Neighbors helping neighbors: Rota's Bavi survivors pool labor to rebuild homes
- Admin
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
By Brian Manabat
Songsong, Rota — In the wreckage left behind by Super Typhoon Bavi, where tin roofs lay twisted like paper and wooden beams snapped under the storm’s violent winds, two neighbors in Songsong have become a quiet symbol of resilience. With little more than borrowed tools, salvaged lumber and sheer determination, Arman Puerto and MD Rafiqul Islam are rebuilding their lives side by side. In the worst devastation, the island’s spirit of helping one another endures.
For Puerto, who has lived in Rota since 1997, Bavi was unlike anything he had ever experienced. His two‑bedroom home, already weakened by Typhoon Sinlaku in April, was wiped out in the early hours of July 6 when Bavi made landfall.
“This is the most devastating storm I’ve ever seen since living here,” Puerto said, standing beside the makeshift frame of what will eventually become his family’s temporary shelter. “A little bit damaged from Sinlaku and then now totally wiped out from Bavi.”
Puerto, a baker by trade, has been out of work since the bakery temporarily closed due to the islandwide power outage. He and his wife, whose only child is serving in the military, evacuated hours before the storm hit, following instructions from the Rota Mayor’s Office.
“Maybe five hours before the storm we were already prepared,” he said. “We secured our room where our important documents were, but we didn’t expect our two‑bedroom house would be blown away. Everything was gone.”
Now, with help from a friend and from Islam, Puerto is piecing together a shelter using whatever materials he can afford—or salvage.
“Imagine the tin roof,” he said. “Before, an 8‑foot tin roof cost only twenty‑something dollars. Now it’s $50 per piece. Lumber too. We bought 2x4s and 2x6s, but it was expensive, so we just borrowed and reused other materials. Temporary only, just so we can stay in our place. It’s hard to stay in someone else’s home, even if they’re your friend.”
Across the yard, Islam, a mechanic who has lived in Rota since 1990, is doing the same. “During Sinlaku, the house I was renting in Songsong was damaged, so I moved my family to Sinapalo,” Islam said. “But then Bavi damaged that house too. I came down today to clean up my things and help my neighbor Arman.”
Islam expressed disbelief and exhaustion as he surveyed the storm debris.
“This is the first time I see this kind of situation here,” he said. “In 36 years—since 1990—I've never seen this kind of typhoon. This kind of strong wind. It blew out everything. My goodness. Unbelievable.”
Like other Rota residents, Puerto and Islam rely on assistance from local and federal governments and nonprofit organizations, as they face challenges with food spoilage, income loss and restricted access to potable water.
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“Food, clothing, drinking water—that’s the most important,” Puerto said. “Essentials. And shelter. Because this one is not done yet. Maybe in a couple of days, but no material.”
They also praised Rota Mayor Aubrey Hocog for preparedness messaging, response coordination and relief distribution. “The mayor is doing a good job," Puerto said.
Nevertheless, there is a long journey ahead. The two neighbors believe it might take two to three years before life in Rota feels normal once more. “Because everything, we have to start all over again. To build up everything and learn everything," Islam said.
Amid the hardship, their shared effort—two neighbors rebuilding side by side—has become its own kind of hope. “It’s a big help,” they said together, reflecting on the support they’ve received and the support they continue to give each other.
In Songsong, where homes were torn apart and families displaced, Puerto and Islam’s determination is a reminder that even when the winds take everything, the island’s strongest foundation remains neighbors helping neighbors.
