There are things in this life bigger than all of us-- bigger than our daily personal struggles, bigger than our economic woes and even bigger than the upcoming 2010 presidential elections. My friends, it is the universal desire for the well-being and safety of our brothers and sisters around the world. Yes, that much-ridiculed and overly-used, Ms. Universe-like wish of "world peace". Along with that is our ardent prayer that people be safe from harm.
Sometimes, in the rush and chaos of everyday existence and occupations, we forget that whatever differences, goals and priorities we have, there is one thing common to all of us -- a shared appreciation to the one thread woven in all of humankind -- that kind of strength to which any other strength -- be it economic or military pales in comparison -- it is the fortitude of the human heart -- the enduring resilience of the human spirit.
The world, as I write this watch in shock at what now appears to be a patch of hell on earth as Haiti grieves for their dead -- with the death toll feared to go as high as 500,000. Millions of people are needing help, most of the survivors decided to live on the streets for fear of aftershocks. What happened to Haiti last Tuesday, January 12, 2010 must shake us up out of complacency. If it can happen to them, it can happen to us.
There are two (2) things we share with Haiti -- poverty and corruption. These two always go together -- one resulting to the other, in an endless cycle of misery.
Haiti was unprepared for that 7.0 magnitude earthquake that is to come for a whole lot of reasons similar to us -- corruption which resulted to structurally-flawed and unsafe buildings, poor delivery of basic services, poor disaster-preparedness and more.
We, like Haitians, are no strangers to disasters -- political, economic and natural. And given our similarities with their current state, we can all but cower in fear and pray earnestly that we do not suffer the same fate as theirs. most specially because compared to Haiti whose last experience with an earthquake was 200 years ago, the Philippines' most devastating earthquake experience is still fresh in our minds some 20 years ago in 1990. We were unprepared then and I sure as hell can bet that two decades after, we remain unprepared.
My heart goes out to the people of Haiti who lost what little they have. To bear witness to such a tragedy, to be able to walk among the dead seem like a curse far worse than subsistence. While it can't be argued that this 7.0 magnitude earthquake is a natural calamity, the number of casualties may have been limited if not totally avoided had there been early warning of an impending disaster which should have facilitated swift and orderly security of the residents. But then, maybe there's no stopping nature. There is a reason for everything.
Whatever it is, only God knows.
If you have money to spare, please donate. No amount is so small to not make a difference, and no amount is too big for our Haitian brothers and sisters.
On Pat Robertson's Haiti "pact with the devil" blunder
For the record, I would like to express disappointment over what longtime TV evangelist Pat Robertson of the 700 Club said on air claiming that the Haitians made a "pact with the devil" hundreds of years ago, hence the curse and the earthquake. He further claims that Haitians did this to gain their freedom from the French. I think such a statement is not characteristic of an evangelist. This statement spits at the honor of Haitians who hold the distinction as the only country in the Western Hemisphere to undergo a successful slave revolution. If there was such a "pact", who can attest to its authenticity? Who can judge? Such a statement only adds insult to injury. It is clearly judgmental and uncalled for.
I am a firm believer of the power of education in transforming lives unlike any other service that the government can provide. We need not look elsewhere for answers to eradicate poverty and corruption. Education transforms not only the economy but also the prevailing mindset of a nation -- the answer to the biggest problem in the Philippines.
The survivors of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng need our help. Their children -- vessels of our hope for the future of this country depend on our support. Let us not fail them. Please donate whatever you can. The following texts were taken from a video response I got on my YouTube "Rebuilding After the Storm".
Help our Public Schools recover from Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) by donating School supplies or Cash.
Classes resumed already and there are still damaged schools and students with no school supplies to use.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated every year on October 17 throughout the world. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1992, but the first commemoration of the event took place in Paris, France, in 1987 when 100,000 people gathered on the Human Rights and Liberties Plaza at the Trocadéro to honour victims of poverty, hunger, violence and fear.
The figures are staggering. One in five people in the world live on less than a dollar a day. Imagine how skewed and imbalanced the so-called "distribution" of the world's wealth and resources has remained over the years. Continue reading →
I am only one blog. I am only one voice. But today, I will pull words out of thin air. I will raise my voice until I am heard. And I will do the best that I can to let the world know that climate change is real.
It's not a hoax. It's not a conspiracy theory. It's not an illusion.
Today, I am featuring another heartbreaking video from Glenn Omanio, this time, with a new set of photos and Asin's classic song "Masdan Mo (ang Kapaligiran)" (Look Around You) playing in the background. Definitely a must-see. Also see, the first video here.
This video hits two birds with one stone -- that of disaster-preparedness and environmental responsibility. We've heard about the long and boring discussions about global warming and climate change and yet, no picture or technical explanation can get any clearer than this. This is reality. It is not God's punishment. It is the law of interaction laid out in our face. Every action solicits a reaction. It is a punishment we may have brought upon ourselves.
But all is not lost. We -- the ones who are left, must now do the long and boring process of rebuilding and re-educating ourselves in disaster preparedness and environmental accountability. Had we heeded that call and listened to it then, this may not have happened.
The long and boring is inevitable. We can delay but we will ultimately pay.
Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran (Asin) Wala ka bang napapansin sa iyong mga kapaligiran?
Kay dumi na ng hangin, pati na ang mga ilog natin.
Refrain 1:
Hindi na masama ang pag-unlad at malayu-layo na rin ang ating narating
Ngunit masdan mo ang tubig sa dagat dati'y kulay asul ngayo'y naging itim
Ang mga duming ating ikinalat sa hangin sa langit huwag na nating paabutin
Upang kung tayo'y pumanaw man, sariwang hangin sa langit natin matitikman
Refrain 2:
Mayron lang akong hinihiling sa aking pagpanaw sana ay tag-ulan
Gitara ko ay aking dadalhin upang sa ulap na lang tayo magkantahan
Ang mga batang ngayon lang isinilang may hangin pa kayang matitikman?
May mga puno pa kaya silang aakyatin may mga ilog pa kayang lalanguyan?
Refrain 3:
Bakit di natin pagisipan ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran
Hindi na masama ang pag-unlad kung hindi nakakasira ng kalikasan
Darating ang panahon mga ibong gala ay wala nang madadapuan
Masdan mo ang mga punong dati ay kay tatag ngayo'y namamatay dahil sa 'ting kalokohan
Refrain 4:
Lahat ng bagay na narito sa lupa biyayang galing sa Diyos kahit nong ika'y wala pa Ingatan natin at 'wag nang sirain pa pagkat pag kanyang binawi, tayo'y mawawala na
I'm posting this heartwrenching video on "Ondoy's Trail of Fury" shared through Facebook by Ding Gagelonia and originally uploaded on Vimeo and YouTube by Glen Omanio. I suppose he also owns the rights to this video and he was kind enough to express on his Facebook link that it's okay to share and spread it as means of informing everyone and gathering support and donations for our kababayans devastated by Typhoon "Ondoy" (international code name "Ketsana").
The video is so good because it captures in snapshots and music the tragedy that befell us while at the same time urging us to move into action, to do something and to trust that help is at hand because although we may be ill-equipped, short of supplies and other resources, we rest in the comfort that we have each other. You and me.
This video deserves a wider audience outside of Facebook.
I hope it reaches the far corners of the world wide web and touches the hearts of those who can help either in rescue/retrieval operations, delivery of supplies, lending of equipment and tools, gathering, donation of, repacking and distribution of relief goods to isolated areas and evacuation centers. Don't ever think that there isn't much you can do. We need each other's help here. Every little bit counts. As of last report, relief centers are running out of goods. Our brothers and sisters need us.
To share and/or embed the video on your own blogs and social networks, please click on either or both Vimeo and YouTube link above.
On Sept. 26, the Philippine capital Manila and its neighboring provinces suffered one of nature's worst beating. Typhoon Ondoy, international code name Ketsana, poured more than a month's worth of rain in six hours, submerging most parts of... the bustling metropolis, drowning at least a hundred people as of press time. My prayers to the victims, and may we emerge victorious and live by the lessons of this tragedy. Donate now via PayPal at is.gd/3IOATthrough consumer group TXTPower, txtpower.org. All proceeds go to the Philippine National Red Cross. (Photos by Reuters. Music by Ennio Morricone, "Love Theme" from "Cinema Paradiso").
Wherever you are in the world, you can help by donating online:
If you know of anyone who needs help/rescuing, click here (fill out form, please be as specific as you can) and our heroic IT/Google maps proficient kababayans will update the map for you. It will be of great help to rescuers in identifying which specific areas to go to.
This site is offsetting all electricity use with wind-generated Renewable Energy Certificates which prevent the release of 2,660 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.That’s equivalent to planting nearly 2,390 acres of trees, or removing 510 cars from the road. Reinforcing my commitment to combating climate change.
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