Disasters

Tungkung Langit at Visions Du Reel by John Javellana

Vers le Ciel world premieres tomorrow May 1 at Visions Du Reel in Nyon Switzerland. Heartfelt thanks to all the groups and individuals who made our short film possible. 

Poster by Tom Estrera III

Poster by Tom Estrera III

Directed and edited by Kiri Dalena. Cinematography by John Javellana. Sound by Jippy Pascua. Music by Datu Arellano.

A photograph of Analou Lapuerta, the inspiration of the film during her first swim nine months after being swept roughly 100kms in the raging floods caused by typhoon Sendong on December 17, 2011. 

A photograph of Analou Lapuerta, the inspiration of the film during her first swim nine months after being swept roughly 100kms in the raging floods caused by typhoon Sendong on December 17, 2011. 

State of Bislig by John Javellana

Images from the town of Bislig, Leyte November 26 2013.

The damages and casualties in Bislig is not as bad as the towns of Palo and Tanauan that come before it from the direction of Tacloban, but they also have been devastated. Aid has been reaching them although not on a regular basis. Mobile phone signal has been restored (3G from both Smart and Globe worked amazingly well) and might be a good place for people to file or send data. The people are good in spirits and the primary concern now is building materials for homes as well as temporary shelters for the victims that have made homeless.

Overwhelmed by John Javellana

The destruction takes an eerie form under the light of the full moon

The destruction takes an eerie form under the light of the full moon

The dead is something that has been hard for me to shoot. Especially at night when it's just you and them in sight.

The dead is something that has been hard for me to shoot. Especially at night when it's just you and them in sight.

How wind and water was able to bring this boat ashore is still something that amazes me until now.

How wind and water was able to bring this boat ashore is still something that amazes me until now.

Having covered almost every major disaster that has hit this country ever since I started out in 2008 has made it quite rare for me to personally be shocked with what I can see out of these events. It's day 15 and I'm still overwhelmed by the scope and extent that Yolanda has done. It's the perfect example when pictures alone can never replace actually being there.