The Tzu Chi Great Love Village (TCGLV) in Barangay Liloan, Ormoc City, Leyte is a symbol of survival and resilience from the deadly “Supertyphoon Yolanda” that devastated many parts of the Visayas region and killed thousands on 8 November 2013. The international humanitarian group Tzu Chi, founded by Taiwanese Buddhist nun Master Cheng Yen, together with local donors, volunteers and the disaster victims themselves build the community of “Yolanda” survivors. 

After 12 years of rebuilding their lives, the villagers faced another disaster as “typhoon Opong” caused flooding that damaged their homes and belongings on the night of 25 September. But the spirit of compassion and love returned to the village as coast guards, police, firefighters and other rescuers safely evacuated TCGLV residents in Sitio San Roque the following day.

The rescuers risked their own lives helping villagers cross the five-foot-high floodwater caused by the swelling of the Pagsangaan River.

Early on 26 September, nearly 80 Tzu Chi volunteers, including 45 scholars, brought food and water and prepared hot meals for the villagers sheltering at evacuation centers, including at the Tzu Chi Activity Hall and the Tzu Chi Market-Market area. They cooked arroz caldo in giant pots and served it to the hungry evacuees. Evacuee Rebecca Arcillas, 56, was thankful for the bowls of hot meals that carried warmth, comfort and the message that no one is left alone in times of calamity.

The Tacloban Delta Volunteer Fire Rescue provided a tanker to transport clean water for the villagers.