Have you seen this boy?
Tarin could have been 9 years old by now, if not for the storm that snatched him away from the arms of his mom.
I remember the grueling feeling of going through the thousands of photos of dead bodies just to check if one of them was his, and my father’s.
It has been six years. He was never found. We are no longer looking for him.
But I am sending this to you, because I am demanding justice not only for my nephew and my family, but for the people of Tacloban, Leyte and Yolanda-affected communities.
My community is demanding justice for the thousands of lives killed, mga pangarap at kinabukasan na hinding-hindi na makakamtan because of greed, apathy and deceit that the fossil fuel industry supported.
Alam ko naming ipinanganak ka lang sa sistemang ito, ikaw man ay biktima rin. Pero masisikmura mo bang ipagpatuloy ang pagiging bulag at bingi sa katotohanan kung ang sarili mo nang pamilya ang tuluyang mawala dahil sa pagbabago ng ating klima?
Hindi madali para sa akin ang harapin ang napakalaki at napakamakapangyarihan na industriyang ito. Ngunit hindi ko kayang manahimik kung patuloy na maisasakripisyo ang buhay at kabuhayan ng aking komunidad para lang sa yaman ng iilan.
Gayunpaman, naniniwala akong hindi pa huli ang lahat. Throughout this journey, I found a stronger version of myself.
I found stories, I found support, I found strength.
All have led me here.
I may have lost my family to the storm, but I am not losing to this climate crisis.
Filipinos are enduring the worst impacts of climate change, caused by greedy corporations. It’s time to hold them to account!