“Don’t underestimate the importance you have—history has shown us that courage can be contagious.”—Michelle Obama

Like most elements in life, being courageous is a choice we can make every single day whether it is for a monumental task, an uncomfortable interaction, or being able to speak your truth. It takes courage to live a life of authenticity.

What does it mean to live a courageous life? Being courageous in life’s darkest hours, in my book, is among the most authentic acts possible, because your courage can illuminate your life and the lives of others.

Courage may show in many forms throughout our lives. Reconciliation, forgiveness, acceptance and understanding could be acts of courage. Living with compassion and an open heart could also require courage at times.

Being courageous means acting in spite of your fear, in spite of personal risk. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Choosing to stay in Siargao during and after the devastation of Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai) is the courageous act of my daughter Jordan Valdes. I cannot believe that her decision was without fear, but it was certainly full of courage!

I am grateful for the outpouring of generosity from family and friends who have recognized the importance of Jordan’s work in Siargao and her commitment and willingness to take on tremendous personal risk. Her actions have had a domino effect that has revealed the kindness and generosity of like-minded souls who have recognized how the courage of one can illuminate many!

Staring at death’s door

Here is part of Jordan’s horrifying but courageous story of her life in Siargao after Odette:

“My eyes flitted open, sleep-deprived and sensitive to the first signs of daylight peeking over the horizon. At first I wondered if everything that had happened was only a bad dream, but as I sat up in the front seat of my Pajero, parked underneath my porch, still tied to the grills of my kitchen windows and the concrete posts of my house with wet curtains and surfboard leashes, I knew that it was all real. Undeniably, sickeningly real.

“The sky was a bright explosion of orange and pink, one of the most beautifully tragic sunrises I have ever witnessed. I climbed the hill to assess the damage: wooden houses stripped of their roofs and walls; crumpled-up yero scattered all around; confounded families walking through the rubble, trying to make sense of what once was.

“Somehow I felt everything and nothing at all—I couldn’t stop thinking about the entire experience, yet I also could not find the right words to describe how I was feeling.

“I had never been one to fear death, already having accepted it as a natural course of human existence from a young age. I know that at any moment we might succumb to our soul’s final slumber. Though perhaps for the first time in my life, I truly felt like I was staring at death’s door, just waiting for it to be opened.

“For days after the storm, I looked outside at the sunny skies, seeing no sign of help arriving. We still had zero signal, so I had no idea of the destruction that had taken place along the central belt of the Philippines. All I knew was that we were in pain and no one was coming to save us.

“Frustrated by the slow response from our government, I started fundraising online to provide roofs and walls for my neighbors on my street. I was able to raise enough money to give out 530 sheets of metal roofing, 330 pieces of plywood, and 50 kilograms of umbrella nails. Though that is hardly the end of it, we continue doing our best.

“I try hard to stay positive, to know that every day, things get better, little by little. Though as the talisay tree in my garden is beginning to sprout again, I am reminded that all things get better with time; it is just a matter of watering the spaces in which we need to grow.”

For donations: GCash—Jordan Valdes, 0917-5229331; BPI—Jordan Valdes, account no. 0329113671; PayPal—Jordan Valdes, [email protected].

Building shelters

While many foreign and local tourists made their way out of the island, there were several who decided to stay behind and help the people who have adopted them into the island community. Everyone started their own small relief operations, some working with the local government, others working around existing communities.

These include Lokal Lab (Kara Rosas, Mark Pintucan and Iris Aroa), Bravo Beach Resort (Alex Gari), Sea Movement (James and Marja O’Donnell), Arka Hayahay (Saar Geva), Tindog Siargao by Siargao Creative Nomads, Save Siargao (Wang Borja), Puppy Puddle Siargao (Aleksandra Goldyn), Cev Siargao (David del Rosario), Siago (Maite Ortoll-Garcia), Caracoa/FMM (Luis and Caress Banson).

Community kitchens have been set up by Alexa Paroz and restaurant owners Mikael Gonzalez (Vedya) and Alma Guillermo (Alma), with long lines of locals getting free meals, drinking water and medicines.

Nadine Lustre set up a solar panel that allowed people to charge their phones. Everyone came out to help their neighbors despite the lack of electricity, supplies and basic comforts.

My friend Jolly Gomez (JLG Prime Builders) decided to focus on building small decent shelters for the people in the northern part of Siargao, which was the most damaged area after the typhoon. His goal was to build a 23-square-meter house with a concrete base, coco lumber from fallen trees, and strong GI (galvanized iron) roofing. The total cost of materials is only $1,000 and he will take care of the labor. He has a humble goal of building 100 houses out of the 34,000 homes that have been destroyed, but if there are people willing to give, why not try to build 10,000?

You can contact him directly and deposit to accounts: Jose Luis Gomez (Jolly)—BPI Peso account no. 0090 0238 02; BDO peso account no. 00872 8008 211; PayPal—[email protected]

Faith

As our Jordan celebrates her 24th birthday still in Siargao on Jan. 19, I wish and pray for her protection and safety as she continues to give so selflessly and courageously.

There is a strong element of faith in courage—faith in the truth of who we are and where that will lead us, faith in what we are doing and its importance and value in the lives of others. During these fearful times, we just need both courage and faith!

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