JOSE ABAD SANTOS, Davao Occidental — In one of the most heartbreaking stories to emerge from the devastation left by Typhoon Inday, a grieving father was forced to build coffins with his own hands for his wife and two children after they were swept away by a powerful flash flood that destroyed their home in Barangay Tanuman.
The tragedy has left an entire community in mourning and has deeply moved thousands of Filipinos after photos and videos of the father, Robert Cabca, crafting improvised wooden coffins began circulating on social media.
According to accounts shared online, the Cabca family’s home was engulfed by the raging floodwaters brought by Typhoon Inday. Within moments, the violent current swept away the house, claiming the lives of Robert’s wife and their two young children.
The unimaginable loss left Robert devastated.
Yet amid his overwhelming grief, he faced another painful reality. With limited resources and while waiting for assistance, he had to personally cut wood, assemble planks, and painstakingly build makeshift coffins for the loved ones he had just lost.
Every nail he hammered into the wood reflected the unbearable pain of a husband saying goodbye to his wife and a father preparing the final resting place of his own children.
The emotional images of Robert working silently beside the lifeless bodies of his family have touched the hearts of countless netizens across the country, becoming a painful symbol of the human suffering left behind by natural disasters.
A relative who shared Robert’s ordeal on social media described the overwhelming sorrow the family is enduring.
The relative expressed how heartbreaking it was to witness Robert’s condition, urging him to stay strong despite the unimaginable tragedy. They also thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for immediately extending assistance and assured Robert that family members and other organizations are mobilizing additional support for him and the surviving children left in his care.
The message reminded Robert that although the pain is beyond words, he is not facing the tragedy alone, as his siblings and loved ones continue to stand beside him during the darkest chapter of his life.
The heartbreaking incident has sparked an outpouring of sympathy, prayers, and offers of assistance from people across the country. Many have called on government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and compassionate individuals to provide continued support not only for Robert but also for other families who lost loved ones and homes during the onslaught of Typhoon Inday.
Beyond the viral photographs lies a painful reminder that while storms eventually pass, the grief they leave behind can last a lifetime.
For Robert Cabca, the flood did not only wash away a house—it shattered a family, stole the laughter that once filled his home, and left him with the unimaginable burden of building the coffins of the people he loved most.
As communities continue to recover from Typhoon Inday’s destruction, stories like Robert’s underscore the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, faster emergency response, and sustained assistance for survivors struggling to rebuild their lives after tragedy strikes.
Authorities continue to monitor affected communities as relief and rehabilitation efforts remain underway in areas devastated by the typhoon. Meanwhile, prayers and support continue to pour in for Robert Cabca and the many other families whose lives were forever changed by the disaster.