Tano planned to light candles in his street and “pray for the souls of the Typhoon Yolanda victims”, he said, using the Philippines’ name for the storm.
Despite the huge loss of life and property, Vicar General Erlito Maraya, who led Wednesday’s mass, told the audience at the convention centre “there is life after Yolanda”.
“No wind or water, no matter how strong, can wash our faith away,” Maraya said, attributing the resilience of the survivors to their deep religious beliefs.
A few people holding umbrellas for the occasional shower of rain visited a cemetery in Tacloban where hundreds of people killed in Haiyan are buried.
Some left flowers and lit candles at a memorial plaque with the names of victims, or sat next to one of the white crosses marking a loved one’s final resting place.
Even after so many years, May Flor Ramirez, 39, said the memories of Haiyan were still strong, as was the sadness she felt for the loss of one of her siblings and their family.
“For me the pain has not really gone away,” the mother of seven told AFP.
“It will never be forgotten.”
Source: CNA
