Life After Ondoy

I think I found the answer.

There are times when you really, really need to read that phonebook-thick photocopied handouts you have for discussion the next day and you think that it's utterly useless, boring, and a waste of time.

This website and its articles are definitely not. Please do take time to go through it and read the well-written heartfelt articles. If I could only put up a billboard for it, I would. It's a must. And if you let it, it will change your life.

http://lifeafterondoy.com/

That guy is a genius! Thanks for sharing your time, talents (he's a web designer), and love Mr. Stefan Suarez!

Thinking about it, it's not anymore about typhoon Ondoy and it's victims. It's about the Philippines. The tragedy of Ondoy is a huge metaphor of our nation. I'll stop here. We'll talk about that next time. Please do visit site!

What now?

Has the bayanihan spirit died down already? I am becoming hopeless. Everyone who was spared from the flood are settling down already. I'm back to writing papers, studying for my finals, and doing my projects. Helping out at the relief centers can only be done during convenient breaks. The world has to go on again. It doesn't stop for everyone. What now?

I feel bad for the victims of Ondoy. If I were in their position, I'd probably break down not knowing what to do next. What do we do next? Just last week, my friends and I had this dream of creating a non-biased website whose main goal was to become a center for disseminating information to relief centers and evacuation centers of each others needs, suggestions, comments, and anything of use so that it'd be easier to communicate and coordinate (para walang sobra at walang kulang). Well today, I don't really know. If I feel helpless and hopeless about trying to help rebuild lives, what more the others-- those who need the help?

My friend Cookie sent this really great idea:
"I found something that'll take us one step closer to rebuilding lives: URGENT REPOST: 'Google Spreadsheet users - we need your help in creating an online database of evacuees' professions to help them find work again. Pls reply to this post if u can help or refer to us someone who can. Thanks!!!' "


To which a pessimistic yet realistic friend of mine commented on by saying:
"Dude, don't you think that by now something good would've happened to this country with regards to that? The sad truth is, there will always and forever be unemployed people."

To which I thought:
Thank you for pointing that out, but for now, I'd rather focus on the positive. There is no time for being pessimistic and blaming other people. There is only time for looking for solutions. But as of now, I'm hopeless. How can you really help fix this?

Please do comment. Let's brainstorm together.

From Bilibid with Love: Prisoners donate to typhoon Ondoy's victims

Just like finding a flower growing out of a crack on a sidewalk, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself staring at several sacks of donations- mostly used clothing and a plastic bag half full with canned goods and bars of soap- AT THE NEW BILIBID PRISONS, in Muntinlupa. Yes, you heard me right-- PRISON. Although they were just a few sacks of clothes plus a bag of at least 20 cans of sardines with 4 long bars of laundry soap-- NOTHING COMPARED to the relief goods overflowing in warehouses... they MEANT EVERYTHING to those who shared it.


What exactly does 1 item of clothing mean to an inmate? In prison, inmates are only to take in the essentials. Imagine the difference an extra pair of pants makes.

And what exactly does 1 long bar of detergent do for 4 inmates? It is what they are to share for 1 whole month to wash their clothes.

Lastly, what exactly does 1 tiny can of sardines mean? It is the meal to be shared by 2 inmates.


To us volunteers who have been packing day in and day out like robots, it's just can of sardines. Another thing you mindlessly throw in plastic bags while you are busy running around, frantically trying to reach the quota of goods to be packed. But to the least of our brothers and sisters, it is life. It is Love squeezed into a tiny can.

Imagine the wave one tiny ripple can make-- a group of inmates (from the council of elders of the prison) headed by Warren Zingapan told Director Calderon of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) about their tiny plan of how to help solve the huge problem. The proposal was for around 20,000 prisoners (who unanimously agreed) to give up their share of sardines (P16.00/can). If allowed, the prisoners shall be able to help fund the relief operations for typhoon Ondoy's victims. Calculate that and imagine the difference a peso makes!

And to think that I thought that one canned good barely made a difference in the stacks and towers of boxes of relief goods. Was I wrong! Everything and everyone is important, no matter how big or how small. No matter how useless they may seem, they make a huge difference!

Remembering what happened in prison today, I can't help but be so moved and inspired as to share it with you. I am so proud to be Filipino. Wow. Iba talaga ang Pinoy!

Let's share the love and pay it forward like they did! :)


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image source: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/sb10066590c-001/Digital-Vision

MARIKINA RED CROSS UPDATES

MARIKINA EVACUATION CENTERS:

1. Malanday Elem. School
2. Concepcion Elem. School
3. Concepcion Integrated School
4. H Bautista Elem. School
5. Nangka Elem. School

-- Only the first 5 evacuation centers actually have potable water and a fair amount of relief goods. The rest are in dire need. Some evacuation centers like Barangka Elem. School are housing 300 families (not individuals, but families)

6. Barangka Elem. School
7. IVC Elem. School
8. Dela Pena: Leodegario Elem. School
9. Dela Pena: Multipurpose Hall + Malvar Extension
10. Sta. Elena High School
11. San Roque Elem. School
12. Kalumpang Elem. School
13. Tanong High School

OTHER CONCERNS:

• IMPT: MANY evacuation centers REJECT GOODS SENT when they are NOT ENOUGH for the people in the evacuation centers. There have been INSTANCES wherein PEOPLE FIGHT OVER THE FOOD (yesterday, in Barangka(?) there was a stabbing incident). Please COORDINATE WITH THE EVACUATION CENTERS.
  
• SMALLER COMMUNITIES in NEED OF RELIEF GOODS AND HELP! Some families have decided to go home already because their houses are already accesible. The problem is, they STILL DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK in THEIR OWN HOMES and some ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO THE CENTERS
  
• SOUP KITCHENS needed. Families are very thankful for the relief goods sent to them. Only problem is SOME DON'T HAVE A WAY TO COOK the food. There is a need for STOVES, POTS AND PANS, COOKING UTENSILS. IF NOT, please send over COOKED MEALS but make sure they are enough.
  

IN NEED OF DONORS FOR:

• HEAVY EQUIPMENT (to swipe trash and mud) - trash, mud, and dirty water have been the cause of the rampant spread of diseases. Children most susceptible. The Industrial Valley Complex in Marikina (and other groups) are asking for heavy equipment to clear away the debris. If they are able to do this, the need for medicine shall be lessened.
  
• TETANOUS VACCINES- volunteers and victims alike in need. Since they have been walking in the mud, dirty water, and getting cuts from yero and whatnot, they REALLY ARE IN NEED OF THESE VACCINES.
  
• ALIPUNGA MEDICINE (anything)- another common problem among the victims and volunteers.
  
• SLIPPERS, SHOES- very much needed!! Remember when your parents would get mad at you for not wearing slippers? Well this time, people really need slippers or shoes for their own safety and health
  
• PORTALETS- there isn't such a thing as proper sanitation there anymore. Hygene related diseases are starting to spread.
• TOILETRIES (shampoo, soap, tissue, napkins)- please.
• WATER DISPENSERS (don't have to be working and cold) - if possible, please donate. The people can reuse their mineral water bottles in the meantime. This can possibly be a cheaper alternative.
  
• POTABLE WATER- thank you for all the mineral water, but there are STILL A LOT OF CENTERS (the LESS POPULAR ones) that DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO POTABLE WATER
• TOWELS
  
• BLANKETS
  
• FLATTENED BOXES/SLEEPING BAGS- floor is usually wet and muddy or very dirty. PLEASE FLATTEN THE BOXES that once contained the relief goods and house them as well
• MOSQUITO REPELLENTS- DENGUE!! lots of stagnant water. Incubatin period has begun.

NOT SO URGENT, BUT STILL NEEDED:

• A lot of the children are bored, crying, impatient... RED CROSS MARIKINA is in NEED OF VOLUNTEERS who are willing to do some STORYTELLING, SINGING, AND PLAYING to KEEP the CHILDREN HAPPY. It is very important TO COORDINATE with the guides as EACH EVACUATION CENTER HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE NEEDS
• As for the CLOTHES, please DO NOT GIVE CLOTHES THAT YOU WANT TO THROW AWAY. Give CLEAN, DRY, WEARABLE CLOTHES. The people don't have time to think of how to wash the clothes and where to wash them.
  

SOS!

It was entitled Finding Noypi because I was in search of my identity, my Filipino roots. Who am I? Who are the Filipino people? Today, I think this post shall partly answer that question. The Filipino people are those people who help in anyway they can like volunteering on night shifts, unloading truck loads of relief goods, getting cuts and bruises and still laugh about it. There is no time to expound on the good you guys have been doing but there, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR CARING! YOU MAKE ME SO PROUD TO BE FILIPINO. For those reading this now, I hope that you agree that "we were saved to serve." Here's to paying it forward.