Flags Magazine Volume 9 No 1: March 2014 Issue | Page 3

Editorial

We were warned.
We were told to brace ourselves.
We knew that the enemy was a
super typhoon unlike anything
we’ve ever experienced.
The government claimed that the
Philippines was prepared.
We all thought it would just blow
over.
We thought life would go on
normally after.
Little did we know that this storm
was special.
Little did we know that super
typhoon Haiyan would change our
lives forever.

A

s the storm approached,
AIIAS was ending the
Academic Festival, a nineday long series of events from
October 25 to November 2, 2013.
This featured the Health Festival
Weekend, 14th International
Graduate School Conference,
10th Anniversary Celebration
of AIIAS Online, Alumni
Homecoming Banquet, and 16th
Theological Seminary Forum.

RESPONDING TO HAIYAN’S
AFTERMATH
BY AIMEE TAPECERIA

Just as things were calming
down from all of these activities,
news came that a storm was
forming in the middle of the
Pacific Ocean and it was headed
towards us. Meteorologists gave
warnings four days in advance
that this potentially could be the
strongest typhoon to ever hit
the Philippines.

reports were difficult because
basic communication broke
down. While we went to bed that
evening with a sense of relief
that we had avoided the worst
of the storm, the next morning
images of Tacloban trickled in
the news media. As each day
passed, the shocking images
stunned everyone.

Forecast showed that the
brunt of typhoon Haiyan would
hit Central Philippines, but
typhoons are unpredictable
so AIIAS residents were not
taking any chances. Emergency
preparations were made. Friends
both far and near kept vigil
through prayer as we braced for
the arrival of the monster storm.

Yet there is hope. The
theme of “Change, Chaos,
and Resilience: Thriving in a
Turbulent World” from the
14th International Graduate
School Conference perhaps
best describes how members
of the AIIAS family responded
to the tragedy. We saw it as
an opportunity to put our
education to use during the
aftermath of Haiyan. O

The morning of November 8
dawned with news reports of the
destruction wrought by the 315
kph (195 mph) winds. Live news

AIMEE TAPECERIA is the Assistant for
Institutional Writing. She functions as the
editor of Flags Magazine and webmaster of
the AIIAS website.

www.aiias.edu | Flags

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