To my close friends,
acquaintances and even those friends that only know me through online
communication. Some of you have been kind enough to take some time to ask about
my family in the Philippines and fortunately my immediate family is in Manila
and Manila has been spared the ripping devastation that typhoon Haiyan has left
behind but we still have family and friends in the danger zone. We’ve posted in
the missing person list that Google has put up hoping to hear from them soon.
One of our good friends was last heard from saying that she’s prepared with
food and supplies and that they’ve pretty much battened down the hatches. Her
home is on the coast of Guiuan and the news is just now coming out from her town. The
reporters are saying that Guiuan, the little town where it was reported that
the storm first touched down, was very aware
of the storm coming and they had done their preparations. They are a town
that is accustomed to typhoons hitting their area, being in the storm belt, and
they were confident that they were somewhat prepared. Evacuations to the
usual centers were done like the schools, churches and similar solid
structures. The catastrophe is that these very structures sustained
serious damage as well and the people seeking shelter there were scattered like
ants. With no communication coming in our out of the area they are
stranded, expecting immediate help and relief, not realizing that they are just
one small town out of the hundreds that were hit. The only structure that was left intact is the airport
strip. We can’t find her and we haven’t heard from her. We have extended family
in Leyte where the eye of the storm pretty much hit. And we’re holding our
breath to hear from them as well. Our family at home is in nervous chaos
waiting to hear from the people we know and love.
I
know you guys see me as just this crazy chick and maybe I’m funny & quirky
sometimes and my kids are cute. But right now I’m just crying. It’s a mess out
there and I don’t really know how to help. They’re saying that there might me a
TEN THOUSAND body count. I hope to god they are exaggerating the number coz
that just seems insane. This little country gets hit with 20-26 typhoons a year
and earthquakes too; and even when the last bad one hit they managed to bounce
back, survive and keep on with a happy face. I know that this too shall pass
but right now they need help so desperately. There is no food, water, shelter
or medicine for HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. The medical teams are
operating in the dark since there’s no electricity and candles are even scarce.
There’s looting and robbery as the survivors struggle to stay alive.
My family and I are putting
together our own fund to send food with our friends to the devastated areas. Thanks
for giving me your attention for a bit. Likes are appreciated, so are hugs,
warm thoughts and prayers, sharing would be nice too but really they need more
than that. They need us to act and help. They need food, water, medicine,
money. They need help right now more than anything. I hope you can find it in
you to contribute some help.
I can’t help but feel as
fortunate as I sit here at my desk, cozily wrapped up in my soft blanket and my
child tugging at my arm for attention. Today will go on for me as it always
does but my mind and my heart are with my friends and family back home. Please,
if you know me or someone from the Philippines or if you just want to help … my
little country needs all it can get right now. With thanksgiving right around
the corner maybe I can appeal to you guys by asking you to give thanks by
giving a little. Here’s all the different ways you can help.
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