When Typhoon Ketsana (local name: Ondoy) hit the Philippines, because it affected Luzon where Manila, the capital, is situated, it was all over my Facebook newsfeed. News reports, photos, videos, information on how and where to donate and volunteer, photos of donating and volunteering...
Typhoon Bopha (local name: Pablo) was a Category 5 Super Typhoon, with one-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h. It was closer in force to Hurricane Katrina which, at its height, had one-minute sustained winds of 280 km/h. (Ketsana's was 165 km/h and Washi's, local name: Sendong, was 95 km/h.)
Note: Katrina was only a Category 1 when it made its first landfall in Florida, and was a Category 3 (205 km/h) when it made its second landfall in Louisiana. Its third landfall, near the border of Louisiana and Mississippi, was also a Category 3 at 195 km/h. Bopha slammed into Mindanao with its full force, as a Category 5 with sustained winds of 260 km/h. Imagine something ramming into your house at that speed.
Now check out the 28-foot storm surge of Katrina:
Prediction for Siargao, when it was still in Bopha's path, was 40-foot waves. I have no information as to the final height of the surge but the fatalities and the disappeared are testimony to the power of Bopha.
Yet, because Bopha made landfall in Southern Mindanao, far away from the capital, there's hardly a peep about it on my Facebook newsfeed. And, let's face it, Facebook is the barometer for what's on people's minds. There's a lot of talk about Pacquiao's recent loss, the Reproductive Health Bill, the recent concerts of Elton John and Sting, the Azkals game, all those 12s in today's date, and the never-ending food porn, but there's hardly anything about the widespread destruction that Bopha left in its wake. Granted that a lot of my Filipino friends on Facebook are from Manila and the chatter on other newsfeeds might be very different from the ones that appear on mine, but my friends also happen to be respected business leaders, news makers, society figures, opinion shapers, journalists... They are pretty influential and the ones capable of any actual help.
I, for one, would like to keep this in the news because Bopha had Siargao Island in its sights, before it sank its hooks into the south. It could have easily been us who had lost everything. More than the damage to property, we could have lost friends and loved ones. We could have lost our own lives.
Last December 2, the Philippine Star published this news item that sounded hopeful for Davao's banana industry. On December 6, two days after Bopha made landfall, my friend published these photos that her husband took of the banana plantations in Compostela Valley.
(Photos c/o Sonny and Jackie Dizon.)
The death toll is now at 647 with 780 still missing. Bopha has left people homeless and desperate, and food supply is dangerously low.
Here is a link to a video of some of the damage in Davao.
We've taken up a collection here in Siargao to help in our own little way, but here is some information on how you can help. Maybe instead of giving gifts this Christmas, you can make donations to the typhoon victims in the name of your friends. Every little bit helps. $100 can go a long way in feeding the hungry here. And I hope that you pass this around and keep this in the news so that those whose lives were destroyed by Typhoon Bopha will not be forgotten and will be given a chance to rebuild.
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- If you would like to get in touch with someone on the ground, Jackie Dizon, who provided the photos above, has furnished me with a name of a friend of hers who has been helping out. Please send an email to me at [email protected] for her contact details.
- Ways to help, a compiled by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- Ways to help, as compiled by Interaksyon.
- Launch of "Project Pablo" by the Angel Brigade Collective:
WHO ARE INVOLVED:
(1) Angel Brigade Volunteers
(2) Isdanco Foundation
(3) Lapanday Agricultural and Dev't Corp. - Onsite Davao Repacking
(4) Land Rover Club of the Philippines (LRCP)
(5) LRCP Emergency Response Team
(6) Malaysian Medical Mission Volunteers from Malaysia Elite Disaster Rescue Foundation
(7) Santa Fe Relocators
(8) The Joe Green Project
(9) ReliefPH Volunteers
(10) Pusong Minero
(11) Habitat for Humanity Philippines
OPERATIONS FLOW:
- Lapanday Agricultural and Dev't Corp. will have its volunteers sort and repack donations in kind, onsite at its DAVAO office.
- Cash donations will be transferred by Angel Brigade to Lapanday to purchase more relief goods.
- Transportation of relief goods from Davao to Compostela Valley (and vice versa) will be managed by LRCP/LRCP Emergency Response Team (in coordination with other able transport groups).
- All relief goods will be delivered to Habitat for Humanity's central operations in Monkayo; where these will be distributed by volunteers to evacuation sites and outlying areas.
- Medical Missions will also be managed by LRCP Emergency Response Team starting with the Malaysian Medical Mission volunteers of the Malaysia Elite Disaster Rescue Foundation who are expected to be in Compostela Valley Dec. 15 - 18.
- Additional onsite Davao and Compostela Valley volunteers will be arranged by Angel Brigade, The Joe Green Project, and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
- Assistance in "helping spread the word" will be provided by the volunteers of ReliefPH via all possible social networks
HOW TO HELP:
A. For all CASH donations, kindly deposit to:
Account Name - Isdanco Foundation Inc.
Philippine Depository Bank - Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Bank
Account Number - PESO Savings Acct No. 4-001-57757-9
Bank Address - RCBC Head Office, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave., Makati City, Philippines
SWIFT Code - RCBCPHMM
CASH donations will be used to purchase relief goods, clean-up kits, toiletries, meds, and other items immediately needed by survivors of Typhoon "Pablo" in Southern Mindanao. Donors are requested to eMail [email protected] so we can identify/properly acknowledge CASH donations.
B. For all donations in KIND, kindly bring to:
(1) Priority Drop-Off Site (DAVAO): For immediate sorting/repacking onsite
Lapanday Agricultural & Dev't Corp.,
Maryknoll Drive, Barrio Pampanga, Lanang, Davao City
(It is after Insular Hotel; go straight and turn right at Jollibee; Lapanday is the 1st building on the right)
Contact: Debbie Cruz (Mobile: +63917-548-7242 or eMail: [email protected])
(2) Optional Drop-Off Site (Makati): To be shipped to Lapanday Davao Angel Brigade c/o Isdanco Foundation
2/F Franck Provost Bldg., 120 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City
C. What items are urgently needed by Lapanday Repacking Center in Davao?
- Canned Goods (preferably flip-top cans)
- Uncooked rice
- Noodle packs
- Bottled Water
- Bread (long shelf life)
- Water-purification tablets
- Large water jugs and water containers (for drinking water)
- Flashlights with extra Batteries or solar-chargeable portable lamps
- Cooking pots / pans / Stirrers
- Reusable Dining utensils (plates, spoons/forks, drinking cups)
- Toiletries (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, face towels, sanitary napkins)
- Plastic pails and buckets (to help store water and for clean-up operations)
- Used / Discarded advertising tarps (for immediate temporary shelters and/or dry sleeping mats). If tarp donors are in Metro-Manila, kindly deliver to "Sante Fe Relocators", Address: First Avenue, Mañalac, Bagumbayan, Taguig City, Tel: +632-838-1761 to 64. Look for Elizer Babao or Jun Atienza (operations supervisors). Note to Tarp Donors: Please say that the tarps are for Typhoon Pablo Relief Operations c/o Land Rover Club of the Philippines and Pusong Minero. Indicate the name and contact particulars of the donor or donor's representative.
- Milk for children (long shelf life, no need to refrigerate)
- Milk/Food for Babies (long shelf life, no need to refrigerate)
- Vitamins for Children and/or Adults
- Diapers, Anti-bacterial wet wipes, alcohol-based antiseptics for kids/babies
- Blankets, clothes and shoes (for all ages)
- Meds (Priority is: Anti-Tetanus Serum, AntiDiarrheal Drugs, Antibiotics, and Cough/Colds/Fever Medicine). You can directly drop-off Meds donations to any of the following sites:
Lapanday Agricultural and Dev't Corp. (c/o LRCP Medical Missions)
Maryknoll Drive, Barrio Pampanga, Lanang, Davao City
Contact: Debbie Cruz (Mobile: +63917-548-7242 or eMail: [email protected])
Ariel "Ayi" C. Hernandez
Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc.
Katilingbanong Pamahandi sa Mindanaw Foundation Inc.
Bangko sa Balay Foundation Inc.
Mobile : 09188987777
Door 3, Balay Mindanaw Peace Center
#53A, 12th Street, Zone 2, Upper Bulua
9000 Cagayan de Oro City
TeleFax. 08822 738304/ 738376
Balay Mindanaw Kalambuan Center
Purok 1, Brgy 23
9014 Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental
Tel. 08842 7879
Other Meds urgently needed:
Oresol /ORS Box of 25′s 200 Box
Cotrimoxazole 200mg Suspension Box of 144′s 80 Box
Cotrimoxazole, 400mg tablet Box of 100′s 2,190 Box
Hyosin Tablet Box of 100′s 1,105 Box
Loperamide Tablet Box of 100′s 1,000 Box
Paracetamol, 500mg Tablet Box of 100′s 1,105 Box
Paracetamol Drops Box of 72′s 80 Box
Paracetamol , 125mg Suspension Box of 144′s 80 Box
Paracetamol, 250mg Suspension Box of 144′s 80 Box
Mefenamic Capsule, 500mg Box of 100′s 1,105 Box
Amoxicillin Capsule, 500mg Box of 100′s 2,190 Box
Amoxicillin Suspension, 125mg Box of 144′s 80 Box
Cefalexin Capsule, 500mg Box of 100′s 2,190 Box
Cefalexin Suspension, 125mg Box of 144′s 80 Box
Amoxicillin Pedia Box of 72′s 80 Box
Cefalexin Drops Box of 72′s 80 Box
Metrodinazole Tablet, 500mg Box of 100′s 1,105 Box
Metrodinazole Syrup Box of 144′s 80 Box
Tetanus Toxoid .5ml Ampule 2,500 Ampule
Multivitamins Capsule Box of 100′s 1,000 Box
Captopril 25mg Tablet Box of 100′s 225 Box
Metoprolol 100mg Tablet Box of 100′s 225 Box
Carbocistien 500mg Capsule Box of 100′s 1,075 Box
Carbocistien Syrup Box of 144′s 48 Box
Salbutamol Tablet Box of 100′s 1,000 Box
Salbutamol Syrup Box of 144′s 48 Box
PPA Capsule Box of 100′s 130 Box
PPA Syrup Box of 144′s 48 Box
PPA Drops Box of 144′s 48 Box
Dipenhydramine Capsule Box 0f 100′s 200 Box
Zinc Ointment Tube 600 Tube
Multivitamins Syrup Box of 144′s 60 Box
Multivitamins Drops Box of 144′s 100 Box
Ranitidine 150mg Tablet Box of 100′s 150 Box
Methergene 20 Ampule
Vitamin K 20 Ampule
ATS 1500 “iu”
Alcohol 30 Bottles
Plaster Box of 10′s 6 Boxes
Cotton Roll 9 Rolls
Elastic Bandage 1,000 Rolls
Should you have further questions on how you can help, please do not hesitate to eMail: [email protected] or SMS/Call +639189016402. Maraming salamat po!
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