Bislig Elementary School in the Philippines’ province of Leyte begins another school year today. Badly damaged by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, the school is well on its way to full recovery, having graduated its first class after the disaster in March 2015. The story of young survivor Honeylette Molina, who finished at the top of the class, demonstrates that natural catastrophes can take lives, destroy buildings and livelihoods, but these cannot break the human spirit and the desire to succeed.

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