A Taclobanon's OPEN LETTER to His Excellency, Benigno Aquino, President of the Republic of the Philippines.

After being stuck in a dead zone with no comms and internet the past 48 hours ngayon ko lang nababalitaan ang latest antics ng ating kagalang-galang na pangulo.

So take this as one Taclobanon's OPEN LETTER to His Excellency, Benigno Aquino, President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Mr. President,

Gusto ko lang sabihin, NAGHANDA ANG TACLOBAN. IN FACT, most people we encountered who survived, survived precisely because NAGHANDA SILA. People were evacuated, centers were put up, and warnings were issued.

Ang tanong, bakit madaming namatay? kasi tangina naman pre mas malakas pa ang yolanda sa katrina. Kung ang US nga hindi napigilan ang hagupit ng katrina. This was not something anyone could have prepared for. Isa pa, wala bang nakapagsabi sa yo na nasa tacloban ang SENTRO NG BAGYO?? pano mo maikukumpara ang "casualty count" ng leyte at samar sa ibang probinsiya ng hindi mo rin ikukumpara ang lakas ng tama ng bagyo.

Pero alam mo minamahal naming pangulo, di ka naman namin sinisisi, puta bagyo to eh, nature to, alam naming hindi ikaw ang dahilan nito. Isa pa, ang mga waray, hindi magaling sa blame game. ANG IKINAGAGALIT NG MGA TAO NGAYON ETO LANG:

AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR A LEADER THAT WILL SEND THEM A MESSAGE TO PICK UP THEIR BROKEN SPIRITS;

AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE NEEDED ASSURANCES THAT YOU HAVE THEIR BACKS;

THE ONLY THING YOU GAVE THEM, WAS A BIG "FUCK YOU TACLOBAN, THIS IS YOUR FAULT, DON'T BLAME ME." (Forgive my very liberal paraphrasing)

Tangina naman pre (i hope you don't mind my audacity to refer to you on friendly terms), hindi naman namin hinihingi na pigilan mo lahat ng bagyo. O kaya na personally ka mamigay ng relief goods. Ang hinihingi lang ng mga tao sa yo, bilang lider ng sambayanang Pilipino, ang maging inspirasyon sa amin.

The best leaders throughout history aren't remembered because they prevented huge disasters, they are remembered because when disaster inevitably struck, they inspired and rallied the people. I'm not an expert on Philippine history, but isn't that what your parents did?

I'm sorry Mr. President, but you failed us. You failed the people of Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Masbate and all the other provinces that had to face the last few disasters.

On a final note, that "casualty count" you so callously keep referring to? That's not just a number to us. That "casualty count" are family, friends, and neighbors that we will never see again. People we loved and cared about that we will never be able to laugh with or share a drink with.

Don't get me wrong, I do not for a moment presume that you don't know the pain of loss. I'm sure you do. But, you see, that's precisely my point. I'm sure you understand, that any human being going through the deepest and darkest grief doesn't care much that it's this or that person's fault. What we need from you right now, Mr. President, is an outstretched hand, not a big middle finger.

Yours truly,
Biboy Alimangohan
Formerly of San Jose, Tacloban City
Current address: N/A

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=183504601842532&set=a.162117217314604.1073741828.162115923981400&type=1

RED CROSS: What NOT to give to relief aid

MANILA - Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, gave the following rules when donating to victims of super typhoon "Yolanda."

1. CASH IS BETTER - It is better to give cash than small amounts of relief goods. One hundred to 200 pieces of canned goods are a small amount. What the victims need are truckloads of sardines, rice and ready to eat food. Also, it is harder to sort goods that are of different kinds.

There is also another reason why cash is better. "If we buy items in bulk, it is cheaper," Pang said.

She said the cash can also be used for cash-for-work programs or cash grants in typhoon-hit areas. "We empower people to decide on what they want to buy," she said.

2. GIVE CLOTHES WITH "INTEGRITY." - According to Pang, the Red Cross only gives clothes that are suitable for the Philippine climate. Do not give clothes that are too thick. Also, do not give clothes that are too sexy - something you cannot wear in an evacuation center.

Also, do not give clothes that are too dilapidated and can't be used anymore.

"When we give, dapat may integrity din so that when they wear it, they feel good," Pang said.

3. DON'T GIVE COSMETIC SOAP - Typhoon victims need anti-bacterial soap, not cosmetic soap. They also need anti-dandruff shampoo. Pang said the relief goods given to typhoon victims must be high quality. The Philippine Red Cross usually packs items for a family of 5. This means soap, 5 toothbrushes, etc.

4. DON'T GIVE NOODLES - "For the first 3 days, ang pinakakailangan ay food and water. It has to be ready to eat dahil wala silang pang-luto," Pang said.

"Noodles hindi advisable dahil pakukuluan unless there is water, pero kung wala - rice and ulam sapat yun."

Pang said canned goods should be in easy open cans because the victims have no can openers. She said the Red Cross sometimes does not give utensils because it just adds to the garbage.

The Philippine Red Cross hotlines are 143, +632 527-0000, 09324995241 and 09175261957.

CREDITS: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/focus/11/12/13/what-not-give-relief-aid-red-cross

Iglesia Ni Cristo member praying that Typhoon Yolanda will go back to the Philippines...

BABALA: Ang nagtretrend na si Regghie Orpiada, sa totoong buhay, ay isang Katoliko Kristiyano. May gumawa lang ng pekeng account niya sa Twitter. Heto ang kanyang salaysay:

"Guys hindi po ako ung nag post sa twitter about INC dahil sagrado katoliko po kami. At hindi po yun ang twitter account ko eto po ang twitter account ko @redgeontherocks may nagamit lang po ng picture at real name ko.

@RegghieOrpiada twitter account is fake poser ko po yan sana po maayos ang lahat.

Salamat po."

Nananawagan kami sa lahat ng Kapiling na huwag nang patulan ang personal na mga post ng mga personal accounts, gaano man ito nakakapagdulot ng galit sa atin.

Our personal message to Regghie: Hindi kami sumama sa trend and we are very sorry dahil naabala ka.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/KatolikongPinoy?ref=br_tf

READ: Iglesia ni Cristo Refused to Shelter For Super Typhoon Victims in the Philippines 

READ RELATED ARTICLE 

 

 

Bohol priest thanks God, moved by people’s deep faith amid tragedy

PHOTO CREDITS:  Arnold Beltran Pingoy. St. Michael Church in Clarin, Bohol

PHOTO CREDITS to rightful owners of the images used in this blog. 

This is another story of Filipinos’ faith and resiliency of spirit in the midst of tragedy. Father Ronald C. Amora, Financial Officer of the Diocese of Tagbilaran described how Boholanons faced their tragic experience of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake with faith and prayer.  “One thing admirable with people here who are victims of this worst tragedy is their unswerving faith in God. I was moved by these people’s clinging to God. They do not stop going to Church to pray even if their churches are already turned into shanks and blocks of stones,” the priest said. 

Here’s the full story originally published in http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=24727:

TAGBILARAN, Bohol, Oct. 19, 2013—Even as he thanked God for sparing his life from harm, a Bohol priest said he was deeply moved by the greatness of faith the quake victims have shown amid the tragedy that has struck them. 

Fr. Ronaldo C. Amora, Financial Officer (Oeconomus) of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, narrated his own brush with death when he was trapped between two old buildings in Tagbilaran City when the earthquake struck on Tuesday. 

But he also stressed how he was profoundly touched by the people’s unwavering faith in God in the midst of suffering and loss. 

“I was moved by the people’s deep faith,” he said adding “Dunay mga biktima nga nahugmo ang  ilang mga balay wala kuno’y hunong ilang hilak samtang naghunahuna sa kapait nga midangat kanila pero inig sulod sa Simbahan sa harap ng imahen ng Panginoon nahubasan ang ilang kasub-anan mohunong ang ilang pagluha”. (There are victims of the tragedy who were crying miserably because their homes were torn into rubble but when they enter inside the Church, their miseries became bearable in front of the reassuring image of the Lord and they stopped crying). 

“One thing admirable with people here who are victims of this worst tragedy is their unswerving faith in God. I was moved by these people’s clinging to God. They do not stop going to Church to pray even if their churches are already turned into shanks and blocks of stones,” the priest said. 

Going back to his own experience, Amora said he is deeply grateful that God spared him from any harm as the old buildings around him did not collapse when the 7.2 intensity tremor occurred. 

He also praised the Lord for the timely transfer of their temporary residence to the Seminary from the dilapidated Bishop Palace which is under construction, otherwise the weakened building could have collapsed and buried them alive had they stayed there when the quake struck. 

“Salamat sa Diyos naunhan namo ang linog pagbalhin sa seminary. Kung wala pa mi kabalhin dayon ug giabtan mi sa kusog nga linog nadat ogan siguro mi sa Palasyo nga gabok na,” (Thank God our transfer to the seminary was timely. Had we not transferred on time before the quake we don’t know if we survived when the weakened structure had collapsed with us inside), Amora narrated. 

The Bishop palace is the proper residence of the diocesan prelate. It also usually houses the offices of the Chancery and other diocesan offices.  

Amora told this writer in a telephone interview that he was on his way to the Cathedral Office for an important matter passing the side of the building when the earth started shaking violently. He was literally trapped between the old Cathedral building and another structure in the opposite side so he just remained in the driveway scampering for safety and hoping no hard objects would fall on him from the vibrating structures. 

The priest breathed a sigh of relief after the tremor as only small portions of the Cathedral were torn down and he was safe and sound. 

When asked what was his reflection about the tragedy that caused numbers of lives of innocent people in Bohol, Amora who is also a seminary professor said, “it is the law of nature. Nobody could be blamed. But I believe that out of this tragedy something good would come out from it.” 

The Oeconomus said, the Diocese and the members of the Clergy with the leadership of Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso is now busy facilitating aids to the worst hit victims of the catastrophe. The most basic materials which the victims need for the moment are more supplies for food (rice, water, and can goods), clothing, toiletries and shelter (tents), among others. 

At the moment, he said, the diocesan local team for the heritage churches is now coordinating with the government counterpart in assessing the extent of the damages of the Churches listed as heritage edifices by the government for possible support to be extended for the reconstruction efforts. 

These government registered heritage churches (hence their restoration to be assisted by the government) include, Loon’s Our Lady of Light Parish, Loboc’s St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Baclayon’s Immaculate Conception Parish, among others. 

Amora said the diocese is now also assessing the damages wrought on Churches not listed as heritage structures by the government (hence, their rehabilitation to be shouldered solely by the diocese). These Churches included Clarin (St. Michael the Archangel Parish), Antequera (Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish), Tubigon (St. Isidore  the Farmer Parish), among others.

The professor said, while the diocesan team of engineers are still in the process of reassessing and examining the safety and worthiness of all church structures in the whole province, those affected areas in the diocese are under instruction to hold Masses for the time being outside church buildings or in makeshifts tents as aftershocks upon aftershocks could endanger the lives of both priests and church goers.  (Fr. Romy Ponte)

Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=24727

PHOTO CREDITS to rightful owners of the images used in this blog.