Not a book review: Typhoon Haiyan

We are Filipino bloggers. As many of you know, central Philippines was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Typhoon Yolanda, last Friday, November 8. It was one of the fiercest typhoons in recorded history. There have been over 2,000 confirmed casualties, thousands injured, and almost half a million people displaced because their homes were blown away. Today, the Philippine government and international relief workers are still struggling to reach all of the victims to provide food, shelter, medicine, and clothing. It's not easy, because there are many islands to be reached, and many of the airports and landing pads are not operational. Roads are blocked by fallen trees, houses, overturned vehicles. Local government workers themselves have lost their homes and family members.

See photos of the aftermath here.

Of the three of us, only Buona is in Manila right now, so the best we can do is glue our eyeballs to our Facebook news feeds and keep news websites on our browsers, sending money and moral support to our friends and families who are physically helping out in the relief efforts back home, as Filipinos always do when natural calamities strike. I'm supposed to be studying for my final exams but my thoughts keep flying back to what is happening in the Philippines. On the positive side, news of help of all kinds from all over the world makes me feel that we're not alone in this, and strengthens my faith in the goodness of people. There are so many touching stories that have come out from this disaster...

Stranded tourists helping out in relief efforts in Coron, one of the islands affected:

Via choosephilippines.com

Two cute kids in the US raising money for aid through their lemonade stand:

Via twitter.com

My favourite one was this conversation between a little girl in Saudi Arabia and her Filipino nanny, recounted by her nanny on Facebook. It made me tear up a little bit...

Lana: Ya Jo how much my one riyal in the Philippines?

Inday Jo: Maybe 11 or 12 pesos.

Lana: Really? 11 or 12 for 1 riyal? (in wonderment)

Inday Jo: Yes.

Lana: Oh, my god! The children can buy food with my one riyal?

Inday Jo: Yes, they can buy food, Lana.

Lana: Yes! Yes! (hugging her nanny) Give to the kids that I saw crying in the news Ya Jo. Yes! Yes! (jumping up and down and dancing) I'm so happy, Ya Jo, I will tell my classmate to give one riyal for you to send to the Philippines.

Inday Jo: (speechless) Thank you, Lana.

Lana: I'm a good girl now, Ya Jo?

Inday Jo: You're an angel!

Our country faces a difficult task in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. If you would like to help, there are many different ways, and I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart. Please also keep our people in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you!

DIA keeps telling herself that she got an iPad so that she can study her school readings more easily, but really, it's so she can read ebooks in bed without having to balance a laptop on her lap. She reads various genres from new adult to romances to business books. Also, she should probably tell you that she didn't manage to get through Fifty Shades, sorry.
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Categories: Dia, Haiyan, Philippines