Typhoon Ulysses smashed the whole of Luzon on November 11, 2020, whipping destructive winds and dumping heavy rainfall that triggered massive flooding in several areas including Cagayan Valley, which was one of the most severely affected. Francesca Taguiam, a 93-year-old resident of Peñablanca, Cagayan, has braved hundreds of storms. But she said the flooding caused by Ulysses was the worst in her lifetime.
According to Taguiam, she was with her son Romeo when the cyclone hit the province. “We were inside our house but we can feel the strong winds. Then water started coming inside our house. When I saw the flood rising so fast, I got worried but I can’t do anything. I was just lying in bed because I am having difficulty standing up on my own due to old age,” Taguiam said in Filipino.
Facing tremendous odds in life mainly caused by poverty has become normal for Taguiam. She recalled one incident years ago that nearly took her life. “I was walking then, and I suddenly lost consciousness. I collapsed and badly hit my head on the pavement. The hard blow to my head was so serious I needed to have a brain surgery. I was lucky that there were good people that helped me financially. But because of our extreme poverty, I had to stop my maintenance medicines,” Taguiam said.
Typhoon Ulysses struck the province at the worst time. And senior citizens like Taguiam greatly suffered during the flooding. She was desperate for help. She said it was Smart’s parent company, telecom giant PLDT, that reached out to her family after the company mobilized its disaster response in typhoon-hit areas. As part of its 92nd anniversary celebration, PLDT provided relief assistance in typhoon-hit Cagayan. The telco gave Taguiam a special package, including a cash donation to cover some of her maintenance medicines, and a Noche Buena pack.
PLDT distributed relief packs, blankets, face masks and face shields to 165 families affected by the recent flooding due to Typhoon Ulysses in Brgy. Malibabag and Brgy. Agugaddan, Peñablanca, Cagayan. PLDT Cagayan Valley Customer Service Zone Head Cris Mandac led the relief operations.
For its part, Smart Communications Inc. provided free calls, charging, and Wi-Fi services in areas affected by Typhoon Ulysses. In a statement, the company said it offered free data and text/call credits to affected Smart and TNT customers in NCR and Luzon to provide vital communication services to those who need it most.
“We did what we can to keep Filipinos connected during those challenging times. We exerted all efforts to keep communication services running during the flooding as these are crucial in response and relief efforts,” said Cathy Yap-Yang, PLDT-Smart first vice president and head of Corporate Communications.
In her sunset years, Taguiam’s wish is simple: “I am old, so my only wish is for my family to have a good life and to always be safe,” she said.
With eight children and 37 grandchildren, Taguiam is living a long, fulfilled life, surrounded by her loved ones. The 93-year-old lady has some wise words for today’s youth: “Study hard, listen to your parents and have faith in God.”