A boy saved by the dog during typhoon Yolanda graduated college this year


Marvin Morales and his proud mother Maribeth.
         Salcedo, Eastern Samar – One of the hundreds of community in Eastern Visayas which has been devastated by typhoon Yolanda last 2013 were the coastal brgys of Salcedo Eastern Samar.

         One of which is Brgy Asgad where Marvin Morales, 21 years old and his family lives. Like thousands of Yolanda survivors, this young man has also his own story of survival.

         It was early in the morning when the storm surge hit their village that wiped out their houses and killed 10 of his neighbors including his two siblings.

          He remembered the moment when he lost hope in surviving because of having no strength at all in swimming for him to survive.

        “Wala akong makita noon, nawalan na ako ng lakas ng nagpalutang lutang na ako sa tubig,” Morales said.

          Until such time that he felt that there something moving towards him. He felt that it’s a dog swimming close to him. He grabbed the dog and swim along with him to a floating jeepney until the water had already subsided.

          “Nang umaga na nagulat ako nasa may jeep na ako. Hinanap ko ang aso pero wala na hindi ko na nakita. Ilang buwan muna bago bumalik ang lakas ko kasi parang na trauma ako nung nangyari. Tapos doon ko lang naalala na meron talagang nagligtas sa akin,” Morales added.

         Recently Morales earned his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science at Eastern Samar State University Salcedo Campus.

       “Laking pasalamat ko sa asong yun, kasi kung hindi wala na ako ngayon at hindi ako makakapagtapos ng pag-aaral ko,” he added.


        Maribeth Valdenor, Morales’ mother opened a sari-sari store to support their daily expenses as well as for the education of her remaining siblings. 

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