Typhoon Nona (Intl Name Melor; should have been Nonoy) made large swath of destruction; could damages be far worse than previously reported?

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines
December 24, 2015

From Press Reader - Extensive Damage from Typhoon Nona;  170,000 houses damaged

Sorsogon reports P8.52 billion in damanges, 123,000 houses damaged

From GMA 250 schools damaged in Oriental Mindoro;   You tube on school damages

From CNN Philippines Oriental Mindoro in state of calamity;   worst typhoon to hit Or Mindoro in 20 years

From Rappler - P4 billion in damages in Oriental Mindoro Meralco first to help in restoring power

There seems to be unconsolidated report on damages from typhoon Nona and they do not seem to match.    While some reports mention 170,000 houses damages, Sorsogon reports 123,000 houses damaged.  In a town alone in Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro, there was a report of  16,000 houses damaged.  In a single town.

NDRRMC appeals for large trucks (14 wheelers) to deliver relief goods to typhoon stricken areas

This posts watched the TV reports from ANC which showed extensive damages in Mindoro Oriental and Northern Samar.  The Vice Governor of Northern Samar Lavin said that the typhoon moved very slowly and has 300 km swath thus the typhoon was there for 4 hours. Compare this Typhoon Yolanda.  Its swath was narrow and was in and out quick.

Maybe we soon we realize that this Nona, coming at the heels of Christmas was more destructive to property and more provinces than Yolanda.   As reports come in we will know. Gov Umali said that the damages in Mindoro Oriental is in the order of P4 billion all ready.  But he enjoined of Mindoro to rise up again

Damages were likewise reported in Bicol Region.  And there was From Manila Bulletin - flooding in Cabanatuan.  We must join hands together to help our countrymen to recover.   As we squandered the relief goods for Yolanda, foreign donors are very unlikely to help again

Nabulaga yata tayo kay Nona?  I thought we had disaster preparedness?

What has happened to the rebuilding of Samar Leyte one year after?

It is more fun criticizing






Moving Forward from Interaksyon

From GMA network - rebuilding the ruins

Yesterday marked first year anniversary of the onslaught of typhoon Hainan (Yolanda) in Samar Leyte.

We lost a lot of lives, and structures.  However, the ship that was swept by the storm surge, is a silent witness to the fury of the storm, and the seeming inability to fully rehabilitate the damage stricken areas.

It is far from over.  A number still live in tents, and people are without jobs, and life is not yet normal for most.

Many are questioning the accounting of donation to the typhoon victims.  Many feel that the govt could have done more.

Do we need more help from govt, or more self help and more entrepreneurship from the victims?

Do not be a victim.   Are we always a victim.  ARe to be helped or are we here to help?

From Bangkok Post


Resettlement at Tanauan, Leyte

A convenient way to donate to Typhoon Yolanda victims

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal   Philippines  |  December 2, 2013

I just learned from an announcement in ANC that an online gift giving portal has reinvented itself to help generous individuals send donation to typhoon victims in Eastern Visayas.  I did not get the name correnctly but it should be www.regalo.com.ph   You can select packs of P200, P500, 1,000 and they will be delivered to the typhoon affected areas.

I think this is a better and secured way to donate.  Donating to a well known national NGO is not safe because the friend we talked to last November 30,2013 said that the NGO personnel have been known to :   1.  repack the gift packages,   2.  bring home the donation packages.  Whew.  I hope this hearsay is not true.  We sent our donation through the mass media companies spearheading the donation

Enforcement of laws vs looting is difficult in extraordinary times - Sec de Liman

Social and political criticisms

 
 Taking more than what they need?  Technically theft?

There have been news about looting in Tacloban, and talk about declaration of martial law in the affected areas to enforce law and order.  All ready, ABS CBN  is investigating rumors of armed men shooting evacuees (which was later found out to be false)  The mass burial was allegedly to have been disrupted by gunfire.   There were also allegations that armed men (NPA) are supporting the massive looting that is going on.

Strictly enforcing the law vs looting in extraordinary times is difficult - Sec de Lima of DOJ

Here is the transcript of the news.

Strictly enforcing the laws, including penal laws on looting (technically, theft or robbery) during extraordinary times such as in times of calamity is easier said than done,” De Lima said.
De Lima pointed out that application of laws should be tempered with "compassion, mercy or liberality," taking into account the situation of victims who have no food to eat.
"What is imperative is real and physical presence of authorities, both local and national, to maintain peace and order,” she said.
Theft committed during the occasion of fire, earthquake, typhoon, volcanic eruption or any other calamity, vehicular accident or civil disturbance is punishable under Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code.
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers have been deployed to restore peace and order in the city. Malacañang said on Sunday that the situation is now under control, thinning chances of declaration of martial law.
The Constitution only allows the President to impose martial law if there is an invasion or rebellion. These conditions do not exist in Tacloban, de Lima said.
De Lima said the declaration of both state of emergency and a state of calamity is enough to address the situation in affected areas including breakdown of law and order. (Sunnex)

Posts have been made at this site that looting per se is not to be considered theft, as alleged in US situation post Katrina;  it is a survival instinct in the face of breakdown of technology and delivery of basic services.  However, taking only items for survival are justified probably, but not taking more than you need, including taking plasma TV or appliances (we saw footages of this in the TV)



 
Do you need the machine to survive?


 
Survival instincts?


 
Will businessmen leave these areas?


Huli?!



Soldiers guarding the malls/stores this time.  But the pictures of looting are discomforting

Interesting historical notes on Samar - notable was the Balangiga massacre

Social and political criticisms

                                       


                                   


I was in Samar for the last two days and some books that I read while in the house of our host in Catbalogan (the Singzons) reminded me of certain important historical events in Samar:

l.  The Europeans, headed by Ferdinand Magellan, sighted land in the archipelago on  dawn of March l6, l52l;  they touched land on March l7, 152l at the island of Homonhon in Samar.

                                      


2.  The Jesuits stayed in Samar for 172 years.  When they were eventually banned in Spain by the Kings court, they had to leave Samar and turn over to the Franciscans in l768;

3.  There was  Sumuroy rebellion staged in l649.  It was the so called Palapag rebellion;   Sumuroy speared a priest in protest for the Cavite shipyard forced labor:   hard labor, separation from family, little food and difficult conditions.  The rebellion was quelled eventually but many died and suffered.

 


4.  When Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence. Gen Lukban was sent in l898 to confiscate the property of the Catholic Church, to which the Catholics objected.

5.  The most famous of course was the Balangiga massacre of 1901.  In Sept 1901, the residents of Balangiga killed 36 Americans and injured several others as they rebelled vs American soldiers who rounded up 90 Filipinos for insubordination in a facility for only.  Those who were confined could not lie down nor sleep and were wet. In retaliation, Gen Adan R Cheffe sent in General Jake Smith, who just quelled Boxer rebellion in China.  There was an artillery bombing of Balangiga and Smith order was to kill anyone over l0 years old and "convert Samar into howling wilderness)  As a war booty, the Americans took the Balangiga church tower bell.  No one for sure how many natives died during this American reprisal.

This is a dark side of the Fil-Am relations;  anybody who knows this must feel like the Arabs do.

In Balingaga, foreigners, esp. Americans are not welcome/

Was this a war crime?  Why was Gen Smith given a heros welcome?

Did the Americans pay dearly for this in 2003?  On Sept ll (9/11)  Di natutulog ang Diyos

The Balangiga Massacre, getting even (truth about the Fil Am war)