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Sight not needed: Blind man saves family, conquers Yolanda


Joselito Tobias and Jessica Onayan of Caltayan, La Paz, Leyte. All photos courtesy of Accord
 
When Super Typhoon Yolanda hit in the early hours of November 8, 2013, Joselito Tobias of La Paz, Leyte and his family found themselves waist-deep in water in their home, with the winds bringing down parts of their house. Joselito knew he had to get his loved ones—his wife and his mentally ill brother—to safety, to an elevated area 200 meters away from their home.

And Joselito, a man who has been blind since birth, did just that.

In hindsight, it shouldn't be surprising he was able to do this. Joselito was born on the land, worked on the land, and has lived there all his life. He knows the land well and did not need eyes to guide his family across it.  

But although Joselito did not see the horror that Yolanda caused, he was still terrified. "Who would not be terrified of such a powerful storm? I could not see anything but I felt the wind’s power and the fear it brought upon my wife," he said.

Looking ahead

Crops planted by Joselito.
 
The Tobias family survived Yolanda, but moving forward was not easy. In fact, said Joselito, "Life became harder than ever after Yolanda."

His family's bread and butter was copra. But the super typhoon knocked the coconut trees down. They lost the main source of their income.

Luckily, their livestock also survived the typhoon. These and the relief goods they were given helped them carry on.

"We sold our pigs for a loss, but we used the P7,000 we got to explore a new livelihood," said Jessica, Joselito's wife of three years.

With the money they earned, they started to plant rice at a nearby patch of land. They also planted sweet potato, cassava, and vegetables. They harvested the rice last March.

After Yolanda, being able to eating three times a day was enough to make them happy.

Building a brighter future

The Tobias house, rebuilt.
 
A part of the Tobias home collapsed due to the super typhoon. With the last of their income spent on food, rebuilding also seemed an unattainable dream until various organizations came into the picture.

Their community received cash grants and shelter repair kits like corrugated sheets, hammers, and specialized nails.

Joselito was not about to just sit back and let others do the hard work for him. Instead, he led a bayanihan group to help him rebuild his home.

"Yes, it was hard, but I wanted to contribute and do my part," he said.

Today, Joselito's self-reliance is as strong as ever. He and Jessica are active participants in their barangay's livelihood projects. Jessica was not just a wife, a partner. She has been Tobias' eyes all along.

"Work will not be as hard when everyone pitches in," she said. Her husband added, "More so when you have someone you love helping out."  — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News

This story was sent to GMA News Online by the Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development, Inc. (ACCORD)?. The organization is among those that helped Tobias' family rebuild their home.
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