2nd Relief Operation

Relief Operations Videos

We can’t help but keep saying thank you to all who made this Relief Operations possible. We would like to share with you what took place during the relief giving.  You are huge blessings to Typhoon Victims.  Typhoon Frank has affected the lives of the Filipinos in so many ways, it has contributed to the ricing cost of commodities especially outside Metro Manila. Prices of basic goods such as Rice, vegetables and meat are at an all time high.

See the people you have touched with your help, prayer and support.

August Relief Operations will be focused on providing School Supplies to grade 1 students. We hope that you continue to pray for the victims especially the young hearts and minds. Please feel free to get in touch with us for any unused notebooks, spare writing materials you have.

Thanks very much, from our hearts.

Lasting memories of giving

Who among us who went to Kalibo will forget the places and faces of devastation in Kalibo, Aklan? What we saw there will forever be part of us! We would like to thank all our sponsors who gave us the opportunity to share to the Victims of Typhoon Frank.

The food stuff we give will run out and the clothes, sheets and others will eventually wear out, but the experience of being able to share and serve the underserved will last a life time in our hearts. More power to the Help Kalibo Relief Operation team, Boracay Stations, Boracay Breeze, PCTV, Kabalikat, Hey Jude, Orchids, Mandala Spa, Giulius Bamboo, Yes FM, and private indiviuals who shared and prayed. God knows who you are, God bless you more richly.

Let us make a difference in the lives of those in need. We are giving school stuff, meals for kids, vitamins, medicines next month, we invite you to join us and touch lives. Donate now. Thank you.

Setting up venue – 1st Help Kalibo Relief Operation

I am home recovering from Fever, LBM and allergies, which I most likely got from Kalibo because we were not wearing masks, when we are supposed to. I was down for a couple of days, and so were some of my Help Kalibo Relief Operations associates. It is our fault not wearing a mask, my fault actually for not reminding my mom to bring some because I have plenty at home, and nothing to buy in Kalibo anymore. To the Relief Operations Team members, Let’s all get well soon so we can help some more. Thank you so much for all your help, support, dedication and generosity.

All the efforts and sacrifices by each person who participated was was all worth it.

I am back in Manila, and the rest of the team in Boracay. We are glad that we have finally given out our first batch of Relief goods. Yes, there will be a second batch scheduled in August 2008, and hopefully third or fourth, we would like to thank new donors who are giving out like Sir Fred, Tita Lisa, Uncle Richard, Ming and other resorts who are contacting us.

Doctors are also responding by arranging medicines to be released by some pharmaceutical companies.

For now, I would like to update you that on this first batch of Help Kalibo Relief Operation initiated by BoracayStations, Inc, we were able to help around 200 families, which has more or less 5 members/family, that’s about 1,000 people who received goods such as Rice, Sardines, Noodles, Bed Sheets, Plates, used clothes, toys, Sleepers, Towels and snack of Iced Tea and Bread in the town of Pinamuk-an.

(Photo:Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan)

This photo is in the Lachica Compound, where goods were packed, there were a few dozens whose house were totally damaged in Linabuan Norte, and more who’s roofs flew away, leaving all their things wet or broken. As of this writing, there are still no telephone lines, water and electricity has just been restored (took almost a month). About 30 bags of Relief Goods were given out to typhoon victims in Linabuan Norte.

We passed broken fish pens which was the livelihood of the town people.

We walked few minutes to the Basketball court where the Relief giving was going to take place.

Above is the venue, where we have to set up in an hour or so because we still have a flight to catch by 6PM, this time was about 12noon and Mark Abiado is bringing us to their house for lunch, while the town people is informed that Help Kalibo will give out relief to those whose names were listed as Typhoon Victims.

Our priority was to buy food, and so we did’nt set aside fund for an elaborate banner or tarpaulin which would cost money enough to buy more rice so we settled for a blank white sack and used our office pentel pens. I hope our donors would understand why we can’t have their nice logos and names beautifully done, because for one, I am not really an artist and like i said, saving fund for food, which was all exhausted  with personla funds of volunteers added to have as much to give.

Our meals in Kalibo was sponsored by the Lachica’s and by the Abiado’s in Pinamuk-an, Valla in Boracay.  Thank you very much for sharing your blessings with us. We really appreciate your generosity and love.

We wanted to paint it all, but we were pressed of time. And the town people are beginning to assemble at the court.

 

Hey Jude gave boxes of Nestea Iced (among others plus cash) which was served to all who needed a drink, started with the kids who also enjoyed bread.

See what a relief a drink can bring to a child’s face who for now smiles and forgets she just lost all her school things.  Our next Relief operations will give focus on helping children have new set of school supplies and vitamins.  Please send help to to them now.

A lunch or snack you will sacrifice will leave a lasting impression among children.  Whatever amount can help, how ever small you think you can give will mean so much to a hungry soul. Donate now. Thank you.

 

Heart breaking site of broken trees and houses

Aside from the Kalibo Town people, other towns beside Kalibo were also affected by Typhoon Frank, especially those living beside the river banks, like in Pinamuk-an, New Washington, Aklan where we were advised to go because it has not received any relief but needs to be reached.

We had a meeting last July 7, 2008 in Kalibo with Key Disaster and Relief Operations people who did a mapping and survey of the affected areas, planning was done to prevent repetitive relief giving on certain areas and leave others neglected.

The same day we went to Kalibo(July 18,2008), the an NGO group and the Kabalikat were giving in Laserna with thousands of victims needing medicine given help.

We took the advice to go to Pinamuk-an, we travelled about 10 minutes from Kalibo Town proper and take a boat ride to the place.  On the way there, we saw fishponds totally destroyed, old and big trees broken or uprooted.

 

Ms. Delia Reyes who I am standing with in the photo is paternal half sister of my cousin Zardy, she relates that they lost their home and just they put up a small nipa hut as shelter and lost their source of income (fish pond) too.

 

Lend a helping hand to those who are needy…Donate now!

 

 

Packing for Relief the following day

July 18, 2008, 3pm, Packing day for the Help Kalibo Relief Operation scheduled tomorrow, Ate Janet and I went ahead to Caticlan to take a separate Van to Kalibo because we can’t fit in one vehicle with the relief goods. We saw areas in Kalibo still very dirty, rehabilitation of the town after almost one month after the devastating typhoon Frank (Fengshen) seems very slow.

Vehicles under mud and water during Typhoon still on the streets, some totally wrecked.

When can the Akeanons walk around safe again? It is still common site that people are wearing masks. Destroyed things still on the front yards of homes and public facilities, as seen on the photos? What are the government doing after the first government initiated relief operations? I hope it wasn’t just for the press, if you know what i mean.

Noticeable though are selected areas like commercial establishments already cleaned up, but closed. Jollibee is closed, Susuki too, and even Mercury Drug.   Stores in almost the entire street of Mabini are shutdown.

Mark Abiado (wearing I.D) of Paradise Cable TV Network based in Boracay went all the way with us to Kalibo to give full support. We thank PCTV for their  100% providing transport services picking up goods from Donors Asya, Hey Jude, Boracay Breeze, Giulius Italian Resort, The Orchids, Mandala Spa to Boracay Breeze, our depository Resort.

We had boxes of Towels, Bedsheets, Slippers, Tumblers, Plates, used clothes for children and adult, toys, rice, sardines, noodles, bread, nestea iced tea.

Repacking was done at Tita Laurie’s house (former Chief of Parole and Probation- province of Aklan-a Social Worker by Profession and by heart!) in Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan. We finished about past midnight with stuff still to purchase and pack some more the next day.

 

This is only the first batch, second batch will be focused on raising funds for childrens needs such as vitamins, school supplies and food.

Donations can be sent to us via paypal. Just click the donate botton at the top of this website or contact us via email for donations in kind for pick up at your place, or you may also bring it to us, just coordinate with any of our team members in Boracay 036.2602303; in Manila 632.455.3628 or via mobile (632) 918-519-9109. Thank you so much.

Let our hearts be opened, let us pray for the recovery of the Akeanons and the town itself, and give what ever you can.

Edward, 7 year old Typhoon Victim speaks

Edward, 7
“Takot po ako nuong pag baha, kasi malakas ang hangin at tubig”
“Tinangay ng baha ang mga gamit ko”
“At mga notebook ko”
“At mga papel ko”
“pencil”
“Ang bag ko”
“Nilamig po ako”
“Nagutom kami”
“Bumagsak ang bahay namin”

I was so scared when the storm came
Because the wind and the waves were so strong
The flood washed away my things
And my notebooks
And my pad papers
Pencil
My Bag
I felt so cold
We were so hungry
Our house was destroyed

On June 20 and 21, 2008, Typhoon Fenshen (locally known as Frank) hit Philippines affecting 718, 457 families,
3,622,958 persons, 48 provinces, 301, 642 houses destroyed, P 7.5 Billion worth of infrastructure and agriculture ( According to National Disaster Coordinating Council) report, June 29, 2008

Elnora Avarientos, Executive Director, World Vision shares…
“We are in four provinces of Panay, these are Capiz
Antique, Aklan and Iloilo.

Here right now, Im standing before a disaster area, which is one of our
ADP’s Area Development program and this is the place that is most hit by the typhoon ( KALIBO, AKLAN).

We have travelled around and I saw the faces of disaster
Muds, Broken posts
No electric power, no water supply
Communication is not available for outside people to know
whats happening…
When you see the damage and the devastation of this typhoon
Your heart will surely open…
It mourns and
It devastates the heart
What comes to my mind is the issue,
Where are the children?
How are they?
“Salamat po sa world vision, sa mga tulong nyo”
Thank you to World Vision, for all your help…
The demand right now is the need for food
Because business centers have been affected
And you cannot buy anything.
They need food for the next six to eight weeks.
For seemingly, it’s very scarce.
World vision is responding to this need s so we can sustain them for next one week.
World Vision cares for children, they are so special in the eyes of God, we are here to provide psychosocial support to children in our child friendly spaces that were putting up in these places,
We need your compassion, we need your heart, most of all we need your prayers
The complexity of the problem is so big, but resources are scarce
Please help us.
Please bring back the smile in the life of each child that we’d will help
Please help bring back communities and families so they can rebuild their homes
They can be able To bring back normalcy to their lives.”
Two Weeks after the Typhoon World Vision has served 13,000 families
Please contact (+63) 372-7777 for any donation via World Vision

The face of Kalibo

I called Luzette to let her know ate Janet and I has arrived at the Kalibo airport, she then told me she’s on her way and that she and Mark already bought us Masks…I asked why? and she replied in quite an alarming voice “Mam, mabaho ang Kalibo at madumi, baka mag ka outbreak ng sakit!”

(Ma’m Kalibo stinks and very dirty, there might be a disease outbreak”).

Being an Aklanon, i couldn’t imagine Kalibo to be smelly and dirty…but true enough it is…along the way, I saw Kalibo town folks lining up for some relief goods especially rice. Garbage piling..the MMDA and the local sweepers can not keep up. Even inside the Gaisano department store, people are wearing masks.

The face of Kalibo is terrible…I can see in peoples eyes mixed emotions of fear, uncertainty, hopelessness.

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To some who were not affected badly, theyre just happy that theyre alive and can go out again.

What about those who were left with their loved ones gone forever…still homeless and no enought money for food, no decent clothes to wear,no roof on their heads, nothing to keep them warm at night?We were told that the hospital is filled with sick people.

 
If you are seeing this and feeling a thug in your heart to help…please do…and do it now. Donate
what ever you can. Feed a hungry soul, warm a body in cold, shelter the homeless…
Contact us at 0918-519-9109, in Boracay call us at 260-2303 or click DONATE at the top of this website and give. Thank you so much to all those who has shared.

Kalibo town folks are waiting for your help.

To our donors in Italy, Ettore thank you, we received your donation..much thanks really….

What happened to Kalibo?

Seeing Kalibo broke my heart. I was flown in to Kalibo when I was just 2 weeks old and stayed until it was time for kindergarten school (yes, im a grown up now ). I spent a lot of annual vacations and brought a lot of friends along the way over the years, in fact, we had a great time the last (2008) Ati-atihan festival. Now, all i could feel is sadness seeing trees uprooted, mud all over, rubbish infront of almost every home( if at all, the home still stands), and people with blank faces, trying to move on.

I personally witnesses Typhoon Frank in Boracay last June 21, 2008, but since i flew out to Manila via Caticlan, i didn’t see the devastation in Kalibo until i arrived at the Kalibo airport and went around the town last Monday. Boracay is fine after Typhoon Frank, its Business as usual, and as of this writing I am actually and Boracay and I see a lot of tourist coming in again…

I just learned how in bad shape Kalibo was when i got back to Manila last June 26, 2008 and this was communicated to Luzette who has such a big heart and initiated this team operation.

The photo shows Luzette’s shots of the Kabalikat Team who are in full support of this Relief Operation, and her way from Boracay to Kalibo. 

See how Kalibo is now…very much in need of help.

I wonder what really happend to Kalibo? Why was there a mud flush? Was it because of natural causes or man made causes, I heard this is a Quarrying area which might have contributed to this mishap, could this be true? What should be done to keep this from happening again. Rainy days aren’t over yet, what pre cautions are being done to safeguard the lives of those nearest the Aklan river.

Please lend a helping hand or reach out to your pocket and give to the needy of Kalibo. Thank you.

Thanks to Asya Boracay

The Help Kalibo Relief operations team, Luzette, Arelle and Janet and In behalf of the Akeanons, we would like to thank Asya Boracay, a resort in Boracay Island who donated at least four boxes of goods containing linens, slippers, towels and bedsheets for the Kalibo constituents.

The team of Paradise Cable TV network, Mark, Toto and Greg helped out in transporting the goods from Asya to our depository resort Boracay Breeze.

We would like to invite all boracay resorts to participate in this operation and help Akeanons who were badly affected start a life again.