MY TWO YEAR OLD SON SAVE US

OCTOBER 8, 2009. 8 PM. The night no one will forget when the devastating super typhoon “Pepeng” finally hit the ground and killed hundreds of people in the Philippines particularly in the provincial areas of Benguet and causes thousands of people homeless in nearby provinces, destroyed almost a billion pesos worth of properties and leave thousand in agony.

The same night a phenomenon one family will never forget.

“2 weeks ago”, started Miss Salve before typhoon Pepeng hit the Philippines, “My two year old son who barely can utter a good word started praying before going to bed.” She exclaimed, with tears almost rolling down from her eyes.

The two year old boy born as a menopausal baby perhaps was guided by his angel, innocently unaware of how powerful the prayers he had just whispered every night for two weeks with his mother and father before they sleep.

“There were no nights for two weeks that he didn’t ask me and his father to pray with him.” The mother relates. “He will sit down by the bed, fold his two little hand together. As he close his eyes he begin praying… ‘sus [jesus] aa… mama, papa, ‘te[sister].” Miss Salve recalls. The event on her mind was so clear that she remembers exactly every word her son speak out loud every night straight for two weeks. “There are some nights that he will force his father to sit with him and pray, sometimes with me. We would request him to stay lying down as we pray but he refuses. He would wake up and sit after milking and wake his father, too and they will pray the same prayer over and over. On the following night, he will ask me to pray with him. Then just few days before the typhoon hit the ground, he would request us both to sit with him and pray then after joining him he will pray alone. My heart is full of fondness as I look at him closed eyes praying. I can’t help but sob unconsciously overwhelmed and fascinated by his action.

“Jesus, please guide us tonight as we sleep. Make us safe and sound as the night unfolds. Take care of mama, papa, ate[sister], kuya [brother] uncles, nanay [grand ma] lola [grandma]. Amen.”

His brother Bj, who is 11 year old, is also fascinated. He often laugh at his younger brother praying because of the many confusing words he is tattering as he pray… “and he is indeed really cute at it.” The mother recalls. October 8. 7:30 pm, the rain started pouring out loud outside the house but can’t be heard that much inside the house because the family live at the basement of the 4 storey house. Then suddenly the light went off, so Miss Salve asked the girls who is watching TV before the light went off to light candles. The family decided to sleep and went on to their room. As usual, before they went to bed Maverik [their 2 year old son] ask the couple to pray with him.

“Bj who had his own room decided that night to sleep with us.” Miss Salve stated. During those moments I already felt something unusual. I don’t know, but I feel strange. My heart pounds double the normal rate. The rain outside was already banging some roof on adjacent houses which is our alarm that the rain was heavy outside because we can’t barely feel the hard pouring rain on the roof.’

‘After we pray with Maverik, he ask his kuya [brother] to pray too, with him. Me and my husband look at each other as he force his manong [brother] to pray. Bj was a little reluctant and keeps on grinning. So I asked him to pray with his younger brother. Hesitant at first but Bj prayed with Maverik. After that prayer, Maverik decided to sleep beside his kuya.”

8 PM, a rumbling sound alarmed the couple. They thought that the occupant on the upper level just moved a sofa which created the rumbling sound although the alarming crash was quite strong. The husband who is restless that night decided to check want happened. He went out the room concerned followed by his wife and their children noticed the sudden water coming inside the house through the inlet opening of the door. The husband pulled the door knob to open it and was shocked by the strong water pouring from above and starting to level up the floor together with stones and mud. The cold rain water assaulted the household as they panicked for their safety. The water filling the entire house was so fast. The couple grabbed their children and asked everyone to run outsideas the water start turning completely into mud. They run to the other house few meter away from theirs. Carrying nothing with them except the clothes they’re wearing.

“I saw how the soil eroded infront of the house as it fills the entire road of mud and bricks of rock. I saw one cab which is going uphill coming from Crystal Cave pushed to the edge of the ravine by the gigantic mud being washout by strong surge of water coming from the hill. Tons of eroded soil, like lava fill the entire street hitting our house and the adjacent houses. We heard fearful screaming voices at the dark of night as the rumbling sound continuous to fear everyone of us.” The husband relates to this news reporter. “We are all wet, cold and trembling but thank God we are all safe and alive.”

“I believe my 2 year old sons’ prayer save us which otherwise might created a devastating tragedy to my family.” Miss Salve keeps uttering.

Typhoon Pepeng claimed hundreds of lives in different areas of Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet. Many who died we’re sleeping… buried alive inside their houses after gigantic landslides sweep their homes that night. Everyone thought it was the end and the wrath of God was beginning, but in the mind and heart of an innocent 2 year old boy, unaware of what prayer means…just created a miracle!

“After that incident, my 2 year old son stopped praying. We are asking him why he was not praying anymore. He will just stare on us innocently wondering what we mean…” Miss Salve smiled as rhis interview ends.