Update: Sheila Pino Ylagan informed me in Facebook that Richard Gappi and family are okay.
A Facebook post said on Nov. 5, he went to Tacloban for the birthday of his son, Intoy. His family in Angono lost communication with him during the typhoon.
Those who have access to him, please let us know. We pray he is safe.
***
When we saw the devastation in Leyte, we felt awkward about being engrossed about the damage wrought by typhoon Yolanda in our place in Guisijan, Laua-an, Antique.
The sight of the dead all over – on the street and underneath fallen structures – was simply heartbreaking.
Until now, we didn’t know about the killer storm surge which report said reached up to 13 feet, drowning those who thought they safe from the fury of Yolanda inside their houses or in evacuation centers.
We will rise from the debris of Yolanda. We are sure of that.
It’s a monumental job for the government and we imagine how stressful it is for officials especially the President.
The stress was evident on the President Aquino when he snapped at the businessman who related him during a disaster briefing in Tacloban that he was held at gunpoint by some looters. The President’s reply: “But you did not die, right?”
The victims are desperate. ABS-CBN and Interaksyon reported local officials and businessmen in Leyte recommended to the President to declare martial law or state of emergency to restore law and order and facilitate rebuilding.
The President reacted truculently to the suggestion and walked out of the briefing. He later on returned to the briefing.
News reports quoting Regional police chief Elmer Soria said the Leyte death toll could reach 10,000.
Kawawa talaga.
We are luckier then although our house caretaker is also devastated because her house was blown away by Yolanda. Parts of our roof were also blown away. The mango tree in our backyard and the jackfruit tree in front fell down. Three of our coconut trees were cut into half. Bamboo trees in our property near the creek were uprooted and clogged the creek at the height of rains causing flooding in our place.
Our neighbor said travel by bus in Antique is hampered by the fallen trees on the road.
But as we said, our situation is not as bad as Leyte.
***
Gem Mendoza forwarded to us this appeal by Doreynal Llacari of Llorente, Eastern Samar :
“Tulungan Nyo Kami Dito sa Eastern Samar!
“Dahil po sa walang communication at lahat nang cell sites ay nawasak na lahat dala ng bagyong Yolanda kung kaya’t hindi napapansin ang ating pamahalaan ang malawak na pagkawasak ng mga bayan ng Guiuan, Guiporlos, at Hernani sa Eastern Samar.
“Mahal na Pangulo at mga nasa NDRRMC at ang Kalihim ng Local Govt at ang DSWD maging ang Red Cross po ay aming tinatawagan na gumawa ng paraan na makapagpadala rin po kayo ng tulong sa mga mamamayan ng Eastern Samar.
“Palawakin po natin ang coverage ng mga pagtulong sa lahat ng apektadong lugar na binayo ng super typhoon. Dito natin kailangan ang pagtutulungan at pagkalinga sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo.
“Maglaan din po kayo ng mga pondo sana sa mga lugar ito para maibalik sa normal ang kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan ng mga lugar na sinalanta ng bagyo.
“Kailangan po ang malawakan at agarang pagsasa tayo ng mga infrastructura na giniba ng mga ‘natural disasters na dumadaan sa ating bayan. Ang mga apektado ng lindol sa Bohol at Cebu na hindi pa nakakabangon ay hinagupit pa nang isang super typhoon.
“Ngayon kailang pa man kailangan ng bawat mamamayan ang sama-samang pagbangon muli para sa higit pang maliwanag na hinaharap. Sa ating tulong tulong na pagtugon sa lahat ng mga nangangailangan.
“Ipakita natin na tayong mga pinoy ay matibay, marunong yumuko sa mga daluyong ng buhay, at malalampasan natin anumang unos ang dumating sa ating buhay.
“Tayo’y magsama-sama, magtulong-tulong sa pagbangon muli nang mga sinasalanta ng mga kalamidad.”
Emotionally devastating…
Without offense to the victims and their families, could it be Karma or curse from heaven due to the country’s rampant corruption?
Where’s Imelda Marcos and the Romualdezes of Tacloban? We don’t hear from them.
Looting is understandable if the residents stole foods and grocery items; but not including electronics. I saw on video footage that some carried boxes of TV.
I’m sure NPA rebels in Visayas and those areas were also affected. Many of them could be mixing with the civilians. They recognize police and soldiers, and these soldiers might know some of the rebels. Good thing they don’t shoot one another.
Kudos to the police and soldiers whose families were also victims; yet they have to help the people. The government should not only focus on helping the residents, but also the soldiers who are victims.
The worst is yet to come after all these are over. Recovery is harder. Billions are needed. Napoles’ P10B scam could have been a great help to the victims. Why not bring her to Tacloban for her to witness the people’s sufferings? Well, she got no heart. It’s those like her that must die.
I came across this comment from a foreigner at a foreign discussion forum:
rover • 1 hr 31 mins ago Report Abuse
TO all people around the world who wants to donate there kind or money DO NOT GIVE ON PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL .you just give to the foundation like sagip kapamilya or any foundation from Philippine media.so that you sure it will come to the victim of typhoon yulanda. other wise its useless .thank you hope PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WILL wake up now…
Sheila Pino Ylagan informed me in Facebook that Richard Gappi and family are okay. Thank you, God.
Mula noong lusubin, sakupin at sunugin ng grupo ni Misuari ang Zamboanga City nagkasunod sunod na ang mga kalamidad na tumama sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng ating bansa – lindol, sunog at super bagyo at hindi ito nalilingid sa aming kaalaman at batid naming kung ano ang aming nararamdaman at pinagdadaanan ay gayundin ang dinaranas sa ngayon ng katulad namin ay biktima ng pangyayaring hindi namin kagustuhan. Alam naming sobra sobra ang bigat ng pananagutang nakaatang sa balikat ng ating mga namumuno bunga ng patong patong na trahedya SUBALIT sa kanilang bibig na rin mismo nanggagaling na merong sapat na pondo upang matugunan ang pangangailangan naming lahat at ‘yun ang aming inaasahan hanggang ngayon. Nariyan ang tulong mula sa mga bansang nagpapaabot ng pakikiramay sa mga nasalanta. Nakakapagtaka lamang na pagdating sa mismong lugar na dapat mamudmod ng tulong ay kung bakit napakarami pa silang dahilan at nagpapatumpik tumpik upang kahit paano ay malamanan ang mga kumakalam na sikmura. Parang sapat na ‘yung napapanood namin sa telebisyon at natutunghayan sa pahayagan ang larawan ng pangulo na siyang nag-aabot ng mga supot ng relief goods.
Nasaksihan sa mga balita ang sapilitang pagkuha ng mga biktima ng bagyong Yolanda ng makakain at ibang pangangailangan mula sa mga tindahan sa Tacloban City na kailanman sa loob ng kulang isang buwang malaimpiyernong naranasan namin sa Zamboanga City ay hindi ginawa ng kahit isang naabo ang tirahan at nawalan ng ikabubuhay. Kami pa ang ninakawan at kahit ganu’n ay nanatili kaming nananalig sa ating pamahalaan at marahil ay patuloy na aasa hanggang maamutan nila ng ayuda.
Bilyong piso ang usapan sa kasalukuyang pork barrel scam. Milyon milyon ang fund allocation ng ating mga mambabatas. Daan daang libong dolyar ang halaga ng tulong mula sa ibang bansa. Sino sino ang MAS at tunay na nakikinabang? Saan nila ang mga ito inilalaan?
Sana ay maisip nilang lahat sa gobyerno – MULA sa ating pangulo hanggang sa pinakamababang namumuno NA wala silang maisasakatuparan kung puro salita at pangako ang kanilang bibitiwan at walang matutulungan KUNG ang pondo ay hindi gustong gastusin sa dapat paglaanan. Huwag nilang gawing laging panahon ng kampanya ang bawat pakikiharap nila sa mamamayan. KUNG ano ang nararapat ay agad nilang gawan ng hakbang sapagkat mas mahirap kung sunod sunod ang kalamidad na tumatama sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa na nagiging sanhi ng paglobo ng bilang ng mga biktima.
Nakaka asar mabasa ang mga comments ng ibang foreigners dahil imbis na awa ay nakakainis ang mga sinasabi dahil sa corruptions dito.
Papaano natin malalaman kung saan nga mapupunta ang perang donations ng ibang bansa. Na di mapupunta sa mga magnanakaw na politicians or kawani ng gobyerno. Papaano natin matitiyak na sa mga biktima mapupunta ang tulong at hindi sa mga pekeng NGO’S mapupunta ang pera.
May katuwiran ang iba na nag comments na bantayan at alamin ng ibang bansa kung saan mapupunta ang ibibigay nilang pera.
Ang nakakainis lang sa mga comments ng ibang bansa ay nadadamay ang mga nabiktima ng trahedya at sila pa ang nasasabihan ng di mabuti dahil sa kagagawan ng mga MAG NANAKAW SA GOBYERNO NATIN.
di ko masabi na masuwerte ako or pamilya namin dahil buo pa ang bahay namin dito sa manila at ang iba ay wasak.
Papaano mababantayan ang perang ibibigay ng ibang bansa at matiyak na sa mga biktima mapupunta.
#8 That only shows how much distrust and disrespect foreigners have for our officials and politicians. We can’t exactly blame them. The Phl is among the most corrupt countries in the world.
Sorry, it’s #6. These days, foreign countries donate directly to agencies like Red Cross and not government. Red Cross is an independent international agency.
#8 How do you know (for sure) the foreign countries directly donated the money to the Red Cross.
They donated some but not all. Ang pag alam ko ay binibigay pa rin nila sa gobyerno natin para malaman ng ibang bansa na sila ay tumulong.
Weill, you might be right…directly to the national government but not government agencies. My point is foreign countries don’t trust our government officials and politicians due to rampant corruption. Aids don’t reached the intended recipients.
Where are the jueteng lords in those affected areas? Sure, they stop jueteng operations for a while but will be back big time when things are normal and victimize the poor people again. With all the millions they earned throughout the years, do they donate money to the victims?
# 11 “Where are the jueteng lords in those affected areas?”
Baka kasama sa nalunod. Kaso ang masasama ay matagal mamatay eh Katulad ni Gloria at iba.
#6 & #7 don’t worry, wag kayong mag-alala. nang magsidating ang mga foreign donation ay nasa USA si Jinggoy. Kaya ang mga donations ay direcho na sa mga kinauukulan at hindi na dadaan sa NGO ni Jinggoy.
Jojo, it’s not only Jinggoy the country should be worried. There are many more and even worse around in Manila today. In fact, the amount of scam benefited Bong Revilla more who’s in Manila. So is Enrile.
From SnV, who is having difficulty accessing this blog:
Time for decisive action. Like what?
Instead of waiting for food and other stuff to be airlifted, anyway, mayroon namang mga grocery stores in the area, let the government tell the owners that the government will pay for the entire inventory. Ipamigay na yan. You will stop looting, and violence, and people will be given food.
Call an emergency session of the Congress. Certify a bill for immediate appropriations, to pay for the food and the other items that will be commandeered by mayors and governors from private grocery stores, to be distributed to the people.
You will need a big amount of money to provide for food and other necessities. That can be done with an appropriation. If they move fast, then it can be done in one day. Huwag nang hintayin pang mag-decision sa PDAF/DAP suit ang Supreme Court.
In the regular session, appropriation bills should also be filed for the repair of basic infrastructure – communication lines, power lines, water, etc. Ipamigay na ng gobyerno- regardless if the power lines and telephone lines are privately-owned.
Move. Damn it. Tigil na ang bakasyon. I know of two Congressmen who are here in New York. But I am sure there are enough back in the PI for a quorum.
kailan ba tayo naaalala ng mga politikong ‘yan? Hindi ba’t kapag ganitong sinasalanta tayo ng kalamidad KUNG kailan nakatutok ang pansin ng buong mundo? Lumalabas ang nakikisimpatiya nilang mukhang animo totoo ang pakikiramay at lungkot sa ating kinasasapitan.
Meron bang pulitiko na bumunot mula sa sariling bulsa upang itulong sa atin? Hindi ba’t wala silang ipinapangako KUNDI ang magpapalabas sila ng pondo mula sa kaban ng bayan? Eh, pera din natin ‘yun, ah? Buwis na ibinabayad natin na dapat ay ilaan para sa atin ding kapakanan SUBALIT bago makarating sa bawat isa ang tulong AY latak na lamang dahil sa dami ng masisibang opisyales na gustong sila ang unang makinabang at tila walang pagkasawa sa pagkakamal ng salaping hindi kanila.
Noong kainitan ng labanan sa Zamboanga City ay humingi ako ng tulong sa isang mataas na pinuno ng gobyerno upang kahit paano ay mabigyang pansin ang kalagayan ng aking asawa na merong sakit sa puso. Awa ng Diyos ay tumugon naman ang staff ng naturang opisyal. Tinawagan ang aking asawa at anak at sinabing kumontak sila sa ibinigay na pangalan ng kung sinong mataas na kasapi ng mayoryang lapian, isang dating meyor na natalo nu’ng kumandidato sa pagka-gobernador at hinihintay lamang matapos ang taning na one-year ban upang mai-appoint sa gabinete. Nakakatuwa naman na hanggang sa oras na ito kahit maya’t maya tawagan ng aking mag-ina ay HINDI sila sinasagot.
Naisip ko lamang – katatapos nga pala ng eleksiyon at hindi pa panahon upang tumugon sa problema ng inaasahang boboto sa kanya sakaling muling kumandidato.
13. Jojo
#6 & #7 don’t worry, wag kayong mag-alala. nang magsidating ang mga foreign donation ay nasa USA si Jinggoy. Kaya ang mga donations ay direcho na sa mga kinauukulan at hindi na dadaan sa NGO ni Jinggoy.
Eh, Si Junggoy lang ang wala nandiyan naman si Tanda, si Pogi, Si Pandak at baboy at ang mga hinayupak na TONGRESSMAN at kawani ng gobyerno.
Kaya mag iisip ka pa rin na sana huwag makurakot. Habang naka upo ang mga langgam ay tiyak na kakagatin nila ang mga donations. Matatawak ang mga iyan at walang kabusugan.
In my own small way, called everyone I know to donate money thru Red Cross, ABS CBN and all the other reputable organizations to donate any amount. Make sure to indicate for “Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines ” funds. Every single get together I plug this plea. I also e-mailed my company to disseminate this plea to all the other offices. It will create awareness. This is the time we reach in deep into our pockets to help and not wait for just the international help. Every little money we give, feeds a family or two. THis will be a long haul. But just the same, Filipinos are known to spring back. A little help from all of us will push these families to be hopeful.
What the politicians did are horrible but let us not factor that into this big task we are faced with. We just have to use the known reputable organizations so the help we give will reach those who need help most. Once the plan to help these typhoon ravaged area is completed, it will be like an oiled machine. Those who are now without food, shelterless and so confused will somehow be helped until they are able to stand on their own again.
I like SNV’s idea of giving inventories to the small stores. The distributors should know who these small operators are. The locals can not go to the neighboring municipalities to get food. A Mobile grocery store will be helpful as well to get to the remote areas. These residents do not even have clothes on their back and no energy to walk to the next food distribution center.
Waiting for the barangay captain to go get the supplies for his constituents is not even an option now. What if these local leaders are dead themselves! Then his/her constituents will never get the help they need.
I am putting together some boxes to be shipped out. I told everyone I know to look into their closets to find clothing, blankets and every basic thing they can find and put these in boxes. I called Atlas shipping and they said they can ship these for free. For how long? I just do not know. For now though, money donations would make more sense. The organizations on the ground can just easily buy the much needed items for distribution.
For those who lost their homes and businesses, interest free loans or very low interest loans with longer terms should be granted to those affected by the typhoon. This will speed up the recovery.