Let Us Not Forget the Yolanda and Earthquake Victims

Christmas  is a happy season. People think of shopping spree, plenty of parties and unlimited food. Who wouldn't want to be happy? It is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday anyway. It is natural to be so merry.

There is the tendency for the people to focus on the happy things this Season. All the negative vibes are placed to the sidelines because we are supposed to be merry. Sadly, one thing that was placed to the sidelines are the double tragedies that occurred in the Visayas region. It seems like that the people suddenly forget the plight of our kababayans affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda and Bohol earthquake starting December 1.

For instance, right now in the media it is the word war between Tacloban City Mayor and Romualdez and Mar “Palengkero” Roxas that is hogging the limelight. Last week, it is the bickering of two old politicians and earlier than that it is the fight between Pacquiao and the BIR that buried the Yolanda tragedy.

The political teledrama is on.

I hope that I'm wrong. I hope that people are still helping, albeit silently, our kababayans in Visayas. I hope against hope that the Government is doing its responsibility to the people of Yolanda-hit and earthquake affected areas.

But the reality is bleak. Hoarding of relief goods is happening. Corrupt people sell relief goods that are intended for Yolanda victims. It is sad that some people used the tragedy as money generating scheme.

A friend of mine, who has siblings and relatives in Ormoc, informed me of the hardships that the citizens of that city are experiencing. People who are ill line up in a public hospital despite the fact that all the equipments and medicines were wiped out by the typhoon. As if to confirm Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez' report, my friend said that politicians only help those who voted for them. Tacloban is still stinking because of yet-to-be-recorded corpses.

Good thing that private individuals are working together to help Yolanda survivors. One example is the Oplan Trabaho that will be conducted to provide job for the survivors. What they're doing is good but not enough because the magnitude of destruction wrought by the two calamities. More people should answer the call and bring more aid.

(Source: Inquirer Global Nation)

Yolanda victims are still firm on their Faith in the Lord. They are calling to Him amidst the destruction. And His answer to them will be their fellow-Filipinos who have the resources to help. God is asking us, calling us, to help.

Let us then answer this call. Let us not forget them especially this Christmas Season. As our Lord has said, “as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.”

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The source of the first image is InterAksyon.com

Help Yolanda's Victims

It seems like tragedies never end in the Philippines. Last October, the central part of Visayas was devastated by a 7.2 earthquake. This month the eastern part of Visayas and other areas in the middle region of the our country suffered the wrath of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

(Image from Tempo)

The sight of Tacloban City is harrowing. The whole place was flattened by might of Yolanda. Roofs of many building were torn away. Concrete walls collapsed. Fallen trees and posts blocked the streets. There reports that the dead were just placed at the side of the roads because their relatives have no other place for them.

The devastation of Tacloban City is just a portion of the whole damage caused by the super typhoon. Large portion of Leyte Province is still unaccounted for. Communication systems were damaged thus information from that area are sketchy at best. Blocked roads and damaged bridges made many towns of Leyte unaccessible.

Many Filipinos who have relatives in Leyte are worried about their love ones. They can only hope and pray to God that no harm happened to them.

I am appealing, once again, to my fellow Filipinos and readers of this blog to pray for those who were affected by the recent calamities. Let us ask our Lord to have mercy to our kababayans. May He grant eternal repose for those who perished. And for those who survived, may He aid them and strengthen their Faith despite the devastation.

I also appeal for your kind hearts to send help to my kababayans in those places. May we act together so that our kababayan can rebuild their damaged livelihood. Donations can be sent to the following organizations:

1. University of Asia & the Pacific

(Source: The Bosun)

2. Caritas Manila

(Source: 100% Katolikong Pinoy)

For details on how you can help please visit Caritas Manila website.

Those living outside of the Philippines who want to help through Caritas Manila may send using the organizations dollar accounts. Here are the details:

(Source: One Rosary)

 

 Those who want to give cash donations may visit Direct Donations page of the Caritas Manila website for details.

3. Quiapo Church

Quiapo Church is also has relief efforts. Those who want to donate in kind may go to Quiapo Church. They also need volunteers for the repacking of relief goods. Visit Quiapo Church website for details.

These are few of the many organizations that are aiding our kababayans. The popular ones are Red Cross and the TV networks who are asking for donations. According to their Facebook page, LBC branches serves as drop-off points of donations for Yolanda victims. LBC can be found in many places so those who donations-in-kind can go to any LBC branch.

There are many avenues to help our kababayan. Let us stop the bangayan and senseless blame game. Let us work together. Please help the victims of Yolanda.