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ellen tordesillas Posts

I was not the only one duped by “Mon Tulfo”

Retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin
Retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin
My first person account last Monday on being duped by a con artist who introduces himself as “Mon Tulfo” elicited responses, two of them from fellow victims.

One was retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin.

Remember last August, there was a news report of death threats to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, National Bureau of Investigation Nonnatus Rojas, and Atty. Levito Baligod, lawyer of whistleblowers in pork barrel scandal involving businesswoman Janet Napoles?

Querubin said a “Mon Tulfo”, who really sounded very much like tri-media personality Ramon Tulfo, called him up saying that the hired assassin to De Lima, Rojas, and Baligod contacted him and said he was backing out of the contract. “Mon Tulfo” said he and his men were bringing the person to Manila and they will have a press conference at max restaurant near the DOJ.

Con artist preys on sympathy for Yolanda victims

Relief distribution in Antique. Photo by Jun Tens.
Relief distribution in Antique. Photo by Jun Tens.
This is painful for me to relate because it is embarrassing. My friends and I have been victimized by a scam artist.

Mahirap aminin na naging tanga kami ngunit ganun na nga.

Last Friday, a “Ramon Tulfo” called me up. I did not have doubts that he was Mon Tulfo, the Inquirer columnist, because it was the number of Mon Tulfo that I have in my directory for a long time. Through that number, I have talked with “Mon Tulfo” about other issues like the Ampatuan massacre. (I’m having doubts now. Was the person I talked with months earlier not Mon Tulfo?)

The “Mon Tulfo” that I talked with last Friday said he has read my column in Abante about our province, Antique, having been badly hit also by typhoon Yolanda. He said he has received donations of 500,000 plastic pails from businessman “Plastic King” William Gatchalian. He said he has filled those pails with packs of rice, canned goods and other items from donations of former Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn and businessman Mark Jimenez. He said he would like to give 50,000 of those pails to Antique. Later on, he increased the number to 100,000. He asked for my help to connect with a non-political contact in Antique.

Guiuan folks still struggle for their basic needs


Text and photos by Mario Ignacio IV,VERA Files

GUIUAN, Eastern Samar- One week after typhoon Yolanda made its first landfall in this coastal town, residents are still in dire need of basic necessities like food, drinking water, fuel to cook their food and shelter.
They are asking for assistance to repair their houses and to buy equipment and tools for their livelihood. Fishing equipment for fishermen and farming tools for farmers.

Homes, hospitals, and schools have all been destroyed. While some could still be used after major repairs, many have been flattened and need to be rebuilt.

Security in the town also needs to be re-established.

Bagsak si Aquino sa pagsubok sa krisis

Aquino inspecting relief efforts for victims of typhoon Yolanda.
Aquino inspecting relief efforts for victims of typhoon Yolanda.
Ang krisis sa buhay ng tao ay isang pagsubok. Dito makikita ang tatag o kahinaan ng isang tao.

Merong iba na magaling sa pangaraw-araw na gawain, lalo pa sa panahon ng sagana at kaayusan. Ngunit pagdating sa krisis, sa sitwasyun ng kakulangan at pahirapan, wala na.

Mas matindi ang hamon sa mga lider.Tatlong taon na si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa Malacañang. Popular siya. Magaling ang kanyang mga tauhan niya sa pagbenta sa kanya. Gusto siya ng mga tao dahil hindi siya corrupt.

Day 7 Yolanda:thank you note and more appeals for help

Photo by Luis Liwanag, VERA Files.
Photo by Luis Liwanag, VERA Files.
The anguish and misery caused by typhoon Yolanda has not at all diminished the wit and sense of humor of Filipinos. d I saw this suggestion, a brilliant solution not only to the breakdown of peace and order in Tacloban, still reeling from the destruction wrought by typhoon Yolanda week ago but also how to recover the people’s money from those who pocketed the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF.

It’s the post by Edwin Molina in Ace Esmeralda’s wall. I’m sharing this without Molina’s permission.

He said: “We now need the so-called masterminds of the looters to run the show in Tacloban for their organizational/motivational skills, foresight, sense of urgency and swift, decisive actions after Yolanda hit the area.

Performing artists express desire to help typhoon victims

By Pablo A. Tariman,VERA Files

Cecile Licad
Cecile Licad
The typhoon that killed hundreds in the Visayan region elicited shock and an outpouring of sympathy from the country’s leading performing artists.

“It is horribly sad,” said pianist Cecile Licad who expressed willingness to participate in any fundraising concert. The pianist once again received standing ovations for her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Hawaii Symphony and the San Antonio Symphony in Texas.

Another artist who wanted to cheer typhoon victims is violinist Cho Liang Lin who has forthcoming engagements with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan and the symphony orchestras of Detroit, San Antonio, and Shanghai. He wrote to Licad saying how deeply he was touched by the plight of typhoon victims. “If there are events that I can help to cheer the victims, please let me know. I am in!” the noted violinist said.

Looking for the Fuenteses

Thanks to MSN for photo
Thanks to MSN for photo
I got a letter from Rosauro Fuentes who is currently in Mogadishu, Somalia asking help to locate members of his family in Tolosa, Leyte.

‘Wala akong ibang paraan na makontak ang aming pamilya. Sana po matulongan nyo kami,” he pleaded for help.

He forwarded to me the following letter of his brother, Armando, who is based in Texas, U.S.A, addressed to the Philippine Red Cross.

We will overcome

Update: Sheila Pino Ylagan informed me in Facebook that Richard Gappi and family are okay.

Richard Gappi
Richard Gappi
Does anybody know of the whereabouts of writer/editor Richard Gappi, community assistant officer of the municipality of Angono?

A Facebook post said on Nov. 5, he went to Tacloban for the birthday of his son, Intoy. His family in Angono lost communication with him during the typhoon.

Those who have access to him, please let us know. We pray he is safe.

***
When we saw the devastation in Leyte, we felt awkward about being engrossed about the damage wrought by typhoon Yolanda in our place in Guisijan, Laua-an, Antique.

The sight of the dead all over – on the street and underneath fallen structures – was simply heartbreaking.