THE PHILIPPINES NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Ketsana (Philippine name Typhoon Ondoy) ravaged most of the island of Luzon, leaving catastrophe in its wake. The latest reports say that at least 100 people were left dead, and countless thousands are displaced and/or missing. The Typhoon wreaked havoc over the nation's capital, Manila, and the nearby provinces, leaving a total of over Php109 Million (US$2,290,000) in damages.

I live in the Las Piñas City area, which is south of the more affected areas, and, thankfully, we got nothing more than the streets being turned into ankle-high rivers. D: Sadly, up north in Manila, Quezon City, and Rizal Province, things are much, much worse. The record-breaking rainfall Typhoon Ondoy caused brought floodwaters that reached more than 2 meters high in some areas. High tide didn't help. :/

Even De La Salle University wasn't spared. It's usually only the Taft Avenue area that gets flooded, in front of the school, but the waters even reached inside the university, leaving students and personnel trapped over the weekend. I personally know a few people who lost all their possessions to the raging waters, and I'm glad they're safe now. Photos of the school:

• These are supposed to be benches, not boats. :/
• My beloved SJ Hall, wet.
• I LOL'D. The sign is the epitome of CAPTAIN OBVIOUS.

My mom and siblings are fine, in Mauban, Quezon, even if the Typhoon made landfall just a couple hundred kilometers north of them (Infanta). It was a good thing they lived right next to the more or less elevated highway. Things don't seem well for my relatives who lived nearer the sea, though. I still haven't heard from them.

Here's a partial breakdown of casualties as of 6AM this morning. Data taken from GMANews.tv, who took this from the National Disaster Coordinating Council:

86 dead
• National Capital Region - 7 (3 in Muntinlupa, 2 in NIA Road, QC, 1 Marikina City, 1 in Brgy. Bato, San Juan)
• Cordillera Administrative Region - 1 (Kabugao, Apayao)
• Region III - 22 (10 in Bulacan and 12 in Arayat, Pampanga)
• Region IV-A - 56 (1 in Calaca, Batangas, 1 in Calauag Quezon; 23 in Tanay, Rizal; 10 in Angono; 5 in Baras; 3 in Montalban; 2 in Cavite; 5 in Laguna; and 1 in Theresa and 5 military personnel)

32 missing
• 1 in Kabayan, Benguet
• 20 in Tanay, Rizal
• 9 in Infante, Pangasinan
• 2 in Arayat, Pampanga

• Affected Population: 86, 313 families / 435, 646 people

• Partial total of Evacuees: 23, 126 families / 115,898 people in 204 evacuation centers

Cost of damage: Total P60.5M (infrastructure - P41M; schools P19. M and
agriculture - P0.212 M)

Have some photos of the more affected areas (which I snagged from GMANews.tv; they own the photos, not me):





For more info, please check the following:
• CNN: Dozens dead as flooding engulfs Manila
• iReport.com: Typhoon Ondoy
• iReport.com: Philippines flooding
• Inquirer.net: P109-M worth of infrastructure, crops damaged
• Inquirer.net: Gov’t overwhelmed by ‘Ondoy’—execs
• GMANews.tv: 'Ondoy' deaths now 100 says NDCC, toll expected to climb

For a list of ways you can help if you're based in the Philippines:
• Inquirer.net: How to help ‘Ondoy’ victims
• GMANews.tv: List of verified relief centers for 'Ondoy' victims
• GMANews.tv: List of addresses of flood-stranded people needing rescue (with interactive map)

For international help:
• Donate to the Philippine National Red Cross
• TXTPower.org PayPal (proceeds will be forwarded to the Philippine National Red Cross)

Guys, I know you can help, even just by showing support for this movement. This is one of the biggest calamities to hit the Philippines in recent history, so I hope you can take a little time off your busy day to maybe offer a prayer or two to the victims. Now that you're at it, and if you have the funds, why not donate to the Red Cross? :3

Thanks, all. ♥ Signing out 'til Wednesday, when school resumes.

ETA: Copypasta if you want to help spread the word. :) THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS REMAINED SILENT FOR TOO LONG, PPL:

<center><img src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/tol_society/ZZZ_092809_1.jpg"> <small>Image from GMANews.tv</small> <b>THE PHILIPPINES NEEDS YOUR HELP</b></center> Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Ketsana (Philippine name Typhoon Ondoy) ravaged most of the island of Luzon, leaving catastrophe in its wake. The latest reports say that at least 100 people were left dead, and countless thousands are displaced and/or missing. The Typhoon wreaked havoc over the nation's capital, Manila, and the nearby provinces, leaving a total of over Php109 Million (US$2,290,000) in damages. For more info and helpful links, please follow the fake cut: <b>(<a href="http://sanggre-habagat.livejournal.com/106988.html">CLICK ME!</a>)</b>