WHEN my closest of Iloilo friends, Joemari Moriente, called me up from his home in Singapore to inform me that my other Iloilo friend Francis Chu is moving brains and muscles to raise money among associates and friends to help typhoon victims in Negros Occidental, I got stunned. I never thought Francis and wifey Raisa TreƱas-Chu would take much of their personal time and worry to help victims from the other island.
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Immediately, I suggested to Joemari to tell Francis to contact bakeshop owner Ted Valderrama of Angelina to assist in Francisā concern ā the distribution of bread to typhoon victims in southern Negros Occidental like the cities and towns of Kabankalan, Sipalay, Ilog, Candoni and other neighboring places.
It was good to hear that Francis talked to Ted and immediately the bakeshop guy resolved the concern. The next day a bakeshop truck loaded with thousands of bread packs traveled by sea and onward to its destination.
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I got teary-eyed thinking of these Ilonggos extending a helping hand unexpectedly to Negrenses in times of need. There is nothing more I could say but simply thanked Francis and Raisa, along with Joemari.
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Joining the three in this helping effort are Iloilo residents Eugene Chua, Arnold Tan Betita II, Francis Uy Natividad, Benedict Ho, Jojo and Jean Ann Jon-Ang, Hardy Yap, Jerome Gawte, Emil Po, John Byron Co, Sharon Co, and Ted Valderrama.
Groups that shared their love help are Care Caravan, Angelina Bakeshop, Uswag Ilonggo party-list, and Hua Siong Batch ā95. Indeed these are the people and groups caring for others. Allow me to thank you all.
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These are exemplary efforts that need to be told so others may know. While government people are taking great effort to help, it is believed that the hearts of individuals can do more in touching the lives of those who need help most.
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Local and national governments need to learn more from disasters in the past. Typhoons āRupingā and
āYolandaā are just a few experiences that we needed to learn from. The need for more concern to have better hospitals, more equipped evacuation centers are some areas that government has missed to give more focus. Some highly-urbanized cities do not even have equipment like crane truck, back hoe, and dump trucks.
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The need for fully-equipped evacuation centers is vital during fire and typhoons. These evacuation centers should have modest but big kitchens, several toilets and bathrooms, areas for pregnant mothers, sufficient water supply, and more.
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Before Typhoon āOdetteā struck, various Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices readied their rescue trucks and emergency equipment but the need to prepare for cooking facilities and water supply were not in the list at all. When shall we ever learn?/PN
