Rescuer Loses Family but Keeps Saving Lives
JOHN REY ESPORA – A rescuer and a member of Canlaon City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), faced the unimaginable when Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) struck on the night of November 2. Trained to save lives, he left home that night as both a father and a rescuer—but returned having lost almost everything.
Before leaving, he kissed his 10-year-old son, John Nathan, goodbye, promising they would spend time together afterward. That night, his son held onto him tightly, a gesture that now feels almost like a farewell. His family had stayed home near a stream, believing floods were rare even during previous storms.
“He was unusually clingy that night. He hugged me tightly, as if he didn’t want to let go. I didn’t know it was his way of saying goodbye,” he said.
As the typhoon grew stronger, water from Mt. Kanlaon rushed down violently, carrying boulders, logs, cars, and even houses. Espora tried to get back to his family, but his teammates stopped him, knowing he would not survive. After the floodwaters receded, the destruction was shocking: his home was gone, and his loved ones had been swept away.
According to Inquirer.net, Espora spent hours digging through mud, rubble, and wreckage to find his family. One by one, he found their lifeless bodies, including his son John Nathan, who had clung to a metal pole in an effort to survive. In total, eight family members died, and one is still missing.
Even with the pain and guilt, Espora continues to do his job. He still works on the frontlines, saving others while carrying his son’s memory with him. “I keep blaming myself. I’m part of the rescue team. I save people. But I couldn’t save my own family. I rescued other people, but not my own family. It hurts. It’s unbearable,” he said.