singing and dancing to Korean pop with Renzie Baluyut. It’s undeniable. “Nobody” by The Wonder Girls is everywhere. See, it’s Christmas party season in the Philippines, and it’s customary for offices and schools and groups of friends everywhere to have real festive Christmas parties, involving lots of food, gift-giving, as well as singing and dancing. […]
The Urgency of Dealing with Climate Change | Blog Action Day 2009
a Blog Action Day 2009 post, with Renzie Baluyut. After being hit by Typhoon Ondoy/International Storm Ketsana, Metro Manila has already moved on, albeit begrudgingly. What can you do when a massive flood hits the city, really? As soon as the waters subsided, we all just picked up the pieces and got back to work. […]
A Few Important Things You Need To Know…
Share This Post: “…this video will blow your mind!” –Renzie Baluyut Seriously it will. Not too long ago, I posted an article, pretty much evangelizing the importance of having a continuing desire for learning and discovery. I go online and try to learn something new everyday, on top of reading a book, or immersing myself […]
Online Chatter on Philippine Typhoon Ondoy, part two
Share This Post: monitoring chatter on Facebook once more, through my friends’ and contacts’ status updates, with Renzie Baluyut.
For a list of rescue hotlines, links and resources, please click this link.
A couple of days back, I posted a transcript of sorts- a compilation of status updates on Facebook as my friends, colleagues and contacts sent out all kinds of messages related to the Typhoon Ondoy / International Storm Ketsana rescue and relief efforts.
It had been three days since Typhoon Ondoy / International Storm Ketsana had hit the Philippines. This was the worst incident of flooding seen by Metro Manila in 42 years. More than a month’s worth of rain crashed down on the city in just a relatively short span of 12 hours.
The damage was so bad- mainly because everyone was caught completely unaware, thinking it was just another rainy weekend.
Drainage in Metro Manila had already been terribly neglected to begin with- in fact, certain areas were already generally expected to flood up, even with the most regular of rainy days.
But with the sheer volume of rainwater, areas that never used to flood up at all suddenly found themselves sinking fast, as all that rain just kept pouring in at an alarming rate. By mid-afternoon, 80% of Metro Manila was submerged in murky floodwater.
More pictures of the September 26 flooding can be seen here on a previous post of mine.
As of this writing, there are at least 240 dead, some 100,000 displaced, and at least 2 million people affected across 25 provinces, including Metro Manila and Rizal.
Relief and rescue operations have been going on for a couple of days now. For Filipinos like myself who find themselves online the entire time, Facebook had been a steady stream of information as stories of selflessness and heroism, and all sorts of pictures and video have been coming in.
Here’s a compilation of status updates I got from some of my friends and colleagues- these were little messages taken from a 12-hour period, between 3PM of Sept 29 (Tuesday) to about 3AM the next day (Wednesday, Sept 30).
Despite stories of opportunists, looters, corruption, politicking, grandstanding, and even rumors of crocodiles lurking in the floodwaters, what I find heartwarming is the fact that ordinary Filipinos have banded together to aid in rescue and relief operations, passing on information and updates, giving (and doing) what they can, and encouraging so many more to join in.
Even those who have been hard hit are reaching out to those who have been hit even harder.
And so, the cleaning up and the rebuilding goes on. Hopefully, this post gives you a better idea of what’s been going on in the Philippines through the messages of various people all over Metro Manila as they help out with the the survivors of Typhoon Ondoy / International Storm Ketsana.
Around 3:00 PM (GMT +8:00) Sept 29
From Paolo Marinduque:
HONDA & NISSAN OFFERS FREE TOWING! 09228504452 -09224452242 -09228997959. (reposted from a friend)
From Jonas Diego:
says If you know of overpricing for meds/basic goods DTI hotline at 751-3330. Save receipts as evidence! http://plurk.com/p/23e0s3
From Ricky Baizas:
BULACAN HAS NOT YET RECEIVED RELIEF GOODS FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, So that we can help our fellow Filipinos there in BULACAN, you can send your donations in cash but PREFERABLY IN KIND at… #1 MAY ST. CONGRESSIONAL VILLAGE PRO…JECT 8, QUEZON CITY. You can reach my staff through contact nos. 02-9274776/ 09212611308/ 09291816111.
From Leah Camilla R. Besa-Jimenez:
For International Donors, go straight to Red Cross PH through Paypal http://bit.ly/3PKdUM. Here are other sites where you can also easily donate http://bit.ly/wDbJj , http://bit.ly/2OzLZ0 , http://bit.ly/4bjCsW and MyAyala http://bit.ly/3zH5Tu . Please repost and retweet.
From Jenn Manigao:
Looks like Tropical Storm Parma and Tropical Depression 18 will spare the Philippines this week. Will check again tomorrow. Here are the links: http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/wp200919_5day.html#a_topad
From Jane Tenefrancia Uymatiao:
Repost from Noelle: VICTORY ORTIGAS UPDATE: We need trucks, vans, vehicles to help deploy relief goods! (Particularly to Canyogan, Pasig) Please call 631-1212.
From Tracy Abad:
Brg PALASAN in Valenzuela is in need of DONATIONS! coordinate with brgy capt. EDDIE Lzada 09178970187 – They’ve been asking for help since saturday and they were DENIED of HELP by their own MAYOR because of political issues. Please HELP! (from Soki)
From Charo Limaco:
Repost: Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health is looking for areas that needmedical assistance. Peferrably areas that have not received any yet. They are planning to deploy on thursday. Please contact ANNE GOMEZ 09175330815.
From Leslie Dioko-Cariaso:
REPOST – HARD BOILED EGGS AND SABA BANANAS ARE GOOD FOOD TO DONATE AMONG ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN SPARE! IT DOES NOT NEED PLASTIC
OR A CAN OPENER AND IT IS LOADED WITH NUTRIENTS. AFFORDABLE IN BULK. PLEASE TAKE NOTE, PASS THIS ON! I suggest we also share bath soaps, alcohol, toilet paper, baby powder, comb, towels, etc. anything for personal hygiene.
Around 4:00 PM (GMT +8:00) Sept 29
From Cacay Moras:
If you have friends and family who are stuck in their houses and need assistance, please contact Red Cross 143, MMDA 136, NDCC 9115061 & Coast Guard 5276136 for rescue. Provide street names, roof colors, landmarks, etc. so that it is easier to find them.
From Eric Kahn:
with all the help going out in plastic bags, styropore trays, plastic cups plastic spoons, tin cans, plastic bottles etc. please dont make the mistake of just throwing them on the side of the streets again. Trash is one of the major casues of flooding. This will all happen again if we arent vigilant.
From Josa S. Quintas:
volunteer doctors and nurses please proceed to PNRC Shaw Blvd. near Kapitolyo Rotonda Mandaluyong City tomorrow by 10am to be deployed to different areas that need medical assistance.
From Leah Camilla R. Besa-Jimenez:
From Mark Ruiz’s sister Meg : DONATIONS ON WHEELS! If you have donations to give but no means to transport (cash/clothes/food/hygiene prods), pls contact us: Raine-09177974098, Meg-09326991794, Gerald-09189791229 and we will deliver your goods to a relief center! Delivering HOPE to the HOPELESS! 🙂 Through Jan Chavez-Arceo.
From Maricris Irene ‘iRis’ Tamolang:
At the NDCC meeting, Frisco Nilo of PAGASA said another tropical disturbance may enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning and make landfall in Northern Luzon or Central Luzon early next week.Frisco, meanwhile, calmed fears over the coming storm that will be named “Peping.”
From Luz Imperial-Harvey:
c/o Rollie Inocencio: Att’n relief workers in PASIG: exact address: 2 banuyo st. Phase 8 Marietta Romeo village Rosario pasig brgy. Sta lucia. Luz Imperial-Harvey is looking for her parents, a bed-ridden sister and her son. Please assist. Thank you!
From Neil Galang:
PASIG RED CROSS : We have enough volunteers but in need of more vehicles for the deployment of relief goods. Vans, pickups or trucks needed.
From Chiz Escudero:
Also please send help to Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Nobody, not even the local officials, have taken action to address the calamity.
Continue reading “Online Chatter on Philippine Typhoon Ondoy, part two”
Renzie’s Typhoon Ondoy Experience
Share This Post: personal post-disaster processing, with Renzie Baluyut. It is the end of Day Two- the second day after Typhoon Ondoy /Ketsana poured down an unearthly amount of rain over the entire city . I headed for the Pasig apartment earlier on, which was actually the first time since the floodwaters hit. The entire […]
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