And then there was Yolanda

Yolanda is by far the strongest typhoon recorded to set foot on land. Unfortunately for the Filipinos, she traversed through the Visayan region like a scythe.

This much I can say, though. 

Relentless and fierce. 

Oh, hell yeah, we are. 

Sis

In a place where there is strong religious (stress on the religious, but not spiritual) divide and I am considered an outsider, because I'm an "asing," I am touched and overwhelmed when local colleagues make me feel I belong.

It's been several times already that four people have referred to me as "Sis" or "sistah" in email and BB correspondences.

While I feel it's bakya when a Filo calls me one, I'm flattered and moved when I'm fondly called this way by people here.

To me, friendships and relationships matter more than any other kind of achievement and success. Reaching my KPIs is useless if I don't feel personally connected to people.

Salamat, salamat - for letting me in on the circle.

*warm, fuzzy feeling inside* =)

Faith

Dear Bu,

Thank you for believing in me.

You put enormous confidence and trust in me --- that I can do it and that I will.

With this, I can't fail you. I won't fail you. It's not even an option.

I promise that I will be acknowledged for what I have done, and not only for what I have planned for.

Dear God,

Sana 5pm na.

So tired. Majorly drained. Feeling tired at 3:00pm in the office means I've really had it--- I need to unwind.

Please make time fly ---

and make the Decanter dinner tonight really awesome.

Love,
Your Energizer Bunny who needs recharging

Apropos

Elvin posted this on his Twitter and I had to RT:

"Live simply so that others may simply live". Give and help out until it hurts." HealPhilippines

It is not enough to commiserate. It is not enough to say, our hearts go out to our wounded brethren.

In times like this, empathy is simply not enough.

Distance is not an excuse. There's Paypal, G-Cash, Western Union, relief operations centers in the States, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, in all of Asia, Australia, even in Europe and the Middle East. Pinoys from everywhere are reaching out.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

People are getting sick and hungry in the evacuation centers.

Relief goods and medicines are NOT enough.

Don't postpone help for tomorrow.

Because we need them TODAY.

TNC sense of humor amidst the ravages of Ketsana aka Ondoy

Context: This lunch time, Palangga blasted a text to TNC inviting everyone to attend Noel Cabangon's benefit concert and drink tonight, moving the usual Thursday gig to a Wednesday instead.

I had to decline since I need to build emergency kits and continue helping in Globe's relief operations.

While everyone is busy taking turns in doing volunteer work in the afternoon, TNC's Thad texted this:

"Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed: when they drink, they will forget their misery and think no more of their burdens."

Proverbs 31:6-7

Thinking that this is a ploy to move TNC tonight, I had to Google and double-check.

Totoo nga.

And this officially becomes TNC's mantra and ultimate justification for its existence.

Hanep.

Please help Ondoy victims


Guys, re-posting important contact numbers.

If you want to send help - food, medicines, supplies - or if you want to volunteer in the relief operations, please see the numbers below:

Rescue Operations

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120) ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com

Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)

Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)

Metro Manila Development Authority (136)

Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902) Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)

Quezon City Rescue (161)

San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)

Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)

Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)

Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)

Rubber boat and chopper requests

NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)

You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shopping Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
Petron & San Miguel Corporation are lending choppers for rescue operations, call/text: (+632917-8140655) ask for Lydia Ragasa

Power supply concerns

Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electrocution.

Donations of heavy duty flashlights needed for rescue operations in Cainta, Rizal area. Contact Cielo at (+632918-8824356)

E-Donations

SMS: text RED to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (Smart)
G-Cash: text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882
TXTPOWER.org: Paypal, Smart Money (5577-5144-1866-7103), G-Cash (0917-9751092)

Cellphone services

FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text wis to 386.
FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text find to 7000.

Don't let this moment pass...

...without reaching out.

It's time to give back to the Universe and to our fellowmen.

I went home to an apartment flooded with rainwater. I have several newly-purchased books that have been destroyed by the flood. Rainwater crept through the ceiling, drenched my Zen installations, Asian rugs and pillows.

But how can I complain? I still have a roof on top of my head and my entire family is safe.

Today, my friends trooped to Red Cross and other rescue operations centers to volunteer.

GT also organized a relief operations team. myGlobe girls volunteered to either man our emergency service hotlines or pack relief goods. Mela and I are donating food and we volunteered as packers of relief goods tomorrow afternoon.

Friends, if you can and if you want to volunteer or send food and medicines to the victims of typhoon Ondoy, please coordinate with the nearest Red Cross in your community. You may also get in touch with your parish or public schools housing some of the typhoon victims.

As a special announcement, the Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation in Pasig need food. There are kids inside the foundation who are in dire need of food because the Pasig area is still flooded and there are no markets opened because of the flood.

You may bring donations of any kind to River of God at Robinson's Galleria. It's located on the lower level, East Wing near the LTO and Ryan Cayabyab's Music School. You may also text or call Pastor Rachel Sanchez on how you can help at 0908-8953022.

Dark cloud

Another one of those conversations with Arlene.

Me: 'Can't help but think we died at age 31. Too young. Too preemptive a strike.

Arlene: We died too young, and we will be buried too late.

Death can be sudden. Nobody really knows for sure what is beyond death - is it just really a flat line or is there really salvation?

The thing with emotional slaughter is you wake up every morning to relive the pain of losing your hope... your future. Over and over and over.

We may have died, Arlene.

But is there hope for resurrection?

I'd like to think so.

When a little kindness and some prayers can go a long way

New home for a little one

Last Monday, I helped a one-year old white female rabbit get adopted. The white rabbit was staying in at my vet while waiting to get adopted. I see her all the time when I visit Kyle.

During a lunch time conversation with Binky, I mentioned in passing that the cuddly creature needs a new home. It turned out that she was interested. I called my vet and facilitated the visit and pick-up.

It's a very small thing that I did, but I'm happy that I helped get a new and safe home for the white rabbit.

Last Friday, Binky even showed me the photos she took of where the rabbit is now staying. She has her own "condo," with small stairs, so to speak.

Unscrupulous pet sellers

Speaking of pets, I am researching about recovery and care for kittens with the same condition as Kyle's - post-prolapse treatment and megacolon care - so that I can ensure that my family can take special care of him.

While doing so, I also searched for Persian and Himalayan kittens for sale. Kyle will have to stay with my Mom now because of the special attention that he needs and I badly want a cat's company in my apartment. I also figured that when Kyle gets better, it may be healthier to have 2 cats at home.

I got incensed with some of the search results I got. Some sellers of kittens and even adult cats have not inoculated the pets they’re selling! There were 7-month old kittens that have not received any deworming or shots of any kind. Some of them even have ear mites.

WHAT. THE. HELL?!?!?

I’m so angry at these unscrupulous sellers. I urge you not to buy from them.

And never from pet shops, too – especially BioResearch!

Volunteerism

I also checked out PAWS and CARA Welfare Philippines. I want to donate my spare cat food to them for the cats in their shelter.

They also help in facilitating adoption to cats and dogs.

For those who want to provide a safe and loving home to these pets, you might want to check them out. If you can’t – you might choose to volunteer.

I’m considering volunteering in very little ways since I have very little time. That’s why I’m also strongly considering CARA since it’s nearer my area.

More news on Kyle

Kyle was rushed back to the vet hospital on Wednesday morning. Contrary to the expected complication of being incontinent and for his bowel movement to be uncontrolled and messy 24/7, he is now suffering from megacolon – an enlargement of the colon and failure to remove stool by himself.

The entire process is excruciating. I have not slept properly the entire week. My family is affected. R. is affected.

I just want Kyle to have the best care possible. I hope that he will be able to recover and heal himself. If he needs special care and treatment – I will not love him less. I just don’t want him to suffer.

Although I am emotionally suffering from this and my heart breaks whenever I see him in pain, I will not do anything differently. Had he been sold to another owner who might not be this patient and who might not have means for his medical treatment, he might not have lasted this long.

So friends, please pray for Kyle – the little creature who changed my life.