The teardrop shaped island southwest of the Philippines had been getting increasingly popular for its sleepy town vibe, uncommon local culture, and world-class surfing conditions. Tourist arrivals kept rising, and Siargao soon became more than just a surfers' paradise — it was a dream destination for many.

When super typhoon "Odette" (Rai) hit Siargao on 16 December 2021, no one really thought the devastation would be as massive as it eventually turned out — least of all Kenneth Shaw, the businessman who was at Siargao Town Center that day. He was overseeing his staff who were preparing the place for the expected onslaught, as well as serving lugaw to those who had already been evacuated to the area earlier in the day.

Noticing one of his groundskeepers listless and seemingly unoccupied while all the rest were busy, he approached and found out that the man was worried sick for his wife and child who lived up a hill near the town. He had not been able to contact them for some time, he said. He did not know what had happened to them.

Without a second thought, Shaw offered to take him there in his car, thinking it was only 15 minutes away anyway. On their way there, "Odette" blew in, and the "15 minutes" turned out to be several hours, most of which were spent hacking at fallen trees so the car could pass, and taking shelter against an abandoned truck so the car would not be blown away by the powerful gusts.