Will we survive a major earthquake?

THE news and images from Japan after it was hit by a massive earthquake then a tsunami continue to trouble us. Of course, this again brings up the question if we would survive an earthquake of such a proportion if it happens here in the Philippines, specifically Metro Manila.

In 2004, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which is one of the most generous sources of grants for the Philippines, made a study along with the Metro Manila Development Authority and Philippine Volcanology and Seismology on what areas are most vulnerable to earthquakes. The study found that an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude would damage 38% of residential buildings, 38% of mid-rise buildings (below 30 stories), and 14% of high-rise buildings (30-60 stories).

The following is an executive summary of the study:

Earthquake Impact Reduction Study for Metro Manila 2004

As per the letter of Architect Jun Palafox included in above document, he recommends 60 measures to mitigate the impact from potential disasters like an earthquake, tidal wave (tsunami), and other natural calamities. These include drawing up of disaster preparedness/crisis response plans, preparation of hazard maps, securing open spaces, creation of disaster-proof zones, designation of evacuation sites, to name a few.

Architect Palafox first sent his recommendations to former President Arroyo, after the Typhoon Ondoy disaster in Sept. 2009, but I suppose with so few months left in her term, no action was taken on Palafox's recommendations. He again sent the above document to President Noynoy Aquino right after he got elected, but according to Boo Chanco's column, Architect Palafox has yet to receive a response from Malacañang. (Many thanks to Mr. Chanco for sending us a copy of the study and Palafox's recommendations.)

Let's hope this Japan tragedy spurs our gov't leaders, esp. PNoy, to take action on these recommendations.

Btw, for those seeking more info on the Japan earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, click the Google Crisis Response site here.

Clap for yourselves, guys!

FILIPINO OF THE YEAR 2009
Ondoy volunteers, donors: Lifesaver to multitudes

THEY WERE LIFESAVERS TO THE multitudes who struggled to keep their heads and hopes above water, whether against the torrents of destruction or the slow currents of despair.

They were the volunteers and donors who, in countless ways, helped the battered populace—and the nation’s downcast spirit—recover from the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm “Ondoy.”

The Inquirer salutes them as the 2009 Filipino of the Year. (Click Inquirer.net for the rest.)

Getting into the Christmas spirit

It may be a stretch for some to feel all toasty and charitable in the coming holidays, especially those who may have lost loved ones and their homes in the last typhoons. But as a friend pointed out, it is up to us, those who were not directly touched by the calamities, to help the victims get into the Christmas spirit. (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

Move those relief goods Sec. Cabral!

GOOD grief! If you haven't seen the photos of those relief goods just sitting at DSWD warehouse, click here. Good thing Ella's blog is up and running again. Ok, so we all suspiciously thought it was taken down by some powerful entities. It was just due to too much web traffic pala. hehe (My thanks to Ella also for taking off from my previous blog about relief efforts at Tulong Bayan in Cubao and White Space. Although slight correction, only the first photo she used was Leah Navarro's; the rest were mine.)

(The warehouse of DSWD. No one repacking the goods. Where are the DSWD staff? How come Sec. Cabral has not asked for volunteers? Photo from Ella's site.)

Anyhoo, this is disturbing news indeed. Many privately-run relief efforts wrapped up a week after Ondoy primarily because there were no more goods coming in. Then we all find out, tons are just with the DSWD gathering dust! Maybe Sec. Peter Favila should train his guns on DSWD for hoarding all those relief goods! For what kaya? For next year's elections? Does the gov't intend to give out the rest of these goods when their candidates are campaigning? We can't help thinking this way!

Even DSWD Sec. Esperanza Cabral's subsequent explanation on the issue makes no sense. If the agency needed volunteers, all she had to do was shout out over the radio, TV, through the DSWD web site, and other bloggers! It's scary that there are just so many unthinking and inefficient people now in government service!

People are dying, or getting sick, and running out of food in the typhoon-stricken areas, or in the evacuation centers, and all that we were treated to were immensely huge photos of Dr. Cabral (and presidentiable Gibo Teodoro) handing out a pittance of relief goods. Teka Lolah, tatakbo ka bang Senador?

Even after Ella's exposé btw, things have little changed at the DSWD. Political columnist/blogger Manolo Quezon and some of his friends went to check on the warehouse, the account of which is in Update 3 of Bury me in this dress.

* * * *
Meanwhile, I told my mom about the issue of the DSWD warehouse and she got pissed about it. You see my mom was a social worker back when DSWD was still called Social Welfare Administration. She loved her work so much, going to the poor communities in Tondo, for instance, that she actually turned down a job offer to become the secretary of then SWA administrator Pacita Madrigal Warns. This was the time when Ramon Magsaysay was Philippine president.

Back then, she said, SWA staff were extremely efficient, honest, and dedicated to their work. But things may have turned under the time of the Marcoses. My mom told me for instance how one regional SWA official, a former colleague, approached her asking if she wanted some instant milk powder. (This was when my mom was already married to my Dad and had retired from SWA.) She asked how the SWA official came to have so much milk powder in her possession, the officer said, it was bec. of her work at the SWA. "E kasi Social Welfare ako di ba?" was how my mom quoted her ex-colleague. Instead of giving the milk powder, donated most probably by foreign governments, to poor and needy communities, this SWA official was handing them out to friends and family! Ang kapal!

Okay, I'm not saying that all the DSWD staff are like this ex-SWA regional officer, but I would suppose everyone will take their cue from their respective bosses. If they see their DSWD bosses just sitting in their airconditioned offices and nagpapa-ganda/nagpapa-picture lang, or filching from their stocks of donated goods, they too will follow. Monkey see, monkey do.

Ella didn't claim naman that the relief goods in DSWD are "rotting" there as alleged in some TV reports, or being pilfered by the agency staff, so all I'm saying is, the systems and procedures are definitely not efficient at that agency. There is no organization in the way the relief goods are being handled, repacked, and distributed. What are the DSWD employees doing about this? Now, if the agency is shorthanded, all it has to do is ask for volunteers because I'm sure many people would like to help...unless its officials really don't want the public to know what exactly is going on in those DSWD warehouses.

Rain rain go away!

IT'S 4:26 a.m., Oct. 19, Monday. The rain is starting to pour again. I can imagine people who survived Typhoon Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng are again nervously peering through their windows to check for any signs of rising floodwaters. I hate to be in their position.

I wish this rain would stop and Typhoon Lupit/Ramil just dissipate in the ocean.

Here's the latest on the new weather disturbance from the Japan Meteorological Agency. The satellite imagery is here.

Be safe, be informed.

No one to save us but ourselves*

(Slums of Manila. Photo by Laine and Lucas at Travelblog)

"Our thoughtless throwing of garbage into canals and the remaining estuaries in the metropolis has also been cited as one of the culprits of the recent flooding. With all that much waste clogging the waterways, there was no way for the floodwaters to exit rapidly out onto Manila Bay. To this day, residents in a few areas in Pasig and Marikina are still dealing with knee-high floodwaters." (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

*Expanded from a previous blog entry.

If you still think the branded styro food package was a fake...

...here are a couple of more photos to show how one presidentiable has been taking advantage of the Ondoy tragedy. For security reasons, I cannot reveal the names of the people who took these:

(This photo was taken along Edsa at 2 pm, Saturday, Oct. 10.)

(This was taken during a relief operation in a community in San Mateo, a few days after Ondoy's visit on Sept. 26.)

When photos of the styro food package labeled w/ his name were published in a number of blogs, Sen. Manny Villar denied any knowledge about it, adding that if it had been done by his staff, he didn't authorize it. So you'd think he'd be smart enough to order his staff to refrain from politicking via his relief efforts. Well, apparently he has no control of his own staff. A good president he'd make that's for sure.

Shame on you Sen. Villar for taking advantage of a calamity like Ondoy just to get your mug and name out there!

From my friend's FB status today...how very apt for the times: "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." - Matthew 6:2

From victims to survivors

(Photo from Ajay's Writings on the Wall.)

“We facilitate and help them articulate their feelings and try to organize their thoughts. We don’t push any advice; we stay away from giving advice. At the onset, we let them express their thoughts and their situation, because it helps clarify things in their mind. When they are clarified, this helps them explore ways to rebuild their lives,” Wendell explained.

It is true, he said, in times of trauma and disaster, sometimes all that the survivors need is someone to listen to them. “Listening to them is important. Initially, they are confused and their thoughts are cluttered. When things are finally clear in their mind, some of them nanggaling na sa kanila what to do next. And it’s better when that happens, when they figure out for themselves how to move on.” (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

Remember this?

Well, read this.

I couldn't help but cry over this little miracle. Thank you Lord.

God didn't have anything to do w/ the Ondoy tragedy

THE flooding from Typhoon Ondoy happened, because of poor urban planning and our polluted esteros. There were many victims from the flood, because the gov't was inept, and didn't mount any rescue efforts until it was too late. The typhoon happened, because typhoons are a natural occurence in this part of the world. It's intensity is blamed on Climate Change, again, not God's doing but ours. Our burning of fossil fuels contributes to global pollution and greenhouse gases.

No. The Ondoy tragedy happened not bec. God got mad as there are so many sinners in the Philippines. Our God is no longer of the Old Testament - an angry God - who sends great floods to cleanse the earth of bad people. Or turns sinners into pillars of salt.The God of the New Testament is a loving God. It is His continuing devotion to us - despite our trespasses - that has inspired many of us to help our brothers and sisters who've lost their family, friends, and homes bec. of Ondoy.

It is God who encourages us to be better Christians by loving our fellow men. This tragedy is an opportunity for us all to show Him why we are so deserving of his continuing affection.

* * * *
Here's an insightful piece about urban planning from PDI's Lifestyle section:

"If there is anything or anyone to be blamed for the flooding in Metro Manila, these are the inhabitants. Domestic garbage has obviously taken over the drainage system. We must learn to dispose of our garbage properly." (Click Don't blame God for the rest.)

It takes a village... (updated again, 6:36 pm, Oct. 5)

At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods or going to evacuation centers to help distribute care packages. At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, it was heartwarming to note that most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college. Many of these kids, as you know, would normally spend their time away from school hanging out at the mall.

They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share! (Click Something Like Life, BusinessMirror, Oct. 2, 2009 for the rest.)

(Even grade school kids pitched in to help! According to singer/activist Leah Navarro, there were so many volunteers at Tulong Bayan's centers in Cubao and White Space, Pasong Tamo Ext., others were asked to return at later schedules. PHOTOS BY LEAH NAVARRO)

(Volunteers of Tulong Bayan unpack cartons of biscuits.)

(Pass it on, guys. Youth volunteers at the Expo Centro in Cubao move the relief goods for loading into a flatbed truck.)

UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT (10/05/09): Tulong Bayan has closed its Cubao operations but its operations at White Space, Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati City, continues. Volunteers are most welcome. Donations too of course! Aside from food, we need slippers, underwear for men women and children, basic medicines (paracetamol, anti-diarrhea, disinfectants, etc.), toothpaste and toothbrush, etc. Thank you!

ANNOUNCEMENT 2: For other relief centers needing volunteers, click BayanihanOnline. Thanks!

Here are some photos I took at Tulong Bayan center in Cubao last Thursday, Oct. 2:

(Bags of relief goods for distribution this weekend.)

(Cardboard cartons as beds for the flood victims.)

(Here's how the bed looks up close. It includes a blanket to keep warm.)

(Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution to evacuation centers.)

ALSO, on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4:

(More relief goods for distribution, Oct. 4)

(Unpacking biscuits for donations.)

(Making the beds from carton boxes.)


(Sacks of rice to be transported to White Space, where Tulong Bayan's relief efforts continue until Thursday, Oct. 8)

(Boxes of canned tuna on their way to White Space too.)

For foreign donors

PLS. coordinate with the Philippine Embassy/Consulates in your respective areas and the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development for your donations. Click here for the procedures you have to follow to make sure your donations get to the right recipients.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Gary Teves yesterday released a public advisory via text saying: "the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now coordinating with the DSWD for the immediate release of used clothes donation from international institutions for the typhoon Ondoy victims. International organizations are advised to donate used clothes directly to DSWD as existing laws (RA 4653) prohibit the importation of used clothes for the Philippines.

* * * *
FYI: Sec. Teves, through his publicist, also informed me that "we will discuss with DSWD [Esperanza] Cabral if she can work with NGOs to faciliate the release of these goods."

'Wag na kayong umasa sa rescue'-Gibo

DISASTER czar Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro made this statement during a press conference this morning. That's bec. the government is ill-equipped anyway to undertake one, as was quite evident when Typhoon Ondoy lashed the metropolis and flooded many key areas.

So please people, if you are living in low-lying areas, get out and evacuate to a higher elevation. Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) is upon us, and you can't risk your life and that of your family's just bec. you want to protect your house and possessions. Family comes first, above all. Don't be embarassed to ask help from friends and relatives. We've been witnessing the resurgence of the bayanihan spirit and I'm pretty sure, many people will take you in while Pepeng dumps its rains on Northern Luzon.

Pls. make sure you have an emergency kit w/ flashlights, batteries, transistor or hand-cranked radio, canned goods, blankets, and a change of clothing and underwear, plus your important documents (Land titles, bank books, etc.) and papers w/ you. By now, you should've already charged your cellphones and just keep communications to simple texts so as not to load the cellphone infrastructure.

Keep paying attention to the news so you will get accurate information about the typhoon and flooding situation. ABS-CBN/ANC, DZMM, and GMA TV/DZBB The recent text messages on Pepeng, have been, more or less, disinforming the public. (NO, MERALCO WILL NOT SHUT DOWN ITS POWER at 9 PM TONIGHT UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.) Also, here are useful links about the typhoon: PAG-ASA, Typhoon 2000, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Here's a sample of an emergency kit checklist from Ready America, w/c I think is useful for all of us to have. (This being the Philippines, I personally would add a couple of wet suits, flippers, and a rubber dinghy.)
Emergency Kit

Here's also a list of important contacts during emergencies and disasters as compiled by the Onday Google web page creators:

• Rescue Operations
  • National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
  • Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
  • Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
  • Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
  • Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
  • Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
  • Quezon City Rescue (161)
  • San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
  • Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
  • Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
  • Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)
• Civil Society/ Media
  • Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
  • Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
  • Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
  • ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
  • Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968

Be prepared people, and keep informed!

I'm sorry, I have no sympathy for you (Updated)

I JUST got off the phone w/ a Cabinet official who called me about my concern regarding donations by foreign groups of used clothing. Apparently, there is a law preventing such imports because of the growing ukay-ukay business in the country.

To go around this law, Malacañang has instructed that donations of used clothing be consigned to DSWD instead. (Upate 11:34: If the DSWD receives the donations, the payment of import taxes are deferred.) I told this Cabinet official that DSWD is overburdened already feeding people in the evacuation centers that's why it's the private sector which is taking up the slack. Why can't Customs or the Dept of Finance just accredit a few charitable foundations of relief organizations to receive these donations from abroad?

"There is a law," he stressed over and over, and they couldn't just violate it. With all the bright legal minds in Malacañang, consigning the goods to the DSWD was the only solution they could think of? This is an effing emergency situation! But when it comes to flouting the laws, our officials are number one! Especially you know who!

The Cabinet official said there were already concerns that some importers are taking advantage of the situation and "nagpupuslit ng contraband". So prosecute them for heaven's sake! Why penalize the rest who have only a sincere desire to help Ondoy's victims?

Then the Cabinet official sighed that he has not been sleeping for six days since Typhoon Ondoy. I don't know what he expected me to say. Should I have said, "kawawa ka naman" and sympathized w/ his lack of sleep? I was stumped. People have lost their homes, family members, friends, lack food and water, and are getting sick in the evac centers...and I was supposed to pity one Cabinet official who was suffering from sleep deprivation? I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to scream at him and cry at the same time. How dare he!

In the first place, we wouldn't have this many flood victims if only you, the gov't, did your job! I have tried to contain myself from blowing up since Saturday, seeing how NDCC and its head, Defense Sec. Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro blundered their way through the rescue efforts of the flood victims. But privately, I have been fuming on Facebook about how many lives the government could have saved, if only they were prepared for disasters.


(Gibo talks about disaster preparedness. Ptooey!)

Like FEMA director Michael Brown during the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Sept. 2005, Gibo sent out rescue teams only when Ondoy was on its way out of the country. As early as 1 pm on Sat. Sept 26, residents of Marikina were already hunched on their roofs, waiting to be rescued! Gibo eventually sent in the much-ridiculed 13 rubber boats (mostly from the Phil. Navy) to the flooded areas at 10 pm!

By midnight, Marikina residents were texting DZMM that President Arroyo had arrived "para magpapakitang tao." The victims who were cold, hungry, and missing their families were not fooled by her fake concern. What makes our blood boil is knowing that the presidentita used up P800 million of the contingency/disaster fund for her foreign travels! How many rescue boats could have been bought w/ that money?

Now we realize even more how stupid this government really is! They can't even get their acts together to decide whether or not Malacañang should be an evacuation/relief center. They can't even come up w/ a simple plan or legal document to temporarily lift relief the ban on donated used clothing? Right now, I've received reports of Customs agents seizing ALL shipments of donations at our ports! People abroad are willing to help our flood victims here. And yet all the govt can come up w/ is even more red tape! Anoba?!

Now, in preparation for Typhoon Parma (local codename Pepeng), disaster czar Teodoro wants to forcibly evacuate minors only from low-lying areas. Why minors only? If the situation is that dangerous, then evacuate everyone! Use your powers as NDCC chief and Defense Sec. to order a systematic evacuation of these areas by using your armed forces. Call in the reserved forces as well to help conduct an orderly evacuation, and don't take crap from stubborn residents. Man up Gibo! This is what you should have done last Saturday at the height of Ondoy.

Isn't anyone thinking straight anymore in Malacañang?!?! Oh right, they haven't slept for six days. erg

This made me laugh!

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should NOT Volunteer or Donate:

8. Yuck, make tapak in the putik? Kadiri, noh.

***

3. You can’t live without your daily Starbucks.
(Php100 x 30 = Php3000 / Php23.00 (per 1.5L bottle of mineral water) = 500 bottles of water, enough to properly hydrate a four-member family for one month) (Click GannsDeen for the rest. Repost from MLQ3)

Ganns, this is brilliant. I didn't think Christian bloggers could be funny, haha. I hope you find work on Dave Letterman's show. (wink)

As for #3, I can add a few more variations, like, "you can't live without a new Chanel bag" or "you can't live without your Loro Piana chinchilla-trimmed long coat" or "you can't live without your Christian Louboutins." (Da who?!) Cringe-worthy!

Da who is depressed!

Congressman Mikey Arroyo rails at Facebook

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 14:22:00 09/30/2009

MANILA, Philippines — Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo on Tuesday pushed for tighter regulation of the world’s leading social networking site, Facebook, after he claimed to be a victim of a “malicious attack” by one of its members.

“My picture was posted on Facebook with a caption saying I was shopping for wine at the height of [Storm] ‘Ondoy.’ [This] is another malicious attack on my person. It is so depressing,” Arroyo wrote in an e-mail response to the Facebook post which has appeared in several blogs. (Click here for the rest.)

Ay, kaluoy. Maybe he should see a psychiatrist to treat his depression?

Btw, the photo he refers to was taken on Sunday, the day after Typhoon Ondoy ravaged the metropolis, not on Saturday. Sorry, wrong excuse pa din.

Does he think this is China or Iran, where Facebook is regulated? Maybe his mother should just ship him there. I would if I had a son like him.

Donating from outside the Philippines

(Photo courtesy Voltaire Domingo/NPPA Images. Pls. do not download this w/o the photographer's permission.)

THOSE who are living outside the Philippines and wish to donate to the disaster relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Ondoy, pls click here.

Also, La Salle alumni abroad may want to course their donations through DLSAA-Metro New York. You can make your donations online. (Yes, Ateneans are welcome, too!)

And amid the relief efforts...

(Photo courtesy Panjee Tapales via Facebook. Feel free to repost this guys.)
Desperate times (meaning low ratings), call for desperate measures!

* * * *
While over in the Mequeni Republic, click!

Da who?!

Guess who was seen buying liquor at Rustan's Supermarket along Katipunan Ave., QC on Sunday, while our kababayans were still stranded all over the metropolis, or up on the roofs of their flooded homes - cold, weary, and hungry - bec. gov't rescue teams were so slow in getting to them? (After all 13 lang nga ang rubber boats ng NDCC w/c were deployed only at 10 pm on Saturday evening! Galing mo Gibo!)

Click here to find out who da who is!