A resident of Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, Maria Magallanes recounted the heroism of her son, Noelmar, who saved not only neighbors from the epic floods but also their pet animals. Magallanes said, “Ang rami-rami niyang na-rescue. Hindi lang mga bata, hindi lang matanda, pati hayop na-rescue pa (He rescued a lot - kids, elderly, even animals)."“Pero yung sarili niya hindi nya na-rescue (But he wasn’t able to save himself)," an emotional Magallanes added.
Others were lucky, escaping these life-threatening situations with their lives - and others’ -
intact. An amateur video captured security guard Jason de Guzman’s heroic efforts as he saved a doctor in the hospital he was working in from a watery death. When flood waters swallowed the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Hospital compound, one of their doctors got stranded on top of her vehicle. De Guzman hurriedly jumped off the hospital roof, risking life and limb to save the doctor.
Even those people in the comfort of their homes during the onslaught of Ondoy did not think twice in helping others using the Internet as their tool. Social networking sites have been working overtime, as people urge their friends and family to help in the rescue and relief efforts. Concerned citizens from all over the world encouraged others to donate whatever they could to help those who lost everything in the floods.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
ONDOY'S TRAGEDY DOES NOT LACK HEROES
In the face of the tragedy left by tropical storm Ondoy, selfless citizens had offered their services - and sometimes their lives - to help others. Amid the depressing news on the devastation caused by last Saturday's storm are reports on how certain individuals either risked or sacrificed their lives to save others.Pfc. Venancio Ancheta, for one, was one of them. While rescuing a resident of Famy, Laguna, from drowning, he was hit by a log, rendering him weak enough to be dragged by raging floodwaters.The resident survived - the 20th people Ancheta saved before he perished.
Philippine Army chief Gen. Delfin Bangit salutes the remains of Pfc Venancio Ancheta, who drowned while saving a resident in Laguna floodwaters. In another part of Laguna, soldiers and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgus) likewise risked their lives to ensure the safety of the residents. Army Cpl. Adriano Regua headed the rescue team in Sitio Johnson, Brgy. Nanguma. Mabitac, where 200 residents were saved. When one of his officers got caught in the floods, he did not hesitate to save him. That cost him his life, though.Regua’s wife, while mourning the death of her husband, finds consolation in the fact that he died serving others. “Iyon naman talaga ang gusto niya (That’s what he wanted anyway)," she said.The residents would forever be grateful for the courage displayed by Corporal Regua and Cafgus Joel Hernalin, Erineo Olaguer, Pedro Falcon, Florencio Dequino, and Artenio Descotido, whose great efforts afforded them a second shot at life. Like the army heroes, exceptional citizens did not think twice to help others, even when their own lives were in danger.
Philippine Army chief Gen. Delfin Bangit salutes the remains of Pfc Venancio Ancheta, who drowned while saving a resident in Laguna floodwaters. In another part of Laguna, soldiers and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgus) likewise risked their lives to ensure the safety of the residents. Army Cpl. Adriano Regua headed the rescue team in Sitio Johnson, Brgy. Nanguma. Mabitac, where 200 residents were saved. When one of his officers got caught in the floods, he did not hesitate to save him. That cost him his life, though.Regua’s wife, while mourning the death of her husband, finds consolation in the fact that he died serving others. “Iyon naman talaga ang gusto niya (That’s what he wanted anyway)," she said.The residents would forever be grateful for the courage displayed by Corporal Regua and Cafgus Joel Hernalin, Erineo Olaguer, Pedro Falcon, Florencio Dequino, and Artenio Descotido, whose great efforts afforded them a second shot at life. Like the army heroes, exceptional citizens did not think twice to help others, even when their own lives were in danger.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
US Amb Kenney: 'Ondoy' feels very much like 'Katrina'
The "heartbreaking" sight of Filipinos devastated by tropical storm "Ondoy" was not all that different from the situation left by Hurricane Katrina which wreaked havoc upon the United States four years ago, US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said Tuesday.While Kenney said it was difficult to say which of the two weather disturbances was worse on a technical scale, the American official said seeing Filipinos in need of food and rescuing brought the same sentiments brought about by Katrina in August 2005. "It's so hard to say 'cause how do you decide [if] one natural disaster is worse or not than another?" Kenney said when asked in an interview over GMA News' "Unang Hirit" how "Ondoy" compared to Katrina. "Our focus honestly right now has been on getting relief to people and we'll let the government authorities over the next several days and weeks assess the total extent and how it compared to Katrina.""But I'll tell you, the same scenes...it's really heartbreaking. People stranded, people needing help, people hungry, people needing medical care, people needing to be saved," Kenney said. "So in that sense, it feels very much like Katrina"
The "heartbreaking" sight of Filipinos devastated by tropical storm "Ondoy" was not all that different from the situation left by Hurricane Katrina which wreaked havoc upon the United States four years ago, US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said Tuesday.While Kenney said it was difficult to say which of the two weather disturbances was worse on a technical scale, the American official said seeing Filipinos in need of food and rescuing brought the same sentiments brought about by Katrina in August 2005. "It's so hard to say 'cause how do you decide [if] one natural disaster is worse or not than another?" Kenney said when asked in an interview over GMA News' "Unang Hirit" how "Ondoy" compared to Katrina. "Our focus honestly right now has been on getting relief to people and we'll let the government authorities over the next several days and weeks assess the total extent and how it compared to Katrina.""But I'll tell you, the same scenes...it's really heartbreaking. People stranded, people needing help, people hungry, people needing medical care, people needing to be saved," Kenney said. "So in that sense, it feels very much like Katrina"
A boy is lifted onto the roof of a building to escape the flooding in the Quezon City suburban of Manila . Nearly a month's worth of rain fell in just six hours Saturday, triggering the worst flooding in the Philippine capital in 42 years, which stranded thousands on rooftops in the city and elsewhere. 
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Hawak Kamay MTV Tribute for the Filipinos after the Typhoon Ondoy Tragedy
We are strongly asking for your help and support. Many filipinos are suffering due to this tragedy which no one ever expected. Nature took it's own course and had taken so many lives leaving a great number of families homeless with no food and clothes.
Your donation would be greatly appreciated as we continue to go to evacuation center bringing old clothes, canned goods, and toiletries.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Let Us All Pray for our Fellow Filipinos
We are asking Filipinos all over the world to pray for those who have been greatly affected by Typhoon Ondoy.
Let us HELP our FELLOW FIlipinos
TYPHOON ONDOY left countless Filipinos homeless, hungry and cold. Many have also lost their loved ones to the raging waters, their bodies entombed in mud and silt.
This blog is an effort to reach out to people all over the world to extend a helping hand to our fellow Filipinos.
This typhoon has left the Philippines with several lessons learned and to be learned.
This blog is an effort to reach out to people all over the world to extend a helping hand to our fellow Filipinos.
This typhoon has left the Philippines with several lessons learned and to be learned.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)