Ang mag mahal ng dahil sayo
The Filipino people have been known for resiliency to different natural disasters even before time immemorial. It runs through every Filipino veins to endure any disaster that comes in the way.
The Philippine archipelago is situated on the southeast coast of mainland Asia just above the Equator and west of the Pacific Ocean. It is known that the Pacific Ocean, Mar Pacifico in Portuguese, that means “peaceful sea”, is considered the largest among the World Ocean. Covering about 46% of the water surface on Earth and about 1/3 of the total land area, which is larger compared to the Earth’s land areas combined. But contrary to its name, it is the “most active” part of Earth that is characterized by having an encircling belt of active volcanoes, active fault lines and active typhoons.
Being a continental island, the Philippine islands have been a veteran on the active activities of the “Peaceful” neighboring sea throughout the times. These multiple islands within an island are visited with no less than 20 typhoons a year, greeted with multiple earthquakes in a day of different intensities together cheered warmly by active volcanic eruptions from time to time, and on top of that are the human-induced disasters like watershed destruction, deforestation and armed conflicts to name a few. But in spite these calamities, natural or human-induced, Filipino are able to withstand any challenges from their day to day lives up to any nationwide calamities and will continue to withstand through time.
Among the most unforgettable natural calamities that struck the Pearl of the Orient Seas are 1814 Mayon Volcano eruption, 1990 magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Baguio city, 2006 Guinsaugon mountainside collapse and now in 2013, the three consecutive notorious batch of Zamboanga Insurgency that lasted almost a month, unexpected 4.6 Bohol earthquake and the destructive and most powerful super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas.
To date (November 17, 2013), after a week from the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda, there are 3,976 individuals reported dead, 18,175 injured and 1,590 missing according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Affecting a total of 9 Regions, 44 Provinces, 57 Cities, 574 Municipalities, 10,312 Barangays and 2,182,312 families or 10,174,296 people, children and adult alike and continues relief operations, medical missions and clearing operations are done at the moment.
Most have seen the fury of this super typhoon and many were moved after the devastation. Each one contributing on their own little way, but the scope and depth of the destruction would be the most challenging part to rebuild and bringing back the lives of the survivors.
To all the local and foreign volunteers who came to the aid of our countrymen, thank you for the endless support that you are trying to reach out. Despite the negative controversies spreading all over the news, you selflessly offered yourselves to help those who are in need. To those who want to help, you can ask for more details on how you can extend your assistance to the victims through International Federation of the Red Crescent and Red Cross (IFRC), the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) or to any nearby Red Crescent and Red Cross in your place.
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