'Operation Saving Grace': Canadian boyfriend rescues Pinay Yolanda victim

Like in many long distance relationships nowadays, Canadian national Houssam Hammoudi and his Filipina fiancee’s story started online.

Houssam, a 31-year-old IT systems engineer based in Montreal, Canada, met 23-year-old Merry Grace Acojedo on Facebook eight months ago. They exchanged messages almost everyday, and eventually developed a liking for each other.

"We started out as friends and then I started to like her," Houssam said in an interview with “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” (KMJS), GMA-7's weekend news magazine show.

They were supposed to meet for the first time in May 2014. Little did they know, a super typhoon would bring them together and make them meet earlier than expected.

Missing Grace

On November 8, typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)—one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded—struck Eastern Visayas, including Ormoc City, Merry Grace’s hometown.

It left thousands of people dead, while survivors were left homeless and injured. Many establishments and even some notable landmarks were turned into a pile of debris.

A day after the storm, Houssam got worried when Merry Grace didn’t go online. He was also unable to reach her by phone. Then, when news regarding the devastation started to pour in, Houssam knew he had to do something for Merry Grace.

Without second thoughts, he sold his car for $800 Canadian (roughly P33,000). He arranged his papers and flew to the Philippines as soon as possible to start a mission—to rescue the love of his life.

What motivated him to make this leap of faith? "[It's either] I would not sleep my entire life and I would always live with regrets or be more courageous and just go get the woman," Houssam said.

Far from what they imagined

On November 14, Houssam landed in Cebu and went straight to Ormoc via a ferry boat. He was fetched by Merry Grace's sibling at the port, but there were no public vehicles available so they had to walk to where she was confined. Houssam saw for himself the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

Meanwhile, inside Gatchalian Clinic, Merry Grace was anxious—she wanted to see Houssam but she had no clue how he would react when he sees her in terrible condition.

She sustained wounds on her face because a door fell on her during the storm. Her front teeth and her chin were broken, while her head and one of her legs also had deep wounds.

"Nung nakita ko 'yung mukha ko, pangit talaga. Natakot ako baka makita ako [ni Houssam] na ganito," Merry Grace said in the KMJS interview.

Houssam proved her fears wrong. Upon entering the clinic, he hugged her and look at her straight in the eye. He didn't care about Merry Grace’s appearance, he just wanted to make sure she will be alright.

"First of all, I love her so it doesn't matter how her face is," Houssam declared.

It was far from what they imagined to be their first meeting, but Houssam was just thankful that he still had a chance to be with Merry Grace after the destructive typhoon.

'Operation Saving Grace'

They immediately evacuated to Cebu to seek further medical attention for Merry Grace.

While she was being treated at Chong Hua Hospital, Houssam was busy in updating a blog he set up for her —Operation Saving Grace.

He knows his resources aren't enough to pay for all her hospital bills and to help her family rebuild their life. Through this blog, he asked for donations and relayed Merry Grace’s story to the whole world. Houssam also posted pictures so that people won't think it is just another online scam.

Two days after the blog went live, Houssam was able to gather half a million pesos for Merry Grace. He also posted on his blog hospital bills and receipts to let all the donors know where their money went.