Family ravaged by Typhoon Ulysses finally gets to rebuild their home

Jovelyn Catarinin's family was among the many residents of San Mateo Rizal whose homes were ravaged by floods brought by Typhoon Ulysses.

With her husband away for work, the mother was all alone with her four children at home when the storm brought lashing winds and heavy rains to their neighborhood last month.

The flood kept getting higher and higher, so Jovelyn did everything she could to get her kids to safety on the roof, even calling for help on social media with a two-week-old baby in her arms.

The terrifying experience, however, was only the beginning of their problems.

According to an "Unang Hirit" report on Friday, Jovelyn and her family have been living in ruin since the storm hit.

The flood had subsided, but it completely destroyed their home as well as all their belongings.  The roof was busted open, and the foundation and ceilings had given out.

With Jovelyn's husband Roger out of a job, the family could not do anything to fix their home. They had no money for food, school supplies, or clean clothes.

Despite everything that happened, the father said he was just thankful to come home to find his family unharmed.

"Nag-alala ko kasi baka po anong mangyari sa kanila. Kung okay sila, ayos lang ho na nakalikas po sila, 'yun lang po," Roger said.

"Humihiling lang ako, 'yung materyales po para sa bahay tapos gamit po ng mga bata lalo na po pang school kasi lahat po ng gamit sa school ng mga anak ko naano po lahat sa baha, 'yung gamit po ng baby," Jovelyn added.

Inspired by their hope and resilience in the face of a calamity and the pandemic, "Unang Hirit" provided the family with construction materials they can use to rebuild their home.

Jovelyn also received a new high chair, crib, and other essentials for her baby, Sheng, who was born just two weeks before Typhoon Ulysses ravaged their home.

—Margaret Claire Layug/MGP, GMA News