Leyte mass grave now a garden for Yolanda victims, survivors

Families of victims of supertyphoon Yolanda have turned the once dreary mass grave in Palo, Leyte into a garden of flowers and pictures of their dearly departed, in time for this year's observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
 

According to a report on "24 Oras" on Friday, the flowers for the dead and the photographs of the victims somehow ease the pain of most of the survivors.

Still, many find it hard to accept the demise of their loved ones almost a year after the strongest typhoon in history hit the province.

 

Adelfa Mosquito, for instance, lost her three grandchildren and daughter-in-law because of the super typhoon. She said that they were in the barangay hall when it happened but they were separated by the storm surge. 

 

"Hindi pa rin ako makatulog ng maayos... Minsan hindi na ako makatulog hanggang umaga," Mosquito said. 

 

The same goes with Pedro Lacandazo, who lost 22 of his relatives. But the most painful memory was when he lost grip of his child and his grandchild during the typhoon.
 

"Kahit anong oras, naiisip ko sila. Hindi kasi maiiwasan, kahit nagmo-motor ako, maglakad," Lacandazo said.

 

Other Undas activities

 

Many residents have already started cleaning the graves in Tacloban Public Cemetery, which was flooded during the super typhoon last year. 

 

At a mass grave in Palo, there will be a mass everyday until the first anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda on November 8. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News