Task Force HELP PISAY (Victims of Typhoons)

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Link to blog post: http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2009/10/task-force-help-pisay-victims-of.html

Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association
Task Force HELP PISAY (Victims of Typhoon)

October 1, 2009

Dear PSHS Alumni and Friends:

This year the Philippines has experienced ravaging typhoons that severely affected millions of our countrymen, the most recent and the most devastating of late was Typhoon Ondoy (international code name: Ketsana). The government has placed the entire country under a “state of calamity” in anticipation of Super Typhoon Pepeng (international code name: Parma).

The suffering brought about by recent typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng to our people has prompted many civic and non-governmental organizations to launch relief campaigns.

The Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association (PSHSNAA), on its part, is launching Task Force HELP PISAY (Victims of Typhoons) in response to the urgent need to assist victims within the PSHS community nationwide.

A few days ago, the PSHS Main Campus in Diliman, Quezon City was not spared by Typhoon Ondoy’s fury. We would like to share with you some excerpts from an article written by Ms. Gene Andres, PSHS faculty member and alumna (Batch ’84), published in the PSHS (http://www.pshs.edu.ph/) and PSHSNAA (www.pshsnaa.org) websites:

“… The typhoon has devastated several homes including that of some teachers, staff and students. Some were left on the roof and were only rescued after two days. The worst probably is the death of the sister of senior student Camille Tobillo. “

“… The school also got hit by the flood. 20-30 meters of the fence between the school and the Ombudsman collapsed, allowing flood water to enter the dorms, cafeteria and the SHB.”

“… As part of Sagip Pisay, the school has opened its dormitories to temporarily accommodate students, teachers and staff and their families who have no place to stay while their homes are being cleaned. “

“… Those who were flooded have various needs. The following may be brought to PSHS for distribution

Food - no cook or easy-to-cook meals such as canned goods(can openers will also be appreciated), fruits, bread, noodles, rice
Supplies – toiletries, powdered soap, cleaning materials, spoon and fork, blankets, mats

Clothes – undergarments, towels, uniforms, shoes, raincoat or umbrella

Medical supplies – alcohol, vitamins, bandages, anti-diarrhea, paracetamol, hydrite, decolgen, neozep, diatabs ”

The PSHS NAA supports all efforts by PSHS community to aid typhoon victims not only in the Main Campus but also in the other 9 campuses of PSHS all over the country. It has allocated PhP 50,000 as a seed fund for the campaign.

Over a week has passed but Pisay has a long way to go towards full recovery from the storm’s destruction. We appeal to the generous hearts of our alumni and friends to support Pisay in its time of need. You may send cash donations to the following:

Account Name: PSHS Alumni
Account Number: 199100639Branch: Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon CityAccount
Type: Checking
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

To monitor donations sent through the bank, please e-mail or send a message to

Dr. Rafael Saldaña
Task Force HELP PISAY (Victims of Typhoons)
E-mail: raffysaldana@gmail.com
Mobile Phone: +63 928 5043121
Fax: +63 2 7090907

Please indicate bank transaction details like amount donated, name of donor, and contact details.

The PSHS NAA also accepts donations in kind. Volunteers are also needed. Please contact the PSHS NAA Office, tel. +63 2 4686717, Monday to Friday 1-5pm, and look for the PSHS NAA staff, Ms. Claire Illavera.

Let’s act now! Let’s do our share in helping Pisay!

Sincerely,

Butch Zaldarriaga
President - PSHS NAA

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Floods and Typhoons: How Prepared Are We In Coping With "Natural" Disasters?

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Link to this blog post: http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2009/09/floods-and-typhoons-how-prepared-are-we.html



Caption: Unprecented flooding in Katipunan Avenue infront of Ateneo de Manila University... the worst in 20 years. (9/26/09, Photos courtesy of William Yu.)

"Today's flooding is the worst (in the Philippines) in 20 years..."

-- Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA)

This morning, I woke up early to prepare for the Inter-University Programming Contest in Ateneo de Manila University hosted by the Ateneo Computer Society (COMPSAT). I am one of the judges in the contest.

There was a continuous downpour while I was on my was to the university. Later in the morning, I was told that the contest was cancelled due to bad weather.

A tropical storm (typhoon Ondoy) hit the Philippines today and brought heavy rains which caused flooding in Metro Manila and several provinces.

Today's floods are unprecedented. It was our first time to experience flooding at high level in Katipunan Avenue -- right infront of our university.

As of this writing, I am still inside the school, together with many students, faculty and staff who are stranded inside the campus.

Many of my colleagues are also staying inside the university. The university's faculty housing in nearby Marikina valley is already submerged with flood water.

I am one with many others who are wondering why this kind of flooding was not foreseen by the authorities, so that the people would be more prepared in coping with so-called natural disasters.

Is this disaster brought about by climate change?

Is this disaster due to the inadequacy of the Philippine government in ensuring that infrastructures are in place (adequate early warning systems) to counter floods and other disasters?

I hope that our society would be equipped with the necessary technology and infrastructures that could mitigate or prevent disasters such as what we are experiencing now.


Raffy Saldaña
9/16/09

Morning After the Typhoon (6/23/08)

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Photo Caption: "A Red Cross volunteer comforts a woman at the office of Sulpicio Lines in Manila, where families waited for news on survivors of the ferry M/V Princess of the Stars (inset), which capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon." Photo by JUN MENDOZA. Source: Philippine Star Online.

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When I woke up this morning (6/2308), the sun was up and the rain has stopped -- very different from yesterday's weather condition.

A news report in TV showed footages of survivors of MV Princess, the ferry boat that sank due to Typhon 'Frank'. However, hundreds more were reported missing.

Below are some news updates from Philippine Star Online:

"929 dead, missing

As the death toll nationwide from Typhoon ‘Frank’ soared to 229 yesterday, more than 700 passengers and crew were missing after a ferry capsized last Saturday off Sibuyan Island in Romblon."

Full story >>

Other headlines:

‘Frank’ pounds RP, leaves 229 dead
Classes suspended today in Metro Manila, 12 provinces
Thousands evacuated in Metro; flights canceled


Comment: When I read the headline from Philippine Star I thought that there was something wrong. The headline said '929 dead, missing'. When I read the body of the news it was stated that there were 229 dead. At first I thought that it was a typographical error. Then, I realized that the writer added 229 (dead) to 700 (missing) and came up with the number 929.

I wonder if there are many readers who were misled by the figure (929) indicated in the news headline.

Raffy
6/23/08
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No Classes at all Levels in Metro Manila on Monday, 6/23/08

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News updates from Inquirer Online (6/22 to 6/23/08):

11:58PM Hundreds feared dead after ferry sinks off Sibuyan Island
11:38PM Classes suspended too in Laguna Monday
11:32PM 29 bus passengers hurt in NLEx mishap
11:26PM Jet skiers help rescue Iloilo residents from floods
10:59PM Search for survivors at sea to continue overnight
10:55PM No classes at all levels in Metro, 12 provinces Monday
10:44PM PAL says resuming normal operations
10:33PM Domestic flights cancelled, reset due to typhoon 'Frank'
10:30PM Eastern Visayas loses close to P900M in crops, infra
10:21PM Urban poor areas in Manila hardest hit by floods

Inquirer Headline:

"MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 3) At least 229 people were killed while over 700 others were missing after typhoon "Frank" (international codename: Fengshen) ravaged the Visayas and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, Red Cross and civil defense officials said Sunday.
Floods, storm surge, and landslides affected 366,444 people, of which, 70,717 are in evacuation centers as of 6 a.m. Sunday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said."

Read more ...

Comment: It's another sad day for the Philippines. Another calamity strikes again, killing hundreds of lives and destroying millions of pesos worth of properties. This is another moment for Filipinos to unite and help the victims of Typhoon 'Frank'.

Raffy
6/23/08

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Bad Weather in Metro Manila Due to Typhoon 'Frank'

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Photo Caption: Typhoon ‘Frank’ in a satellite image issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as of 9:00 a.m. Sunday (6/22/08). Source: http://www.inquirer.net

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I woke up this morning (6/22/08) finding out that there was no electricity in my condominium unit in Quezon City (what we call 'brown-out' in the Philippines). Water has creeped inside the room due to heavy rains and strong winds.

Later during the day, I read in Inquirer Online that it was already typhoon signal number 3 in Metro Manila.

Below are some news items in Inquirer Online indicating how bad the weather is in Metro Manila today (6/22/08):

05:29PM Coast Guard ship reaches ‘Princess,’ no signs of life so far
05:24PM Classes at all levels in Valenzuela City suspended--report
04:52PM ‘Frank’ leaves at least 86 dead, 700 missing
03:43PM Hundreds of families displaced by floods in Metro Manila
03:00PM Eastern Visayas loses close to P900M in crops, infra
02:14PM Rescue ship on the way to get ‘Princess’ survivors
01:57PM 3 ferry survivors found in Romblon -- official
01:44PM ‘Frank’ leaves at least 82 dead
01:20PM Frank forces 812 families in Lucena City to flee
11:39AM Domestic flights cancelled, reset due to typhoon 'Frank'
11:26AM NDCC convenes in wake of 'Frank'
11:20AM Iloilo to be placed under state of calamity
11:18AM PAL says resuming normal operations
11:11AM Coast guard fears many dead after ferry sinks
10:58AM 'Frank' lashes Metro, Visayas
10:56AM 'Frank' floods parts of Metro Manila
8:55AM Ferry carrying over 700 sinking in storm--officials
8:00AM Manila domestic flights canceled--report
7:03AM MMDA activates rescue, flood control operations
6:03AM Light Rail Transit operations suspended due to 'Frank'
5:44AM Typhoon 'Frank' maintains strength; 90 km southeast of Metro


I hope and pray that there will be minimal damage (both in properties and human lives) due to typhoon 'Frank'.

Raffy
6/22/08