Tag: Typhoon Yolanda

Manicani: A tough little island

Published by Ellen on November 19, 2014

By Ellen T. Tordesillas, VERA Files

Manicani today hardly bears signs of the havoc wrought by supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) a year ago.

Color is back on this 11.7-square-kilometer island of 3,000 people in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, which was a harrowing picture of destruction only 12 months ago after Yolanda ferociously battered it for straight four hours.

Nemesio and Adela Abucejo in their newly-built house.

The roofless or flattened houses, destroyed concrete structures, uprooted trees and toppled posts are almost gone. In their stead are houses painted green, yellow, blue, red and pink, many with vegetable and flower gardens.

The houses were built by the homeowners themselves, courtesy of the cash for work program of the mining company Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC). Berthed on shore near many homes were new fishing boats, which the islanders requested from NAC officials when asked after Yolanda what they wanted aside from a decent shelter.

A 25- to 30-minute boat ride from Guiuan, Manicani during World War II was a United States Navy naval repair facility. It’s primarily a fishing community today.

New UNICEF Rep is a Balikbayan

Published by Ellen on June 24, 2014

UNICEF PG Rep Lotta Sylwander — UNICEF PH Rep Lotta Sylwander

For Lotta Sylwander, her assignment to the Philippines as UNICEF Representative, is actually a homecoming.
Sylwander, from Sweden, was a backpack tourist way back in the 70’s and 80’s. She met and married (they are now divorced) someone from the Rojas family of Cavite. They have two children.

Sylwander arrived in Manila last April and has since immersed herself in UNICEF’s various projects with major focus on typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)–ravaged areas.

An anthropologist, Sylwander was previously assigned in Vietnam and Zambia.

She is with Bangladeshi Zafrin Chowdhury, chief of Communication and Private Fundraising and Partnership, UNICEF Philippines, who arrived here more than eight months ago, just before the super typhoon struck the Philippines claimed the lives of some 10,000 people, and displaced tens of thousands more.

Guiuan rises with a lot of help from mining firm

Published by Ellen on February 18, 2014

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

Photos by Mario Ignacio IV

Yolanda survivors Lito G. Abucejo, 47, a carpenter and his wife, Rebecca, 44, marked the 100th day after the super typhoon slammed into Manicani Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, in a newly-built house.

The Abucejos have folded their United Nations-donated tent, which was their shelter the past three months, and are now living in a new structure built where their old house once stood.

The Abucejo’s new house is one of the more than 400 being built by Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), which owns a non-operating nickel mine in Manicani.

Coco lumber felled by Yolanda are being used for the 30-square meter houses, being built on the property of the survivors. They are expected to last four to five years.

December in the life of the De Venecias

Published by Ellen on December 22, 2013

. Rep. Gina de Venecia talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child. — Rep. Gina de Venecia talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.

December 26 is the birthday of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, who is now sporting an arm sling after he figured in an accident at his relative’s house in San Francisco, California last month. He stepped on a hose in the garden and fell to the ground fracturing his shoulder and harming his knees. His doctors advised him against undertaking long-haul travels in the next two to three months.

The accident compelled the peripatetic JDV to forgo attendance in the meeting of the standing committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Ankara, Turkey last Nov. 21 and 22.

JDV co-founded ICAPP, a forum of political parties of various ideologies among countries in Asia-Oceania to promote exchanges and cooperation; enhance understanding, and create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region.

Rehab czar should restore Yolanda victims’ human right to a decent life

Published by Ellen on December 1, 2013

Update: The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Lacson has accepted Aquino’s offer to be the Rehabilitation Czar.

It has been reported that President Aquino is considering former Sen. Panfilo Lacson to head the awesome task of rebuilding part of Visayas devastated by typhoon Yolanda.

The report has not yet been confirmed by Malacañang but if it’s true, that would be an indication that Aquino understands the gravity of the situation and the challenges of the rebuilding of the ruined and shattered communities, most especially in Leyte and Samar.

Let’s hope that partisan politics, particularly the 2016 presidential race, do not again get in the way of this more urgent task. Aquino fumbled bigtime in dealing with immediate impact of the Yolanda-created crisis but he can still redeem himself in the reconstruction of the destroyed communities.

If it’s not Lacson, it is hoped that he does not make the mistake of giving the job of the reconstruction czar to retired Army Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the body that was supposed to oversee efforts in coping with disasters but acted helpless at the time when they were needed most.

Beware of vultures preying on Yolanda’s victims

Published by Ellen on November 28, 2013

Photos from ABS-CBN video

What has been feared by human rights advocates is now happening in Tacloban: human trafficker vultures are on a prowl preying on the hapless victims of typhoon Yolanda.

ANC had a report of a human trafficking attempt in Tacloban. DSWD Assistant Secretary Cheche Cabrera related about two cases which they were able to stop. “A very beautiful girl was escorted by two burly looking guys,” she said.

Cabrera said together with the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations, they are setting up a desk in Tacloban Tacloban City, Ormoc and Guiuan, Eastern Samar.“There are lots of possibilities where very young girls will be trafficked,” she said.

Tenor Arthur Espiritu’s inspiring journey to Llorente, Samar

Published by Ellen on November 26, 2013

Arthur and Christina Espiritu aboard a Philippine Navy ship to bring relief goods to Llorente, Samar.

Tenor Arthur Espiritu and his wife, Christina, are in Llorente, Eastern Samar to distribute the truckload of goods they have gathered from friends to the victims of typhoon Yolanda.

Why Llorente?

Llorente is one of the municipalities badly hit by Yolanda but has not been reported as prominently as Tacloban. Christina is from that place.

The Espiritus left Manila last Saturday late afternoon. From Arthur’s Facebook post, it has not been an easy journey, by water and by land.

Arthur posted that that they were in Bulan Port in Sorsogon Sunday waiting for their truck to be loaded together with more than 20 other trucks. While waiting, they enjoyed the pier scenery. One was people watching the Pacquiao-Rios fight. “Everyone was there. It’s really fun to see Pinoys come together when there’s a Pacquiao fight.”

Later, Arthur, the only Filipino tenor who has sang at La Scala, the world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy, reported that they were finally loading the trucks.”Christina Espiritu is happy,” he said. He counted more blessing: “Yehey. Still have signal while on ship.”

His next post was when they were approaching San Isidro port in Northern Samar: “We came in at 4:30 pm then engine failed. Stuck about 1 km away from shore. Then got power back but it was high tide already. Ramp was too high for trucks to disembark. Now we have to sleep in the ship till 4 am which is low tide. Then we could go. Problem is, all the restaurants and markets around are closed. Just diet for now w peanuts and skyflakes and coffee. Staying strong.”

Con artist preys on sympathy for Yolanda victims

Published by Ellen on November 17, 2013

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

Published by Ellen on November 17, 2013

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

Published by Ellen on November 17, 2013

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.