Living in the Philippines is a love and hate situation. This country boasts of a plethora of varied and wonderful flora and fauna, rich heritage and history due to the influences of many cultures who have set foot on this land and of course the 7,107 islands that you can explore.
However, we are also faced with a lot of uncontrollable challenges especially when typhoon season happens. For this year, it was estimated that 31 typhoons or bagyos will hit the country.
Currently, we are being challenged again by Typhoon Pablo (internationally known as Bopha) which devasted the Visayas and the Mindanao regions.
I empathize with the flight of those who are afflicted -- I have been in a similar state when Ondoy happened in 2009, leaving Manila in great destruction. Personally, my apartment was out of electricity for almost a week, the waters reach knee-high level inside the house and we were stranded inside our residence because of floods in the surrounding area.
When I checked the news this morning, at least 238 people were already killed by Pablo and hundreds more are still missing.My family lives in the Visayas, Bacolod to be exact. I was in constant communication with my family on the updates that the typhoon is causing the metro. Fortunately, the region was able to escape the wrath of Pablo.
It did not forgive Mindanao though. This is very heartbreaking since it was the same time last year when Sendong badly hit the same area.
But all these words mean nothing. Let us extend a helping hand to all those who were afflicted. The government is calling out for donations especially flashlights, mats or banigs, blankets and childrens' clothings.
For more information, click here. You can also check out other crisis assistance organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross.
For quick info, you can get in touch with the folllowing -
(click on the links as well for the detailed bank account numbers)
(click on the links as well for the detailed bank account numbers)
Call Hotline 143
You may bring your in-kind donations directly to
2nd Floor, Kapuso Center, GMA Network Drive cor. Samar St., Diliman, Quezon City
(+632) 9284299 or (+632) 928935
You may bring your in-kind donations directly to Sagip Kapamilya
Warehouse at #13 Examiner Street West Triangle, Quezon City
(between Quezon Avenue and West Avenue) from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
+632) 411-4995, (+632) 394-9272 and (+63) 917-887-4411.
Let us show our fellow citizens we care. Let us give them a glimmer of hope this Holiday season. If you know other organizations who are providing relief operations for the victims of Pablo, please feel free to put them in the comments section.
xx,
Corporate Junkie
