Hurricane Sendong Death Toll Approaches 1,500

Authorities have intensified the search for bodies as the death toll from flash floods that devastated entire communities in Mindanao, Southern Philippines still continues to rise. Today, the estimate has gone up to 1500 deaths.

Sendong Ravages Cities of CDO and Iligan

According to the latest tally done by the Office of Civil Defence, Cagayan de Oro City has 891 confirmed deaths and Iligan City has 451 confirmed deaths. The rest of those who’ve perished are from several other provinces. Most of the bodies are still unidentified.

Civil defense head Benito Ramos promised to the relatives and friends of those whom are missing that “the search will continue as long as we are recovering bodies.”

Bodies have been found floating in the sea as far as 100 kilometers from the two cities that, on December 16, have been hit by a month’s worth of rainfall in just 12 hours.

Navy sailors have recovered 13 bodies—one of which was a headless girl who appeared to have been hit and trapped by logs that were caught by the floods.

As 60,000 homeless were spending a woeful Christmas in crammed schools and gymnasiums, the United Nations initiated an appeal for $28M to assist the displaced population of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. According to the civil defence, around 2,000 people from Surigao City were evacuated where a child was reported missing in the floods.

Experts say that the enormous death toll was partly caused by deforestation and soil erosion. In light of this, President Benigno Aquino III, who had already banned logging ten months earlier, has ordered a thorough investigation into the reason of the high number of deaths.

Meanwhile, Communist Guerrillas (CPP-NPA) in the south threatened to punish multinational companies for their environmental destruction.

Jorge Madlos, the spokesman of the Rebels said that they sought funds from huge pineapple and banana plantations and other companies, to send to the victims.

Ka Oris, CPP-NPA Spokesperson

Companies that were threatened aren’t so enthusiastic with the rebels’ Robin Hood act, according to Madlos. “That’ll be a factor when we decide which ones to punish first”, Madlos added.

Besides deforestation and soil erosion, another factor in the enormous death count was illegal settlements directly along Cagayan River. Thousands of people lived in shanties on the banks directly along the water’s path.

Merry Christmas!

Have a happy Christmas everyone. I got my new blessing just today. I celebrated my Christmas away from home but I really enjoyed my Christmas season. Be home on the 27th.

I miss my family. And yes, clan reunions will be right next to it. Of course trips for Christmas vacation will be there too. Hehehe.

Have a happy yule season.

I hope everyone enjoyed their noche buena last night. :)

Dec. 17, 2011: Typhoon Sendong

December can be considered as the most festive month for everyone. People would become very busy wrapping gifts, decorating wreath in their doors and some christmas lights outside their houses and of course get ready for the "simbang gabi sessions". But just right by the time the "simbang gabi" session would start, a tragic and horrifying experience shook the whole Philippines and the whole world. Located at the southern part of the Philippines lies Iligan City, the place were I am currently living, was swooped by a heavy flashflood of Typhoon Sendong.

At around 1:00 am of Saturday, when everyone were gently sleeping in their bed a sudden flash of heavy water poured down onto the houses of the people living in Brgy. Hinaplanon, Bayug Island, Mandulog, and Digkilaan. In just a matter of minutes, the water level rose from knee level  reaching up to the roof of the houses. Not even the Mandulog bridge withstood the strong gush of water.

Around 5:30am of Friday, the heavy flood still dominated.

Like the flood, the news were flashing rapidly too. The number of victims keep on rising, missing persons where everywhere. Children and old-aged were counted as most victims. I am still depressed on what happened. We were very blessed that we were protected from the danger brought by typhoon Sendong, knowing that Brgy. Hinaplanon is just the second baranggay to where I am residing. Still, I was in shock after hearing the flash news in the morning... I was thinking about those people I knew which were living in the area of the flash flood. In the afternoon, we came to see the area affected by the flood. To me, it is still unbelievable, because such incident could only happen once in a blue moon in Iligan City. 

After the flashflood, dead bodies were recovered.

The next day people where placing tents on the highways. I felt like my heart's being crushed seeing children asking for alms on the dark streets. Most of those children who survived after the calamity are still in trauma. Whenever they hear a sound of heavy rain, they just cry and panic.

Statistics As Of Dec. 20, 2011.

Today, the number of deaths accounted more than 1000. Hard to imagine, in just one day, such many lives were suddenly taken. I ought to think that it would become a happy year for everyone. Just a week before Christmas, who would have thought typhoon Sendong would turn the laughters and joys into mourning and sadness.


For people who have good hearts and wanted to donate, feel free to contact the number indicated at the picture below. You can donate any items, in cash or in kind.

There Is A Story Behind Every Oppression

It's already December. Time runs fast that I couldn't even remember how my life rolled.

When I was thinking what happened during the past Decembers, I suddenly remembered one special person. I was very thankful I was one of the chosen few who stood with her the time she dared to struggle to fight against fascism and oppression. She might be one of the faceless people who lived in this hard time, but she was one gallant heroine in the heart of the struggling masses, in the eyes of her comrades who fought with her, and to me.

I might not able to share her life to all the people in this planet but I am hoping that her life will touch the hearts of some people who tend to visit my blog.

------------------------oOo------------------------

IN MEMORY OF KEMBERLY JUL LUNA:

ISKOLAR NG BAYAN, FREEDOM FIGHTER

“Umaalis ang mga anak upang habulin ang kanilang mga pangarap, at malao’t madali, maraming magulang ang tumutunton sa duguang bakas ng kanilang mga anak…upang sunduin ang kanilang bangkay at iuwi ang pinakadakilang katibayan ng kanilang pagkatao.” – Lualhati Bautista

We, from the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights (STAND) in MSU-IIT, express our utmost grief and sorrow over the death of our beloved comrade Kemberly Jul Luna.

Kemberly, or “Kimay,” as she was known to her friends and comrades, was an AB English student in MSU-IIT. Known for her beauty and intellect, Kimay gained a lot of friends inside the school and out and has shown a lot of talent. She was a high school valedictorian and has participated in a lot of academic and cultural events. She was, for a time, a member of MSU-IIT’s Kalimulan, a cultural dance group.

She was also an active member of the Catholic Center Campus Ministry, where she became a leader of the Educational Committee. There, amidst the daily masses, boarding house meetings and other activities, she concluded that faith without action is dead. She always sought for ways to show that her Christian faith will not be confined to empty words and prayers, but will be brought out to the real world and be coupled by relevant action based on concrete conditions. She believed that faith should not be a lifeless dogma. She believed that just like Jesus, one must bring faith to serving the people— without thought of oneself. And just like Jesus, to die in service of the poor and oppressed.

She joined LFS early in 2008 and had been an active participant in the League’s many activities, including the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission (NIHM) of October 2008 in the face of humanitarian crises plaguing the war-stricken Moroland. She was part of the local secretariat and headed the area preparation committee in Poona Piagapo, one of the target municipalities for the Mission. Daring as always, Kimay did not hesitate entering the war-torn village of Tagoranao to uncover the effects of indiscriminate aerial bombing and militarization in the area. She also convinced one of the victims to make a testimony openly on the events in the affected areas in Lanao.

She actively joined the “No to All-Out War” campaign and various other campaigns, including the campaign against US intervention in the country and militarization of peasant and Moro communities.

At the opening of the first semester, she was chosen as the ad hoc chairperson of STAND-IIT. From then on she brought the cry of the youth and student sector in classroom and group discussions and out to the streets in rallies where she acted as STAND-IIT’s official spokesperson.

Kemberly was a very good example to her comrades and to the people around her. She showed youthful fervor and gave her heart to everything she did inside the organization. She was once a quite heavy drinker and a late riser as an ordinary student, but when she joined the League, she showed exemplary effort to remould and do away with her old habits. She shelled herself off of all the petty-bourgeois individualism.

At the opening of the second semester, we found out that she did not enroll. Later, she asked for her resignation as STAND-IIT chairperson, saying that she would stop school and do full-time peasant organizing work with KASAMA-Bukidnon, a province-wide peasant organization. She stood firm with her decision, saying she would like to do more in service of the poor, and that she could only do that in the countryside, where the majority of the poorest people live. On January 2009, after a short Christmas visit to her family in Surigao, Kemberly went off to Bukidnon to start her community work. She promised however that she would maintain correspondence with us.

On August 2009, we received a letter from her saying that she left KASAMA-Bukidnon but did not say where she went to and that she is happy where she was at that time, and that she has learned to love the peasant masses more with each day she lives with them. Kimay also happily shared to us her experiences in the peasant communities, from helping the peasants harvest corn to teaching them to read and write and do a little arithmetic, since literacy in the area is extremely low. She was also known to the people in the community as a health worker, often called as “Ma’am Nurse.”

Kimay is a true “iskolar ng bayan,” who did not waste the people’s tax money spent for her education only for personal ambitions, but used her time, talent and intellect in service of the of the people. She traded her comfortable life of night parties and hangovers for the cold, harsh and mosquito-ridden mountains of Bukidnon because she knew that she is in the right path.

At mid-December last year, we learned that Kemberly was missing through a report from Karapatan-Bukidnon Chapter, a human rights organization. A number of LFS and STAND-IIT members went to Bukidnon to join the search. We searched for her in the camp of the 403rd Inf Bde, 4th ID, PA but the officials of the brigade prevented us from entering the camp and denied that Kemberly is in their hands. During the middle of the search however, we learned that Kemberly died in an encounter with elements of the Philippine Army in Sitio Bulacao, Brgy. Concepcion, Valencia City. She was a member of the New People’s Army (NPA).

We found Kimay’s corpse lying with a few others in the middle of the forest of Bulacao, unattended by the state forces who were bound by agreement to respect the casualties of war, combatant or not.

But Kimay died an honorable death. She died because she fought for what she believes in until the very last minute of her life. She chose the path of armed struggle, firmly believing that there is no greater form of struggle to advance the interests of the toiling masses.

The state and the military have been fictionalizing the New People’s Army’s image as a pack of delinquents, of tramps who lack a better future, but Kemberly was a good example of the many bright and talented youth who have opted to join the people’s army in the the advancement of the people’s war.

We salute Kimay for her determination. She was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice— all for the interest of the people without thinking of herself. She has proven that this rotten social system breeds unrest and many of the younger generation long for a better society that is based on social justice. This system pushes many of our youth to take up arms to achieve the national democratic goal. We believe that her death poses a challenge to all of us— that unless we make steps to address the root problems of our society, more and more young people will follow Kemberly’s footsteps in the days to come.

We also salute her parents, who were in deep pain, but calmly accepted her fate. They respected her decision to choose the path less traveled.

The League of Filipino Students and STAND-IIT vow to pursue the national democratic struggle, not just because this is precious to Kemberly, but because we believe in its relevance in answering today’s basic social problems. We stand firm, as Kimay did, that a true people’s scholar should not confine himself/herself inside the four walls of the classroom and study empty theories on the chalkboard. A true scholar uses his/her talents and intellect to serve the studentry, as well as the broad masses of the people. She never let her schooling interfere with her education.

Long live the memory of Kemberly Jul Luna! Long live the national democratic struggle!

------------------------oOo------------------------

PARA KAY KIMAY

Higit sa lahat iyong napatunayan,

Kung pano mabuhay ng tama.

Kinalimutan ang sarili para sa isang dalisay na tungkulin,

Ang pagsilbihan ang bayang inalipusta.

Hindi inalintana ang pagod at pighati.

Pagkat nahanap ang kanlungan sa piling ng masang api

Dugo ang naging puhunan,

Para isulong ang inaasam na kalayaan.

Ang ala-ala mo’y maisasapuso.

Higit kanino man, sa masang pinagsilbihan.

Tanging mithi mo’y hindi mapag-iiwanan.

Ito’y magpapatuloy hanggang sa katapusan.

Pra sa isang matalik na kaibigan,

Kapatid,

Mabuting anak ng bayan,

Bayani.

Kem…

Larawan ng isang matapang at mapangahas na rebolusyonaryo,

Maraming maraming salamat…

Isang mapulang pamamaalam,

Kasama.

It's almost two years since you left, but your presence is still in my heart. You will never be left forgetten Kem.

How The "Search" Started: Evolution Through Time

Find out how Google started and how the evolution of Search came into life in the hearts of entrepreneurs, branding, sales and marketing in the internet.

This is really amazing. It gaved me a clearer idea about Google and their goal in the future.

Simply Amazing.

The Angry Birds Attack

"Trust me, everybody loves the ANGRY BIRDS."

Who among the Filipino youth these days don't know what an Angry Bird is? Even in our country, some of my folks almost recognize them as the national birds? Haha, that's one big crack over there. But seriously although it was just one funny argument to begin with, it pricked me a little telling me that Filipinos were fascinated and are quite obsess with these cute little animals. I'm an avid fan myself and I cannot help myself from buying shirts and stuffs having the birds print.

Proof Of Purchase:

And this one's a proof that I bought one for my GF (just look at the headdress, don't mind the model lol!):

So What If They Are Angry?

Are you kidding me? That's their asset but of course! In the first place, they wouldn't have been called "Angry Birds" if they won't look fierce and does not have features like their fuzzy and thick eyebrows.

Nevertheless, they have captured the hearts of the many because of their charisma. I'm still in love with these birds but not as much as my girlfriend love them (and I sometimes think she loves em' more than she loves me O_o). Yes, she always plays the Angry Birds facebook app in her dull moments.

There are many series of videos of Angry Birds that can make you dumbfounded. But there's this one that I love most. I already viewed this like ten to fifteen times already but their jokes still keep me rolling on the floor laughing.

Here's the video. Listen closely and pay attention to what these birds have to say:

As for those who haven't witness the menace of the Angry Birds, here's one for you. Well, I guess there's no harm on trying the Angry Birds game in the Facebook apps. I'm pretty sure it will make you and your momma angry too. Hahahah.

*make faces*

Word Of The Lourd

Aside from being on TV5, did you know that this Tee Ice "Bawal mag share" commercial guy is also an activist, author and the male lead vocal of the great spoken word-jazz-funk-punk-avant chacha band Radio Active Sago project. Not long ago, I bought one of his book entitled "This is a Crazy Planets", but sad to say I unintentionally left it to a friend's house. But, I'm pretty sure I can have it back. How I wish they (friends) could hand over the book a little too soon.

His band, the Radio Active Sago Project, is famous for their work on "Tanginamo Andaming Nagugutom sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin."

It makes me think of the Gusto ko ng Baboy Sydrome years. It was music, the rhapsody, the bass, the all. Gahd.

Isn't it a little obvious? Francis De Veyra is the man. One of a kind blatant freakazoid.



Give him a break. Go Lourd!

The Edge FM 95.9

Live streaming on the Edge FM 95.9 Station in Iligan City. Chillin` with music while waiting for my salary to arrive. Union Bank must have some technical problems because many were complaining about the very delayed update in their accounts. Sigh.

*buffer buffer*

And There Was Pipes!

Are you aware of the so-called Yahoo! Pipes. Well, if not, lemme give you a close hint of what it is. Yahoo! Pipes simply connects some pages and articles in the internet depending on how you would arrange them.

I've been practicing about article syndication by using the methods of RSS submission and Yahoo! Pipes. I was very happy playing with the pipes. It gives me more interest in making many pipes however I am still wondering if there are people around who could teach me how to boost these pipes and gain traffic to my money site using this method? Anyone?

It might not look good like other pipes made by more knowledgeable inviduals in the internet but I'd like to share some of the pipes I made:

on Insurance Articles

on Insure Direct Blog

on Insure Direct Videos

and lastly,

on Top Insurance News

:)

Guys Guys Guys Listen UP!

So I was out for a long time and today, I am so dead tired... have been very busy researching about the best seo techniques and the most effective link building methods and found myself looking over some cheap auto insurance articles on blogs!

Whoah! Need a break, I need something new. Fresh, Yes. :)

Yes, I have been researching blogs about auto insurance and luckily, I found out that they are just out there!

These are the following blogs that I have found out to be precise and might as well make them as your reference when you would want to look for car insurance. I advise that you should learn more about insurance before diving into a deal with an insurance agent or company.

Wordpress, LiveJournal, Blogger, Knol, Grouply, Grou.ps, Tumblr and Weebly

So check them out and learn from these blogs!

Thanks!
xoxo**

Confining My Self

It's our third monthsary tomorrow. And right now, I'm reminiscing the moments of our togetherness.

In the first monthsary, we haven't had any celebrations because we were both away from each other. To compromise, after seeing each other with excitement we had a wonderful getaway, wandering to places where we thought we are at peace and in love. Of all the things that had happen, this month had a very blissful memory for both of us.

During the second, before celebrating we had a fight over a small thing. After that argument she said "let's make this a thank you and i'm sorry day." There and then she knew that she was insensitive sometimes and i had the opposite heart for that. It was the first time of testing my patience (i know i don't have much of it and it's really hard to stretch it out). But then again, we sustained. Several days had gone by and I saw it that we were so in love with each other and I'm so loving every bit of it (from simple text messages to mushy talks and cuddles).

In this third month of being together, i had a feeling of discontent. we had a rough time because of being busy working. and almost everyday, we are stressed (we almost turned ourselves into zombies because we rarely take sleep). It was odd, I felt the chill. I never thought she'd turn into something like this (being cold to me at times) we've been like this for three consecutive days from now... and I had a hard time coping with this idea. I've became a worrywart due to my transgressions. Being with her alone in the whole afternoon is great, but not talking with each other for the whole duration of that time is tormenting... the silence is deafening, her silence is killing me softly. I don't even know when, where, why and how it started.

All this time, I became her shock absorber but I don't have the capacity to become her stress reliever. and I am so sorry for that. I pity myself for being a liability to the people around me. I am trying to cope with these stuffs in my own way. But silently, i'm in pain. It is really terrifying to see her in silence... especially when we are alone with each other. She didn't even bother talking to me. and I think my fault is that i'm thinking too much and i'm taking things seriously just like what i'm doing right now. I'm being subjective to every details i see in her actions... because i cannot fathom the depth of her silence.
*sob*

I wanted to end the melancholy inside my heart. I can't even understand myself why am I so upset with these small thoughts of mine. Maybe I'm just blinded by these things and I cannot get the idea that she needs to unwind and relax herself for a while. She became so restless lately, and I think our problem is an offshoot to that restlessness. I would always sound so annoying to her because I always ask her if she's okay (and she don't want to elaborate on what she feels at that moment). It's pissing her off. How I had L's blank facial expression so that others couldn't tell what I feel inside after seeing her like that.

After feeling of not being catered and sensing her coldness to me, I had the idea of staying at home for a week. just a thought.

anyhow, happy third monthsary. i love you dearest boss. :)

Pondering in the Midst of Silence

When silent takes place, I always think of something about my life,

Several questions that make me more vulnerable. Lucid but blatant to my imagination.

Have I been good son to my parents?

Am I a good eldest brother to my siblings?

Am I a good friend to my colleagues?

Did I do well serving the people during my full time work in the organization?

Have I been a sweet boyfriend?

What will happen to me if i'm like this today?

And in few years time, will I be a good father to my child?


I know, some people around this planet might think the same thing when their alone and kept in silence. Did they found the answers in their heart?

I don't know, maybe I'm just bothered. :c

Si Twing At Si Kiking

Naniniwala ka ba sa love at first sight?
Ako hindi!
Wala bang kamera jan?
Nadedevelop lang naman ako sayo eeh…
(Mais)

Bro, Jollibee Burger Value Meal #1 lang hiningi ko…
Jollibee Happy Kiddie Meal ang binigay mo
Me Go Large drinks at fries pang kasama…
(Waw ha? O.o)

Sabi mo,
Sinagot mo ko para may dahilan kang bumalik mula sa iyong paglisan.
Sabi ko sa sarili ko,
Tama bang ako ang maging dahilan para para ika’y bumalik mula sa iyong paglisan?
(Balik ra nu?)

Sabi mo,
You’re more than enough for me.
Sabi ko sa sarili ko,
Hindi ko talaga alam kung napatunayan ko na ba yan sa iyo.
(Yes. Nag.emut naku)

Sabi mo,
Pinkyswear, Fervs Tripoli?
Sabi ko sa sarili ko,
Hindi ko kayang mangako dahil takot akong masaktan kita.
(Fugxhure kanding.)

Sabi mo,
Parati mong naaalala na sa tuwing madaling araw tayo’y naglalakad papuntang parke.
Sabi ko sa sarili ko,
Isa ba yan sa mga alaalang nakaukit na sa puso mo palagi?
(Matai lageh)

Sabi mo,
I’m so blessed having you.
Sabi ko sa sarili ko,
Sa iyo ko pa lang narinig ang mga linyang yan. Jus mio. Tagos sa buto.
Akong dughan nagbuto buto.

Sabi mo,
All I know is i’m with myself when I’m with you, yong totoong ako.
Sabi ko sa sarili ko,
Nakow. When I’m with you, kiligon dayon kooo.



Magulo man ang isip ko, wala man akong pakialam sa takbo ng buhay,
naiinis ka man tuwing lumalabas ang kapilyohan ko,
sakit man ako sa ulo, damay ka man sa mga kalokohan ko,
bolero man ako, masarap man akong kausap,
masugid mo man akong tagapakinig,
o sirang plaka na ako…

Ikaw lang ang nakaranas ng lahat ng yan.

Pasensya kana…

Mahal lang talaga kita.


>>happy 1st manxari mai big lablab. I MISS YOU na talaga. :’c

Me nabasa ako dati..
Present tense lang daw kasi yowng “I LOVE YOU”

Dapat daw “I HAVE BEEN LOVING YOU”…
Past. Present. En future progressive. ^^.< Ayan ha? Sa tex ko lang yan napunit. Hahaha.
Pero kuan bitaw, I LOVE YOU, at I HAVE BEEN LOVING YOU pajud.
Atsaka LOVELOTS pa.

Ug sa bisaya pa… Bisi ka? Lihog kog dakop sakong kasingkasing dai kai nag.ambak ambak sa kalipai. Nag.uros uros na oh giliw koh.. gugma na ni. Hahaha.