Charmine Rudolfo and Jay Vallestin, both 25, live with their two children in San Antonio, Panganiban, Catanduanes. For six years, they have built a life near the sea. Jay fishes for shrimp and crabs, while Charmine takes care of their children and home.

Living close to the sea has its costs, especially when storms and typhoons strike. When Typhoon Pepito hit, strong winds and rising waves destroyed everything. Their home, made of plywood and thatched nipa leaves, was swept away. “We lost everything to the sea,” Charmine said.

For a month, the family stayed in an unused space in their village leader’s house. They relied on government food support for their daily survival. Jay would go out to sea for hours, hoping to catch enough to feed the family and earn a little income. Sometimes, he would return with nothing. The uncertainty of each day weighed heavily on them.

Their children still feel scared when it rains heavily. The sound of strong winds or pounding rain brings back memories of the typhoon. As parents, Charmine and Jay find this heartbreaking. They want their children to feel safe again.

Determined to rebuild, they borrowed money to buy lumber and hire a carpenter. Though the interest was high, they took the loan because they had no other option. However, the funds were still not enough. They used scrap GI sheets for walls and gathered sand and pebbles from the shore to create a temporary floor.

When CARE, through the UNCERF-funded emergency response, arrived in their community, they assessed the damages and the needs of the most affected people. Charmine and Jay’s family qualified for shelter repair kits and multi-purpose cash assistance. These resources gave them the support they needed to begin rebuilding their home with dignity and hope.

With the materials and cash assistance, they began rebuilding together. Jay helped the carpenter after fishing trips, and Charmine hauled sand and gravel.

“We worked together to save on labor costs,” Charmine said.

Today, their house is still a work in progress. The walls need to be completed with plywood and properly braced. The floor remains unfinished, but they plan to buy cement to make it sturdier and safer for their children. The kitchen also still needs to be built, so Charmine can once again cook meals in a space of her own. The roof also needs to be reinforced to withstand strong winds. With the rainy season usually beginning in June, they are doing their best to prepare and protect their family.

“It is small, but we have big dreams,” Jay said. “We are working hard so we can make it stronger and one day move to a safer place.”