Family of girl killed in Surigao quake couldn't afford her burial

The family of Jenelyn Ebale in Surigao City is still reeling from grief from her death during the earthquake that struck the area last week, but they are already faced with another problem: finding enough money to give her a proper burial.

Jenelyn's father Roger said she may have been struck by a falling tree branch during the magnitude 6.7 quake. They traveled nine hours to bring her from Caraga Regional Hospital to Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, but she was pronounced dead on arrival there.

"Hindi ko malimutan 'yung nangyari sa amin kasi ang saya pa namin (nu'ng) hindi pa nangyari 'yung lindol," he said.

Now, she lies in state with only a few candles lighting up her wake. Roger said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave them P5,000, but it is not enough to cover the expenses of the family.

"Konting tulong na lang 'yung hiningi namin, 'yung paglibing lang namin bukas," said Roger Ebale.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco town, Raquel Brenio was disheartened when she was unable to get any relief goods at the municipal hall.

"Kailangan namin ng tulong kasi nasira 'yung bahay namin pero wala namang tulong na ibinigay sa amin. Nagpunta na kami sa munisipyo pero sabi wala daw," she said. —Anna Felicia J. Bajo/JST, GMA News