A Reader From The Philippines Talks About Typhoon Haiyan
On the morning of November 8, when Typhoon Haiyan first made a
landfall in Guiuan, Eastern Samar (my birthplace and where a majority of
my relatives still live), I was home safe and dry here in Manila, only
slightly worried and silently praying that Guiuan and the rest of the
region would make it okay. Born and raised in the Eastern Visayas
(central part of the Philippines facing the Pacific), I'm used to
typhoons battering our province. Typhoons are a "normal" part of life.
We have been warned that this was a super typhoon but no one was
prepared for the scale of destruction it would bring. For days after
Haiyan, we couldn't get in touch with our families and friends in the
province. I couldn't watch the news because it was just too painful. The
city of Tacloban (the administrative capital of Eastern Visayas) was
almost wiped out. There were dead bodies everywhere. Only strongly built
structures have withstood the ravages of the typhoon.
On Monday, we started to receive news from some of our families and
friends. They survived although their homes didn't. They told us they
are almost out of food and water and are desperately trying to leave the
province. Some of my aunts and uncles headed to Cebu, a nearby
province, and are now on their way here to Manila.
My Mom's best friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer was
confined at Bethany Hospital in Tacloban and was scheduled for surgery
that Friday at 3 p.m. When Haiyan hit Tacloban, Bethany Hospital was
washed out by the storm surge. She and her son, fortunately, were able
to swim to safety.
A childhood friend, who is a policeman, was on duty that day at Tacloban. Until now, he is still missing.
A cousin in Tacloban posted a message on Facebook on Monday for us
not to worry because all of them in the family have survived but their
homes were destroyed and that they need food and water. I haven't heard
from her since but still holding on to hope that they're safe.
Truth is my family is still relatively lucky. We don't have any
casualties. Aside from my childhood friend, everyone has been accounted
for. A lot of my relatives are on their way here to Manila and some to
nearby provinces. But the rest of the survivors are still there,
homeless, hungry, scared for their safety due to escalation of crimes,
suffering the stench of the place due to decaying corpses.
Many Filipinos are enraged by the inefficiency of the Philippine
government's relief and rescue operations. We are very grateful that
international organizations such as the UN have been quick to extend
help, as well as foreign countries who quickly came to our aid. What we
need right now is to keep the survivors alive. After this, the long way
to rehabilitation and recovery would be long and truly challenging. We
are grateful for the donations and relief assistance but we still need
all the help we can get.
Thank you so much, Enty, for giving a spot on CDAN for the survivors of Haiyan.
I know some of the readers have already donated. In behalf of the
Filipino people, maraming salamat po. We would forever be grateful.
Links to donate:
In other countries:
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/13/21386694-how-to-help-organizations-offering-relief-to-typhoon-haiyan-survivors
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/13/21386694-how-to-help-organizations-offering-relief-to-typhoon-haiyan-survivors
i feel for them and wish them all healing, but Im not donating any money. Over the years, I've noticed the money does not get where its intended. Billions poured into Haiti. And how are they doing? Still no infrastructure, living in tents in refugee camps. What happened to the money? Hurricane Sandy? Millions collected, and where are those people? Still waiting for the check worth HALF value of their houses, thats where. Just dont believe they get the money. Which should be totally exposed, its an outrage!
ReplyDeleteYes. You definately don't want to give to the Red Cross. They collect up a lot of money during every disaster and never give it to the intended parties!
DeleteI'm pissed that the US government is in the middle of a shutdown, yet we send aid. There are active military not receiving their pay, why can't we learn to take care of our own first?
DeleteThank you for sharing your story, trainrides! Continued thoughts & prayers to the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteStay safe, Train Rides!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Trainrides. Our hearts and prayers are with you and your country.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this trainrides and my thoughts are with you and the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, trainrides. I hop you find your friend.
ReplyDeleteSending good thoughts and prayers your way that you, your family and friends are well and safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, trainrides. I wish I had something of value to say other than my heart hurts for you and your country.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I hope everything improves soon and you return to normal life.
ReplyDelete@Liddy: With the Hurricane Sandy stuff, if people were waiting for FEMA to take care of everything, they get to deal with the usual government bureaucracy and foot dragging. If you just took checks and added in your own money, shit got done.
ReplyDelete@tranrides: Very happy your wrote this and EXTREMELY happy your family made it through the storm.
Thank you, Enty. Thanks, everyone. Some of my relatives arrived here in Manila today. They'll be staying here until it's safe to go back to the province. My Mom's bestfriend will be flying in next week. She'll have her surgery here. My friend is still missing. We're still hoping to find him, even just his body. It's tough to mourn for a missing person.
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ReplyDelete@AuntLiddy.. who can forget Rudy Guilliani charging more in "speaking fees" at 9/11 fundraising events than the event even raised!
ReplyDeleteStay safe, Trainrides {{{hugs}}}
Internet hugs to you, your family and all the people in the Philippines. Thanks for sharing your story Trainrides.
ReplyDeleteI lived in the Philippines for 2 years, I'm thankful that enty provided another place to talk about it. Trainrides, I hope that your friend is found. All of my friends and family are accounted for but no homes to return to. My heart has been broken pero the Filipino spirit is unshakeable. Ayo ayo trainrides akong American kasing kasing cares deeply for the Philippines.
ReplyDelete@Lady J, I'm a full-blooded Waray but can also speak Bisaya/Cebuano, so imagine my surprise when I read Visayan words on CDAN. Salamat ug ayo ayo sad diha sa States.
DeleteCan we donate directly to train rides family? PayPal?
ReplyDelete@HOOwhat Thanks, no need. Me and my family here in Manila is doing everything we can to accomodate our relatives coming in from the province. But we're okay. At least we have jobs. The survivors who are stuck in the province aren't as lucky though. They're almost totally dependent on the government for aid and would really appreciate any amount you would donate.
DeleteTrainrides, thanks for sharing your story. Stay safe and big hugs to you!!
ReplyDeleteTrainrides, tight hugs for you. This is so heartbreaking. You're in my thoughts, as well as your country.
ReplyDeleteIn Aus you can donate through Oxfam, World Vision (but don't trust them - sort of agree with Aunty Liddy due to their Hx) and care.org and I posted link few days back (and got verbally assailed for my efforts by my stalker)
ReplyDeleteHi Rach, what was the link? Sorry to hear you got flak for posting about us.
DeleteLA ABC news raised over $1 million in a short time, but it goes to Red Cross and I'm not doing that. Any suggestions for a reputable charity? These people are suffering and need help ASAP.
ReplyDeleteI am relatively new to the site, but I still want to send my love and light to you, trainrides
ReplyDeleteCount, feema is useless as tits on a bull. The people said all they do is give you blankets and water. They needed much more. I'm referring money collected SPECIFICALLY for sandy victim via telethon. Where is that money? Was it distributed? To the homeowners? Id rather , if I was close, ride over there and actually hand someone $50. These wealthy famous people mean well, but why not pick one persons house to rebuild? Instead money all mashed together, committe formed to see who qualifies, paperwork and it ends up no one gets the money.
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ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I'm not familiar with the issues regarding international orgs. A couple of days after Haiyan, I made a cash donation through the Philippine Red Cross. I trust them. Maybe I'm naive but back in '09 when Manila was hit by Typhoon Ketsana (local name: Ondoy), the apartment I was staying with my Mom and my bro was fully submerged in water. We escaped with only a few clothes and valuables. It was a huge tragedy. A lot of cities in Manila were flooded but Red Cross was quick to help with food and meds. Plus their top official here is one of my favorite public servants.
ReplyDeleteHere's a local org where you can also donate.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing trainrides. Sending love and prayers!
ReplyDeleteMoney not going where it's supposed to would be bad, unethical even.
ReplyDeleteAll those ads with pictures of African children looking into the lens while flies swarm around them would be a waste.
A waste of resources.
I will donate today Trainrides. I hope your government becomes more helpful to its people.
ReplyDelete@Jacq What are you talking about? The government isn't shutdown and soldiers are getting paid.
ReplyDeleteTrainrides - thanks for your post. Best wishes for all to safely recover. Happy your family is safe!
ReplyDeleteThe minimal research I've done so far this week points to Phillipines Red Cross and Doctors without Borders as good places to donate, but not American Red Cross or International Red Cross.
ReplyDeletetrainrides - Thought, prayers, and love to you and your, and everyone else affected by Haiyan.
ReplyDeleteHearing the stories and seeing the pictures on the news reminds me of Katrina and the Christmas Tsunami.
Doctors Without Borders and http://www.dec.org.uk/ the Disasters Emergency Committee are excellent charities to donate to. DEC basically oversee everything and kick charities in the shins to get a quick and efficient response.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you and yours have come out relatively unscathed. I hope you find your friend soon.
Thank you for sharing your story, I am so happy you didn't lose your family as so many others have. What we saw was horrifying to watch. I've spent time in Asia and was caught in a typhoon in Hong Kong, oddly even though you couldn't walk ten feet because of the wind velocity people seemed to go about their business. Just by looking at the size of the storm we knew it was going to be very bad. I guess you have to hope when there is no where to go to get out of a storm that size way. I have donated, I know agencies are coming with basics but remember people cannot survive more than 3 days without water, babies even less and will start to starve without formula and will be more likely to die if given non purified or boiled water. God help you all, help is coming but I fear disease and water borne illnesses will kill many of those who survived the storm, in the aftermath even more horrors begin. Stay well and know help and prayers are coming to you.
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