I was talking with Mindanao-based photo-journalist Erwin Mascariñas, who brought us heart-rending images of the tragedy wrought by storm Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, the other day and telling him that I felt awkward greeting him “Merry Christmas” when I know that he is surrounded by grief and suffering.
Erwin was not spared of Sendong’s wrath. While he was out taking pictures, floodwaters entered his house and ruined all their things. He said he is thankful for the donations of clothes which he and members of his family are now wearing.
Erwin is not the only journalist included among Sendong’s victims. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) issued an appeal to other members of media and the public to help media workers who have been left homeless and dispossessed by Sendong. An ABS-CBN report said two radio reporters are among those missing.
NUJP said, “It could have not have come at time at a worse time, hitting just a few days before Christmas and New Year.”
NUJP said clothes, food and other basic necessities are welcome but the most immediate and practical at this time is cash.
NUJP’s advisory:“ We can channel material support to the NUJP Safety Office in Mindanao which is based in Cagayan de Oro (St. Joseph’s Hall, 5th cor. 7th Streets, Lazareth, Cagayan de Oro City). Those in Manila and nearby areas may send their donations to the NUJP office (4/f FSS Bldg. Annex No. 89 Scout Castor, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City).
“But for the immediate cash assistance, please send to Account No. 229_722_9507-458 (Metrobank). Kindly email to nujphil@gmail.com to inform the NUJP of your assistance.
“For inquiries, please call/text 09104950095 (Weng Paraan, NUJP secretary general), 09213218357 (Rupert Mangilit, NUJP staff) or (02) 3767330 (NUJP office).”
Tragedies like Sendong make one look at Christmas beyond the fiesta atmosphere, the food, the gifts that we have become accustomed to. Christmas has become a huge commercial season that it has become a stressful exercise trying to cope with it financially.
Adversities bring out the best and worst in people. We will take up the bad later but our hearts are warmed by gestures of generosity by people. We have read about children donating for the victims of Sendong their savings not for items they have saved the money. Residents in our street here in Moonwalk in Las Pinas decided to forgo their annual Christmas party and decided to donate the money for the victims of Sendong.
ABC-5’s Interaksyon.com ’s editorial “Rejoice for a nation reborn” captured the essence of the Christmas spirit amidst so much suffering. It said, “ We are tired as a nation, and yet we know that in every tragedy, salvation is not the gift we bring for others, it is the miracle we hope to find for ourselves.”
Our Christmas wish is for us to sustain that goodness even beyond Christmas.
The Victims of the latest calamity in CDO-Iligan and other parts in Mindanao, were able to “felt deeply ” of, what Christmas is All About !, and the heartfelt feelings-emotions deeply rooted to their souls, and the inner core of their lives. The real-actual experience of LOVE and Concern-Brotherhood with each other, and the very closely knitted relationship, as one Child of the Almighty Father, have once more experience and seen all over the world. On the other side of the worst incident, they became an ICON-symbol or seal of what “humanity and Christmas ” is all about.
GOD’s Bless and Graces be with the victims, we have seen ” the Agony of Jesus Christ ” in their sufferings, done or compared to the “Jews”, who did the illegal logging and the destruction of the nature’s environments, having the inherent greed in their blood. We need to Hope for a greater Change, after the very traumatic tragedy and learn further the value of humanity, either rich-wealthy or poor ( Bad, good or ugly )…Amen !
Ang lungkot, Ellen! My brother-in-law and wife (from Cebu and CDO respectively) are still in CDO spending Christmas with the victims and helping in the recovery of bodies. Sabi, nadadaanan nila ang mga patay sa daan, stench is so bad daw.
A 94-year old lady friend of the family from CA, an assistant to the wife of the CDO mayor in the ’60s’, told me yesterday that the massive logging in the area started in the ’60’s pa raw dinadala sa Japan. She said that trees in the mountains were bigger and more beautiful than those in Yosemite. Sendong was an expected disaster to happen due to the logging ‘business’, she said. Wala pa raw naka-solve ng problema na yan since it started, very lucrative business in the area!
Hopefully, the current leadership could solve this problem with a mighty political will. Kung kayang ipakulong si Gloria at impeach si Corona, kaya din nila na ibitin ng patiwarik ang lalabag sa mining laws from hereon.
logging laws pala!. sige, isama na natin ang mining, pareho din yan na nakakabaha at nakakamatay kung hindi sumusunod sa batas ng tao at environment.
Sa mga Ellenites na nasa overseas, kung nahihirapan kayo na magpadala ng perang donasyon… try Philippine Red Cross Paypal, meron sila. We used it na, madali pa.
Dear Ellen:
Good morning.
After reading your column in Malaya last december 22 (an appeal for our media colleagues battered by typhoon sendong) i sent an text message to ms Weng Paraan and Rupert Mangilit as indicated in your column.
Good that Mr. Rupert M replied and we are working on the medical supplies we can donate to NUJP for the typhoon victims.
We have medical supplies available and all we need to do is sort the things that we can send to the typhoon victims.
I belong to the Philippine American group of educators and surgeons foundation our headquarters is based in new jersey, usa. We have been doing free operation to indigent filipino children for the past 21 years suffering from facial defects like cleft lip and palate (bingot at ngo-ngo). We will have our February 2012 mission in San Pablo city at San Pablo Medical Center from Feb 18 to Feb 25…. So if you have patients please let us know.
More power to you and to the NUJP.
Have a safe, happy and a prosperous new year.
Rick fulgencio
Ricardo IV D. Fulgencio mm 32°
OneHealth – President and CEO
Website: http://www.onehealthsystems.com
Chairman, Executive Board
Director Philippine Mission
PAGES Philippines
Website: http://www.pageshope.org