For Filipinos, despair and prayers

Emil Guillermo, Special to CNN
Updated 2:15 PM EST, Tue November 12, 2013
A man reconstructs his house in the bay of Tacloban, Leyte province, Philippines, on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, hit the country's eastern seaboard on November 8, leaving a wide swath of destruction, including more than 5,000 deaths.
Photos: Typhoon Haiyan —
A man reconstructs his house in the bay of Tacloban, Leyte province, Philippines, on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, hit the country's eastern seaboard on November 8, leaving a wide swath of destruction, including more than 5,000 deaths.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
A man rests on his damaged house along the shore in Tacloban on Monday, November 25.
Photos: Typhoon Haiyan —
A man rests on his damaged house along the shore in Tacloban on Monday, November 25.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
Road traffic moves past destroyed houses in Palo, Leyte province, on Sunday, November 24, weeks after typhoon Haiyan caused heavy damage to life and property in the Philippines.
Photos: Typhoon Haiyan —
Road traffic moves past destroyed houses in Palo, Leyte province, on Sunday, November 24, weeks after typhoon Haiyan caused heavy damage to life and property in the Philippines.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
Warning: Graphic images (multiple)
Typhoon Haiyan —
A woman rests inside the damaged Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Tacloban, Philippines, on Sunday, November 24.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A woman rests inside the damaged Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Tacloban, Philippines, on Sunday, November 24.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
A woman looks over the devastated waterfront in Tacloban on November 24.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A woman looks over the devastated waterfront in Tacloban on November 24.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Typhoon survivors walk down a road in Palo, Philppines, during a procession for typhoon victims on November 24.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Typhoon survivors walk down a road in Palo, Philppines, during a procession for typhoon victims on November 24.
Bullit Marquez/AP
A vehicle lies in the water in Tacloban on Saturday, November 23.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A vehicle lies in the water in Tacloban on Saturday, November 23.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A man searches through the debris in Tacloban on November 23.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man searches through the debris in Tacloban on November 23.
Bullit Marquez/AP
A man scavenges piles of wood amid damaged container vessels on November 23 in Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man scavenges piles of wood amid damaged container vessels on November 23 in Tacloban.
Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images
Local people begin to help clear debris near the shoreline where several tankers ran aground on November 23 in Leyte. The death toll from the storm stands at more than 5,000, according to a government-run news agency.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Local people begin to help clear debris near the shoreline where several tankers ran aground on November 23 in Leyte. The death toll from the storm stands at more than 5,000, according to a government-run news agency.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A man clears debris from in front of his home near the shoreline on November 23 in Leyte.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man clears debris from in front of his home near the shoreline on November 23 in Leyte.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Groups of men clear debris near the shoreline on November 23 in Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Groups of men clear debris near the shoreline on November 23 in Tacloban.
Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images
Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan inspect the damage to their houses in Tacloban, Philippines, on Friday, November 22.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan inspect the damage to their houses in Tacloban, Philippines, on Friday, November 22.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Filpinos clear rubble from a hard-hit area in Tacloban on November 22.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Filpinos clear rubble from a hard-hit area in Tacloban on November 22.
NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images
An airplane lands in Tacloban as Antonio Lacasa rebuilds his house on Thursday, November 21.
Typhoon Haiyan —
An airplane lands in Tacloban as Antonio Lacasa rebuilds his house on Thursday, November 21.
Bullit Marquez/AP
People carry a coffin through an opening in the wall of a public cemetery for burial in Tacloban on November 21.
Typhoon Haiyan —
People carry a coffin through an opening in the wall of a public cemetery for burial in Tacloban on November 21.
Bullit Marquez/AP
A member of the Philippine air force drops relief goods for survivors in Tolosa on November 21.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A member of the Philippine air force drops relief goods for survivors in Tolosa on November 21.
Dita Alangkara/AP
Children blow bubbles in a destroyed market in Tacloban on Wednesday, November 20.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Children blow bubbles in a destroyed market in Tacloban on Wednesday, November 20.
David Guttenfelder/AP
Workers clear mud and debris in Tacloban on November 20.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Workers clear mud and debris in Tacloban on November 20.
Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images
A boy climbs across debris in Tacloban on November 20.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A boy climbs across debris in Tacloban on November 20.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
People at the airport in Tacloban react to a blast of wind from an aircraft on November 20.
Typhoon Haiyan —
People at the airport in Tacloban react to a blast of wind from an aircraft on November 20.
Bullit Marquez/AP
A man walks through water in the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban, Philippines, on November 20.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man walks through water in the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban, Philippines, on November 20.
Dita Alangkara/AP
A man sleeps on Tuesday, November 19, on a tanker that ran aground during Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man sleeps on Tuesday, November 19, on a tanker that ran aground during Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Firemen unload bodies November 19 for forensic experts to register and bury in a mass grave outside of Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Firemen unload bodies November 19 for forensic experts to register and bury in a mass grave outside of Tacloban.
David Guttenfelder/AP
Firemen unload more victims outside of Tacloban on November 19.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Firemen unload more victims outside of Tacloban on November 19.
David Guttenfelder/AP
A man fans the flames of a fire in Tanauan, Philippines, on November 19.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man fans the flames of a fire in Tanauan, Philippines, on November 19.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Survivors salvage wood next to stranded ships in Tacloban on November 19.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors salvage wood next to stranded ships in Tacloban on November 19.
NIC BOTHMA/EPA/LANDOV
Philippine military personnel carry an injured survivor to an evacuation flight at the Tacloban airport November 19.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Philippine military personnel carry an injured survivor to an evacuation flight at the Tacloban airport November 19.
Dita Alangkara/AP
People in Tacloban march in the rain November 19 during a procession calling for courage and resilience among survivors.
Typhoon Haiyan —
People in Tacloban march in the rain November 19 during a procession calling for courage and resilience among survivors.
David Guttenfelder/AP
People play cards by candlelight Monday, November 18, in Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
People play cards by candlelight Monday, November 18, in Tacloban.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
A U.S. Navy helicopter delivers relief goods to typhoon victims in Ormoc, Philippines, on November 18.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A U.S. Navy helicopter delivers relief goods to typhoon victims in Ormoc, Philippines, on November 18.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
Men take food back to their families in Leyte on November 18. Countries all over the world have pledged relief aid to those affected by the typhoon, but damage to airports and roads have made moving the aid very difficult.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Men take food back to their families in Leyte on November 18. Countries all over the world have pledged relief aid to those affected by the typhoon, but damage to airports and roads have made moving the aid very difficult.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
People are held back as the U.S. Navy delivers aid from a helicopter in San Jose, Philippines, on November 18.
Typhoon Haiyan —
People are held back as the U.S. Navy delivers aid from a helicopter in San Jose, Philippines, on November 18.
Wally Santana/AP
A helicopter flies over a call for help in Ormoc on November 18.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A helicopter flies over a call for help in Ormoc on November 18.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
A man cleans up mud inside a church in the hard-hit city of Tacloban on November 18.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man cleans up mud inside a church in the hard-hit city of Tacloban on November 18.
Dita Alangkara/AP
A boy bathes November 18 at a Tacloban school turned into a temporary shelter.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A boy bathes November 18 at a Tacloban school turned into a temporary shelter.
Dita Alangkara/AP
Hundreds of typhoon survivors are packed into a U.S. military airplane November 18 for evacuation from Tacloban's airport.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Hundreds of typhoon survivors are packed into a U.S. military airplane November 18 for evacuation from Tacloban's airport.
Wally Santana/AP
Typhoon survivors run toward a passing U.S. Navy helicopter in San Jose on November 18.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Typhoon survivors run toward a passing U.S. Navy helicopter in San Jose on November 18.
Wally Santana/AP
A boy holding a toy machine gun sits Sunday, November 17, on a ship that ran aground in Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A boy holding a toy machine gun sits Sunday, November 17, on a ship that ran aground in Tacloban.
NIC BOTHMA/EPA/LANDOV
People gather around a helicopter as it delivers relief supplies November 17 in Guiuan, Philippines.
Typhoon Haiyan —
People gather around a helicopter as it delivers relief supplies November 17 in Guiuan, Philippines.
U.S. Navy via Getty Images
Filipinos board an HC-130 Hercules airplane as U.S. sailors carry relief supplies November 17 in Guiuan.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Filipinos board an HC-130 Hercules airplane as U.S. sailors carry relief supplies November 17 in Guiuan.
MCSN BEVERLY LESONIK/US NAVY/EPA/LANDOV
Survivors clean mannequins found among the debris in Tacloban on November 17.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors clean mannequins found among the debris in Tacloban on November 17.
Dita Alangkara/AP
A man leans against a statue of the Crucifixion before a Mass at Santo Nino Church in Tacloban on November 17.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man leans against a statue of the Crucifixion before a Mass at Santo Nino Church in Tacloban on November 17.
Dita Alangkara/AP
A man carries a piece of wood from the debris in Tacloban on November 17.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man carries a piece of wood from the debris in Tacloban on November 17.
NIC BOTHMA/EPa/LANDOV
Survivors wait in line in Tacloban for relief goods on November 17.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors wait in line in Tacloban for relief goods on November 17.
Aaron Favila/AP
A man looks over the devastation from his damaged home in Tacloban on November 17.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man looks over the devastation from his damaged home in Tacloban on November 17.
Aaron Favila/AP
A trapped resident braves the dust created by a U.S. Navy helicopter taking off Saturday, November 16, on Manicani Island, Philippines.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A trapped resident braves the dust created by a U.S. Navy helicopter taking off Saturday, November 16, on Manicani Island, Philippines.
Bullit Marquez/ap
Corpses are collected and loaded on trucks to be taken to mass graves in Tacloban on November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Corpses are collected and loaded on trucks to be taken to mass graves in Tacloban on November 16.
A victim's corpse floats on a river in Tanauan on November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A victim's corpse floats on a river in Tanauan on November 16.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A pregnant survivor waits to give birth in a hospital November 16 in Tanauan.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A pregnant survivor waits to give birth in a hospital November 16 in Tanauan.
Wong Maye-E/ap
A dead dog lies in front of a house destroyed by the typhoon in Tanauan.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A dead dog lies in front of a house destroyed by the typhoon in Tanauan.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A man carries a bicycle as he walks through the ruins of a Tacloban building November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man carries a bicycle as he walks through the ruins of a Tacloban building November 16.
Dita Alangkara/ap
Survivors of the typhoon stand in a Tanauan street partially blocked by debris November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors of the typhoon stand in a Tanauan street partially blocked by debris November 16.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
An elderly survivor walks past toppled cars outside a church in Tacloban on November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
An elderly survivor walks past toppled cars outside a church in Tacloban on November 16.
Aaron Favila/ap
A man in Tanauan cleans meat after slaughtering his only cow that survived the typhoon.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man in Tanauan cleans meat after slaughtering his only cow that survived the typhoon.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Survivors gather in Tacloban to await transport to a neighboring province on November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors gather in Tacloban to await transport to a neighboring province on November 16.
Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images
Men carry a coffin toward a Leyte cemetery on November 16.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Men carry a coffin toward a Leyte cemetery on November 16.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A survivor cooks dinner in front of his damaged home in Marabut, Philippines, on Friday, November 15.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A survivor cooks dinner in front of his damaged home in Marabut, Philippines, on Friday, November 15.
David Guttenfelder
Toppled coconut trees dot a mountain in an area devastated by the typhoon in Leyte province.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Toppled coconut trees dot a mountain in an area devastated by the typhoon in Leyte province.
Bullit Marquez/ap
A typhoon survivor keeps her husband alive by manually pumping air into his lungs after his leg was amputated at a Tacloban hospital November 15. The hospital has been operating without power since the typhoon.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A typhoon survivor keeps her husband alive by manually pumping air into his lungs after his leg was amputated at a Tacloban hospital November 15. The hospital has been operating without power since the typhoon.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A survivor reacts to the damage at a residential area in Tacloban on November 15.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A survivor reacts to the damage at a residential area in Tacloban on November 15.
FRANCIS R. MALASIG/EPA /LANDOV
Typhoon victims are treated in the lobby of a Tacloban hospital on November 15.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Typhoon victims are treated in the lobby of a Tacloban hospital on November 15.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Philippine Army soldiers carry the body of a civilian in Tanauan on November 15.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Philippine Army soldiers carry the body of a civilian in Tanauan on November 15.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Residents wait to board a Singaporean cargo plane at the Tacloban airport on November 15. Many survivors have converged on the city's airport to wait for flights.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Residents wait to board a Singaporean cargo plane at the Tacloban airport on November 15. Many survivors have converged on the city's airport to wait for flights.
Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images
Search and retrieval teams carry a body bag in Tacloban on November 15.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Search and retrieval teams carry a body bag in Tacloban on November 15.
Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images
Haiyan survivors carry food that a U.S. military helicopter dropped off in Guiuan on Thursday, November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Haiyan survivors carry food that a U.S. military helicopter dropped off in Guiuan on Thursday, November 14.
David Guttenfelder/AP
Dozens of bodies are placed near Tacloban City Hall on November 14 as workers prepare a mass grave on the outskirts of the hard-hit city.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Dozens of bodies are placed near Tacloban City Hall on November 14 as workers prepare a mass grave on the outskirts of the hard-hit city.
Vincent Yu/AP
A girl plays inside her house amid the devastation in Tacloban on November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A girl plays inside her house amid the devastation in Tacloban on November 14.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
A Filipino soldier hands out bread to survivors in Maraboth, Philippines, on November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A Filipino soldier hands out bread to survivors in Maraboth, Philippines, on November 14.
Dita Alangkara/AP
A boy takes cover from rain while waiting for an evacuation flight from Tacloban's airport November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A boy takes cover from rain while waiting for an evacuation flight from Tacloban's airport November 14.
Wally Santana/AP
Workers arrange bodies at a mass burial site at a Tacloban cemetery November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Workers arrange bodies at a mass burial site at a Tacloban cemetery November 14.
Aaron Favila/AP
The weary wait for evacuation from Tacloban on November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
The weary wait for evacuation from Tacloban on November 14.
Wong Maye-E/AP
A truck lies in the water in Hernani, Philippines, on November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A truck lies in the water in Hernani, Philippines, on November 14.
Wong Maye-E/AP
Children play with fallen power lines near a damaged school in Guiuan on November 14.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Children play with fallen power lines near a damaged school in Guiuan on November 14.
Dita Alangkara/AP
Teresa Mazeda hangs laundry in the ruins of her Tacloban home on Wednesday, November 13.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Teresa Mazeda hangs laundry in the ruins of her Tacloban home on Wednesday, November 13.
Axel Oberg/TT/Sipa USA
Nina Duran searches for belongings at her family's destroyed house in Tacloban on November 13.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Nina Duran searches for belongings at her family's destroyed house in Tacloban on November 13.
Axel Oberg/TT/Sipa USA
Survivors walk through the ruins of their neighborhood outside Tacloban on November 13.
Typhoon Haiyan —
Survivors walk through the ruins of their neighborhood outside Tacloban on November 13.
David Guttenfelder/AP
A man sits in front of his destroyed business November 13 in Tacloban.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A man sits in front of his destroyed business November 13 in Tacloban.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
A family, desperate to charge their mobile phones to search for family and friends, tries to use a ceiling fan to generate electricity November 13 in the Philippine province of Cebu.
Typhoon Haiyan —
A family, desperate to charge their mobile phones to search for family and friends, tries to use a ceiling fan to generate electricity November 13 in the Philippine province of Cebu.
JAY ROMMEL LABRA/EPA/LANDOV
An injured man in Tacloban rests beneath a picture of Jesus Christ on November 13.
Typhoon Haiyan —
An injured man in Tacloban rests beneath a picture of Jesus Christ on November 13.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images