“Pepeng” Update 6: The Philippine Government Declares State of National Calamity Across the Country

The government on Friday placed the country under a state of national calamity in preparation for the expected onslaught on Saturday afternoon of typhoon ‘Pepeng’ (international name ‘Parma’). The expected landfall is in Cagayan province in northern Luzon. In a radio interview, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the decision was arrived at with the concurrence [...]

“Pepeng” Update 4: Stronger Than Ondoy

In a press briefing, PAGASA Chief Nathaniel Cruz enthused that Pepeng is much stronger than tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana), which rainfall amount is a record and devastated Metro Manila for the first time in two scores (40 years. Cruz quoted, “In terms of wind intensity, Ondoy was only half of the strength of [...]

Philippine Government Declares “State of National Calamity”

The Philippine government through the Office of the National Disaster Coordinating Council declared Regions I (Northern Ilocos), II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), IV-A (CALABARZON), IV-B (MIMAROPA), The Cordillera Administrative Region and The National Capital Region (Metro Manila) as primary areas under State of National Calamity.. Below is a copy of the Memorandum signed by [...]

The Ondoy Ordeal of Big Bad Vic & The Crew

My former colleagues (Victor Conanan Jr., Curlee Canlas Galang, Catherine Esteban-Galang, the couple’s kid and another coworker) at the Office of the President – Commission on Higher Education sent me few photos taken somewhere in Makati City during their “Ondoy” Ordeal.. The email is in response to a webtext i sent Vic, asking how things [...]

The Sinking of Manila

The recent disaster in Metro Manila brought about by the wrath of Superstorm Ondoy reminded me of the movie, “The Sinking of Japan”.. Although, admittedly, the movie was way more tragic, the nerve-wrecking scenes are not that horrific as they were only presented in motion picture through an opaque reel projection.. As a matter of [...]

Superstorm Ondoy Hotlines (Updated)

To all the Filipinos worldwide, here’s a list of rescue and relief, foundation and fundraising operation projects for the victims of Superstorm Ondoy.. These endeavors are spearheaded by various groups in the Philippines including the media networks, government agencies, and academic instituions.. • The University of the Philippines: University of the Philippines Office of the [...]