Kullen Thomas Babael Coble
On November 8, 2013 I floated safely inside my mothers belly as she sheltered in place for hours on the Island of Samar while high winds from Super Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda raged outside. It was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, more than 8,000 Filipinos lost their lives that day. Fourteen days later I was born Kullen Thomas Babael Coble at a severely storm damaged hospital with no electricity located in Catbalogan, a small seaside fishing village in the Philippines. The Filipino doctors and nurses called me ‘Tisoy’ best translation would be the Hawaiian word ‘Hapa’.