OFW seeks help to find 20 relatives in Leyte

It's been almost two weeks since super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) struck the Philippines. But Vincent Advincula Ragas can only wait in vain for news or any information about his family and 20 other relatives in Tanauan, Leyte. The wait and the inability to get in touch with any of them is driving him crazy in Saudi Arabia where he works as a baker.

"Ayaw ko pong mawalan ng pamilya. Kaya po ako nandito para sa kanila, trabaho. Alam ko ako lang yung inaasahan sa amin sa pamilya ko, sina Mama at Papa. Yung ipinapadala kong pera hinahati ko sa asawa ko at saka sa pamilya namin," Ragas said. His wife and child and his own parents are among those missing. When a week had passed without any word from them, Ragas began to lose hope.

Yolanda made six landfalls in the Philippines on November 8, 2013. The first was in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, then in Tolosa, Leyte; Daanbantayan in Cebu; Bantayan Island; Concepcion, Iloilo; and Busuanga, Palawan. The super typhoon also generated a storm surge and Tacloban City in Leyte was the hardest hit area with almost all structures flattened and thousands are feared dead.

"6 a.m. sa Tacloban tinawagan ko pa asawa ko mga 2 a.m., sabi naman po niya ok naman daw sila, tulog na daw baby namin gusto ko na sanang lumikas na sila," Ragas said. As of Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the death toll from the super typhoon stood at 3,982. At least 1,602 people remain missing and 18,266 were injured. Ragas is determined to go home. He said working in Saudi Arabia seems to be pointless now that he cannot even find his loved ones who inspired him to work harder for a brighter future. In between sobs, and with his right hand covering his face, Ragas said, "Gusto ko pong makita ang anak ko, baby pa yung eh! Asawa ko."