. 

I remember moving into this house the first time sometime in 2002, when an unfortunate fiscal crisis hit our family. Not having enough funds to sustain our rented house, my dad renovated three of my mamita's rooms on his own. It was a tough feat-- squeezing in a whole house into rooms, but he made it happen. Despite our hardships, we had a place to stay. I spent nights crying in my room, upset at the world for taking away so many things from us. However the same room also became my sanctuary-- home to many great ideas and a secret quarters for big plans that eventually became prized achievements.

Mamita's house has always been our home. Even before we moved, my brother Z at age 4 would tell my mom that he's going to leave home after a tantrum. In his husky voice he'd cry out "Mulayas na ko! Muadto na ko ila Mamita" (I'm leaving. I'm going to Mamita's) and we'd all laugh because he'd try to go out of the door in his underwear. 

We never expected that the place we call home would transform from a haven to a wasteland in a matter of hours.

I read mom's text at around 5:00 A.M. on December 17. She said "Don't panic. Our house got flooded. We evacuated to Tita Millie's". My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. I didn't understand what was going on. I could not fathom how our house, high above our street could be affected by a flood. I rang my mum immediately but she didn't pick up. I felt sick in the stomach. 

Throughout the day I only had limited text exchanges with my mom and from people back home. It took me a while to get news online and from friends because little was reported at the time about typhoon Sendong and everyone was conserving their phone batteries due to power outage. My sister's flight was during that same day as well and I couldn't help but feel paranoia all over me. I really couldn't imagine how huge the damage was. 

Reports by the hour gave rising numbers of death tolls, displaced families, destroyed homes, and devastation. I was also told that our dear neighbors, the Yraztorza family, were not able to make it out alive. This is the worst calamity that has ever struck Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. 

My family evacuated to my aunt's house in Nazareth, just a few blocks away from our house. I am forever grateful to God that he spared my family's lives. I flew home last December 22, just a few days after the calamity. My heart broke passing by the devastation along the new bridge-- and my heart fell out of my chest when I saw my neighborhood. The entire stretch from Tomas Saco onwards was covered in dust and depression. It was a far cry from the buzzing and bubbly neighborhood that I grew up in. Everywhere people are hauling water, wandering the streets in search of other resources, and many are trying to scour their homes for items that can be saved. 

My home. Our home. Our street. Our barangay. Our city is in ruins.

Maris de Lara St. November 2008

Maris de Lara St. December 2011

Boxes of mud-soaked memoirs

Flooded wares dumped outside

Brother pointing out areas where washed out bodies were placed

Family outside the house

View down the slope

 Pre-Sendong 

Post-Sendong

                                       

My Mamita's Pride and Joy...

...has become a thick mud bath

Our entire kitchen was bathed in mud. Most small appliances were damaged.

My old room. :(

Mamita's bedroom

The kids' uniforms and books were also soaked.

Our family room/entertainment room was in ceiling-high flood. Wood ceiling panels were left water-warped and the computers/projectors/books reduced to a sloshy mud pile. 

Despite the hardships that Sendong has brought upon all of us, one thing remains-- family. 2012 will be the year when we pick up the pieces and make new memories at HOM. Our Christmas and New Year celebrations may not have been as festive as the years before, but what matters is that everyone is safe and we're still together.

Christmas @ HOM December 2011

 Home is where the heart is, therefore home will always be with you.