Geisler Maclang Event

Cagayan de Oro Bloggers with Geisler Maclang group

Last February 11, 2012, I attended a Geisler Maclang event at Mallberry Suites Hotel. They had invited Cagayan de Oro bloggers hoping to forge partnerships with them in order to rebuild the city, which was badly hit by Typhoon Sendong (International named “Washi”) last December 16-17, 2011. Members of Bisdak Bloggers, CDO Bloggers Inc. and CDO Mom Bloggers Club responded to this invitation and gathered at Café Laguna together with the GM staff, Ms. Geri Pacleb and Ms. Tina Antonio. The GM Director, Ms. Amor Maclang, was present and gave us some insight as to their general plan.

Ms. Tina was assigned to us and we were able to raise our individual concerns. She listened attentively as some people expressed their woes and told her how most of the townsfolk were very much affected post-Sendong. Since GM’s objective was to help rebuild CDO, their first step was to gather some info from us so that they would know where to start.

CDO Blogger Karen & Bisdak Blogger Judy

Actually, one of the major problems in our city was the lack of a system during the crisis. Simply put, it was very disorganized. Although help came to some of the victims, there were others who did not receive help at all. Other problems surfaced such as financial assistance, illegal mining, the odd governance by city officials, the need for dredging of river, etc, etc. There were just too many issues to discuss that some important matters were neglected. But personally, I was more concerned of the future safety of the people. I was hoping the project would be given utmost importance so that a lot of lives can be spared, should (God forbid) another typhoon hit the city in the near future.

When Ms. Amor mentioned that one of their topmost priorities for our city was the river dredging, I was kind of relieved and elated. Dredging was always bypassed by our local government and it was good to know that there are people outside the city that offered this kind of help. Another project that the GM wanted to offer was the housing program. They will work with SHDA and hope this plan pushes thru within 6-8 months. Even though it had been two months since the typhoon happened, many of the victims were still homeless and some went back to their old places despite the possible danger awaiting them. Ms. Amor also talked about rehabilitating the people, which I think would greatly help the victims. They aim to structure Sendong victims of Northern Mindanao thru CDO.

The meeting ended at around 7:30 p.m., and so far, our discussion was fruitful. As bloggers and residents of Cagayan de Oro, we left the place very hopeful and very excited about the project. We had all wanted to take part of the program for our own reasons. For myself, my in-laws were flood victims and I wanted to speak on behalf of them and help them in whatever means, especially since they were not lucky enough to receive any aid from the government. I wanted my in-laws to be safer especially now that they plan on going back to their old place. Currently, they are still staying with us but anytime soon they will leave and return to their old abode. I think the only way to give them help right now is to support the river dredging project. I was hoping they would just transfer to another place far from harm but since I simply cannot decide for them, the least that I could do was help in making their area a safer place to stay.

Geisler Maclang will be coming back next month and I am so looking forward for the next event. I hope by that time, some of their projects would have already been implemented.

Me at the lobby

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Geisler Maclang for coming over all the way from Manila. Thank you for the concern that you showed to our city and for partnering with us to rebuild our place.

A Message to People Not Affected with Typhoon Washi

It's 2 days before Christmas but I am not so looking forward to celebrate. But hubby said that we should celebrate as a way of thanking God for keeping us safe (especially my in-laws who were flood victims) and free from harm after typhoon Washi/Sendong hit our city so badly.

When I happen to watch the news on TV, it made me sick to my stomach as the death toll rises everyday. But what's sickening to see is that billions of money were donated but I don't think it reached to the victims. Yes, there were relief goods but it's not enough to sustain their daily needs. Some gave the victims sacks of rice and where will they cook that? Remember, they brought nothing with them but themselves. Many people at the evacuation centers sleep on the floor, they don't even have blankets. And there are babies who are in need of diapers and I wish they are now being supplied. To get straight to the point, a lot of people received goods from private individuals and not from those donations mentioned on TV. Private groups raised money and gave it directly to the families affected, my in-laws included. So, where are those funds that the government agencies and other sectors promised? I hope it's still there...

Other people assumed that the flood victims were those living near the river. They assumed that all of them were poor. But if they will really come here and look up close and personal, even the middle-class and rich families were also affected. They don't live near the river bank and they lived in a titled lot but they were not spared. They flee like everyone else, climbed on the roof or trees, seek refuge in whatever they could grab... So, you see? No one is spared from flood. So, I'm begging you people, stop saying bad things if you have nothing nice to say! I could only pray that it won't happen to you.

Part to blame was the illegal logging and the system of the government. I've seen trucks carrying so many logs and yet they were not apprehended. Everything works under the table but unfortunately, many died because of their bad acts. So, I appeal to everyone, to help us campaign for a total log ban not only in our area but everywhere else. Because when mother nature strikes, many innocent people die.

And most importantly, it's best that we pray not only in times of trouble but everyday. We should pray thanking for the gift of life that's given unto us. Before I go to sleep, no matter how tired I am, I pray. I think it's very important. And I'm teaching my kids, no matter how small they still are, to pray always for guidance especially when we go to sleep for we many never know what happens next.

Hospital Confinement

Last weekend, the mean typhoon Sendong (Washi) hit our city and left many people homeless. Many lives were lost and those who survived got wounded just like my cousin. She and family were able to escape at their house and seek refuge at their neighbor’s rooftop. After the rain had stopped and the flood subsided, she went to the hospital to seek for medical treatment as she got many wounds on her legs and she could barely walk.

My cousin, who is a nurse by profession, was immediately sent to the emergency operating room to have her wounds treated and was attended properly by the scrub nurse. Right now, she is still confined at the hospital. Despite her ordeal, she was glad that she and her family survived. Although grateful that a lot of my relatives and friends were spared from harm, it also saddens me that a lot of people lost their homes and others died from drowning.

We Are Still Mourning

I can't still think what to share in my blog. The aftermath of Typhoon Sendong was devastating. People in our city is still in shock. My in-laws, who were victims of typhoon, were quite traumatized with their experience. I often see my mother-in-law crying. All her belongings at home were damaged. If you haven't read the horrible experience they went thru, you can click HERE.

But as always, I'm thankful to God as all of them at home were spared from harm. They stumbled, fell and got wounded but they were able to stand up and flee from Sendong's wrath. I could never imagine what my relatives, friends and acquaintances went thru that night.

I appreciate if you could offer a silent prayer for the victims of the typhoon. If you can send them help, please do so. Right now, our City is still in mourning. I know we shall rise but I pray that this tragic event will never ever happen again.

The Wrath of Typhoon Sendong

I'm quite agitated right now thinking of what my family, relatives and friends went thru yesterday night. There was a typhoon and it got stronger at the wee hour in the morning. We don't have electricity, no water at that time so you could really tell it was pitch black outside our house, most especially to the areas affected. My in-laws were running for their lives. They fell, got wounded but they need to move forward very fast for the current of the water was so strong. My husband's cousin's 3 year old daughter almost drowned. But cousin was able to pull the tip of her daughter's shirt and escaped. My mother in law and brother in law were the first to arrive in our house around 1:30-2am. They live near us but their area was near the river bank. They both have fresh wounds on their legs. My husband later took his cousin and daughter but her cousin's son was nowhere to be found and so was my father in-law (FIL). Hubby kept checking if somebody saw them but no one could tell him. Until some rescue team arrived and help some families stranded on the roof of their houses. Hubby told them to help him find FIL and his 11 year old nephew. A few minutes later, the rescuer, who used raft to save people, arrived with the nephew but without my FIL. Although already informed that FIL was seen and found alive, hubby was not yet relieved until he sees and hold his dad. He again asked and pleaded to the rescuers to get his dad coz he was already 66 years old, quite old and he had been trapped for more than an hour.

Finally, FIL was rescued to everyone's relief. At least our family's complete. I called my mom and brothers to check on them and glad that they were safe at home.

My FIL found refuge at the electrical wire post. Good thing there was no current for that was a live wire.. The downside, people can't see a thing. FIL said that never in his life did he imagine to climb on a post but that time, he had to. He needed to save the life of our nephew and himself so he pushed the kid while he tried to climb. He then tried to reach for the wires and pull the kid to his side. Together, they both tried to sit on some parts of the wire and held on so tightly on the other wires. FIL never thought that they would be rescued. His only hope was for the flood to stop, the water to subside so that they could both go down. He was also praying that his families were spared. He never even thought that he could still celebrate Christmas. Other neighbors of his also did the same on the wire. It was very cold already and when nephew was rescued, it was only then that he felt tired. And when it was his turned to be rescued, he asked someone already to help him push forward as he was so very tired. But he was safe and that's all that matters.

His neighbor, who was a friend of mine, did not make it. She and her mom and dad were trapped inside their house. Somebody saw them tried to escape but I think because of the strong current, they were not able to open their house anymore. I was more sad to learn that it could have been her birthday today. She was a very sweet girl and very mestiza, too (she was of Spanish decent).

In another area, my first cousin and her sons tried to swim going to their neighbor's house. It was just about 3 doors away from their house yet the strong current hinder them from going to their neighbor's very fast. In fact, they were already trapped inside their house as they cannot open their door. They broke their window and destroyed it just to escape. When they reached their neighbor's house, they climbed on top, on the roof actually as not to be caught by flood. Thankfully, they were saved but my cousin could hardly walk. When the flood's over, she went to the hospital to get treatment but she was put on a wheelchair.

The scene in our place was devastating. It was horrible..monstrous. The flood came like a thief in the night. Rich and poor families experienced the same ordeal. It was sad. Our electricity came back yesterday afternoon but there's no water yet until this time. We tried to buy for water or get water from a water pump and another cousin offered also water to us. However, her place is quite far but still, hubby went there to get it for we badly needed it.

Thank God my family are safe. We welcome our FIL/MIL and relatives to our place. They are here with us now while their house needs to be cleaned. Some of their pets died but what is important is that they are all alive. In times like this, we only hold on to prayers. We will never know when our time is up. Many lives were lost but glad for those whose lives were spared...

I'm getting emotional now so I guess I'll end this post here.