American thanks Yolanda for the woman of his life

CEBU, Philippines - When American Allen Brumley, 52, came to northern Cebu as a volunteer after super typhoon Yolanda struck November last year, he saw misery, heartache, pain.

He also found love.

Last Tuesday, he tied the knot with the woman of his life, a few days before the anniversary of Yolanda.

“Everything is thanks to Yolanda. Yolanda was bad. It is bad as any typhoon as ever had been in the history of the world, but any time there is a major disaster, bad things happen. But, usually good doors of opportunity open up,” Allen said.

It did, but also for him. And more than he could imagine. He saw Ritchel Ygot, 20.

The moment he set his eyes on her, his heart simply skipped a beat; Ygot’s, too.

“Wala gyud ko nagtuo nga naay ingon ani after sa among experience sa Yolanda. Grabe ka lipay bisan og naa pa ang kahadlok tungod sa bagyo,” Ritchel said.

Allen went to Kawit, Medellin, Cebu in January to help in relief efforts there two months after the November 8 super typhoon.

“When we got our research, this area seems to be the area that needed the most help because they didn’t get as much help as what everybody else. That is why we chose this area,” Allen said, who came to Medellin alone.

He connected with local members of his religion Church of Christ. One time, he witnessed the baptism of those who just joined, and it was when he saw her.

“When they had their original baptism which was the immersion, I was taking pictures, and then there was one girl that got my attention. I don’t know who she was. Then, I continued taking photos. Most everybody else I got one picture. But for some reasons, this lady got my attention and I got five or six different pictures, (her) going in and coming out of the sea,” Allen said.

“And her coming out of the sea was the first time that she looked at me and I looked at her and we got each other’s attention,” he added.

No words were spoken, but it was the beginning of something beautiful and magical for both of them.

Allen said that everything was meant to be because during their relief efforts in January, Ritchel’s house was the first to be chosen for reconstruction.

“I really think that it is meant to be. If you look at it from the very beginning, when we first met, her comin’ out of the sea, her family’s house was the one chosen as our first house to be constructed even though I have no idea whose house it was until we knew each other,” he said.

After the baptism, there were occasions when he actually got the chance to be closer to Ritchel during gatherings of their congregation, but the opportunity never presented itself.

Then the people of Sitio Mojon, Kawit, who took a liking of Allen, and not knowing that he had set his sights on Ritchel, actually egged them both to know each other better.

“The village people here, I call them leaders in Mojon, said that I have to meet the girl who is pretty, sweet, innocent, and who has never had a boyfriend. I always tell them that I’m not interested. I didn’t come here to get married. I come here to do work, to do relief work,” he said.

But who could deny fate?  Love blossomed after they finally yielded and agreed to meet in April.

Allen said they decided to get married because he was sure he cannot live without Ritchel.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that she really loves me. A lot of people think that when a Filipina marries a foreigner, they want to get a better life and get out to the States,” he said.

The couple said they are staying in the country, seeing that they could help in so many ways.  Ritchel said that even though misery is still there a year after Yolanda, she is thankful because she found love during the most hopeless moment of her life. — /RHM (FREEMAN)