What I saw, seven months after the Philippines' worst ever typhoon

"When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November, I was in Manila visiting my mother’s side of the family. We didn’t think much of it at first, because typhoons are a regular occurrence. About eight or nine batter the Philippines every year. This one was different. It was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in recorded history. More than 6,000 people were killed.

Tacloban was one of the hardest-hit areas. It is also where my grandfather grew up, and is still home to our huge extended family. So travelling there to cover the disaster for SBS World News was more than just an assignment.

We lost one of our relatives in the typhoon. Another survived the storm, but passed away four days later from pneumonia. My cousin, Nani, told me the experience was like “something you’d only think happens in the movies”. She was bunkered down at home with her husband and two young sons. As the water rushed in, it became clear they would need to swim, clutching their two- and three-year-olds, to the second floor of the house next door.

The next day, looters ransacked the grocery store they ran out the front of their house. She was terrified they would break into their home too. It took six days to get evacuated on an air force plane out of Tacloban. They had no plans to come back."

Read more....

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/17/returning-to-the-philippines?view=desktop

We could be visiting the province (Western Samar) this next leave but we're not sure yet as its rainy season and its not much fun sitting in the middle of a muddy rice farm up to your shins in mud. If we do go I'll report back on our finding re Tacloban etc. Though we won't stay there, only to get transport out from the airport.

Just read the report and it shows that it is the goverment that is affecting the recovery process. I'm in the DEC group on facebook and they regularly show their success stories though if you stand back you can see that they are actually only a very small number of these in the grand scheme of things. The goverment on every level is stifling the recovery process, evident from that report, even temporary shelters are still not being put up due to red tape etc! Tacloban didn't have a lot going for it in the first place, I think this could be the end of it now. Too little is still getting done too slowly and its only the people that will suffer. I know things happen slowly out there but this is taking the piss.

And what has the Rose of Tacloban done about it?

The square root of **** all for a guess

If possible, less than that.

So far as I know, she has not visited, though she has been to China.

So far as I know, she has not commented, though she has complained about Macapagal-Arroyo's detention conditions.

John,

Can you include some words at the start of your posts before quoting something or someone.
"From..............."

It looks like you are the one saying or doing something.

Am merely quoting from the listed source on a poignant topic. Leaving the reader to formulate their opinion. I may or may not agree with the slant or thrust of the quoted text.

Hence the subtle use of speech marks. If I had said it I wouldt have used speech marks.

I also found it interesting as it was written in the UK press when often the Philippines doesnt get much of a look in.

As bad as it sounds I really wish my wife was from a different province. Because of whats happened there and it affecting us so directly (though not as much as some here) its really jaded my views on certain aspects of life out here. Prehaps this is a good thing, prehaps if the wife was from somewhere else I'd bury my head in the sand and shrug my shoulders while opening another san mig. I honestly don't know. We are still unsure if we will visit this leave or not, it'll be down to weather and if we can arrange safe transport out of tacloban. One thing is for sure though, I think I'll be getting quite angry when I see the state of things there and the surrounding areas.

OK, I understand your point but would find it easier if you referenced the quote at the start so it is easier to see if it is your thought or someone else's quote.
Can you do this to make it easier for others?

Well I would but it isnt an uncommon style. Take the late, great, Micawber who had a similar approach but didnt use speech marks either...


http://www.british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/the-10-best-barbecues.7148/


http://www.british-filipino.com/ind...012-ofw-inflows-hit-new-high.6596/#post-29349

Ok, I have asked you nicely and you have not agreed.

Can someone please pm me how to "ignore" someone.

Thank you.

I think you are a bit out of order Mike. We all have our own style. Whenever I read Micawbers posts I never did have any confusion who was the author. If I had any doubt I checked the source.

I really dont appreciate being hounded over a trivial matter.

I have now found how to do this, cheers.

OK good luck.

Yes, I have an idea of what it must be like for both of you. Good luck.

Ta. Strange thing is the wife doesn't seem all that bothered by it and I'm not sure why. We know filipnios are generally unshakable and emotionally strong, I put it down to the way they can move at a moments notice and spend long periods away from family and generally not bat an eyelid. It seems part of life to most of them. Maybe i'm wrong of course, I just think I'm more aware of the dangers / consequences than the wife plus I tend to over think things. Anyway I'll keep people posted.

I suppose it is a kind of fatalistic approach as if there is no choice. Maybe we tend to overthink things this way as we have a choice?

I know what you mean. Maybe it's fatalism - "bahala na" - and maybe its just being emotionally more robust because bad things happen every day.

Yeah. That kind of thing. Thats how my wife approached her Spouse Visa application. Gods will and all that.