STORY
Humans of Typhoon Odette - Andy Leonor
“We lost our livelihoods again because of Super Typhoon Odette. Nawalan kami ng hanapbuhay dahil kay Odette. I used to work in tourism here in Puerto Princesa but my job was affected by the pandemic. I looked for an alternative source to be able to survive, but then the typhoon came. It has been really difficult. I don’t know what to do anymore. So na…nahihirapan na ako. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. I don’t know how to start over.”
Andy Leonor is a whale shark tour guide from Puerto Princesa City (PPC), Philippines and is one of our stakeholders. Our research team has worked with him since 2016. He’s a bit of a legend – the best guide in PPC, some would say. He’s one of those people who are champions of our conservation efforts. Even now, it’s easy to see why. Despite everything the last 2 years have thrown at him, he is still standing, ready to help, with a hint of a smile, if a weary one.
Super #TyphoonOdette (Rai) made landfall on 16 December 2021 in the Philippines and affected an estimated 16 million people across the worst-hit regions, including Andy. With maximum sustained winds of 195km/h and gustiness of 260km/h, the super typhoon intensified into a Category 5 storm in just 24 hours. This rapid intensification is becoming more common due to #ClimateChange. Climate change may not discriminate, but there is a clear pattern of who suffers the most from it. The Philippines contributes only 0.35% of global CO2 emissions, yet it is on the frontline and among the worst sufferers from the #ClimateCrisis.
You can help Andy (and others affected) by *SHARING HIS STORY* and by *DONATING*
Just 250PHP/$5USD can make a difference.
With your help, we can provide Andy with resources to fix his boat – a place to start over, again. If you want to add a message for Andy comment below or leave one when you make a donation.