What the?!!!
In the wake of Typhoon Ondoy, the Philippine government is asking for foreign aid to help those affected by the floods in Metro Manila.
How dare them!
Maybe they have forgotten the millions, nay billions, of pesos they have accumulated, nay stole, during the past years. If they can sell their houses in California and New York (whose down payments and amortization come from the wallets of the same people they "want to help"), they don't NEED foreign aid.
Maybe if they reimburse from their own pockets the numerous international trips and countless expensive dinners they had, it would be enough to feed more than 5,000 families.
I'm sorry, I feel for the Ondoy victims, and I am grateful that a lot of people are helping, but this is a separate issue. Aside from the fact that the NDCC played a bad role in the rescue operations (whatever happened to Disaster Coordination?), they now have the nerve to ask foreign governments to ask for international aid.
250 people (official count, but I doubt the accuracy) are dead now. This is not the first time that this has happened to the Philippines. We very well know that our country is in the path of typhoons. This is not an "act of God". In the first place, there should have been precautions put up for this sort of calamities.
And then the government asks for financial aid?!! What the?!!!
Labels: financial aid, foreign aid, ondoy, Philippine government
It hurts when it's closer to home.
Boxing day, 2004. Everyone awoke to horrible images of people being swept away by one of the most tragic events in world history, hitting Thailand, India and Indonesia the hardest. TV networks all around the world broadcast videos sent in by civilians who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The tsunami is believed to have caused the loss of more the 230,000 lives.
I was grief-stricken. 230,000 is almost the population of a small country. To be honest, I wanted to help so bad, but I did not know how to. I guess it's human nature to want, but when it actually comes down to doing, there are lots of things that stop us from doing so. I thought that my contribution will be too small, or that my help would not matter. Now that I'm more mature, I should have thought otherwise.
Boxing day, 2006. I was in Amsterdam for the vacation of a lifetime. I was looking for cool shoes to wear when I arrive in Paris for the New Year celebrations. It would be such a happy time for me since I get to celebrate New Year in a different city. PARIS BABY! Good thing it's sale season here, so I can look for really good bargains.
Boxing day, 2008. Jamie Monk writes in his blog:
"I think this will be the last time I try to write anything about the tsunami. People keep asking about it. Today I have told the same story to customers several times. I don't want to be rude, but OK, it was 4 years ago now. Yes I was here. No I was not directly affected. We saw nothing really nasty. I did for a while feel guilty about being so close to it all, and yet not losing anything or anyone myself. Time now to get on with life."
http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.htmlNow Manila.
It may not be as dramatic as the tsunami of 2004 but somehow it feels more intense. I do not see any bodies on the streets, unfortunate enough to be caught in the deadly waters. I do not find buildings TOTALLY destroyed by the flood, well maybe shanties.
But it hurts. It hurts more than I hurt for the victims of the 2004 tsunami.
And the sad part is, people will move on. Except for those who have been there and experienced the horror of it all. So to those affected, I'm deeply sorry. But this time, I WILL help.
6 weeks and Counting...
Sigh.....
Something's bothering me but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's the anticipation of a new life away from repression and judgment. Maybe it's the uncertainty of tomorrow, something I've always dreaded. Maybe I just think I'm fat and I'm jealous of less attention to me.
Fuck, what's going to become of me?
OK, I have a secret, and you my dear reader, are the first to find out. I'm moving out of the Philippines in 6 weeks. I haven't told any of my workmates and even some of my friends. I don't want to answer questions I am not ready to respond to. Like where I'm going, or how, or why.
All I know is I've dreamt of the day when I leave the shores to find greener pasteurs. I'm sure everyone who grew up in third world countries have. Now I have my chance.
My mind is travelling and I can't even catch up. By the way, I like Poppiholla by Chicane. I cried in the gym while jogging because I realized that dissizzeet.
I don't know what the future holds for me. I've always dreamt of big things. This time, I'm dreaming. But I'd prefer to do it only in my sleep.
