VIVALOGOS

  Jebsen Gamido in Fred’s Revolucion in Escolta, November 2016, by Zypert Barcelo.

(This was first published in November 2016 in Seafarer Asia magazine. A little background: Jebsen was, at first, overcome with anxiety and shock when this story came out. He was so shaken that a few curt words were exchanged between us, and I thought that was the end of our budding friendship. (It wasn’t, of…

My Escolta Today The different faces and phases of Escolta, and the danger of it becoming too hip for its own good (Unedited version of Check out Escolta, the ‘Queen of Streets’–can she regain her crown?)

Escolta habitue-turned-business-resident Regina Abuyuan muses on the different faces and phases of Escolta, and the danger of it becoming too hip for its own good (Unedited version of Check out Escolta, the ‘Queen of Streets’–can she regain her crown?)

Escolta Street facing Sta. Cruz Church. (Jose Enrique Soriano)

When retired photojournalist Jose Enrique “Derek” Soriano and I opened the second…

Due to early preparations, evacuation, and the typography of the area, casualties only totaled 12.

All of the houses in the region, however, were either totally or partially damaged.

My Manong Manding’s roof (that’s him in the photo, he runs a small general store and lives near it), was totally blown away.

Aid was swift—the Department of Social Welfare and Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation mobilized relief packs even before the storm hit.

Cagayanos—those whose phones were charged anyway—made shout-outs via social media and texts as soon as the storm blew over.

But electric power in capital Tuguegarao was restored, and only partially, eight days after the storm hit. According to my cousin Randy, Meralco crews (30 trucks and 100 workers) have been working overtime. They all hope full power will be restored before Christmas.

I’m putting this list together because—for whatever reason—coverage of the aftermath of Typhoon Lawin has been sporadic and erratic. (Some of it has also been misleading, making readers believe that aid is slow to come…but that’s another story.) There were only 12 reported casualties, yes, and the damage is not as shocking and horrific as when Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) ravaged Western Visayas, but people still need help, especially with re-building their homes.

Quoting my cousin (translating it directly from Filipino): “Casualty count is 12, but so many lost their properties and homes. The Chinese Chamber alone gave out 400 pieces of metal sheets. More are needed. Some foundations also gave out 500 sacks of rice, canned goods, too…LGU and NGOs gave food aid. What we need more are construction materials because, like now, it’s been raining again for two days straight.”

Anyway: I have yet to come by one, huge comprehensive list that tells people what and where to donate. If there’s one already out there, my biggest thanks and apologies.

I culled these off the net. If you know of more places where people can drop off their donations, send money, or any organizations doing volunteer re-building work, please send me a tweet (@vivalogos), or leave me a message at the end of this post.

Mabbalo and God bless! :) #BangonCagayan

DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERS

https://www.facebook.com/tuguether

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2107995856092746&set=a.2104722093086789.1073741831.100006470574411&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/UPAnnaNaCagayan/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

https://www.gofundme.com/supertyphoon-lawin-amulung-relief-2vh8rng

http://rebuildcagayan.ph

http://www.worldvision.org.ph

https://www.facebook.com/cagayan.province.3?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

http://gk1world.com/typhoonlawin

9. There are still areas that cannot be reached by the DSWD as well as areas that do not have any means of communications. If you know about families or areas that are still in need of assistance, you may inform the DSWD via landline at 074-442-3946 and 074-446-5961. You may also contact the agency through cellular phone at 0906-094-1064 and 0949-141-7232

Volunteers who want to help in packing and repacking relief goods to organizing the donations, among others, may also proceed to nearest DSWD field office in their area or to the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) at the NAIA Chapel Road in Pasay City.

10. I also saw a #SOSCagayanChallenge that challenges nominees to assemble and donate “lifesaver” packs. Please type in the hashtag in your Facebook search to learn more (it says pick up/delivery details will be PM’d).

IN KIND

(Remember, most need construction materials, though.)

The Philippine Red Cross launched an appeal for those who are affected by Typhoon Lawin. The Philippine Red Cross is currently accepting donations in kind like blankets, mats, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, rice, ready-to-eat and easy-open canned goods and noodles. Donations may be brought to 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong.

The Catholic church through its social action arm is appealing for more aid for those affected by Typhoon Lawin. Caritas is accepting donations both in cash and in kind. Donations in kind such as food, clothing and other items may bring their donations to NASSA/Caritas Philippines’ office at Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila,

Donations in kind may be brought to: Caritas Manila, 2002 Jesus St., Pandacan, Manila; Radio Veritas, West Ave. cor. Edsa, Quezon City; or to the nearest parish church

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan. Personally bring your donation to SLB: Loyola House of Studies, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108 Philippines

Donors can proceed to the nearest DSWD field office in their area or to the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) at the NAIA Chapel Road in Pasay City.

Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. 

  CASH AND CHECK DONATIONS

Franciscan Order

Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Phil. Province of San Pedro Bautista, Inc.

BPI peso account 0211-0253-95.

2. Victory Church

Disaster Relief Operations – Peso Donations

BANK NAME: Bank of the Philippine Islands

ACCOUNT NAME: Victory Christian Fellowship

ACCOUNT NO: 0063-3205-52

TYPE OF ACCOUNT: PESO Savings Account

BANK ADDRESS: Fort Serendra Branch, Ground Floor, Serendra, BGC, Taguig City, Philippines

SWIFT CODE: BOPIPHMM

Disaster Relief Operations – Dollar Donations BANK NAME: Bank of the Philippine Islands

ACCOUNT NAME: Victory Christian Fellowship

ACCOUNT NO: 0824-0569-27

TYPE OF ACCOUNT: DOLLAR Savings Account

BANK ADDRESS: Fort Serendra Branch, Ground Floor, Serendra, BGC, Taguig City, Philippines

SWIFT CODE: BOPIPHMM

Note: By contributing to this project, ministry partners acknowledge that funds given to Victory, as a member of Every Nation, will be directed to provide assistance to those affected by this disaster, and redirected, as necessary, should the funds contributed be in excess of the need. We partner as well with other non-government organizations who work in these areas. (http://victory.org.ph/article/lawin-relief/)

3. Caritas Manila

Cash donations may be deposited to any of the following Caritas Manila bank accounts: Banco De Oro, Savings Account No. 5600-45905; Bank of the Philippine Islands, Savings Account No. 3063-5357-01; and Metrobank, Savings Account No. 175-3-175069543.

For dollar deposits: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Savings Account No. 3064-0033-5 Swift Code: BOPIPHMM; and Philippine National Bank, Savings Account No. 108566600025; Swift Code: PNBMPHMM.

For online cash donations, visit caritasmanila.org.ph or course through Cebuana Lhuillier.

4. Philippine Red Cross

Those who wish to donate cash may do so through the following bank accounts:

BANCO DE ORO

Branch: Port Area, Manila

Peso: 00453-0190938

Dollar: 10-453-0039482

Swift Code: BNOR PH MM

METROBANK

Branch: Port Area, Manila

Peso: 151-7-15152434-2

Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2

Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

5. National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines

BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

Branch: Intramuros, Manila

Account Name: CBCP Caritas Filipinas Foundation, Inc. NASSA

Account Number: 4951-0071-08

  6. Department of Social Welfare and Development

Peso savings account

Account Name: DSWD DONATION

Account Number: 3122-1011-84

Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Dollar savings account

Account Name: DSWD FOREIGN DONATION

Account Number: 3124-0055-81

Swift Code: TLBPPHMMXXX

Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

7. Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan

Account name: Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan

Bank of the Philippine Islands (Loyola-Katipunan Branch)

BPI Peso Checking Account No.: 3081-1111-61 BPI Dollar Savings Account No.: 3084-0420-12

Swift code: BOPIPHMM

[contact-form]

Past perfect: Discovering New England

By Regina Abuyuan Photography by JOSE ENRIQUE SORIANO

We land past midnight at Newark Liberty Airport, and it is cold. After having spent the past month in the friendlier climes of California, two degrees Celsius is a shock. The kids keep on repeating: It is so cold! I’ve never been this cold in my life! And there is still the walk to the car, perhaps a stop at a fastfood for a midnight snack…

Philippine Fashion In The 90s: A Time When There Was No In-Between

(image courtesy of Marni Ocampo; model Tina Maristela in Ingga by Ernest Santiago, shot in Sari-Sari Store Greenhills/Music Museum by Wig Tysmans)

By Regina Abuyuan, L’Officiel Manila, June 2016

  Philippine fashion in the 1990s was a study in extremes.

On one end, says veteran fashion journalist Liza Ilarde, was the minimalist trend, represented by international high-end brands like Giorgio…

king of the glamor shot

Rogue Magazine, Manila, Philippines, June 2016 There is a little known slice of history in Philippine society, a slice the elderly lifestyle scribes have yet to wax nostalgic about. It’s that time when a certain Fil-Am photographer flew in from California and made himself the darling of the pedigreed set, not to mention the movie and fashion industry. He was lean and lightly muscled, with a…

see you in the gutter

Okay, okay. Duterte was a complete ass making that “joke“. My blood boils just thinking of it. I was molested as a child and though that doesn’t come near the experience of rape, that leaves lasting emotional and mental scars that can be healed only through a lot of counseling, reflection, and love. I will maim or kill anyone who attempts to do that or hurt any of my children, or any of the kids…

we were young once too, Millennials

If there’s one thing I will thank (some, not all) Millennials for, it is for inspiring me to write almost every day. The vitriol I would like to spew on most of them in the form of sarin gas becomes words and find their way on Facebook, where they entertain a hundred or so titas and titos my age. But rage burns a lot of energy, and sometimes, even when I want to teach instead of rail, or walk the…