During Typhoon Ondoy - Sagip Kapamilya Efforts

Cheryl Cosim originally uploaded by LopezLink

It has been around 2 weeks already after the typhoon Ondoy has battered most of the cities in Metro Manila. I remember how every twitter updates were marked with #ondoy, re-twittering rescue updates and call for donations/volunteers. For a moment I was thankful for how technology could save lives and bring people together. Although, I wished that there was no need for a disaster just for us to show brotherhood as a nation.


Kris Aquino, Fr Tito Caluag, Tina Monzon-Palma and Piolo Pascual originally uploaded by LopezLink

Right now, rarely do I encounter tweets or Facebook updates about the disasters - both Ondoy and Pepeng. I am wondering if it's the Filipino's nature of forgetfullness in action. At one point, everyone was active then as days passed but floods have not receded, people's attentions started to wane.

Fortunately there are still NGO's that have not forgotten. I could only do so much as to remind people personally how people from the north are suffering, some still on their roofs and some buried in landslides. One NGO is Sagip Kapamilya of the Lopez Group where my mom came from. She encouraged me and my sister to join the volunteer efforts during the first few days but surprisingly, thousands of volunteers have emerged before us. My mom said, this is how people react towards an organization they can trust. No offense to the government but many donors would rather hand their donations to Sagip Kapamilya or Red Cross who is equally active in saving people's lives and morales.

Watching the news last night, I was happy to see how ABS-CBN's Sagip Kapamilya has penetrated the north which includes Benguet and Pangasinan to give out relief goods and rescue some flood victims. Hopefully, more people will be inspired with these efforts and not just be active during the peak hours of calamities when everyone is still talking about it.

If you want to know more on how to continue helping and other news from the Lopez Group, become a fan of their Facebook page. You can also join the forum and discuss about Celebrities in Sagip Kapamilya Rescue Operations.

Update: Bloggers Help Ondoy Victims

Here's news for you Mickey Mouse, bloggers have been helping Ondoy victims to be rescued as early as Saturday afternoon doh. In this time of disaster, it would help if politicians would just shut up and do their part rather than protect their interest.

Twitter and Facebook became tools to save people, mobilize relief goods, and register for volunteerism. If not for the heavy duty 24/hour online dudes which includes celebrities and pinoy bloggers - the turn out of donations, news updates, and rescue will not be as high. It isn't really correct to discuss this now but my head is steaming from what I read in newspapers that someone said how "bloggers should do their part". Now let me update you with volunteer and relief efforts this Wednesday.

Yesterday, I went to Balay Cubao instead to drop off clothes and register to help. I didn't make it to Enderun for some reasons including that I read how they lack ingredients to cook and donations to pack. So please continue to send relief goods and ingredients to Mega Tent in Pasig today.

I am going back to Balay today to help around the kitchen, hopefully I will not get lost like what happened to me yesterday.

Cook for Ondoy Victims

Finally I found my agenda for tomorrow! Will wake up early to go to Enderun to help chop and cook food for Ondoy victims. I haven't slept since 11pm yesterday because I am so bothered by this disaster that I have to do something.

Successfully dropped off goods at Team Manila earlier.

I have no more clothes or food to give so I can only offer my time and service tomorrow. If my sister raids her closet now, I can still bring some more clothes to any drop off centers. God help us all.

You too can just drop by at Enderun College at The Fort to bring ingredients or to help cook food as well, this is 24 hours so you can drop by anytime.

2AM Two Days after Ondoy

I still cannot sleep properly with images inside my head of the tragedy that was. I just finished raiding my closet and toiletries that I will deliver later to one of the drop off points for Ondoy victims.

I have an exam later at 9AM and after that, I might volunteer somewhere to help sort goods or whatever. This disaster is huge, unimaginable, and the worst I have seen in my life. Lots of people are still stuck in their roof, no food and water, and after this, they have nothing.

I especially feel terrible for the poor who has yet to survive this when they already have nothing to begin with. If you think you have nothing to give, think again. You can donate lots of things or simply your time. Get others to move and help, we cannot depend on anyone else now but ourselves. I pray to God that whatever lesson we have to learn from here, we should remember so that this does not need to happen again. I am very mad at the negligence of both the government and public with the water system and garbage but this is not the time to blame or point fingers though.

See you at the evacuation centers.