Super Typhoon Yolanda's Wrath
Calamities are not exactly a pretty picture to see and it gets uglier when we see mass looting going on.
Barely a few weeks past after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the southern part of the Philippines another natural calamity strikes again from a 195 to 200+ MPH super typhoon Yolanda known as Haiyan internationally hitting the south once again causing unfathomable destruction and loss of lives.
Families were separated by the powerful gust of winds and sea water going inland like a tsunami swept people away from each other while holding on to each other or others even tied together. Those not strong enough like small children, the sick and weak old people drowned and swept away lifeless together with the debris. Some happened to be at the wrong place and time got hit fatally by flying debris while others are trapped in the crumbling structures of their homes. The damage and destruction is beyond description and even hardened workers of aid and relief agencies used to seeing disasters that went rushing to the area was shocked at the sight of massive horrific damage and destruction.
Who knows but maybe had they listened to the tearful plea to diplomats assembled in Doha by the Philippines’ lead climate negotiator, Nadarev Saño, things might have been different.
Then we see videos of the looting and we were shocked. I myself was shocked not because I have never seen people looting before. I have seen and saw first hand on the ground actual looting taking place during the Los Angeles riot after the Rodney King verdict. But this widespread looting taking place in Tacloban is indeed shocking. Perhaps it was quite unusual considering the submissive nature of the Filipinos that we are used to seeing but faced with hunger and dehydration what is it that we really expect of them?
Department of Agriculture Secretary Alcala was on the air explaining the rice supply situation and when he was unable to satisfy the querry of the radio announcers tried to deflect the issue as if castigating Tacloban for the looters on why can't they be disciplined and patient enough like the Japanese during the Fukushima disaster. Of course we have seen and read about the little boy who returned his share of the food back to the table for others who are more hungrier than he is. A small yet giant gesture considering the situation he is in that truly melts the heart. So young and yet his kind unselfishness and humanity shines in the midst of disaster that makes a grown man turned worse than animals resorting to uncivilized behavior in order to survive.
Indeed why can't some of out fellow Filipinos exhibit the same humanity and virtue that the Japanese people show the world? Well, in the first place wishing is not exactly realistic and it is nothing but idle wishful thinking without considering why we have these "kind" of people. Have they not noticed that we have a very unequal economic development and sharing of wealth that 20 to 30 percent of any city population are living in squatters area? The problem with mimicking or aping other nations is that they seem to not notice that there is a huge difference between a 3rd world country and that of a developed country. When politicians or Trapo leaders reduced the people into a serf like subject squandering government funds in patronage type politics thus encouraging mendicancy instead of spending for infrastructure that encourages setting up of job generating industries, can we expect our people to act like the nobility class?
You have a big chunk of population that are reduced to squalid living conditions and their dignity taken away from them with no decent stable jobs to survive, how exactly do we expect them to behave? No one wants to see rampant criminality but in the same manner we must ensure that we must also keep criminals out of the government, but then again how can we when our electoral system is the exclusive domain of the criminal posing as leaders of the people? If there are so-called honorable ladies and gentlemen and women that are really nothing but lowly thieves or worse even plunderers, is it a surprise that we have lawlessness during calamities? Perhaps, we need to ask ourselves if that was us facing with the same desolate uncertainty for days feeling trapped in an apocalyptic scenario desperately foraging for food and water where there is none to be found with our immediate love ones, what will we do?
How about the small restaurant owner who lost his house and almost everything except his restaurant started cooking and feeding fellow survivors and victim for free, now why can't our richest of the rich like Henry Sy, Gokongwei, and other big capitalist do the same? Perhaps they should help the less fortunate instead of the trapos, but then again the poor even if they look the other way unlike the trapos and the government agencies like the BIR are not capable of giving them sizable "savings" in the hundreds of millions.
Of course we can't expect all of them to step up even Imelda Marcos the wife of the frozen stiff former dictator that used to be their representative in congress. I really would love to be wrong here but you know what, we are the only one's that can help ourselves and do something to make things right. Then we have some quarters wanting Noynoy Aquino to declare martial law in Tacloban, ayayay. The looting brings me back to that unnamed Philippine lawmaker quoted in a report that is getting too close for comfort and I quote:
Barely a few weeks past after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the southern part of the Philippines another natural calamity strikes again from a 195 to 200+ MPH super typhoon Yolanda known as Haiyan internationally hitting the south once again causing unfathomable destruction and loss of lives.
Families were separated by the powerful gust of winds and sea water going inland like a tsunami swept people away from each other while holding on to each other or others even tied together. Those not strong enough like small children, the sick and weak old people drowned and swept away lifeless together with the debris. Some happened to be at the wrong place and time got hit fatally by flying debris while others are trapped in the crumbling structures of their homes. The damage and destruction is beyond description and even hardened workers of aid and relief agencies used to seeing disasters that went rushing to the area was shocked at the sight of massive horrific damage and destruction.
Who knows but maybe had they listened to the tearful plea to diplomats assembled in Doha by the Philippines’ lead climate negotiator, Nadarev Saño, things might have been different.
Then we see videos of the looting and we were shocked. I myself was shocked not because I have never seen people looting before. I have seen and saw first hand on the ground actual looting taking place during the Los Angeles riot after the Rodney King verdict. But this widespread looting taking place in Tacloban is indeed shocking. Perhaps it was quite unusual considering the submissive nature of the Filipinos that we are used to seeing but faced with hunger and dehydration what is it that we really expect of them?
Department of Agriculture Secretary Alcala was on the air explaining the rice supply situation and when he was unable to satisfy the querry of the radio announcers tried to deflect the issue as if castigating Tacloban for the looters on why can't they be disciplined and patient enough like the Japanese during the Fukushima disaster. Of course we have seen and read about the little boy who returned his share of the food back to the table for others who are more hungrier than he is. A small yet giant gesture considering the situation he is in that truly melts the heart. So young and yet his kind unselfishness and humanity shines in the midst of disaster that makes a grown man turned worse than animals resorting to uncivilized behavior in order to survive.
Indeed why can't some of out fellow Filipinos exhibit the same humanity and virtue that the Japanese people show the world? Well, in the first place wishing is not exactly realistic and it is nothing but idle wishful thinking without considering why we have these "kind" of people. Have they not noticed that we have a very unequal economic development and sharing of wealth that 20 to 30 percent of any city population are living in squatters area? The problem with mimicking or aping other nations is that they seem to not notice that there is a huge difference between a 3rd world country and that of a developed country. When politicians or Trapo leaders reduced the people into a serf like subject squandering government funds in patronage type politics thus encouraging mendicancy instead of spending for infrastructure that encourages setting up of job generating industries, can we expect our people to act like the nobility class?
You have a big chunk of population that are reduced to squalid living conditions and their dignity taken away from them with no decent stable jobs to survive, how exactly do we expect them to behave? No one wants to see rampant criminality but in the same manner we must ensure that we must also keep criminals out of the government, but then again how can we when our electoral system is the exclusive domain of the criminal posing as leaders of the people? If there are so-called honorable ladies and gentlemen and women that are really nothing but lowly thieves or worse even plunderers, is it a surprise that we have lawlessness during calamities? Perhaps, we need to ask ourselves if that was us facing with the same desolate uncertainty for days feeling trapped in an apocalyptic scenario desperately foraging for food and water where there is none to be found with our immediate love ones, what will we do?
How about the small restaurant owner who lost his house and almost everything except his restaurant started cooking and feeding fellow survivors and victim for free, now why can't our richest of the rich like Henry Sy, Gokongwei, and other big capitalist do the same? Perhaps they should help the less fortunate instead of the trapos, but then again the poor even if they look the other way unlike the trapos and the government agencies like the BIR are not capable of giving them sizable "savings" in the hundreds of millions.
Of course we can't expect all of them to step up even Imelda Marcos the wife of the frozen stiff former dictator that used to be their representative in congress. I really would love to be wrong here but you know what, we are the only one's that can help ourselves and do something to make things right. Then we have some quarters wanting Noynoy Aquino to declare martial law in Tacloban, ayayay. The looting brings me back to that unnamed Philippine lawmaker quoted in a report that is getting too close for comfort and I quote:
You have just one flash flood of money, you keep your people poor. It's like a time bomb and it's scary"Anyway, here are the list of charitable organizations compiled by Huffington Post for people in the US wanting to help the survivors of the natural calamity unleashed by the most powerful typhoon ever recorded:
World Food Programme
WFP has allocated an immediate $2 million for Haiyan relief, with a greater appeal pending as needs become apparent. The UN organization is sending 40 metric tons of fortified biscuits in the immediate aftermath, as well as working with the government to restore emergency telecommunications in the area. Americans can text the word AID to 27722 to donate $10 or give online. Learn more here.
Red Cross
Emergency responders and volunteers throughout the Philippines are providing meals and relief items. Already, thousands of hot meals have been provided to survivors. Red Cross volunteers and staff also helped deliver preliminary emergency warnings and safety tips. Give by donating online or mailing a check to your local American Red Cross chapter. Learn more here.
The Philippine Red Cross has mobilized its 100 local outposts to help with relief efforts. Learn more here.
AmeriCares
The relief organization is sending medical aid for 20,000 survivors, including antibiotics, wound care supplies and pain relievers. AmeriCares is also giving funds to local organizations to purchase supplies. Learn more here.
World Vision
The organization is providing food, water and hygiene kits at the evacuation centers. World Vision was also still actively responding to last month's earthquake in Bohol, which luckily was not struck by the eye of the storm. Learn more here.
ShelterBox
ShelterBox provides families with a survival kit that includes a tent and other essential items while they are displaced or homeless. Learn more here.
UNICEF
Anticipating that children will likely be among the worst affected by the typhoon, UNICEF is working on getting essential medicines, nutrition supplies, safe water and hygiene supplies to children and families in the area. Learn more here.
Salvation Army
100 percent of all disaster donations will be used for relief efforts and "to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors." Text TYPHOON to 80888 to Donate $10 or give online. Learn more here.
Save The Children
The organization has sent relief kits for children and families, including household cleaning items, temporary school tents and learning materials. Learn more here.
Doctors Without Borders
The organization is sending 200 tons of medical and relief items, including vaccines, tents and hygiene kits. Learn more here.
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