The survivors of the home-wrecking Super Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as "Yolanda", offered prayers and lit candles on Wednesday to commemorate the destructive storm's 10th anniversary.
Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013, which was reportedly the country's worst-ever natural disaster. More than 8,000 people lost their lives, and over 14 million inhabitants, including 5.9 million workers, were affected.
Interviewed by Agence France-Presses (AFP), Roselyn Salazar Torres, 36, one of the typhoon's survivors, described how "harrowing" it was to remember when the surge of water swept away her family's shack and that she and her two fragile children had to fight to stay afloat and not get hit by falling objects.
"I did not expect myself and my family to survive Yolanda," Torres told AFP.
"I was tossed around by the waves together with my two children at the time. I really thought my entire family would be wiped out in that tragedy," she added.
Torres and her husband, who was away working when Haiyan hit, now reside with their four kids in a 12-square-meter or 129-square-foot concrete home at one of the several expansive relocation sites intended for their fellow survivors.
"As always, we will be lighting candles tomorrow for our lost friends and relatives. Then we will prepare a small feast for ourselves," she said.
Torres said she was thankful after surviving and remaining alive 10 years later.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. flew to Tacloban to attend the commemoration and mass.
The mass and commemoration happened at Tacloban's seaside convention center where many people had been sheltering when Yolanda struck the country.
Marcos also attended a disaster preparedness conference in the city.
In the evening, Tacloban residents plan to place lit candles along the city's streets, reminiscing about their friends and family who died due to the disaster.
