helping

This past week, the world saw the devastation that Typhoon Haiyan brought to the central part of our country. I am grateful for all my friends from all over who took the time to ask me how I am and my family. We are okay. We had been spared by the wrath of the typhoon. But I cannot say the same thing for my fellow countrymen. Most of them lost everything, including loved ones (that's the hardest part), and it seems that relief couldn't get there fast enough because of logistics problems (and politicking).

I am just in awe though on how Filipinos respond to the call of the needy. In just less than a week, relief operations all over the country materialized, people volunteering their time to pack relief goods, people who have extra gave what they can. Everyone just moved to help the needy.

I am just proud that I am surrounded by friends who are giving more than they can. Our office has willingly given up our annual Christmas party and give the money to the victims; my Geol friends gave part of their travel fund to Red Cross and one of my friend's office will match that amount to give to the Red Cross; another friend of mine went around collecting goods to send to the people of Ilo-Ilo who were also affected. My sister and I collected clothes that are still good but are not being used anymore and we have given away most of our toys for the kids who needs these more now than ever.

Sending our love to the kids who suffered from Typhoon Yolanda

 
I just hope with the little we have, those who receives it feels the love that we are sending them.

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Some of the stories that have touched me this past week. Truly, every Filipino today is a hero:

A lady military personnel breastfeeding babies in the evacuation centers
People with vehicles shuttling people arriving from Tacloban to their relative's homes
Fellow UP alumni raising money to support UP dormers whose families were affected by the typhoon
Students abroad with less still giving cash to send to the relief aid

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Lots of thanks going out to the countries and private sector who had been helping out. I just realized that the Philippine military has a long way to go in terms of improvement. We do not lack brave and honorable military servicemen. Our government lacks the vision and left the military to decay. Imagine, only three C130s servicing the whole country of almost 100M people and 7,107 islands. Well, that is just my opinion.