BATANES, Philippines – Days after Typhoon Julian (Krathon) hit Batanes, life seemed back to normal, said Teresita Bantayan, a 72-year-old Ivatan woman.
She said the only stark reminder of what happened was the sudden clearing in the wake of the storm.
“Parang bumalik na sa normal, parang walang nangyari (It looked like it’s back to normal, like nothing happened),” Bantayan said while outside the Basco Cathedral. She was chopping down small trees that went bald.
Residents like Bantayan had swept leaves and branches along the sides of the roads in Basco. The old balete tree in the churchyard had fallen.
“Kita mo na lang na may nangyari, ‘yung aliwalas. Saka ‘yung Iraya namin, kitang-kita. (You can only see something happened because everything is clear. Our Iraya is really visible.)” – Rappler.com