New year wishes of children affected by Typhoon Odette

UNICEF asked children in Dinagat Islands province, one of the areas heavily affected by Typhoon Odette, what their wishes are for 2022. As we mark the start of 2022, UNICEF is hopeful that our collective efforts will help children survive and recover. 

Let’s reimagine a better future for every child as we welcome 2022.

"I prayed so hard for the typhoon to stop," Mirasol, 11, says. She also shared that it was the scariest event she ever experienced, and she felt no security even if they had already moved to the evacuation center before the typhoon hit. 

Despite losing their home, Mirasol is still thankful for the survival of their family. She wishes for a happier year that is safe from typhoons and looks forward to her elementary graduation this year.

Marian, 11, wishes to finish elementary school this year. She is also hoping for a new house, one that is sturdy, and praying for the safety and happiness of her family. 

An elementary school served as an evacuation center for Marian and her family when the typhoon hit Dinagat Islands. She was filled with fear and held onto her parents during the typhoon. In the aftermath, they found that their house was severely damaged along with other buildings and structures in their area.

Janmark, 12, wishes to have a better and sturdier house that can withstand a strong typhoon, should it come again. 

When the typhoon hit, they stayed in Dinagat town's gymnasium that was turned into an evacuation center. He considered it a wide playground with enough space for running around and playing "tumbang preso.” However, even the gymnasium was heavily devastated by the typhoon while they were staying inside for safety. It saddened him to see how Typhoon Odette destroyed this place that brought him joy. 

Racel, 9, wishes to get more help for her family. She hopes their family can get enough food and be able to rebuild their house. She also wishes for the recovery of her father who was hurt when a tree fell on their house during the typhoon. 

While Odette passed by their town in Dinagat Islands, she held on to her mother while crying in fear. It was a frightening afternoon that will be hard to forget. 

Her family spent Christmas in the evacuation center without any food for celebration and hoped that typhoons would no longer cause much destruction to their hometown. 

Heide Shane Damian, 12, was saddened by the news that their house was severely damaged by Typhoon Odette. 

For 2022, she wishes for her family to be able to build a new house. “It should be already made of cement," she said. She also wants to go back to school so she can learn and play with her classmates again.

"I wish there won't be any more typhoons to come so we can play and have fun always," Reniel John Pagatpat, 10, from Dinagat Islands province, says. 

Reniel saw his friends getting hurt when Typhoon Odette hit their town. They were seeking shelter in a community gymnasium, which was serving as an evacuation center for the town's residents, when the typhoon's strong winds damaged the structure. He saw one of his friends get wounded by roof debris. He helped his siblings escape from the gym as the typhoon tore it apart.

Reniel also wishes for his family to be back home in 2022 because his toys and playmates are there.

Jeann Pagatpat, 12, was seeking shelter inside the community gymnasium during Typhoon Odette when it collapsed because of the strong winds. She and her siblings were able to safely escape. 

Jeann wishes that there won't be any typhoon to hit Dinagat Islands again. “I hope we’ll be able to build a stronger house that is made of concrete next year,” she adds.

Reymon Polleros, 7, wanted to spend Christmas at home playing with his brother Randel, 3, but Typhoon Odette changed their plans. 

Now that they are temporarily living in the Bantilis Evacuation Center in Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, he finds that he has more time to play with and assist his little brother, who has speech and mobility impairments.

"I like playing here in the evacuation center because it's spacious here and there's room to play", Reymon says.

Reymon wants to go back home this year but he's sad that it won't happen soon because it was destroyed by the typhoon. For 2022, he wishes to have a new house, one that can withstand strong typhoons. He also wishes for more toys that he can give to his younger brother so that they can play more together. 

Eleven-year-old Erich Mae Polleros's wish for the new year is to be able to come back home. "I wish we'll be able to rebuild our house soon. My family is there," she says. Their house in Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands province, was among the thousands of houses damaged by Typhoon Odette.

Erich also wishes to be able to celebrate the new year. "I want to eat spaghetti and pancit when we celebrate the new year," she added. She also wishes for a blue dress.