I was on the first plane out this afternoon from Hong Kong to Manila (after a very long night– as the flights the previous night were all cancelled due to the floods. More on this soon, but in the end, PAL came through and for that, I’m extremely grateful). 
I would’ve said I had a great time in Hong Kong except for these 2 incidents: 1. The flooding all over the Philippines, which really dampened an otherwise wonderful trip, 2. Losing my voice– because I had abused my body while in HK. It was a serious food trip, and I had indulged in extremely spicy food daily for the whole duration of the trip (because I loooove spicy food). So now, my acid reflux is back with a vengeance and it has “cooked” my vocal tube. *I will get this checked to confirm if acid reflux is really the culprit of my voice loss*
Anyway, tired as I am from that long, almost sleepless night, I am sharing photos of Manila which I took today from a few thousand feet above. To say that I was disturbed with what I saw, is an understatement. I was more than disturbed. I cannot believe THIS happened overnight. Everyone on the plane was gasping in disbelief at what they saw.
Fields of green replaced by pools of brown. 
A few houses underwater
Disturbing. The water was really, really muddy, and the banks were gone. 
Tight shot
I feel so bad for the squatters who live by the raging water.
Flood everywhere! All these streets have become extensions of the muddy river
Makes you want to rethink the way you live, really. Here we are, having the luxury to indulge while they, are left with no options. 🙁
Submerged blocks of land with houses… it’s really an awful sight 🙁 
Everywhere you look, it’s flood water you see.
Stagnant flood water will eventually be the breeding ground for insects and bacteria. Dengue, diarrhea… Oh God 🙁 I never thought I’d see these up close with my very own eyes 🙁
I saw the “Ynares Center” sign from a few thousand feet aboveground, so I knew we were flying over Antipolo. Incidentally if you want to donate and are in that area, you can send your donations to Ynares Center. They need blankets, milk, noodles, canned goods, bottled water, and old clothes.
Is this a mine/ quarry? Or was?
Huge pool of water collected. It was an empty tract of land from what I can see.
This was what the waters looked like from the ground (Ortigas Ave extension to Cainta)
(last photo from Inquirer.net)
Our wonderful girls of
Accessory Lab are also victims of Ondoy 🙁 My friend and partner,
Carmen of
8 and a Half, had her whole house flooded in (water above the head). Luckily though, the water didn’t reach the 2nd floor of their home. Unfortunately though, she lost their cars to the flood. 🙁 The worst thing was, the creek in their village overflowed, drowning a few people as a result. The flood really spared no one…
Remember the age- old adage “Save a penny for a rainy day?” It’s good to have that extra cash lying around this time. Especially if you’re a victim of the flood 🙁 *Sigh*… So sad 🙁
On a related note, Rea of Moms for Moms has requested money from our Fabella fund (I have spoken to some of our donors about this) to channel Php 7,000 cash to the orphanage in Tondo. She needed the cash tonight to add to her pledge by buying more diapers and milk to give to the children who were taken into the orphanage as refuge because of the flooding. They are going to the orphanage first thing tomorrow morning to start distribution as she was told the sisters were in need of supplies for the children.
Please everyone, if you have not donated to any charity in the past, I think now’s a good time to give something back– you’ll know people in your community who are in dire need of help and even if you don’t donate money, I’m sure any kind of help you can offer (volunteer your time, give them canned goods, clean clothes etc…) will be very well- appreciated. God bless you all, and God bless our country in this current crisis.
Politicians, now is the time to step up to the plate– please HELP the people! Like, really HELP the people! Dig into pork barrel funds from the government (taxpayers money) and please help the flood victims who lost everything. Set aside those political ambitions/ election/ PR opportunities *kill the photo ops PUHLEASE* right now or you’ll only end up leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. *Saying it like it is, sorry. I always refused to make any political comments or even go near that route, but at critical times like these, the politicians are really the ones we need for help in the end because they are the ones with “access”*
P.S. Thank you so much ZSB and the URC team! Special thanks to JulieP, RamonP + SheilaP.
ONDOY RELIEF DRIVE UPDATE: Donations in kind like instant noodles, canned goods, formula milk, blankets and clothes, are urgently needed. You may drop them off either at the INQUIRER office at 1098 Chino Roces Ave. corner Mascardo and Yague Streets, Makati City, or to any of INQ’s classified ads office, or to any MC DONALD’S branch within Metro Manila
x
Mrs. T
I would’ve said I had a great time in Hong Kong except for these 2 incidents: 1. The flooding all over the Philippines, which really dampened an otherwise wonderful trip, 2. Losing my voice– because I had abused my body while in HK. It was a serious food trip, and I had indulged in extremely spicy food daily for the whole duration of the trip (because I loooove spicy food). So now, my acid reflux is back with a vengeance and it has “cooked” my vocal tube. *I will get this checked to confirm if acid reflux is really the culprit of my voice loss*
Fields of green replaced by pools of brown. 
A few houses underwater
I feel so bad for the squatters who live by the raging water.
Stagnant flood water will eventually be the breeding ground for insects and bacteria. Dengue, diarrhea… Oh God 🙁 I never thought I’d see these up close with my very own eyes 🙁
I saw the “Ynares Center” sign from a few thousand feet aboveground, so I knew we were flying over Antipolo. Incidentally if you want to donate and are in that area, you can send your donations to Ynares Center. They need blankets, milk, noodles, canned goods, bottled water, and old clothes.
(last photo from Inquirer.net)
I feel bad for those who were affected and I am so sorry that you didn’t enjoy your weekend.
Like you said Mrs. T., we’ve all indulged in something, whether it’s $10,000 bag or a $100 shoes. We do these things because we sometimes want to reward ourselves for our hardwork. And yes, as long as it’s hard-earned money, no one should dictate anyone on how he/she should use their money.
No one expected this calamity and certainly no one wants to ever experience this. I, too, have family in dire need of help in Cainta and I would start from there. This is not the time to judge other people, Mr/Ms. anonymous commenter. I hope you’re reading this. Instead of finding fault in others, why don’t you use your time and resources to help our families and friends back home who have been calamity stricken.
“Makes you want to rethink the way you live, really. Here we are, having the luxury to indulge while they, are left with no options.” 🙁
—> It is one thing to pity their situation and it is one thing to actually do something… It makes you rethink how your new $10,000 Birkin could actually be used to donate money. Just imagine the medicines, food and clothes it could buy that can benefit a lot of people. A Birkin will only benefit you.
Anonymous: I agree with you. It did make me think. I could’ve actually helped more people if I didn’t buy that bag 🙁 But I am going to start helping by helping my store girls, who are also victims of the flooding. So it’s not all lipservice from my end. That’s for damn sure.
I’m sure you too, have indulged. Whether it’s the french fries you ate with your burger for lunch, or that Louis Vuitton bag you bought last Christmas, it’s still considered an indulgence and is a luxury.
But like me, I hope you are also doing your part to help your community right now. I’m sure they can also benefit from your time, and not just from your money (that is, if you refuse to part with it. Besides, it’s not anyone’s right to dictate what you do with your money *unless you did something illegal to obtain it*– i certainly won’t be biting your head off if you choose not to give a single centavo. But if you did, then good for you).
So quick to pass judgment and yet so anonymous. Scared to be judged much?
Mrs. T if you auction again and for Ondoy, let us all know!
@ Ricci: I want to help my girls first since they’re working for us and we want to make sure they’re ok. Also, to help, you can already donate canned goods, noodles, to any Mc Donald’s branch in Metro Manila 🙂 So that’s what I’ll do for now. We still have that Fabella fund we need to work on– so maybe this was the sign. Rea is also contacting Fabella, I’m sure they were flooded in too– the last time we were there, it was serious flooding already. What more now.
PBB: I know, it’s really a tragedy which no one foresaw. I wonder what the NDCC is really doing about this right now. I haven’t really read much news yet. Curious to know too if Congress and Senate are willing to pool pork barrel funds to help victims. This kind of flooding is really unprecedented in our time.
Hey Mrs T,
Well said regarding Anonymous. So quick to pass judgement on someone you don’t truly know. People always pick on the best fruit in times of crisis and never the rotten ones.
Regardless of her holier-than-thou thoughts, you are still doing something. Charity is charity and does not need to be studied of its worthiness because of its recipient. So, in thought, she can stick it!
It is really not my intention to dictate what you do with your hard-earned money. Because who am I to dictate you, or anyone, on how to use your money in the first place?
Perhaps, I am just a young person who just has a lot of questions and wonders why the world works this way. Perhaps it is my youth that fuels my angst towards the fact that while there are people who have insanely priced bags sitting pretty on its dustbags, there are those who are dying because they have nothing to eat. Maybe, it is because of my youth why I am a little too idealistic – rich people have more power, and thus more to give.
I know you are a generous and kind-hearted person Mrs.T (Fabella funds). Its not my intention to criticize you. I just want you (as a rich person blessed with material prosperity and a life of comfort) to know that many need your help.
Peace to all 🙂
Hey Mrs T,
All I can do is financially help. I don’t live there and probably won’t be travelling there anytime soon because of my pregnant state. Where can I send donations to?
I saw an informal YouTube video and it almost made me cry. My sincerest condolences to all those who lost loved ones and my heartfelt prayers for all those who survived.
we were at the grocery buying some stuff to donate and it seemed like A LOT of people were doing the same. boxes and boxes of crackers, water, noodles etc.. it was so heart warming. i’ve never been happier to see such long queuea at rustan’s.
@ May-hem: This is truly a tragedy that no one had expected. I am still in a state of disbelief that one day’s rain can wreak so much havoc. So far, I’ve already spoken to our Fabella donors, and will be channeling 63K more for the Tondo Center of the Missionaries of Charity. If you peeps also have old clothes (children’s or adults), they also need those. For
@ mimi: that’s really a good sight to see. I’m glad people are doing their part too. And good on you too for your help. God bless!
@ MaryD: Once again, thank you very much for your help. I think it’s a good idea to make the donation straight to the Red Cross. I’m really depressed to find out more and more of my friends were affected by this, and of course stories of people who drowned, died… It’s so depressing 🙁
@ anonymous: I think now’s the time to channel your angst into action to help those in need. If there is some way, (because of your youth, you have more energy), that you can volunteer your time in community centers that serve as shelters, that would be a great idea. Again no need to give money. Help comes in many ways. Otherwise you can also ask your friends, family who can help by donating goods and pool them together for distribution to those in dire need. Do a text brigade to your friends who can donate and you can hold all those donations together for distribution to your nearest community center that accepts donations. Use your angst and anger and turn it into something positively productive.
I agree with Mrs.T, whoever you are you should stop the anger and passing judgement and just help your neighbors. Your idealism and youth is not an excuse to be making that kind of comment against the rich people. Not all of them deserve this kind of comment since they probably were the ones who donated huge chunk of money to charity in the first place. You should get angry with the politicians who use public funds to fund expensive purchases and vacations and homes instead. This flood is killing people by the minute and here you are angry at rich people ” who have insanely priced bags sitting pretty on its dustbags. ” Save your energy and just go out there and help them just like we are now.
you go mrs T!!!
RG
@ Therese: Thanks for echoing my sentiments, and I’m also glad you’re doing your part 🙂 God bless!!
@ RG: Hehe It’s not like I’m impervious to criticisms anyway 😉
PEEPS– if you wish to donate money or goods, there is also the ALAY SA PUSO in Del Pan Tondo (this was what I was mentioning earlier, the orphanage run by Missionaries of Charity sisters of Mother Teresa). They are in DIRE need of milk formulas, diapers for the babies and children.
so many idiotic comments from anonymous comment posters. show that you have a name to your comment. At least have the courage coz jackie is also answering your comments. And why focus on what her charitable act is again? what have you done that can match what she and her friends has done to help fabella? not every charitable act needs to be broadcast to everyone
Another anonymous comment today wrote: “so are you going to do something about it or are you just going to think about it”.
Helloooo, of course I’m doing something about it! I don’t know anyone heartless enough to just sit back and watch others suffer. So now, I want to throw your own question back at you, anonymous poster. What have YOU done to help the victims? Are you willing to help my friends and employees who just lost their homes? Do you want to volunteer yourself because they need manpower to clean their homes right now? Bring it on and show me that you are not just a barker but are a doer.
@ meryll los banos: agree. I don’t think these people would ever have the gall to face me so they do hide behind that blanket of anonymity that this comment page seems to provide them. Thing is, the blog has a tracker that can pinpoint their location on google map. I could be knocking on their door tomorrow to solicit help and donations. I am curious to know if they’d rise to the occasion and help, just as they have been audacious enough to imply and suggest what I should do.
I know this may not be right, but GO MRS T! 🙂
Hey Mrs T,
The nerve of some people! Why are they so focused on minor things? There are people out there with no homes, kids with no families and dogs that have no owners. Those people should be the priority!
I’m so effing tired of the crap that people pull in times like this. Getting mad at you will not make help/recovery/donations go faster. It irritates me so much. They. Need. To. Get. A. Life. And hiding behind their cowardly words? Holy f*ck! Have their parents taught them anything? How about accepting responsibility?
Regardless of how hurtful their words are, Mrs T, I think you are doing a fine job of doing your part. Charity is charity. Its recipients do not need to be studied for their worthiness. You are helping out people that are in need.
Ahh, those people are irritating me! Self-righteous b*st*rds! Sorry for the words, Mrs T.
Keep it up, Mrs T. We are 110% behind you!!!
@ Appledumplings: I’m saying it like it is. I just despise people who just bark bark bark at others and probably do jack Sh*t to help on their own.
@ MaryD: Thank you. Self- righteous is the right word. If they can only tell me face to face that they’ve done their part in helping the community, I’d still have more respect for them and take their criticism. But to shroud themselves in anonymity while making these comments? Bah, they’re just really unhappy people. They need positive ju jus 🙂 Heeeeehawww