One Month After Sendong

It has been a month when Sendong hit my city and other cities and provinces as well in Visayas and Mindanao and still we are in the state of recovering. Slowly wounds and pains are healed while there are some I guess who would still take time and even worst would never be.

Few days ago, the SEO Organization Philippines had its relief operation in which my boyfriend and I eagerly participated along with other CDO based SEO practitioners and funds from other SEO specialists all over the country. Our target area is Tibasak in Macasandig where this is one of the most affected area during the said tragedy. In spite if weeks had passed, still the said barangay has not recovered. Plus the destruction of the typhoon is still evident that you as a spectator could wonder how did these people survived. What had happened to them during that time? And where could the others be.

There used to be houses on this ground I am stepping on. Plus the land in here were once mud now hardened and become part of the ground.

These kids were trying to collect whatever they could salvage near the riverbanks in order to sell in shops and get some money from it. These kids were supposed to go to school during that time but they opted to stop and to not continue simply because they no longer have the means to pursue it. Plus they are more concerned on their shelter and their food every single day. I wonder where would this lead them and their possible future. This is truly heartbreaking.

Boyfriend and my new SEO friends

Cagayan de Oro is still recovering from the aftermath of Sendong. There are still bodies missing and dead people who until now have not been identified. There are still people in evacuation centers while there are others in the streets still.

What CDO needs now is your help for rehabilitation purposes. Although lands were donated as settlements for the affected yet still these lands are not yet sufficient for the thousands of families. In spite of the land, it would still not be of used if there are no houses and livelihood built in it. Plus there are still individuals who needs much attention because of the post traumatic syndromes that even our healthcare providers cannot aid. Worst are people committing suicide and getting mad because of the aftermath.

You can still be able to help Cagayan de Oro rebuild lives of the Sendong survivors. Please, if you know how you can aid us, do not hesitate to extend such. We thank you for the countless blessings that my city has received from many individuals in the country and even around the globe. Let us not seize and together aid towards the rising of CDO again.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Hours more and it would be Christmas. I am pretty certain that you are already preparing your presents, your Noche Buena treats and more so yourself as we celebrate Christ's birth to this world.

True enough this is one festive season that we have been anticipating all year round. It is something we look forward as well. I too am pretty excited for the holidays and have been preparing my gears since late September. However with the tragedy that struck my beloved city exactly a week ago, there are questions that lingered into my head that torn my heart into pieces. How would these victims celebrate their Christmas Eve? Will they have food to prepare? Will they have gifts to share among them? Or will they even celebrate Christmas this year?

I have been preparing my Christmas wishlist this year to share with you my dear readers. However, let me alter it altogether and present my grown up Christmas list. This post would be something so personal as this is as well my 100th post in my blog.

Christmas List 1: Shelter

I wish more than ever that the typhoon victims be given a new home away from the wrath of the river. They be provided a stable structure that not even winds and rains could topple. A house they could shelter themselves, their families and what remained. A house that they could call soon their home.

Christmas List 2: Livelihood

In order to get their feet back, it would be best that they be provided with work and even a small livelihood that could aid them in their fresh start. There are of course many families who have lost their work because of what happened. No matter how small that would be, so long as they can gain income from it, it would surely be a great help.

Christmas List 3: Peace

I know world peace is huge and even hard to attain however I am not referring to that peace. I am precisely talking about peace on the side of the victims most especially to those who have lost their loved ones. May they be able to recover from the trauma. May they be able to find such inner peace. It may be hard I know however I am positive that in the long run, they could be able to find their way back. I hope that they have a blessed Christmas with their families and happiness in their time of need.

Christmas is just around the corner. Let this be a light that could bring hope and happiness to everyone most especially the ones who need it the most. Use this holiday to share and to give. What more, use this day as an instrument of Christ. You will soon realize that indeed it is Christmas.

Heroes

Sendong's wrath is definitely the most traumatic one experienced by Kagay-anons and our neighboring cities and provinces. The aftermath is so devastating and you can't help but to cry and be saddened by the fact that such killed thousands. In spite of it all, there are hearts that were fired up to help and give in every possible way they can.

Imagine different people from all walks of life gathering around to provide every possible needs of Sendong victims coming from Cagayan de Oro, from the Philippines and even worldwide. Such aid truly warms my fragile heart knowing that CDO, Iligan and other affected areas are loved by everyone to the point that they are pulling out their parties and convert the money to help these victims. Aside from that there are also other individuals who would be willing to risk their lives so as to find those missing ones and retrieve lost loved ones. More than that, there are heroes that on the night of the typhoon, opened their houses to shelter their neighbors, drenched themselves in the cold rain to save others to the extent of losing their lives in return.

Thus, today Etallasa is proud to feature some unsung heroes who aided and helped in the best way they can to the victims of the typhoon. If you've extended yours be it monetary or in kind I am sure God will return such blessings to you and your family. And this post is yours as well. You are a hero to us all and we can't thank you enough for such kindness and generosity.

Photos from Atoy A. Martinez

I am sure there are still many heroes out there who helped the typhoon victims. Our salute and our thanks to everyone who passionately gives their time, their money, their clothes and their presence to be of help. 

CDO and other provinces are still needing your aid. Be of service and know how by clicking Help CDO: How and More.

True Christmas

I saw a post from a friend that this particular reporter states that Christmas is barely felt in Cagayan de Oro because of what transpired over the weekend. True enough many horrible things happened of which I know you are already aware of. However, with the endless supply of help, charity, sympathy and aid from people all over the country and the world, isn't this the true meaning of Christmas?

Christmas this year in Cagayan de Oro and the other areas affected by Sendong would have to be the best Christmas that I see in my years of existence. For the past, let me admit it, it was self centered since you are concerned with the gifts you will buy for your friends and family. The food you will prepare for your noche buena. The people you will invite to dine in and the gifts you duly wrap to whom you know who to give.

However this year, it is so different. You tend to give money but you do not know who will receive it. You stacked away your old clothes and give it to someone you barely even know. And the best thing is, you give without expecting a gift in return. More than the item you donated, you give them hope, you give them compassion, you give them love. And that definitely screams Christmas.

Let us Help CDO by bringing Christmas into the Streets.

Should you be interested, here's how you can start:

Of course, the things you can share to them:

Let us take part and share. Let us celebrate Christmas the way it is supposed to be. Let us Help CDO!

Help CDO: Easy Ways To Do Such

Sendong was one great nightmare to CDO and other areas leaving many dead, others missing and properties destroyed. No words can describe its aftermath. And no words can suffice the damage it has done to many.

Fortunate are those who can be able to extend their aid easily and conveniently especially those who have the means or are near the vicinity. However, for others who do not have much, you can use the power of the cyberspace to contribute. A few clicks of your mouse and a few taps on your keyboards can really make a difference to the lives of others who were affected with the typhoon. Such little things can truly make a huge difference. Here are a few:

711 Philippines is donating Php10 for every new like up to 1 Million. So click the link and like away!

Anti-Fashion is donating Php5 for every new like to Red Cross. Hence, like and share this!

For awareness and more information on how to help, click and like Help CDO.

CDO and other provinces are still in need of your help. Thus, should you want to know more as to how you can extend your help be it in cash or in kind, read this and this.

More Ways To Help CDO

I have already posted various institutions and ways to help CDO be it in monetary or in kind here. Here are more ways for you to help and donate. Remember your donations may be small however it can definitely help the many.

From Kryz Uy of Kryzuy.com

163 Don Mariano Cui St.

Cebu City

6000

From 8AM-8PM, look for Lily Edano or Valentina Densing

Thank you for your help! We badly need it.