Pala-isip

Here's an article by Ramon Tulfo that explains quite well why Filipinos are posing and smiling after the hostage crisis last Monday. According to Ramon Tulfo. The reason bloody incidents like the one at Rizal Park and tragedies such as typhoon “Ondoy” keep recurring is that Filipinos take misfortunes like a joke. We make jokes about other people’s miseries and mistakes. One day after the Rizal Park incident, jokes about the bumbling cops involved in the rescue started circulating. The acronym SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) had taken on different meanings: Sorry We Aren’t Trained. Sugod, Wait, Atras, Tago (Attack, Wait, Retreat, Hide) Sana Wag Ako Tamaan (Hope I don’t get hit) Sobrang Wala Akong Training (I’m very much ill-trained) Here’s a wry comment from a friend about the incident: “The Luneta massacre shows that our policemen are trained for HOSTESS-TAKING, not hostage-taking,” an obvious reference to cops who raid sleazy bars and force bar girls to have sex with them. The...

DSWD...DSWD...DSWD...

I just love the Internet, don't you? The power of instant communication has led to immediate action and fact checking my individuals instead of waiting for the news organization to report on it. Take the issue of Ella's blog titled Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo ? (A special report from a volunteer). Then the Dr. Esperanza Cabral of the DSWD immediately issued a statement . Then some volunteers went to DSWD to check on the matter and volunteer and wasn't let in by the guard even though the DSWD said there was a lack of volunteers and were told that repacking operations can last up to 11pm. None of that is happening. I'm not saying they're stealing the goods, but the lack of coordination and expediency of the relief operation is pretty disturbing to the donors. Here is Manuel L. Quezon III's blog about the whole incident. Here is the Bayanihan Online's timeline of events . Again, the issue is not whether the goods are being stolen or r...

With regards to the blog post of Ella that I reposted . Here is a statement from Dr. Esperaza Cabral of the DSWD. I may be cynical about the Philippine government, but I believe in fair and balanced news. I just hope that what Dr. Esperanza Cabral said is true. ===================== Statement of Dr. Esperanza Cabral on the issue of relief goods in the DSWD Warehouse October 23, 2009 The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) manages the National Relief Operations Center (NROC) which is the facility for processing and storage of relief goods that are purchased by the Department or donated to us by generous individuals both here and abroad. The relief goods are released to our Regional Offices or directly to evacuation centers or to the local government units as they are needed and requested by these entities. They are delivered in trucks, many of which were lent to us by private companies or by military vehicles. Some of the goods are shipped by air from nearby Vil...

This is unconfirmed, but this is from Blog Ni Ella at http://www.ellaganda.com/ . Which is now down. I am reposting this from Jenniepperson.com who was able to copy Ella's blog before it went down. Again, this is unconfirmed. I am reposting in the hopes someone in the know can clarify the situation. ================ Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a volunteer) Oct 21st, 2009 by ella Dear friends, I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos. Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mg...

Here's a list of schools damaged by Typhoon Ondoy that flooded Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009 as compiled by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Perhaps someone could help and adopt one of these schools? http://media.inquirer.net/inquirer/media/List-of-Metro-Manila-damaged-schools.pdf

Several articles on the Philippine Daily Inquirer have been talking about the flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009 like this one that says nine hours would have made a difference and this one where it says flood forces developers to back off . I especially like this one where Marikina Mayor says they have learned their lessons . All I can say is, "Ngayon pa!" Why do these people always wait until some huge calamity happens before they learn their lesson? These are not new things. These problems has always been there in some small way. But a study done back in the 1970s has already warned government of these potential once in a hundred years event. I really like what Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando (wife of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernado) says. Lesson No. 1: No more excuses and favors for riverside squatters living in danger zones. “This time around we’ll be very strict. I think now people have no reason to resist when we ask them to move out ...

Slideshow to explain Typhoon Ondoy that flooded Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer . Filipinos in Hong Kong who have gathered donations for survivors of tropical storm Ondoy are requesting the government to ease its requirement that all donations go through the Department of Social Welfare and Development. In an e-mail, Daphne Ceniza said “many donors want to send their items to specific and monitor the goods at its receiving end but this cannot be done because of the rule that everything has to go through the DSWD.” ”How practical is this procedure? I can just imagine DSWD having its hands full now attending to the flood victims, does it have enough manpower to handle the processing of donated items?” she asked. Ceniza proposed that consular posts, not just in Hong Kong, to be given the mandate to screen donors and shipment for tax exemption for this instance. She said Filipinos in Hong Kong have been able to gather 53 balikbayan boxes for Manila, and have been able to convince freight forwarding companies to donate their services....

From Manila Bulletin . Young actor Gerald Anderson refused to call his rescue missions during the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy as acts of heroism. "Gusto kong i-clear up 'yong tinatawag kaming hero or bayani, nakakahiya po talaga. Kasi ‘yong mga tunay na heroes, 'yong mga tunay na bayani, nadiyan sila sa labas tumutulong pa rin," he told “Showbiz News Ngayon” on Oct. 5. The interview with Gerald was held after the story conference of his next Star Cinema movie which pairs him with perennial leading lady Kim Chiu. "Nagkataon lang na napiktyuran ako, na artista ako kaya nalaman ng tao kung ano 'yung ginawa ko. Pero, I'm not (a hero). Siyempre, nakakataba ng puso dahil sinasabi nila na tumulong ako. (But) that's (all) that I tried to do, (I) just (tried) to help." Full story at http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/223517/gerald-anderson-downplays-his-rescue-missions

I found a couple more photos of the flood of Metro Manila caused by Typhoon Ondoy on Sept 26, 2009. University of Santo Tomas, Espana Ave., Pasong Tamo, Makati The Fort, Bonifacio Blobal Katipunan Ave., QC (Ateneo) C-5 Road Araneta Ave., QC EDSA While I wasn't surprised about UST, it's always flooded there. I was surprised that even The Fort got flooded. Shows you how bad the situation is in Metro Manila that there wasn't even a way for the water to flow out.

You know, these politicians are so dense. If you're going to help, just help. You don't need to let everyone know who it's from. Why do they have to campaign to the Typhoon Ondoy victims? How can we even be sure it's his own money that's being used and not government money? Tsk tsk tsk...

Read this from Ramon Tulfo of The Philippine Daily Inquirer. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has not only opened the gates of Malacañang to typhoon victims, she has also allowed them to stay in the Palace. As she sometimes does to cover some flaws in her character, she makes an overkill. In short it’s “overacting.” Why did she let some flood victims sleep in the Palace when there are many evacuation centers set up by the government for these people? The answer is simple: press release. At first she was irritated by the big number of people lining up for food outside the Palace after she announced that Malacañang grounds were open to flood victims. Her subordinates said what she meant was that Malacañang would be a place where relief goods would be repacked. But apparently some of her spin doctors told her it would be good for her image if she let some of the victims make the Palace their temporary home. Some people who know President Arroyo from way back say she wouldn’t touch the u...

Here is Project Aral by National Bookstore for the young victims of Typhoon Ondoy that hit Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009 that caused massive flooding. Project runs from Oct 10 to 24, 2009.

Here are the hotlines for the missing people caused by Typhoon Ondoy that caused massive flooding in Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009.

From an editorial in today's Philippine Daily Inquirer titled Seize the Moment . According to reports, families in certain stricken areas have yet to experience any form of official assistance, and extensive swaths of Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, to speak nothing of cities, towns and barangays, continue to be inundated. Makeshift evacuation centers are bursting at the seams and have predictably transformed into sanitation nightmares. Private groups and businesses have taken up the duty of providing aid and relief—an extension of the uncommon valor exhibited by ordinary people in saving many lives, to the extent of losing their own. And yet, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared on Tuesday that “we’re already at the cleaning stage.” Ang bilis ah! A sterling example of the inutile workings of the administration virtually screams to be noted in the National Relief Operations Center that the President had earlier ordered set up in Malacañang. It was clearly intended as a dramat...

Here's a video of the flood in Metro Manila caused by Typhoon Ondoy that hit the Philippines on Sept 26, 2009. This is Banawe.

Here's the latest directive of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regarding donations, remittances and relief goods coming from abroad. First, they've set up a task force to stop and prosecute those who raise prices of medicine unreasonably. Second, they will arrest and punish those who takes advantage and cheats in accepting donations coming through the banks. Third, there will be no taxes nor confiscation of relief goods by the Bureau of Customs coming from abroad as long as it is directed towards DSWD. Fourth, the DFA has given our embassies and consulate the task to speed up the processing of documents for donations coming from abroad as long as it is address to the DSWD. Fifth, they have requested remittance companies to waive their transaction fees for monetary donations if they are directed to the DSWD. Maybe I'm just a cynic, but I can't shake the feeling that some of those monies directed towards the DSWD will be skimmed. Also, what happens to the other donations directed...

Here's a Facebook wall post on Richard Gutierrez's rescue of Cristine Reyes during the flood caused by Typhoon Ondoy. I guess it's true that he left everyone else after rescuing Cristine Reyes. What a douchebag.

Just reposting this. I have no sources to confirm this but I hope it's not true. ============= Repost, from a confirmed and reliable source: donations from abroad coursed through embaassies were directed by (p)gma to be deposited into a "special" account opened for Ondoy victims. Said account is under the control of Luli Arroyo. ============= If this is true, may God have mercy on their souls. No, wait scratch that. If that is true, people like these deserves to be in hell. The foreign donations coming to the Philippines is huge. We are talking millions of dollars here. Here are some details http://balita.ph/2009/09/29/foreign-donations-pour-in-for-ondoy-victims/ . So a reminder just to be safe. Don't send your donations through the embassies. Direct them straight to the charities instead. Check my previous post for details of various charities.