A Filipino mother is appealing for help in locating her son and daughter-in-law, who remain missing following the powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
Hermosila “Mimi” Adalid, a teacher at the Negros Oriental State University Bais Campus, said she is placing her hopes on the 91-member Philippine contingent that has been deployed to Myanmar to assist with search and rescue efforts. Among the missing are her son, 34-year-old Edsil Jess, and his wife, 25-year-old Alexis Gale.
The couple, both educators, had been teaching in Myanmar for the past two years. Edsil specialized in music, while Alexis was an information and communications technology teacher at the Mandalay International School of Acumen.
Search efforts underway
The Philippine government sent a humanitarian team to Myanmar on April 1 to aid in disaster response. Their mission is set to last two weeks, with the primary goal of locating missing individuals, including four Filipino teachers reported missing in Mandalay.
Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi had earlier conveyed Adalid’s request to join the search team, but the Office of Civil Defense advised against it due to safety concerns.
Despite the uncertainty, Adalid remains hopeful. Reports indicate that her son’s belongings were found among the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, but there has been no sign of the couple. A recent unverified report suggested that a Burmese national may have spotted them alive in a hospital.
Embassy on high alert
The Philippine Embassy in Yangon has intensified its efforts to locate the missing Filipinos. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the four are feared trapped in the 12-story Sky Villa Condominium in Mandalay, one of the hardest-hit locations.
Catherine Alpay, Director of the DFA Office of Migration Affairs, revealed that many bodies recovered from the collapsed building were already in an advanced state of decomposition and had to be cremated due to the lack of storage facilities. However, Philippine officials have requested that DNA samples be taken before cremation to aid in identification efforts.
“Measures are in place for proper identification when and where possible,” Alpay assured. Despite the grim reports, the DFA remains hopeful that the missing individuals could still be found alive.
Challenges in Myanmar’s rescue operations
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega noted that Myanmar’s rescue operations have been hindered by its ongoing political and security issues. The earthquake affected areas controlled by both the military junta and armed secessionist groups, complicating disaster response efforts.
“Myanmar lacks the capabilities and equipment for large-scale search and rescue operations. They have acknowledged this and have requested international assistance,” De Vega explained.
Filipino humanitarian team on the ground
The nearly 100-member Filipino humanitarian team has now set up operations in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, coordinating with local authorities. While the missing Filipinos’ families are urging rescuers to focus on Mandalay, deployment areas are determined by Myanmar’s government.
The DFA has confirmed that 171 Filipinos reside in Mandalay, with 128 verified as safe. Efforts are underway to relocate some Filipinos to safer locations in Yangon.
Concern over human trafficking victims
The earthquake has also affected the repatriation of 50 to 60 Filipinos believed to be victims of human trafficking, working in scam hubs in Myanmar. The DFA clarified that, as of now, none of these individuals have reported being affected by the disaster.
While the rescue operations continue, Adalid and other affected families are holding onto hope. With the Philippine Embassy, DFA, and humanitarian teams working tirelessly, they pray for a positive outcome in the search for their loved ones.
“We are hoping for a miracle,” Adalid said, expressing her gratitude to those assisting in the search and urging Filipinos to pray for all missing individuals in Myanmar.