Page Title
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the Year
for the State of Wisconsin
(U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the Year
for the State of Wisconsin
(U.S.-SBA)
By Heidi M. Pascual
December 16th is always the first day of the dawn masses that last until December 25th,
Christmas Day, in the Philippines. It is the start of a nine-day prayerful get-together in
churches all over the country to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christmas Season
has always been the happiest season in this country, majority of whose population is
Christian. But the 2011 Christmas Season was different and will go down in history as the
saddest one in Northern Mindanao.
The reason: On Dec. 16, Typhoon Sendong (international name Washi) hit this southern
part of the country that lacked a reliable flood-warning system, and at a time when people
were sound asleep and there was an electricity “brown out.” Nothing was out of the
ordinary before that fateful day, because people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City were not
used to tropical cyclones.
More than a thousand people perished that day, mostly from drowning and being buried by
repetition of the same. Survivors reported that
logs came rushing in that crushed many of
the residents, for one. Despite the
government’s efforts to stop illegal logging, it
seemed as though the problem never goes
away.
In addition, according to American
meteorologist Dr. Jeff Masters, who explained
how the tragedy happened in a Weather
Underground report, “Since the rains fell on
regions where the natural forest had been
illegally logged or converted to pineapple
plantations, the heavy rains were able to run
off quickly on the relatively barren soils and
create devastating flash floods. Since the
storm hit in the middle of the night, and
affected an unprepared population that had
no flood warning system in place, the death
toll was tragically high.”
Whatever happens during the formal
investigations being conducted by the
Philippine government, one thing is sure,
Christmas 2011 will never be forgotten by
Filipinos, especially the people of the
Southern Island of Mindanao. Losing loved
ones during this celebratory season isn’t
what Christmas is all about. I fervently hope
that President Pinoy would really put his foot
forward to correct present practices in the
“land of promise” – Mindanao – and
elsewhere in the country, and institute lasting
changes that could bring real prosperity and
happiness to Filipinos in the countryside,
where basic life needs are not met at all.
logs came rushing in that crushed many of
the residents, for one. Despite the
government’s efforts to stop illegal logging, it
seemed as though the problem never goes
away.
In addition, according to American
meteorologist Dr. Jeff Masters, who explained
how the tragedy happened in a Weather
Underground report, “Since the rains fell on
regions where the natural forest had been
illegally logged or converted to pineapple
plantations, the heavy rains were able to run
off quickly on the relatively barren soils and
create devastating flash floods. Since the
storm hit in the middle of the night, and
affected an unprepared population that had
no flood warning system in place, the death
toll was tragically high.”
Whatever happens during the formal
investigations being conducted by the
Philippine government, one thing is sure,
Christmas 2011 will never be forgotten by
Filipinos, especially the people of the
Southern Island of Mindanao. Losing loved
ones during this celebratory season isn’t
what Christmas is all about. I fervently hope
that President Pinoy would really put his foot
forward to correct present practices in the
“land of promise” – Mindanao – and
elsewhere in the country, and institute lasting
changes that could bring real prosperity and
happiness to Filipinos in the countryside,
where basic life needs are not met at all.
Typhoon Sendong: A Philippine disaster last Christmas
landslides. Photos of the disaster were heart-wrenching, as bodies upon bodies
lined up the streets days after the calamity struck; or fished from distant coastal
waters. Many were buried in mass graves in order to avoid the spread of
diseases which likewise began shortly after the fact. Thousands of people were
evacuated to safer grounds, but preparation was definitely lacking to
accommodate the huge number of people needing medical assistance, shelter,
and food.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
reported that more than 300,000 people were affected in 13 provinces; about
43,000 were evacuated in schools, churches and gymnasiums; and more than
10,000 houses were damaged. In a country where poverty lingers, the scope of
this disaster exacerbated the hardships of folks in the countryside.
President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, as he led the nation in mourning, issued
a national state of calamity, automatically enforcing price controls in affected
areas and offering interest-free loans to victims. Foreign aid for flood victims also
came in during the week and thereafter.
The president also directed an investigation of the disaster in order to prevent
lined up the streets days after the calamity struck; or fished from distant coastal
waters. Many were buried in mass graves in order to avoid the spread of
diseases which likewise began shortly after the fact. Thousands of people were
evacuated to safer grounds, but preparation was definitely lacking to
accommodate the huge number of people needing medical assistance, shelter,
and food.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
reported that more than 300,000 people were affected in 13 provinces; about
43,000 were evacuated in schools, churches and gymnasiums; and more than
10,000 houses were damaged. In a country where poverty lingers, the scope of
this disaster exacerbated the hardships of folks in the countryside.
President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, as he led the nation in mourning, issued
a national state of calamity, automatically enforcing price controls in affected
areas and offering interest-free loans to victims. Foreign aid for flood victims also
came in during the week and thereafter.
The president also directed an investigation of the disaster in order to prevent