Stuck in Leyte: A tale of two brothers

LEYTE, Philippines – Junrey and Johnlee are not your typical 5-year-olds. They are twins. They run around, play fight, and wipe the occasional snot bubble away from their noses – all while running around even more.

Junrey and Johnlee's playground is unlike that of most children. Right outside the barong-barong (makeshift home) they call home in Barangay Anibong are two huge cargo ships that ran aground when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) ravaged Tacloban city.

TWINS. Left in the care of their grandmother, Junrey and Johnlee take each day one at a time. All photos by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

A few meters away is the sea, which, not too long ago, threatened to take their young lives away.

At the height of Yolanda, the two were nearly swept away, unable to fight back against the strong pull of the storm surge, said their grandmother. It was a lambat (net) that saved their lives.

Anibong is home

The two are in the care of their grandmother, Bibiana. She said her daughter, the boys' mother, visits from time to time, for 3-5 days but leaves and is gone for weeks on end. "Nalakat-lakat...pag-uli sa balay, waray kwarta," said the 65-year-old. (She's always walking around but when she comes home, she doesn't have money with her.)

"Magdalena," was their neighbors' only answer when asked why the boys' mother was always away for so long. It was a reference to a song by folk singer Freddie Aguilar about a woman forced by personal circumstances to work the streets at night.

Their father is nowhere to be seen. He left for Manila many years ago because he was accused of killing a person. The brothers' two older siblings live in San Miguel town in Leyte, while a little sister is now in Mindanao with a relative.

WAITING. Bibiana and her grandchildren depend mostly on relief goods for food.

Bibiana survives on relief goods – which now come few and far in between – and makes a living from prayers for the dead – P100 split with two other women. Her other children, 83-year-old mother, sister, and neighbors give what they can to the small family.

"Kulang [ang pagkaon]. Waray posporo, waray sabon, waray tubig," said Bibiana. (Food is scarce. We don't have matches, soap, even water)

Electricity hasn't been restored in their part of the barangay, as running water is a dream. Most residents get their water from either the upland part of the barangay or from shallow wells.

In Anibong, it's the community that helps each other, although neighbors say the barangay is a frequent host to aid workers.

The daily grind

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romauldez said getting residents out of identified danger zones is his top priority. But the ships are still there, and have since taken on mutiple roles in the area – a playground for children, a photo opportunity for visitors, and shelter for those without houses still.

Neighbors were quick to add, however, nobody calls the two ships home – nobody alive, at least. "May nagpaparamdam, may nagpapakita sa gabi," said one resident. Locals said some of the dead are still trapped under the huge ships.

Life for the living

For those who survived, ghosts do not matter. Living and surviving is hard enough.

The future is hazy for Junrey and Johnlee and their community. They live right smack in the middle of an area the government considers a "no build zone." Local officials paint numbers outside their houses – a reminder that more than 100 homes in the barangay should not be standing where they're standing.

When Rappler visited the barangay on Sunday, May 4, several temporary houses were being constructed. Residents said they haven't been told when they would need to leave the area and even then, they're hesitant. Moving upland doesn't make sense to a community composed mostly of fishermen.

NEIGHBORLY HELP. Bibiana and her wards get by with the aid of supportive neighbors.

Bibiana wants the twins to go to school one day, start work as professionals and avoid the lives their parents lead. Johnlee might one day be a cop, his neighbors suggest – he's the rambunctious twin. Junrey could be a doctor, since he's a little more shy. They turn 6 on July 13.

"Mahirap, pero kakayanin. Walang choice," said one neighbor. (It's hard but she will manage. She doesn't have a choice.)

Or maybe, neighbors said in jest, the two boys can be sailors and play in ships where they're meant to be – out at sea. – Rappler.com