This paper presents a study based on action research conducted with a community of survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City, Leyte Province, Philippines. Research involved personal interviews with various stakeholders and direct observations throughout the process of composing and producing a drama, “Lunop Han Dughan,” that served as a tool for the reintegration into society for a community that suffered from trauma. The drama was based on the experiences of this community during the typhoon, and was written in their own Waray language, composed, directed, sung and acted by the survivors themselves. 

The researcher found that disaster mitigation must include a balance between providing for both the material and non-material needs of survivors. The researcher examines the processing of emotional trauma through the application of a holistic psychosocial intervention. This holistic approach was found to decrease the impact of the trauma, allowing the survivor to function more normally and reintegrate into society as early as the rescue and early recovery phase. Based on the results of this study, the researcher argues that psychosocial intervention should be at the forefront of delivery of first aid to disaster victims. 

Through the production of “Lunop Han Dughan,” participants processed memories of the disaster. Along with the crew members and cast, the audience, who were also survivors themselves, were able to express their emotions, pain, and sorrow as well. They came out of the performance purged from the trauma and began an overdue process of healing. All survivors involved in “Lunop Han Dughan,” whether participants or audience members, were transforming from victims to survivors.