My heart bleeds for Mindanao

The recent storm that struck Mindanao last night left so many people homeless with nowhere to go. Trailing behind are lifeless bodies of people, children and those who were sleeping with the hope of waking up this morning only to find out they were waking up dead. Most affected are Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga provinces.

Worst, those who were expected to help were also victims of this calamity.

Meanwhile, our office went ahead with the Christmas party. And I am attending more parties tonight and tomorrow and the coming week.

I feel so useless.

Photos grabbed from Mindanaoan at Twitpic; Mark Landicho and Al Christine Chan at their Facebook accounts.

PLEASE HELP!

If you want to donate, donate to reliable groups or agencies.
Philippine National Red Cross, for one.

You can also give to Iligan Bloggers Society.

DO NOT DELAY the already delayed Philippine government relief goods

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“Judicious use of resources at the outset is imperative lest we face the situation of even greater want after a period of relative plenty. We at the DSWD wish to assure you that your trust in us is not misplace."

-DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral as quoted by Inquirer.net

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Arroyo irritated by food caravan delay

Inquirer.net 10/27/2009

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This is indeed disturbing to the maximum level. So many people have already been affected by the recent typhoons that visited the country and hundreds have died YET the Philippine government still thinks this is not yet the time to distribute the relief goods donated by entities from abroad.

PROOF? This blog ni ella- a concerned citizen who volunteered at the Department of Social Welfare and Development and wrote about the situation inside the DSWD's storage room (click this link).

I suggest that concerned persons, Filipinos in general and those that donated for the typhoon victims should read that blog. This is a first-hand information on what happened to your donations and what that government agency tasked to do social welfare have been doing, if any, at all. You're donations might be one of those "stored" for special victims. Who are they? Why are the food and other items not given to the victims? Why they claim no one volunteers to repack them?

Ella's title aptly asked: Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? Sagot ko: Baka ipakain sa rabbit?

(Pics grabbed from Ella's blog)

Tama na Manny Villar...

...kasi ang tubig at ang nagbibigay ng ganitong may pangalan dahil malapit na ang eleksyon ay TASTELESS.

(galing dito ang pic.)

Another lesson yet to be learned by Filipinos

Disaster councils kick in only after, the fact and evaluation and physical infrastructural correctives after disasters seem not to be a priority for them or anyone else for that matter. The DPWH seems nowhere to be found nowadays nor does anyone seem to want to get them accountable for anything at all. Our collective memories for disasters, scandals, and political plunder are notoriously short, forgotten, as some point out, when the next one strikes or holiday season comes around. -Paulo Alcazaren, Lessons from the deluge

(Pic from anton.blogs.com)

Cold and hungry while waiting for a super typhoon

Woke up at 5 in the morning and feeling cold and hungry. I wondered how my sister and relatives in Manila were feeling at this time. They still have not responded to my text messages. I have this feeling that they are doing fine. I am sure they are not dead yet.

I went out and had my breakfast at Jollibee. I miss my favorite breakfast beverage there- hot creamy chocolate so much so that I got 2-3 cups to ease my feeling of coldness.

On my way there, I saw this man at the corner. Happy, contented and not caring about the world. He was eating Jollibee. I saw a happy smile in him. I wondered if he has family. I wondered if he has a place called home. Because every day, even if there is a storm, I saw him in that area like he was living in this part of the street, selling cigarettes at daytime and covered with rags during the night. But now he seemed so happy.

I felt happiness inside me too. His happiness radiated to me.

I like Cebu during this time of the day. Cebu seemed quiet with less jeepneys plying in the streets. During early mornings you could really enjoy peace in the city. Less people. Less traffic. Someone was even burning dry leaves somewhere. I smelled it. Reminded me of home.

But the horizon was still gray and the winds were starting to pack. A super typhoon is expected again to ruin the country.

The Professional Heckler Survives

Personal: I Survived! This street in Makati City used to be submerged in chest-deep floodwaters. I had to wade through it before three men pushing a tryke-kuliglig hybrid vehicle offered me a 300-peso(!) ride to our house at the end of the road. Two monoblock chairs were placed on the sidecar so i could stand on them. I had to raise my hands (a la-Pacquiao holding his WBC belt) to protect my bag with laptop. Para akong santong ipinaparada sa binagyong fluvial procession! Kulang na lang may magsabit sa ‘kin ng dried everlasting. It was Bocaue Pagoda tragedy meets MMFF Parade of Stars meets Manny Pacquiao victory motorcade! Insane!

(No! That was not The Heckler on the trike. Photo from Facebook by Kathy Zablan)

Christmas Won't Be The Same...

The Nativity scene found floating among the debris caused by typhoon Ondoy. Photo from Kat Palasi @ Facebook.

Nature Strikes Back

“Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives.”

Photos from Facebook: Jade Tamboon, Blacksuperchad Maglonzo, Julz Ilano, Wenzzo Pancho, Ryan Ramirez, Savann Oeurm, Atom Araullo, Rafa Dinglasan, Kathy Zablan and other unknown sources.

They Have Great Time in the US while Filipinos Suffer from Frank

This is copied without permission from www.inquirer.net. Emphasis is mine.

The government spent $1.5 million for President Gloria and her friends in Congress in her recent visit to the United States.

They stayed in the best hotels. They rented 30 cars. They paid $207++ per plate for their dinners.

For their visit, 250 Philippine consulate officials in the US had to be mobilized to serve their every need.

All of these perks they enjoyed while the country was suffering from the devastation wrought by Typhoon “Frank.”

For the information of the public, the following are the legislators who accompanied the President on that trip: Narciso Santiago III, Alliance for Rural Concerns party list; Monico Puentevella, Bacolod; Albert Garcia, Bataan; Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas; Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas;

William Irwin Tieng, Buhay party list; Jose Zubiri III, Bukidnon; Lorna Silverio, Bulacan; Mitzi Cajayon, Caloocan; Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal-Arroyo, Camarines Sur;

Joseph Santiago, Catanduanes; Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Cavite; Antonio Cuenco, Cebu; Eduardo Gullas, Cebu; Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, Cebu City; Rommel Amatong, Compostela Valley;

Speaker Prospero Nograles, Davao City; Antonio Lagdameo, Davao del Norte; Marc Cagas, Davao del Sur; Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental; Teodoro Coquilla, Eastern Samar;

Andres Salvacion, Leyte; Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Leyte; Trinidad Apostol, Leyte; Ma. Zenaida Angping, Manila; Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila; Bienvenido Abante Jr., Manila; Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate; Herminia Ramiro, Misamis Occidental; Yevgeny Emano, Misamis Oriental; Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Muntinlupa; Joseph Gilbert Violago, Nueva Ecija; Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro; cut short their US trip in sympathy for the victims of Typhoon Frank.

Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga; Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga; Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, Pampanga; Conrado Estrella III, Pangasinan; Ma. Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan; Eduardo Zialcita, Paranaque; Roman Romulo, Pasig City;

Mary Ann Susano, Quezon City; Nanette Castelo-Daza, Quezon City; Danilo Suarez, Quezon province; Junie Cua, Quirino; Arturo B. Robes, San Jose del Monte; Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte; Munir Arbeson, Sulu; Rex Gatchalian, Valenzuela City; and Antonio Diaz, Zambales and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

It’s all up to you if you will vote for those legislators again in 2010.

MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!

Disturbing Pics of the Princess of the Stars

Photos courtesy of AP and Reuters