I've been gone for a while now because my entire country's attention has been on the weather. To say that this was a storm, is quite the understatement. This was one hell of a TYPHOON, that has left some of my friends and around 300,000 more people homeless, and has a deathtoll around 300 and then some. We are still reeling from Ondoy (international name Ketsana) and we are still in the process of rescuing and TRYING to get relief goods out to the people that need it the most. Yes, unfortunately for us, we were nowhere near ready to take this on, we did not have the resources to get to everyone in time. As of this writing, I know of several outposts that are still working tirelessly trying to get relief packs and food out there to both the workers and the victims.
Then there are those people just because it is just a sad fact that the Philippines is poor, that will get and handout or dole out they can, victim or not. So now, some of the goods are not going to where they are supposed to, or if they are, they are getting sold to the people that lost everything, and sometimes everyone, at P30. Then there are just these f**cking officials that think they're being smart. Like the DOH saying that they will arrest the GM of any milk company that will donate formula because the DOH promotes breastmilk. W.T.F. Seriously. There also has been panic buying, both for donations and just for personal consumption themselves. It's quite a sight to see an entire supermarket EMPTY of most everything. It has been said that it is because of the panic buying, and because from last week, most of the deliveries couldn't be done due to the heaviness of the rain.
But this has been a time for unbelieveable heroism. I have friends what waded through absolute crap to get friends or family out, help them survive, etc. There is a story of an 18 year old Muelmar Magallanes that went and saved around 30 people, the last being a mother and baby. Upon saving them, and due to extreme exhaustion, he couldn't fight the current and passed away. His body was later identified by his parnets.
I myself have not done anything close to that type of heroism, but I try by helping out by working in a Red Cross center. But that one night is not nearly enough.
With all this, we hear that there are two more super typhoons to hit us. Everyone is just praying that it will somewhat dissapate before hitting our poor country. The latest one is supposed to hit today and will be full force by this weekend. We're all just waiting with bated breath and bracing ourselves for the worst. The best would be a little bit of rain, sure, but not the chaos that was last weekend.
I've never been so thankful in my life for what is usually annoying stairs up to my 4th floor flat. I'm thankful I have a water dispenser, and food. I had electricity and the Internet. Everything was working. My family and best friends were all safe. Here's hoping my luck keeps running. I'll be needing it for the coming weeks.
Please pray for us out there. We need your good vibes and juju more than ever.
