NOTE: This is NOT a news report, so do not quote me 🙂 . This is only a humble blog trying to convey what I heard, and sharing my thoughts & ideas to help Aklan.
———————————
The morning of Saturday 230am, my husband received a call. It was from my sister in law informing us that Alta Tierra in Iloilo City experienced the worst flash flooding in the history of Iloilo. Typhoon Frank (international code name Fengshen) hit Western Visayas.
I was on an immediate text brigade mode, telling everyone from California to New York (I got unlimited text messaging from AT&T), of what has happened. The news was not on-line yet, but that didn’t stop me: all afternoon, I listened to Bombo Radyo Ilonggo edition. I kept informing everyone I know of the damage that was causing my in-law’s and my adopted Ilonggo home.
True enough, the night of Saturday, Iloilo was on TV Patrol news.
But what about Aklan? I wondered and pondered. ‘No news is good news’, as they said. Friends asked me if I heard anything, but I said, oh well we had survived Undang in 1985, so this shouldn’t be bad. Now, I believe “No news is so EXTREMELY BAD news’
I almost flipped when I heard bits and pieces of news. Families in Aklan text’ed families in Manila, who sent out emails and phone calls about the worst thing that had happened to my beloved hometown.
First email I got was this: ‘10 times worse than bagyo undang. No electricity and water supply since saturday. indi ako kapadaea it kuwarta, no banks. no boats as well. there was a MUD FLOOD in Kalibo and hasta sa may second floor namon! And its now BYOB: Bring Your Own Bangkay (haul your own dead corpse) to the town plaza (unconfirmed)’
Second email, from a different source: ‘Hanggang tuhod and putik sa buong town ng kalibo, madaming barangays ang nawala na sa mapa ng kalibo, even yung bliss community wala na…bubong na lang ng bhay ang nakikita. Just now, 115 dead bodies (unconfirmed) ang nasa plaza ng Kalibo…they don’t know the number of people died and missing.’ ~ From Roxanne T. Oquendo, forwarded by Anna Liza, New York. Holy cow.
Third email, different source: “Umapaw and Aklan river and it got to the point where the water was above the bridge papuntang Numancia. The bridge was damaged although I don’t know if it’s still passable. remember the shopping center? the water reached halos sa bubong eot ana kuno. It is also true that nobody’s selling anything because basically nothing was left. There isn’t any water to be had anywhere.” ~ From Cheryl Sevilla, forwarded by Ruben Mobo, Tennessee.
At this point, I started to call. Rommel Constantino, my dear friend and confidante, answered his cell phone. He just charged his cell phone for 50 pesos from a Korean Store that has generator.
What freaking happened?
I can hear my other friend Michelle rattling on and on I cannot understand what she was saying. My other friend Ariel, a non-stop talker too, cannot speak. I begged Rommel not to loose it and start talking calmly. I reminded him we were on the staff of our ill-fated high school publication, and it is now the time to speak up matter-of-fact.
Below is the best account of what had happened. Please remember that I have never done news reporting in my life, and my only source of information is my 3 closest friends who are in a state of disbelief, shock, exhaustion and full of mosquito bites. And this is just what happened in Kalibo, and they admitted they know nothing about the fates of Numancia, Banga, Malinao, Makato, Ibajay and all towns surrounding the Aklan River . I am also typing this as fast as I can, ignoring grammar and sentence structure, so that I may be able to reach Akeanons all over the world thru my emails, blogs, texting and non-stop speaking abilities.
So, here goes…
Friday, June 21, evening – People are preparing for the food festival in honor of San Juan Bautista. Radio said it was Signal No1. It started to rain hard, so people just went home.
Saturday, June 22
2am – Heavy rains. Strong winds. Now it was Signal #3. Picture Undang.
5am-6am – Ceiling and rooftops blown away. Aklan River was rising.
9am-10am – Kalibo proper is starting to be flooded, waist deep. Strong currents and non-stop raining. People hold on to bamboos for floatation. To move from one place to another, people jump from rooftops to rooftops. Houses in lower C Laserna are gone.
3pm-4pm – Wind stopped. Water is at 7-8 feet, Kalibo Shopping Center now submerged. The entire Kalibo town was quiet, other than the sound of the falling rain.
7pm-8pm – In the dead of the night, with no lights nor electricity, people are screaming ‘tabang’. Children wailing, women crying. Some people, who owned 2-floor houses, refused to accept their neighbors for the fear that the added weight may collapse the house.
Sunday, June 22
Sunrise– People got out of their shelters to see water and mud, tricycles upside down, boulders everywhere, dead pigs. It was like a scene from a B-rated zombie movie. First thing people looked for: DRINKING WATER.
6am – People start to walk to the market for food. They walked in 2-feet mud. People lined up to buy bread (plastic still covered with mud), canned goods, medicine. Prices skyrocketed: rice that was PhP80 is now PhP150 (good for one day for a family of 6), candles 3 pcs for PhP100, tricycle trip PhP 1000 to-fro Kalibo Airport.
Everyone was in quiet shock, saying a low ‘kamusta’, and moved on to go to where their family & shelter was.
Everyone salvaged what was left. They tried to dry, using water from the rain, their clothing and beddings. Furnitures (tables, chairs) are damaged but usable. Magsig-magsig anay kuno, ah
The Provincial Hospital is damaged too, and the new PhP 45 Million CT Scan equipment is all lost. Where do the sick go? Stay at home and hope infection (feet are scraped and punctured due to walking on mud) doesn’t spread. That is why the corpse are now lying and embalmed at the town plaza, for we don’t have a hospital.
The rest is history. You will hear about it. (Dont blame me for giving the bad news, and I had wished I was just misinformed).
Below are some pictures of the aftermath, forwarded by Fritz Angeles. Pictures taken by Aaron Concepcion.
Hay naku….
Okay, I asked, how can we help? Here’s what they said:
- Prayers. Jokingly, they said are too tired, too loss of words to do this.
- Media coverage. If you know anyone in ABS-CBN, GMA, Bombo, Bandera, etc please beg them to cover Aklan. Remember, press coverage and pressure to the government will open emergency funds. Further, call all of our local Akeanon associations for help. If you know even a drop of Akeanon blood, inform them of what happened. If you need to forward my article, please do so, until a decent professionally-written write-up happens. Repost, forward, link on your blog, utilize Friendster/Multiply/Facebook. Anything, everything, everyday.
- Send money. Don’t do by bank (as for my write-up), send via Western Union or money order. Send it to your family or a person you know and trust.
- Relief goods. Airports are open. Roads to/fro Iloilo are passable. The following are needed:
- water
- katol or insect repellant
- canned goods
- rice
- lots of blankets
- towels
- flash light and batteries
- shoes
- jackets
- medicine: anti-diarrhea, vitamins, antibiotic, acetaminophen, cough/cold meds
- candles and matches
- soap & shampoo, toothpaste & toothbrush
- disinfectant
- cell phone load
- something to pass time: playing cards, books, pen & paper, radio
- children stuff (by the way, they are so traumatized)
- umbrellas
- bible, rosary and religious items
- etc
- Call them and when you get a hold of them, assure that we are doing something. Assure and reassure. Akeanons are quietly tough and I sensed morale is so low. They felt so alone. They cannot even talk to their neighbors: what for, they asked. Daily text will help and just say ‘Im here thinking of you’.
One last note: I have lived thru several hurricanes in North Carolina and Georgia. Hurricane Fran, Category 5 was the worst I experienced, having no electricity amidst freezing temperatures. But the County of Cumberland had this hour-by-hour Weather Channel and evacuation routes. Further, Americans fill their refrigerators and pantry with food, water and supplies. After the devastation, electricity was up the next day. FEMA came within the next few days.
It is so sad to even think that we don’t have the Red Cross, coast guard, Salvation Army or anyone who can help our fellow Aklanons. This is their 5th day of surviving.
Please help in any way you can. All the way.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Joy Martinez-Avaricio, from Sacramento, California
Kalibo Pilot Elementary School 1980-1985
Aklan College 1985-1989
And a proud Akeanon from Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan
https://kyrienne.wordpress.com/2008
** Please feel free to share my blog, all I ask you post the link (do NOT copy and paste hehe). Or contact me cherylavaricio@comcast.net
********************** UPDATES *********************
06/27/2008
The much-awaited, “decent professionally-written write-ups” are starting to emerge. Thank goodness!
Unfortunately, these news reports made me more depressed. Kailangan talaga ng tulong! Anyway, below are some newsclips, videos and articles. Thank you all for sharing the link.
06/26/08 – http://www.gmanews.tv/video/24843/Aklan-still-reeling-from-effects-of-typhoon-Frank
06/26/08 – http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/typhoonfrank/view.php?db=1&article=20080626-144971
06/26/08 – http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storyPage.aspx?storyId=123143
06/27/08 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Yy_qwnbP4
06/27/08 – http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storyPage.aspx?storyId=123281
06/27/08 – http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/Aklan.htm
06/27/08 – http://www.aklanforum.blogspot.com/ —> Journalist Boy Ryan Zabal is back writing!
06/28/08 – http://www.gmanews.tv/video/24906/Schools-affected-by-typhoon-can’t-be-used-for-classes
~~~~~~~
06/27/2008
Here’s a link of a website that has a running list various organizations and donation centers, from Manila to California. Their detailed contact information is listed. Feel free to check them out and choose the organization you feel most comfortable sending your donations to.
I heard one organization will send your balikbayan box to Aklan for $20, as long as it includes relief items! Who-hoo! So please donate NOW!
http://akeanonagproud.multiply.com/journal/item/2/WHATS_NEXT_BULIG_AKLAN_BANGON_AKLAN
American Living, Filipina Thinking 
June 25, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Terrible no? My sister who is in CPU texted that she was safe in her 3rd floor boarding house but had to swim in waist deep water to the corner tiangge just to buy rice and drinking water. In Pavia, both my uncles had water up to their necks!
Bacolod had no tap water or power for two days. I really feel bad for the families of the M/V Princess of the Stars victims.
June 25, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Thanks for this very detailed account of what happened in Aklan. I hope this gets the media’s attention.
June 25, 2008 at 3:30 pm
btw, i reposted your blog in my multiply for dissemination. thanks!
June 25, 2008 at 3:40 pm
i have told a friend (with media background) about this and she said she’ll text korina and ted.
everybody i’ve told about wondered why they’re not seeing this in the news. =<
June 25, 2008 at 4:06 pm
nay si jason ni..i’m still used to calling you nanay 🙂 anyways, thanks for this..i’ll link this…yeah aklan was so cut-off for like 5 days i think…guina lang gani si mutya naka contact kay nanay ya sa kalibo…we were badly hit here in iloilo..and more than a 100 dead already. overwhelming to see jaro like a wasteland…now it’s too dusty coz of the dried up mud…it’s like iloilo before paved roads! i hope and pray for the families in kalibo as well…media exposure even for iloilo was so brief…it was much worse than what you see in cnn or bbc or tv patrol…and i’m hoping kalibo isn’t worst than iloilo…
June 25, 2008 at 4:51 pm
please take note of these, kasi nakakapag panic yung blog mo:
1) no 115 bodies brought to and lying in the town plaaza of kalibo…truth is, only 20 confirmed dead in aklan, so far…3 in kalibo
2) heavily affected talaga ang kalibo not just bacause of the sudden surge of water but also because of the mudslide and the number of trees that had fallen down the streets…obstructing passage
3) the provincial government is doing something na about the provincial hospital kasi it is really filthy
4) cleaning up the place affected is one big problem
5) true, food prices had risen…and a ganta of rice which is about 2.2kg costs php150 which is almost 3x the price under normal circumstances
6) where to get potable water is another problem…kasi pipelines were damaged
7) electricity might take a week or a month to get restored province wide, same with landlines and cable connections
8) money is a big problem also….kasi the banks are still closed, although landbank promised to open by friday…this might lead to something serious such as commission of crimes kasi nga walang pera
9) relief goods are coming in…dswd sent some tuesday afternoon….and a c130 was supposed to deliver again early this afternoon (wednesday) but was cancelled….kasi tired na daw the people mannning it…so thursday na lang
10) some political figures and national government officials are coming to kalibo tomorrow (thursday)
yeah, it was one hell of a storm and people were really caught unaware…but aklan people are luckier kasi although madaming damaged properties, only a few died…and from there, people are slowly picking up the pieces of what typhoon frank left and will themselves to go on with life….
if you guys wanna help, do so now….kasi ang daming tao na sobrang nangangailangan ng tulong there now….food, clothing, medicines….
June 25, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Hi Donna,
If you read my entry, the 115 dead bodies was only forwarded to me. I am happy I am wrong 🙂 … but 20 is still 20 dead di ba?
Also, everyone, I would appreciate linking my blog (do not copy and paste) for someone might misquote me.
Lastly, this is not a news report, only a humble blog trying to convey my thoughts and feelings. I encourage everyone to double-triple check the things I have said, just like I did when I first heard the news from my reliable source Charlotte.
June 25, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Until today I am so sad and shock to think of what happened just recently. I couldnt believe it and until now I cant help but cry if I remember it. Our house is gone. Even my father and mother managed to save some few things na naipundar ko para sa kanila still its a big loss.
June 25, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Thanks for putting up a help for this. I am from aklan and I am just renting a generator for tonight. I posted some real pics of how grave the situation is here in Aklan esp in new washington at my blog. You can check it out: http://epvirtualassistant.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/new-washington-got-it-by-typhoon-frank/
June 25, 2008 at 10:39 pm
h bn a monstrous day for me here aboad to hear what happen to my beloved hometown ,my family ,our home..am stl n a hell of a shock ,knwing what me n my family had built up s gone,,bt am stli thankful to god that all of my housemayt backhome is safe,as wat ma mom said to me ds aftrnn,she cannt believe thats shes still talking to me n d phone,she tot dt dt day wn our hws ws eatn by watr ,she lose hr hope n said to her self ,ds s the end of us,,,luv u mom ,,,my mom s merlinda delgado,a teacher n numancia elementary school..viva aklanon..maskn ciin kta sa parte it kalibutan ,sa tion it pgkinahangean it bueoligan ona kta tanan para sa isaetisa..saemat kay senor sto nino ,,indi nana pg talikdan do ana nga mga inonga sa aklan ,
June 25, 2008 at 10:56 pm
HI Cheryl
Thank you for your blog. I pray that someone from the national government and the media would pick your this and start sending more relief to Aklan.
I will inform other Aklanons that I know.
This morning, I spoke to my kumpares in BLISS and yes, they are really badly hit there. My father lives in BLISS and they had to stay in the ceiling of the house for a day until the typhoon passed through but the tail of destruction that was left behind is so harrowing for everyone. The neigbours said—“Bot, ground Zero kami — ubos gid ro among mga gamit.” They said that they are still wearing wet clothes and have no drinking water.
Luckily my 2 sisters lives in Boracay so they came to BLISS yesterday to rescue my father and also bring some water and canned foods. It is not enough though… more has to be done.
I am hoping to contact someone in the govermnet so we can have some more help.
Please keep in touch.
God Bless!
Chloris
June 26, 2008 at 3:18 am
Cheryl:
I read your blog and indeed it was disheartening to know about what happened in Aklan. The experience was tragic and would leave painful memories among many of our ka-probinsya. A number of well-meaning and too-concerned kababayans here in Chicago and in Virginia (the Aklanon Associations in the area) are trying their very best to send help to Aklan. Thanks for disseminating the information.
I’m sure you do know me. I’m your sister Heide’s gradeschool (KPES) classmate. My best regards and God bless you.
FR. MARK RANDY G. BELUSO
The Liturgical Institute
University of St. Mary of the Lake
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
Mobile Phone: 1-757-617-6777
June 26, 2008 at 3:42 am
Oo naman Pads. NAMCYA tayo di ba? D good ole days. He He He.
Sorry po pala, I think I cursed. I was writing this blog at 1am trying to get it done coz I felt I was on a life-and-death deadline.
Im tara-tara man gihapon ha ha ha!!!
June 26, 2008 at 4:16 am
Hi Che,
Kamusta sa tanan…I worked over the weekend and i did not even know what happened back home til Monday morning when my friend from New York(she’s also aklanon) called me up and broke the bad news.I’m from Laguinbanua East,Numancia,6-8 minutes away from Kalibo.Few minutes walk lang ru suba or aklan river mula sa likod ng bahay namin kaya yung baha sa amin hanngang leeg.Last Monday morning, bale gabi sa Pinas, itried to call my mom (wholives in Vegas)who is there right now for a vacation.I was wondering why there is no connection at all.Di ko alam, nasalanta na pala sila ng bagyo.I tried to call Saturday, Sunday and Monday til i received a call fr my friend.My sister in New Zealand got hold of my family thru cell phone last Sunday and i’m glad to know they’re all ok but until now i haven’t spoken to ’em due to bad connections.I remember Bagyong Undang, i was in first year highschool back then.They told me, it was worst than bagyong Undang.They said Numancia is like a ghost town and some people drowned and did not make it.The aftermath of typhoon frank is unimaginable they say…I have Filipino channel but the news coverage is more focused on what happened to the ferry boat that capsized in Sibuyan island.I hope abs-cbn would give us news coverage about what the people of aklan and iloilo have been through….Most filipinos here in US have Filipino Channel(TFC by abs-cbn)…
judy
Virginia,USA
June 26, 2008 at 6:11 am
[…] through The Accidents of My Life) who managed to stitch together a report on her native province in Aklan and Typhoon Frank, including this timeline of […]
June 26, 2008 at 6:29 am
hello. i’m confused. the photos look recent, but the dates are off. june 23, my birthday, fell on a monday this year. your blog said saturday. please verify and do the necessary edits so we can help you disseminate the info.
June 26, 2008 at 8:27 am
This is a very to tragic to aklanon same me, its horrified us when we heard the news that typhoon frank ruin aklan. All we need now guys is pray. And let’s pray that someone from our government help our town. I know how it feels you were apart from your family during those tragic conditions.
I already forwarded this blog to Howie Severino and replied that their news team is spread out and he will inform their news team what happen to aklan.
Buligan lang naton sanda sa pangamuyo, kunta pagbalik ko sa aklan owa eon do anino ni frank.
June 26, 2008 at 9:09 am
Thanks very much for your blog!! I’m in Korea right now and technically lost in translation … I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for your humanitarian act of “blogness” .. Thanks Che!!
June 26, 2008 at 9:44 am
Hi! I truly thank you for emailing me what has really happened in Kalibo. It truly is devastating to know how horrible the aftermath of the typhoon Frank was. It was enough to shake anyone from their postcoital bliss.
I’ve been trying to call my father in Aklan and would have wanted to talk to him if they’re ok or what but his cellphone cannot be reached since typhoon day 1. I couldn’t imagine how tragic the situation was since I got hold of your email and I got really emotional. Yes, I heard from Papa that Aklan is in disaster but hey! What you told me in full details was terrifying.
I don’t have any idea how you got hold of my email but then again, thank you so much.
I will share this to our fellow Aklanons and will contact some of my friends in media too. Praying constantly for Aklan and all the people there will help.
God Bless You and your family!
June 26, 2008 at 9:49 am
UPDATE AS OF THIS HOUR:
Got a hold of an aunt through my mom who’s an official in DSWD. She’s currently part of a convoy following the arrival of Vice President Noli de Castro. Alleluia! A high-ranking gov’t official is finally in the province to survey the damage done after 5 days! Apparently, they were “shocked” at what they’ve seen. Shock is bad but shock is what’s needed so finally the outside world can reconcile the conflicting and cryptic news we’ve been getting thus far. With no means of getting any reliable news except for first-hand accounts of our loved ones there at least someone who can and should help is already in town.
I will post a new local contact information of an agency/group who will be directly involved in the relief operations and can help us make sense of where exactly to send aid! There are so many who are willing to help but we are just slowly getting the logistics set up to receive help from Aklanos and Filipinos all over the world.
A hard lesson learned…never again should it take this long to help our kababayans in dire need of our help.
Aklanons let us unite and together, let us establish a means to get help to Aklan immediately and not 5-7 days later. It has been frustrating trying to organize help and not being able to get through.
Mayad ngani may mga blog ag email access kita ngara! Kung uwa, paalin eon lang…uwa’t a kita it binalita nagapangabudlay eot a gali atong mga kasimanwa igto.
AKEANON AG PROUD!!! Let us show the world what we’re made off! HALA BIRA AKLAN! BANGON AKLAN!
http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/journal/item/89/
June 26, 2008 at 11:34 am
hello again…i’ve been keeping tabs of the things going on in aklan bacause my mom and dad are there…anyways, as of today, 50 people are confirmed dead, of which 11 came from numancia, 12 from libacao and 6 from ibajay…basically, they were drowned…early this morning, a body was actually unearthed sa may kalibo plaza, kasi natabunan daw ng mud…at may mga missing persons pa din.
vp de castro arrived kanina in kalibo…the mmda sent some heavy duty vehicles to help out in the cleaning up operations…super hirap daw talaga. kasi the people don’t know where to put all the mud and the garbages…which may result to an epidemia, kasi samut sari na resulting sickness from the unclean environment… nagulat din daw the officials who came with vp de castro kasi they weren’t really expecting the extent of the devastation in aklan, especially in kalibo.
help…as in kung may maitutulong kayo, do send them now….kasi sobrang needed na…the people are runing out of food supplies, medicines, water…so far, all relief supplies are stored kina governor, kasi walang matinong place to keep them in kalibo…if you need to contact anyone, if you wish to send help, you can contact atty. selwyn ibarreta….he’s one of the board members of aklan, and he is actively involved with the relief and cleaning up operations. here’s his number: 0919-8094588….
kaya mga aklanons, who have the means to help, please do so now….kasi hirap na hirap na talaga ang provincial government in providing the much needed help to the locals…at sana, wag ng patagalin ang pagtulong kasi, ngayon sobrang kailangan ng mga tao…it is so hard feeling so helpless, and the least us aklanons (not affected by the ravages of typhoon frank) can do is to provide hope to those affected…
God bless to everyone!
P.S. Cheryl, sorry if I may have offended you or something with my initial post…
Till tomorrow folks….
June 26, 2008 at 11:59 am
thanks for posting what happened over there. fengsheng was one typhoon that was just wouldn’t make up its mind as to which direction to head to and caught everyone out here by surprise. there are so many areas that have been declared a state of calamity and it is just the beginning of the typhoon season. i hope aklan and the other areas are able to recover sooner than later. i’ve got some satellite image grabs of the typhoon on my site, and as you will see it practically enveloped the entire country.
http://flipland2.blogspot.com
June 26, 2008 at 4:36 pm
hi cheryl, this is what alta tierra looks like: http://www.dinagyang.com/forum/index.php/topic,3043.11.html
(I added your photos as well)
June 26, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Some personal accounts re: Typhoon Frank in Malinao, Aklan
http://www.malinao-aklan.ph/frank.html
Thanks for starting all this Cheryl!!! Mabuhay ka gid!
June 26, 2008 at 9:23 pm
i was so shock seeing all the pictures here,i am from daja norte banga and what i heard from my auntie is they had to stay in the roof all night because the flood get into there house and she said thats the worst flood that she ever experienced in her whole life.they live near the river and all there palay is gone which they usually put it in the bedroom and washed by the flood.until now i cant even contact them because theres no electricity and theres no cignal to text them..ay senior san antonio buligi ang mga taga daja at all of the people thats been affected with the typhoon.
June 26, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Che, Im glad to hear confirmation to all the scary things that was emailed to me!
Si Nanay sangkiri eang man naeomos because she refused to leave our small store there in front of NVC Education, 19 martyrs st.But fortunately my father persisted to get her home in New Buswang. (Bukon ta it grabe do Tubi igto sa baeay, medyo sa tuhod eat a kuno!) But until now, im still lost because I havent heard from them but I know tru my brother who’s in manila check my family’s situations and said that they’re all OK except they had to go to Makato just to buy a kilo of rice to get by for a day! I could not believe it first, but reality really hit me. I feel so helpless right now for my family. Here in Toronto, most of Kalibonhon were also at loss. Iya man kunta ako makaron, having so much, but my family back there desperately trying crawl back.
Kabay pa nga mayad man tanan do kahimtangan it atong nga kasimanwa ag ro tanan nga aklanon nga naapektuhan sa dayang kalamidad.
Again, Thanks, che!
June 26, 2008 at 11:53 pm
HI Lorry Grace
Do you Boyet Enero in Toronto? They are from Numancia. If you do, please can you give them my contact details as follows:
chloris bolivar flint – 0044 7877 256294
email: chlorisflint@yahoo.co.uk
skype username: chlorisf or chlorisf2
I hope you family are ok. I need to know about Boyet’s family in Numancia if they are all OK.
Thanks so much.
Chloris
June 27, 2008 at 1:56 am
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for putting together these updates. It was indeed frustrating to not hear so much about Kalibo during the first few days after Typhoon Frank. I guess, based on the photos and the accounts you’ve shared, sustained media coverage/updates would have been logistically impossible.
I’ve been getting some updates from my mother in DepEd, who has been coordinating with the Provincial Board and with the national officials of concerned agencies (VP de Castro et al) during their visits. Hopefully, relief and rehab efforts would speed up soon for Kalibo and the rest of Aklan, and electricity in Kalibo is targeted to be restored within two weeks.
I’ve linked your blog with mine. Thanks to you and everyone for the updates.
Take care and God bless to everyone.
Leo Laroza
SDHSA 1987-1990
June 27, 2008 at 2:59 am
im from banga aklan,and i work in numancia..and your blog is really true.im using right now smart broadband just to have a connection..grabe ta do among inag yan iya.do among health iya hay nasa risk eot ah.kailangan namin ng malinis na tubig na maiinom.ang bugas grabe na ang presyo..ang isang kilo mo isang kainan lang ng pamilya.sa totoo lang i dont know where to start..d ko alam kung paano ikuwento kasi sa tuwing maalala ko i cant help myself from crying..madami talagang patay,di lang ma confirmed kasi we dont have any source of news or media.pero sa pagkakaalam ko mahigit talaga sa 100.ung mga funerals kasi ubos din ng baha,,maraming tao ang walang tirahan,tuwing papunta ako ng numancia ,eto pa ba ang numancia..??grabe ang daan puno ng putik,our warehouse was strongly damage.and cost us millions damages to the company.madami ang mawawalan ng trabaho sa nangyaring eto..no banks.walang pera ang tao..ako nga ang laman ng bulsa ko is a 50 pesos kc ang sweldo ko na natira nasa atm..nothing at all.parapampamasahe ko pauwi sa banga,,naaawa ako sa mga bata.walang sapat na makain.damit na maisuot.the beautiful province of akaln turns into mess..
plss help us here..kailangan talaga namin ,,
amd pls pray for our safety here…
thanks a lot..
and god bless us all
viva kay sr. sto nino!!!
June 27, 2008 at 3:35 am
i was just talking to my uncle, former mayor and husband of current mayor elvirita templonuevo, ei templonuevo. It was disheartening to know that the mayor is crying every night because inspite of all the meager help numancia is getting, she can’t cope up with the devastations of the town. 5700 households are displaced, mud is all over the place, 18 are dead. Utilities are not functioning. I am truly shocked. So i decided to text Jessica Soho of GMA, who is a friend, and she said, for the last three days they are doing news on aklan and they will pursue it for the next days.
I trust all is well and everything will just be fine as miracles are unfolding every single moment of our lives.
June 27, 2008 at 4:19 am
hello, I´ve been contacting news agencies around the globe, to make them aware of the problems of Aklanons.Yet, all of them want photos as proof,and/or eye witnesses. I´m in Munich Germany.
To help all Aklanons, please send your photos/viedeos to:
ireport@cnn.com (per cellphone)
pics@euters.com
de.reuters.com
Presse@zdf.de
Godd luck, ingat and God bless and protect!
June 27, 2008 at 4:25 am
sorry, misspelling, the correct address for emailing your photos and videos is:
pics@reuters.com
Good luck, Erika Waldeyer
friend of Aklan
June 27, 2008 at 4:59 am
I hope this message will also reach or give me an idea if these people are OK. Though Im worrying for my own, im also wondering about the following and their families:
a. Eleanor Flores-Rosales(Kalibo)
b. Family of Marsha Relloto( kalibo)
c. Melizza Aguila-Cruel (numancia)
d. Jay Garmino (Kalibo)
e. Tiaga And Neil (Kalibo)
f. Queenie Custodio (Kalibo)
I cant even think straight right now. I know I had a lot of friends and batchmates who are still in Aklan, but my mind can not remember everyone of them…. my prayers will include all of you!
Kabay may makata-o man kakon it idea kon Ok man sanda!
My email: loryyapbautista@yahoo.ca
Thanks.
Lory
June 27, 2008 at 6:45 am
it’s past 2pm, friday, here in the phils…
updates:
1) sec. yap of DA is in kalibo now, assessing the situation, determining what needs to be provided by the government
2) further relief goods arrived, but the in-charge said it may not be enough to feed all of the people affected in the coming days, considering na wala na masyado sources of income ang mga tao at ang daming dapat ayusin to put things in order again
3) 60 people are now confirmed dead…the number is increasing
4) food….clothing….shelter….medicines…. and the list goes on….they’re geting scarce as days pass by
people out there, especially those abroad, who have the means to help…your $100 can go a long way…can feed a number of families…
yeah, prayers can help but anyone can go on and pray…but what the aklanons need now is all the material help that those who care can give…yung maluwag sa loob ng bawat isa…aanhin natin ang prayers, kung walang makikinig at magbibigay to have those prayers answered?
at sana, kung tutulong din lang, ngayon na…hindi bukas…o sa isang araw…every minute counts….maaring madagdagan pa ang casualties due to the spread of diseases which the unclean environment may cause…
and again, if you don’t know where to send your donations, contributions, or whatever you may call it…please call 0919-8094588/0927-4373580…these are the numbers of Atty. Selwyn Ibarreta, one of the Board Members of the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan, who has been and is relentless in his efforts to help…what you will give, will be in good hands and will surely reach those who need them most.
NOW…TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE…
June 27, 2008 at 8:39 am
i trust all of aklan will be given attention. hardest hit is numancia and new washington.
Kalibo is the capital and it did suffered a lot of destruction,,, but across the bridge is a more shocking scenario.
June 27, 2008 at 8:41 am
According to my aunt. elvirita templonuevo, mayor of numancia, her calamity fund is drained already. Only when she cried to the incumbent congressman that 100 sacks of rice were sent to numancia….we will need more.
rice na lang kahit na walang ulam…
June 27, 2008 at 9:20 am
This is really sad i just do hope all of us could help our kababayans in aklan prayers will work but i guess we need to move and give help me and my aklanon friends here will try our best to help
perse laurente,
Aklan Collegian, filipino editor
Aklan College
1994-1998
June 27, 2008 at 10:28 am
sa sbng do Ibajay medyo naga recover na.my iwag eon pro indi tanan.gin una do public market ag hospital.kahapon June 26 my nag adto iya nga ABS-CBN sa ibajay nag bu-ol footages it baranggay Aslum kon siin grabe do natabo sa anda nga baryo. abu naanod nga mga pamalay ag mga properties. mayab-ok gihapon ag abu pa it lunang.kanya kanya lang it limpyo. my bulig man nga gaabot halin sa local gov’t it ibajay. ag do bugas iya naga presyo 120/ganta!hara do masakit kay do iba wa gid it pagmalasakit sa kapwa.konta magnaba pa do importante na mga kalan-on preho it bugas.
emme of ibajay aklan
June 27, 2008 at 10:29 am
Hi,
it’s great to think that there is a forum where anybody can express, share stories and helping one another.
I work in NGO focused on child protection based in Manila but I am assigned in Cebu
We do respond for disaster to identify orphans & children-in-emergencies. we also facilitate relief effort if we get resources from networks & partners.
Sa Aklan ako from June 16-24 happened to visit do tatay namon ay may sakit. I experienced the height of the typhoon, Taga Makato June 20, past 8pm do signal advisory hay # 1 frm PAGASA Roxas. After dat owa eon ako it nabatian sa radio but there was a caution nga mag-andam basi magchange do direction it hangin. June 21, Sat am do tubi hay ga umpisang magtaas unusual sign of flooding.Binaha man do baeay namon. naisip ko kung makara do sitwasyon it could be worse in vulnerable areas in aklan. the strong wind & heavy rain beat us from morning til 6pm. mayad ay nagpundo kung owa mas maabong namatay.
we tried to access Kalibo d nxt day (sunday) kaso malisod makaagi sa tulay it Kalibo (though acesible)pero bottle-neck do trafic, maeapok, madanlog abo nga kahoy nga tumba, poste ag kable it kuryente. lifelines were cut (communication, power, generator, radio, etc.)
We tried d next day (Monday), and I witnessed Kalibo is never the same. Mabakae konta kami it bueong kaso owa it mabak-ean ay pro eapuk do palibut madanlog pa.
I went to provl capitol to coordinate & also to assist in anyway. Di mabuksan do capitol ay pro pa eapok. Most of the offices (if not all) there hay damaged. DSWD, PDCC, etc. sa guwa lang nagsetup do provl govt it tent to serve as a command center(the gov, v-mayor, pdcc, dswd, police director, others were there) to know updates fr municipalities . only a handful reported dahil tanan hay apektado. do iba nagreport nga eapukon. i can say our prov was not ready for the disaster. no data yet except tangalan do nagtao.at this time only smart network is working. indi man ako masend it comm since globe do gamit ko. no generator, no radio still (though someone mentioned nga i-interview si gov it abs-cbn that day)DSWD 6 is also asking for data to augment help. afterwards, nag-eaong kami nga mapanaw to try get medicine.
Tuesday my wife & I decided to go to Iloilo dahil d nxt day pabalik kami it Cebu also to get a bigger picture kung ano do balita sa ibang prov nga sobra eang it sangkiri sa pamasahe do daea not knowing kung ano do hiabutan. totally cut pa do access to anything in Kalibo (but it’s our business center in d prov). i’ve realized kung maubos do resources ag it kwarta it tawo they mite get desperate & do something bad if business centers (bank, stores, other establishments)will still be off.
Ilo-ilo & Aklan situation is just the same on my opinion. do pinagka-iba eang they have all the access to lifelines on our end is the opposite. maw it nakita nyo sa news ag to aklan hay owa.
But one thing im sure. aklanons are RESILIENT. no matter how we are beaten we get up and fight, learn our lesson and move on. (sorry i need to cut masyado nga mahaba)
June 27, 2008 at 10:51 am
I am sorry but I am going to copy and paste your page on my website. But I am going to put your link and credit you. I will also take the liberty to translate some for people who doesnt understand Aklanon or Tagalog. Thanks.
June 27, 2008 at 10:57 am
Some learnings and thoughts from my personal experience.
1. Family first. Help your family as quick as u can. if you have contact with them ask them how ag kung ano do acesible sa aton (bank, other money-business entities mite not still working there) or basic goods. so far this is the most practical.
2. if able, extend your help to others who are in need.
3. you cannot assume the govt will carry everything on their shoulder. this is an emergency. it takes time for them to accomplish task in a normal situation.
4. No means of communication thats y owa ma-feature do aklan eagi so that aid can go there.
5. they mite cover pero not everything will be featured too. they just get what is catchy and attractive to audience. ga-sakit eang do ing u-eo kung isalig naton kanda tanan. find reliable source to get access.
6. do not panic even if the situation is worst. you mite demoralise & disheartened others.
7. Always PRAY. God never forsake people who trust in him.
8. If you have connections with agencies or networks there in abroad, tapped them, begged them. persistent people get the most response. we are in the best position to express. aklanons are like that.
if you are willing to do help in the rehabilitation effort and if you trust us for the work. let me know. we can help each other help the aklanons. or if you identify trusted individuals or entities channel it to them. usually disaster-affected communities takes months to recover even years. some needs might overlooked also. may emergency mode ag rehabilitation mode until normalcy is regained.
we are also asking our partners & networks
in Manila to help us get assistance.
pro mga kasimanwa naton do naapektuhan. aklanons should care more for fellow aklanons more than the others!
Lets stay optimistic.
We can overcome this!
God bless our efforts!!!
June 27, 2008 at 11:51 am
Tonight, I saw in the tv Patrol Iloilo the mayor of Numancia crying begging for help because their calamity fund has been exhausted and her constituents badly need help.
June 27, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Thanks guys for having this blog giving updated reports about kalibo. It was really sad that many people suffered because of the typhoon FRANK.
We would like to ask our kababayan in abroad to help and give support the needs of the victims of the recent tradegy. Our help will give them hope that aklan will survive to t6his crisis
Thanks,
edwin
June 27, 2008 at 1:45 pm
The reson way alot of mud ,no more tree in the mounten, the need to respand to pland more tree. The goverment of aklan need to action for planting tree .
June 27, 2008 at 4:17 pm
[…] individual stories are what matter, now, and here they are: Ella’s Virtual Nook has photos of the damage done to […]
June 27, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Hi Cheryl!
I found some of the pictures at this site: http://marroxas2010.blogspot.com/2008/06/senator-mar-roxas-in-kalibo-after.html
Thanks for visiting our site. We will continue to pray for all those affected and suffering loss during this time. We will continue to share more news as our team reaches out to help those in need.
We know that God can provide peace and hope to these people even during this time of tragedy.
For those readers in the U.S. who want to make an online, tax-deductible donation to help provide compassionate, mission-focused aid and assistance throughout Panay, please visit our mission website: http://www.abwe.org/give/
In the “Project Name” field, please write: “Philippines Typhoon Relief” and indicate your donation amount.
Thank you and God bless,
Ben
June 27, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I included a link to this post. Hope that’s alright. I’m the wife of an Aklanon, trying to help in spreading the word.
June 27, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Cheryl,
More photos found here: http://www.sulit.com.ph/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24171
God bless,
Ben
June 27, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I agree with jello. Abusing our resources might cause tremendous effect in our environment. More flooded areas, and our mountains vulnerable to land slide.
People should be aware of the Global Warming.
June 27, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Part banga public market was burned this morning, binagyo eon ro mga tawo ag owa eon ngani it mabakae sa tindahan nasunog pa.
June 27, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Finally may news coverage din na pinalabas kanina about the situation in Aklan. I have uploaded the 24 Oras coverage in YouTube for everyone to see what the situation in our province right now. i hope this can help in some way and lets pray for everyone. And thank you for this blog. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Yy_qwnbP4
June 27, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Hello,I´ve sent money via Western Union, hope it will arrive to an open office?
I want to send a relief-pack from here (Munich, Germany), but a friend told me the post office in Kalibo is damaged and may not be open?
Also I´m worried that the recipients may have to pay customs?
My friends in Kalibo tell me, they waited in endless lines and some hours later, they received 2 kilos rice?
They can´t afford to repair their house, because the price of Nipa sky-rocketed, too?
I wish all of you who submitted photos and videos so far, would forward them to the forementioned intl. news agencies, like ireport@cnn.com, or pics@reuters.com, along with all blogs?
You may even get money for them, which you can donate for the good cause?
Ingat, God protect and bless all of you!
June 27, 2008 at 8:40 pm
[…] American Living, Filipina Thinking. […]
June 27, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Minatuod baea nga nasunog ro market it Banga? Por dahil sa kandila kono. Has the fire that totalled Banga Public Market been confirmed? According to reports, the fire was due to a candle … and there are reported lootings as well (instead of helping those affected by the fire, nag-loot sanda!)
Also, there is a report that a ro-ro bus plunged into a ravine and the sea in Libertad, Nabas. Can someone confirm this?
More updates from an email early this morning (unconfirmed), can someone confirm this?:
Bukas eon ro Gaisano ag sa sueod greenwich ag jollibee hay bukas.
mga Hardware store, Rustan (?) ag wet market padayon man gihapon ro
business maski maeonak.
BPI,PNB,RCBC
Western Union
LBC
haba gid ro pila pasensya gid ro kinahang-ean.
10 pesos pamasahe tricycle sa kalibo eang dun
ro presyo it manok 120kilo
ro karne ga 200kilo
ro bugas sang ka sako 2,000 pesos
June 27, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Yes, according to a friend from Banga nasunog yung tindahan kahapon, about 20 stalls yata yung affected pero buti naagapan kaagad. May tubig na din ngayon sa Kalibo pero mahina. Buti na lang yung ibang bahay may generator para macharge yung cellphones at makontak yung ibang kaanak. Pero Smart pa rin yun gumagana, di pa rin naayos yung Globe.
June 27, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Thank you for posting this.
June 28, 2008 at 12:02 am
SORRY MODERATOR! I APPOLOGIZE FOR MY LAST POST!I HOPE MY HARSH WORDS DIDN’T MAKE YOU MAD AND NOT APPROVE MY LAST POSTS!! AKLANON MAN AKO NGA NAEOOY SA ATON NGA MGA KASIMANWA…INDI KO MAPATIHAN RO KAY SENATOR BIAZON NGA MGA GINAHINAMBAE….HAY, KUNG IMAW KUNTA RO NA BAGYUHAN AG MATIPOK RO ANANG BAEAY.. ANO BAEA RO ANA NGA HANGEABON…
THIS IS WHAT’S MAKING ME MAD:
“An aircraft carrier is not designed for salvage. The USS Ronald Reagan is a strategic and combat vessel whose main assets are aircraft, F-18s. What will the F-18s do for the recovery [efforts]?” Biazon, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces, said in a press conference.
He said the US government should have sent smaller ships with a crane instead.
Biazon also said that while the deployment of the aircraft carrier showed the US government’s readiness to lend a helping hand, “I don’t think it can do anything to really assist the Philippine government in having to do what has to be done.”
The Ronald Reagan strike group consists of the carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate. The group left about 100 American sailors behind in Hong Kong when it had to depart port on Sunday, a day early, because of safety concerns related to Typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen).
….“What would we have preferred? A presidential shoulder to cry on, or a thousand helping hands from a US carrier group who can help victims?” Alvarez said.
LOVE ALVAREZ!! HATE BIAZON!!
ARTICLE LINK:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080626-144825/Biazon-US-carrier-not-for-rescue-recovery-operations
June 28, 2008 at 3:20 am
a lot of badnews are coming thru my cellphone…pero ma umpisa man ako anay sa akon nga experience. june 22 no definite news about kung ano eon na tabo sa aklan. a day after monday june 23 indi eon ako mahimayang, maabo eon nga tex nga ginapasapasa to keep aklanons na mainform iya sa manila. tues june 24, i was able to manage na sumakay ng PAL 1st flite brought goods and other stuffs na. pag abot sa aton… parang ghost town. sorry to say but people seems helpless . owa pa it mga relief operations after 3 days kung siin bukas man ro airport naton. mahirap e explain. i took photos and clips agad while saving my time and cell battery coordinating with some press people frends in manila about support na para mabalita. June 25, bumalik agad ako sa manila para magconsolidate it goods for shipment again. i met Eric Rey ng malinao, he’s based here in manila and works sa UST. nagpadala imaw it gamot sa anda kuno. nag gawa sya din ng team sa UST para magconsolidate it relief for aklan. same kakon until now nag aask kami it bulig sa mga frends para mapadala man dahil mejo hirap daw ung operation duon and we dont knw how government efforts are done. for those who want to share dodnations pls contant me. 0922-8911-413 ; 0918 8911 413; consolidation until june 29 nalang. nag ask man kami sa airspeed logistics ag nag pledge sanda it shippment for free para makarating sa aklan. kasama ko man kara ro barkada nakon nga si RD Oquendo 0917-803-0694 0922-8734529 .
pls check my photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12764127@N06/2617538246/
June 28, 2008 at 3:40 am
thanks to MMDA at nililinis na nila ang mga streets ng kalibo.. Royal Sm is now open pwede na mkapasok ang mamimili hanggang loob..as to the report sa mga txt na kumakalat na may nahulog po na bus pls wag kaung maniwala it is not true! the friend of my sister verified that report to her friend who is a police of ibajay where the said accident according to txt happened..ang sabi nya sila din daw nakatanggap ng ganung txt and they came to that place pero wala naman daw..so its merely a txt joke,(nakakainis nga eh)lahat ng tao kinakabahn na magawa pang mag txt ng ganun.yup, banga public market ay nasunog but a portion only sa mga gulay..thanks god at naapula kaagad ang apoy..
June 28, 2008 at 3:55 am
websites to get update
http://www.ndcc.gov.ph
http://www.dswd.gov.ph
if you know someone from DSWD Aklan or have contact with Ng. Janeth Calizo to assign someone speed up & consolidate data to submit to DSWD Region 6. DSWD do gatao it update to NDCC for status of affected population. I’ve got the data from DSWD sadly few figures where reported.
This can be big reason to slow down the assistance from Natl Govt. and loose the immediate opportunities coming. The clearer they see figures, the faster they respond.
If someone can give also update to me regarding no. of deaths. our concern is with the children left orphan because of the disaster though basic needs is what count as of this time.
my email= j2nel@yahoo.com
June 28, 2008 at 4:10 am
i think every brgy has a record of damages and familys affected either injured or dead..kasi sa amin sa banga p,nag libot kami saka nag record..para may basis ung DSWD sa ibibigay nila na tulong..
June 28, 2008 at 4:38 am
Che, thanks very much for the effort. I know we’re in deep agony. But then I believe God will provide the things that we need. Keeping the faith with God and friends like you will spell survival. Thanks again, best friend.
June 28, 2008 at 4:45 am
To all Aklanons / Kalibonhons:
We are so sorry to hear the damages / calamities that “typhoon frank” caused the Province of Aklan, specially Kalibo.
We hope that Aklanons all over the world will help, assist and donate to the rehabilitation of Aklan.
We wish our relatives and friends in Aklan – specially Kalibo, Malinao and Numancia . . Good Health and May the Lord Bless you all.
Take care and regards.
– ACC
June 28, 2008 at 5:06 am
Does anyone have any news about the Capitol area and neighborhood? Was that area flooded also? I thought the area might be spared, as I recall from Nanay sabe nya mga new homes in that section are on higher grounds. I was wondering how badly the neighborhoods around the Capitol were destroyed. If anyone has photos, could they please post.
June 28, 2008 at 5:49 am
I strongly agree with jerry,help ur family first,as quick as u can.I am a wife of an Aklanon,my hubby`s from Bulwang,Numancia. When we couldn`t get in touch with my in-laws after the typhoon,we got worried & started to search for anything that can help us find out what has happened. Just hang in there guys,help will pour in from all corners of the world,tnx to people like cheryl & ella & to everyone who`s been giving a lot of help in this time of need. We wish & pray that all our relatives there in Aklan(Templonuevo&Maribojo clan)will remain in God`s care.God bless you all…
June 28, 2008 at 6:49 am
Latest update.See links below.
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/24906/Schools-affected-by-typhoon-can't-be-used-for-classes
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=123312
June 28, 2008 at 6:50 am
Latest updates. Please see links below:
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/24906/Schools-affected-by-typhoon-can't-be-used-for-classes
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=123312
June 28, 2008 at 8:51 am
We have not contacted our relatives in Kalibo Akland and don’t have any whereabouts. His name is Julius Go and his small daughter. They live near the river. If anyone have seen them please let us know.
laboca@msn.com, ph (209)948-6241 or
(760)947-2889. Thanks////En
June 28, 2008 at 9:45 am
check it out! my photo album @ f’ster “Uncle Frank”
http://friendster.com/mak0
youtube.com (super typhoon frank & super typhoon frank 2 )
God Bless Kalibo!
June 28, 2008 at 11:23 am
[…] about it. (Dont blame me for giving the bad news, and I had wished I was just misinformed). Aklan and Typhoon Frank American Living, Filipina Thinking Typhoon Frank Chronicles A Town They Call Malinao, Aklan: Typhoon Frank Chronicles […]
June 28, 2008 at 1:03 pm
To all those affected in Aklan we pray for your safety and the hardship you will have to endure in the following months to come. Help each other as best you can especialy the elderly and the children. Filipinos from around the world will be sending supplies through Balikbayan boxes soon like my wife and I. When families get them over there, share with others that have lost everything. We are Aklanons and we have not forgotten you all, just hang in there and pray for those people that were lost.
June 28, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I thank God for keeping my family safe. Although I am a Manila girl, my lola, her sister, my uncle (and his family of two kids), and another cousin resides in Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan. Our house is right infront of the new Garcia College. The old house, w/c we now call titanic due to the “mala-titanic” scene inside that my family there saw after the dreadful flood, can now be called a total wreck. “Baha na nga sa baba, baha pa sa taas”, my uncle said, Sunday night. The second floor was flooded too because our roof was one of the many that got blown off the height of the storm. It seems like typhoon Frank wanted us to hurry with the construction of the new house. (Plans for the new house have already been made; blue prints are with us already.)
With all the damage done to the old house, I thank God for keeping my whole family safe. Everyone was able to evacuate from the old house to our other house (actually, my other uncle’s house) w/c was just beside the old house before the flood worsened. Flood entered the new house too, and luckily lola could still climb a few steps, and so they were able to bring her to safety. The following day, the whole family couldnt go down still. The mud was too thick. It was too dangerous to walk on it. The elders had to clean the ground floor first before the children and the olds could go down. Any, that’s it for my first degree relatives in Aklan. Others, i have yet to hear more from.
As for my other relatives, I hear they are all safe, but had gone through so much more than my family. One family, residing at Rizal St. near the Police Station locked themselves inside the house but had to swim out eventually when the water level rose neck-high. Another family (Lolo Francing and Lola Tating included) got stuck inside their house for two days with no food because a coconut tree fell on their house.
Until now, these are all I have heard.
My mother, two of her brothers, a sister-in-law, and a help flew there last Thursday. Two cousins have gone ahead, one arrived there Monday, the other, Wednesday. It is not yet too late to fly now. God gives hardships to create opportunities for us to show our love.
You guys can count on my prayers. 🙂
You are not alone in this battle.
Let us pray as one Aklanon Family.
As one Filipino Family.
♥
June 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Just got a letter from a Pastor in a tiny village in the Philippines. My friend & I had just sent small items a month ago to help Pastor Rolly conduct a Bible School. He was so thankful for the snacks, crayons,
pens, pencils, paper, Bibles and a little money. Just got a letter from him yesterday telling of the devastation. The church is now an orphanage to families. So many lost their homes but the House of the Lord still stands. Pastor says to pray for clothes, physical health, kitchen items, & spiritual condition. Five of the people are new converts to Jesus. If you have it in your heart to help here is the address: Pastor Rolly E. Gerones
Kaivit Medellin 6012 Cebu
Philippines
Pastor says he has faith that the church will be a good testimony to the power of prayer and the goodness of those who love Him.
Aloha from Hawaii and thank you so much! God Bless.
June 29, 2008 at 3:46 am
i was just talking to my cousin, jeneta templonuevo from aguila, tabangka, numancia. She recounted the horrors of how fast the water rose and how much trees of big sizes were uprooted at the height of frank. She owns a baraka in the town center and most of her goods were destroyed. So much goods that can be used, she sold for a losing cost just to help the people go by with their lives. Houses are now shared by families. I am quite happy that the kamaganakan system is at ful work and bayanihan is at its best. I know that numnancians will truly unite to bring back the peace and comfort they had before the storm.
June 29, 2008 at 3:51 am
hi!
sunday evening gntxt ko tanan nga celfon sa aklan do kareply karon hay taga camanci c mam luchie arsenio SD it AMA kalibo nga abung 2mba nga puno ag taga tawo do baha kanda. pag monday it agahon nag aeabutan do mga txt halin mismo sa kalibo ag ruyon andang txt kamon iya sa iloilo nga 115 do patay eain eain sanda nga area sa kalibo. bukon man sanda it magkilala nga mga ibang set of frends ko, ag sangka dorm kmi iya nagworry nga mawron do sitwasyon id2. dhil abu eon man nagtxt sang kaibahan iya mawron 115 do patay pero before karon wa pat ang kanda kasugid nga may nagtxt man kang ag nagtxt ko kay nang roxan. gapaeanindog man among baeahibo karon iya sa ilo2 pagkabati. cge txt ilo2 ag manila kng nano do information ku monday ngaron. ag andang reklamo nagutom wa fud wa water wa kuryente maeotay nd man sanda basta basta kahueag. akon barkada nga c khriztine topacio nagdecide nga mapa kalibo ku wednesday ubos tanan do stocks ku nga fud ag sa ref ag mga medecine dhil owa it bukas nga pharmacy. wa ghapon nagahueag magbulig it pilang adlaw ag abu hagutoman ag do iba masakit wa pharmacy. ku byernes eang nagbz do keangitan it chopper ag mmda. pero mbudlay ghapon sa kalibo. khapon eang ako nagbalik it kalibo ag c khiztine nagbalik man it manila. buligi sanda id2 kng may mabulig kmu eabi eon gd do pobre kapin pa crisis sa pilipinas. seamat gd sa inyong pagpost mga msg sa internet kung owa kinyo kay nan Roxan Oquendo basi habuhayan pa do pag abot it bulig id2 sa Aklan. may 70+ pics ako nga gn upload sang frendster. ag c khiztine man kaso gaoy pa to.
June 29, 2008 at 6:28 am
More recent pictures of Kalibo are posted here: http://rickydmd.multiply.com/photos/album/57/Kalibo_One_week_after_Typhoon_Franks_Wrath
June 29, 2008 at 10:08 am
hi che,
nakatawag ako sa aton kahapon eang. ok na man daw sanda idto. mahae eang nga mayad ro mga baeak eon. nagpanic man gani ako. hambae hambae di ko iba may kwarta man daw sanda, wa manit mabakean. pero may una mat a. mahae eang galing it triple.
na remember mo ro bagyong undang? my nanay said nga mas malakas daw talga tong si Frank.
mauli ako sa ton sa july 4. i update kita it latest.
June 29, 2008 at 1:28 pm
hello!
im martin adriel r. templonuevo. the grandson of mayor elvie templonuevo. and my lolo said that you are my auntie. nabasa ko ang blog mo te, but you’ve focus more in kalibo. i just want you to know what happend to numancia, is just the same with kalibo but it is worst. my lola wants to ask some help form you. cguro sa pagpopost ng blogs na makakarating sa lahat ng numanciahanon at sa lahat ng aklanon sa buong mundo.
maraming salamat po!
May God Bless You always!
contact number ni lolo EI TEMPLONUEVO
09183996655
thank you very much!
June 29, 2008 at 1:31 pm
hambae ni lolo hai kung pwede ka nana mais2rya…you can send your number sa email add ko… martintemplonuevo@hotmail.com
salamat agian!
June 29, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Hello Cheryl,
Manong Val mo ra. Magueang ni Chrency
Im based here in Manila but got the first available flight to Kalibo last WEdnesday.I just got back this afternoon.
I found Kalibo in Shambles, Tanan nga Kalye hay may 2″ to 5 ” nga eunang…worst was it rained for the last two days so you could just imagine the Mud….
matsa sa eanas ta ro bilog nga Kalibo. You can see the devastation from the air pa eang… Bilog nga Mobo sa Kalibo, wiped out.Laserna was the worst hit , can you see the water nga ga eapaw sa tulay? well It did,Knee high deep do tubi sa tulay! for the first time haabot gid it tubi ro tulay. You cannot recognize Kalibo anymore . I have to name the pictures for you to see the extent of the damage, Chrency and Berry’s New Badminton Court is heavily damaged. Do bubong it court was completely torned offall standing structures sa Farm nanda, from the canteen to the convention areas, wasak…. Magdalena Village where the Court stood is waist deep in water.
Our house in Kalibo is still unrecognizable….the water level inside our house is 6′. Istan eang mapuruhan sanday Papa ag Mama, they have to climb the roof to go to the playhouse Papa built for the Apos, they are still staying there because the house is still thick with mud. owa ngani kasayod si Papa kon siin unahon limpyohan.
The real problemnow in Kalibo is the basic supplies namely, water, Candles, canned foods , anti mosquito repellantor moskitero will do!,Italked with Jojo Lao 3 days ago, Marianing supermarket opened its doors Monday pa lang. Their supplies are fast disappearing, stocks from Iloilo was denied because theres no place to stock them! its either flooded pa rin or destroyed!
If we need to send goods to our folks back home, I would recommend the Air Cargo. Airlines has resumed their flights last Monday pa. mas diretso ag mas madasig.
If ever you want to send money , send it thru LBC or Western Union. Though the recipient will have to fall in line. A very long line… I saw it myself… owa pa gid abi ka balik to full swing do mga bangko…. Binaha man abi sabda….
I would also like to request everyone to pray for the quick recovery of Cong. Joeben Miraflores who suffered a mild stroke last night. He is on the way to Ibajay when it happened.A private jet is going to fetch him in Kalibo to be admitted to the Heart Center.
Its about time we Aklanons hold hand in hand, forget political Affinities, we don’t need that right now. Send whatever help to the people back home or at least call them , Its a big deal to air out their pain.ANd please , spread this around so that everyone can see the total extent of the damage. Thoguh help has arrived there, MMDA has been helping the municipal Govt. in clearing the mud with their heavy equiments, operatives from other provinces has pithed in to restore Electricity.
GOD BLESS AKLAN!
Val Magallanes
http://www.helpkalibo.multiply.com
June 29, 2008 at 6:13 pm
the latest i was informed was that a helicopter filled with goods landed at the plaza… courtesy of Senator Loren Legarda
at least help comes….
June 29, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Hey, you have a great blog here!
I’m definitely going to bookmark you!
IT IS AMAZING and GREAT post .. PLEASE Keep BLOGGING …
I have this article which is releated to your post
tamina park
http://www.taminapark.com/
You can comment also 🙂
Thans & Regards
Salem
June 30, 2008 at 12:18 am
hello,
pangutana ako kunta kung may akeanon org iya sa melbourne australia. kung may nasayran kamo pangabay i post or paki email contact numbers. gusto ko man mag contribute if there’s any consolidated help from here if there’s any.
thanks.
regards,
aloy
aloyconcepcion@yahoo.com.ph
0419391141
June 30, 2008 at 3:20 am
Hi all,
Thank you for all the updates here.
At times like these, I really hope that “no news is good news”.
Anyway, in addition to those shared above, in case (just in case) anyone has any news or photos to share about other municipalities (especially on the damage left by the typhoon), pa-share na rin po dito.
Saeamat guid! God bless to all.
Leo
larozal@yahoo.com
June 30, 2008 at 3:30 am
Please do check out http://marroxas2010.blogspot.com/2008/06/pictures-of-typhoon-franks-destruction.html for the pictures of Iloilo after Typhoon Frank hit the province.
June 30, 2008 at 5:00 am
Mga kasimanwas,
We’re attempting to have a consolidated site which can be a source of news and updates re Typhoon Frank in Aklan (and beyond) as well as to include links to everyone’s blogs and efforts to help. We are also hoping to connect and reconnect with fellow Akeanons all over the world as we try to figure out the answers to a very important question—
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AKLAN?
If you haven’t seen the videos or photos yet, please check them out on the site. Somehow, if we haven’t seen the videos (or the photos), we can’t fully understand what Akeanons went through last June 21-22nd (and thereafter). It is our wish that aside from what we Akeanons can do for our own “kadugos ag kasimanwas”, the rest of the world will realize that their help is needed too.
If you wish to help, have any news or updates, have photos (videos) of the aftermath, know of other relief operations that are organized in your school, community or country, or if you have any questions, please contact:
Joanne Fernandez Tupas-Parsons
Akeanon ag Proud
0920-9251891
http://akeanonagproud.multiply.com
akeanonagproud@yahoo.com
HALA BIRA AKLAN! BANGON AKLAN!
June 30, 2008 at 11:44 am
Kalibo and New Washington has received a lot of help from the government and also the private sector. Thanks for spreading the word. I made a new post at my blog with new set of pictures during the typhoon. Hope you and your readers can check it out: http://epvirtualassistant.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/pictures-during-typhoon-frank-at-new-washington-aklan/
June 30, 2008 at 12:33 pm
hi!
nd kmu magbasoe kng haman may mga saea nga balita ag exagerated do news last sunday ag monday tag sa kalibo nga trahedya.
gaproblema kmi sa dorm mga akeanon nga kaibahan ko hay andang sabat kang maalin gd kmi nang? ay wa gd contact kanda ku saturday pa.
Do mga txt msgs nga2 hay halin don mismo sa mga akeanon id2 ku monday june 23 kamon sa iba ibang lugar it kalibo ag aklan kaya 2mwag c nag roxan ag duyon hinambae ko nga balita. pasaeamat kta nga may kareply kanda sa may habilin nga batery pra magbalita kng kmusta sanda hamat owat gapabatyag umpisa ko sat pa.
Kaya nd kmu maakig kng gnforward do balita tru txt ngaron nga halin mismo id2 kanda nga nabahaan ag nabagyohan.
haman sin o gd abi mabalita kundi tru txt nanda
bsan nuot nga txt para eang mkareply sanda kamon ya sa ilo2 ag sa manila.
sin o mabalita hay owa man it reporter, owa radio station. wa signal it bsan ano, duyong sunday gabii mlang kakasignal nanda it smart eang. Kung owa do mga txt ag blog ngara hibuhayan pa sanda habuligan.
Ku sunday ngaron ag monday headline pirme do iloilo ag do barko sa tv.
minatuod grabe do ilo2 abung patay keabanan man maeapit sa suba ag mga banwa banwa iya. bilyon man do damage.
Pero nakahueag do tawo iya sa ilo2 2ngod ok man sa city owa it eotay, may una sa ibang part it jaro. wa man it eotay sa city ag padaun do malls ag abu mat a nagbukas after baha. abu kanda nagbulig nga tawo eabi eon gd sa mga lugar nga owa haapek2han.
abu andang senador iya, miriam, drilon may raul gonzales sanda ag iba pa nga gasuporta. eagi eagi may signal ta iya it maski bagyo. may abscbn iya gabalita., may GMA.
Hay do Aklan? may anda? cn o mabalita kundi tru txt eang nanda kamon. tuyo malang hay magpakamusta kanda ag mkabulig ag gnkutana ko kng “buhi pa kmu?” it sunday ngaron kaya nkareply sanda mostly monday it agahon.
kaya nagbueligan kami nga ipalapta sa mga tawo bsan sa mga roxas nga grabe do kalibo, numancia ag new wash..
Kalibo do centro, centro man it eotay. Tulay do gasugpon sa numancia ag kalibo. kaya ruyon sunday june 22 ag monday do problema nd sanda kahueag it basta basta dhl abung owa.
ag do bulig dayon kara ti blog hay gnfeature do aklan/kalibo sa tv.
Kung sa tv inyong pagbasehan limitado malng anda nga balita sa aklan.
Kabay pa nga makabagon eon do mga radio stations id2. abu id2 do balita do mga tawo galing puro “kuno” lang ron hay browout man.
Kung may balita kamu nga mabatian lalo na sa weather paki inform sanda tru txt para makapahaom sanda dhil bukot tanan id2 nga tawo gpamati it de batery nga radyo. sakali may bagyo nga paeabuton eoman ay bombo roxas eang mabatian te gafocus man na cla roxas mo nd man gd kalibo ag sambilog pa nga station man sa roxas. kabay pa nga nd eon mauman.
==>yen
isaeang ka akeanon.
June 30, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Bagong news update sa Aklan, sana makabalik na yung kuryente para mabawasan naman yung paghihirap nila dun. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOf62ex3mek
June 30, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Che, thanks sa blog mo it give me light sa situation sa kalibo makaron. Last Thursday, 26June malang n a say-ran do natabo when I call my husband and my sister Mae in Batangas.they told me that our house in kalibo was totally submerge in mud and we lost everything. and that time wa pa gid sanda it way para macontact ro kalibo.Mae received a txt message from my cousin that tatay and my sister aimee and her kids was saved/rescue from the roof of our house by our kapitbahay and they are now staying in my cousins house. Ag uwa kuno sanda in haeambong ang pagka-on ,tubi, iwag and tatay needs his daily dose of insulin. my husband has already send money and food to kalibo by aircargo.
I been on the road since Saturday 28jun just to go back to Jakarta pra maka-uli agad sa kalibo.Nasa remote island ako it Sula ,Maluku (and wa gid it available telecoms do area,so wa gid ako it news from outside world). I could not wait for our chopper to get me out of the island, next week pa naka schedule dpat kami for pick-up . I’am now in Jakarta and am going home to manila tonigh…I’ve been crying since I heared the news . We lost every thing ,pictures, ducuments… memories. PAINFUl! … Because I know this could happen to Kalibo any time. … I am a geologist I’ve been to flash flood areas like quezon, samar and leyte and I could imagine kung paano ro sistwasyon. In 2001, I made a geohazardmaps / paper about areas in the Philippines (including kalibo)that could be subject to flooding, landslide and other natural calamities for DENR and was distributed to LGU’s for used in urban plannin.Now… My worst fear has arrived. I will be going home to kalibo this week.
iris villanueva-duenas
July 1, 2008 at 2:10 am
Things are starting to get better.
Salamat sa pagmamahal ng bawat isa.
July 1, 2008 at 4:53 am
For those who hav not seen photos of aklan tragedy.
Kung naka ad2 kmu it Aklan… matsa nd kamu kahambae kng Kalibo pa ra? bulwang pa ra?
Ive got 86 photos in Aklan particularly in Metro Kalibo Sts. uploaded in my frendster account. Search for “Yen Roselo” my account is now open for public viewing.
July 1, 2008 at 5:09 am
People of Aklan shouting for more rice!
Just rice.
Kung may mabulig kmu nga ikatao…
Paki txt c nang ritchel.
Ritchel Refendor- Lopez
09198825052
July 1, 2008 at 5:24 am
Do sunog sa tindahan it banga nga balita hay sa 2nga it tindahan nga line nga mga back 2 back stalls tag mga tinuea ron do baligya nanda.
nakaligtas baha pero owa sa sunog.
May Stall kmi sa main entrance it banga public market sa may rotonda.
Wa ko hapicturan ag havideohan dahil empty bat ako.
bakas pang impake namon ni auntie do baligya
ulihi ko eon napan uhan nga nagkaeanina akong siki sa thumbtacks dhil sa manipis kung tsenilas hasuksok. 🙂
July 1, 2008 at 5:30 am
iv got txt from my frend ann magsisi templonuevo ryt at ds moment…
smethng bad happend…
the congressman of aklan….
July 1, 2008 at 10:45 am
Photographed by MARK RELOJ (of Malinao, Aklan)
July 1, 2008 at 12:55 pm
To the United States crew and supporting ships from the USS Ronald Reagan thank you very much for all the supplies and help you are providing to the Philippines over there in Aklan. And also thanks to all the Filipinos and others from around the world who have donated their money and sent packages to help out the people of Aklan. Maraming Salamt!!!
July 1, 2008 at 4:56 pm
[…] is a blog entry screenshot posted by Cheryl Joy of her friends ordeal in the midst of Typhoon Frank in […]
July 1, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Hi, I’m an Aklanon but I’m working in Iloilo.It has been two weeks now since the typhoon Frank. Just want to share my experience.I have a boarding house in Alta Tierra. Normally I don’t go home every now and then but since June 21 was my sister Hanah Lou’s debut, she asked me to help her so I went home on June 20, her actual birthday, along with four of her friends,Lyn2 from Alta Tierra also, Dyesebel from Negros, Glen and Rogin both from Sta. Barbara. It was already raining.
I was so tired from a graveyard sleep that I slept really hard the next day. I woke up the next day because my boyfriend Neil called me on our landline to check if I’m ok. I was confused why he was asking me that while hearing trucks passing by my window. I just said I’m ok and went back to sleep. My sister Hanah woke me up at 12 noon saying the debut will be cancelled. That time when Neil called, I didn’t notice that our sala was soaking wet from inside to outside, and the sound I thought was trucks passing by, were the sound of the hurling wind. Then at night aroung seven. Water started to rise.
I lived for 14 years in Andagao since we transferred but never on those 14 years did flood ever even kissed our doorstep. But now it was rushing inside our house. I thought we were having a really bad experience already, but I wasn’t prepared for the sight I saw next.
Kalibo was a wreck. Mud everywhere, everybody speechless and no one knew what hit them. It was the first time Kalibo ever experienced this kind of disaster that we didn’t know what to do. We didn’t know whom to call and what’s the next step. Added to that was there was no cellphone signal, no landline, no electricity and no water.Riding in Neil’s motorcycle one night, I saw a family, in front of the general hospital, puching what seems to be a tapi-made coffin.
Hanah’s guest was stranded in our home. Lynn didn’t know that their house was also flooded till the second floor. Dyesebel didn’t know that their house in Negros collapsed, Glen and Rogin didn’t have the slightest clue that worst is happening at their hometown too.
The sad part is that after I cleaned up our house in Ilang-ilang st. I came to Iloilo with a more greater shock. Inside our apartment was waist deep water while just on the doorstep is around 7 feet. It took us a week before we cleaned all the mud. Until now it’s still surrounded with mud. Just imagine higher than you. I have no clothes already and we had to find an apartment soon.
THIS IS THE SADDEST PART. I think you’ve heard about the rising rice price. Two days before Pacquiao match, something horrible happened in the Market of Kalibo. A father tried to buy rice for his hungry children. HE has 100 pesos in his hands hoping to buy 1 gantang of rice since they haven’t eaten for 2 days. A teenaged boy refuses to accept the money since one gantang of rice cost 150 PHP. The father went home, got something from wat was then their kitchen, went back to the market and stabbed the boy who refused to give him rice. This is not a make up story. It really happened. The last time I heard, the boy is in critical condition in our mud covered hospital. No news about the father.
Help is still welcomed since until now, no electricity in the whole of Kalibo. They said it’s still two months before it’s up and running again. Neil bought a 5 gallon water for PHP 90 pesos since the Nawasa is still unsafe to drink. I left Kalibo with a heavy heart. Kalibo was a ghost town.
July 2, 2008 at 5:09 am
I saw nong Val Magallanes photos taken after the typhoon. I cant help but cry because i could no longer identify which streets were in the picture. I left Kalibo 4 yrs ago and was so excited because i know Kalibo has grown and was so envy to see photos sent by friends before the disaster. But now, Nong Val, tama ka gid. Its no longer the Kalibo I had in my mind. Kasueobo gid isipon nga makaron eot gid ro sitwasyon. Abo gid ro aton karang dapat bueoligan. Saeamat sa mga tawo nga nagbulig ag sa mga magabulig. SAEAMAT GID!
July 2, 2008 at 9:29 am
[…] all in the news. But I never heard anything about Aklan. Have you? Visit this bloglink to learn more. Please help the people of Aklan, details are outlined at Des Mendoza’s […]
July 2, 2008 at 10:42 am
May power eon it kuryente sa banga mkaron.
July 3, 2008 at 12:30 am
My Gf is now back in Kalibo. i’m trying to call her, but sad to say her phone can’t be reached. Ano update na ngayon dyan? anyone?
Thanks
July 3, 2008 at 2:14 am
hi Che,
Im from Ochando new wash., aklan. Thank you so much for the updates of what is happening in our province.Grabe guid!!! I live in Sydney Australia, and I have sent money to my mom to help out our kasimanwas. Mabangon man kita guihapon ! mabuhay kita tanan…
July 3, 2008 at 6:48 am
Kalibo Pics para sa mga uhaw nga makakita kapin pa sa maeayo.
For those aklanon who have not seen photos in kalibo.
86 photos uploaded in my other friendster account “Yen Roselo”.
Here’s the link: Typhoon Frank Aklan photos
Yen Roselo Friendster account is open for public viewing.
Pls. pass
July 3, 2008 at 10:13 am
Updated News today
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/regions/25165/QTV-Aklan-folk-to-undertake-'massive-cleanup'-in-province
July 3, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Saeamat guid sa mga up-dates our prayers for all Aklanon ag sa tanan nga na-apektuhan ko raya nga kalamidad, Mabangon guihapon ro mga kasimanwa naton, USN Everett WA
July 3, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hi .. My Gf just got back from Kalibo… She told me that Kabilo got the worst. In some places, the mud has reach up to the 2nd floor. Not all parts of the town do have electricity and water to drink. Help is still badly needed.
According to my Gf, her lola’s house which is located near the municipal hall. The mud reach up the ceiling of the whole first floor.
Thats all i can share as of now.
July 3, 2008 at 6:07 pm
hello,
my friends in Kalibo waited a few days in front of Western Union, and finally received the money I sent, Others didn´t yet.
Can someone please tell, where the nearest functioning internet place is?
And if I send a relief pack, will the post office be there to deliver, and will the recipients have to pay customs? (They don´t have money).
Some friends went to their barangay cpts for help, and were told, if they were not their voters before, they will never get any help now?
As a foreigner (german)I don´t think it´s proper for me to critizise politics of another country, I´m neutral.
It`s up to you Aklanons, to see to it, that your families get the help they deserve,
and to remember the ones who really helped you.
July 3, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Kabay pa nga makabangon ro mga akeanon sa madasig nga panahon god bless Aklan
July 4, 2008 at 1:29 am
Another photo during the Flash flood. Taken from Magsaysay Park area.
http://www.friendster.com/photos/31474561/1/600134438
July 4, 2008 at 6:54 am
The longest line. ireport@cnn.com
Balete Tree in Plaza kalibo. ireport@cnn.com
VOCO Gmbh
July 4, 2008 at 7:04 am
Kabay pa nga may Local Media eon sa Aklan nga magpahisaud sa mga tawo kng nano id2 gakaeatabo sa palibot nanda kapin pa gainuean id2.
Hato eoman sanda kabii nagsala sala sa txt nga may landslide kuno sa libacao ag mag evacuate do maeapit sa suba ay basi matiphag do eapok sa bukid it libacao.
Sabi ng frend “itz better to be praning than sorry…”
Naga tieig a man aton liog sa balita nga bukon man it minatuod.
Exage eoman…
ag kabay pa malimpyohan eon do drainage puno it eotay agud makaflow it mayad do tubi kng umuean.
July 4, 2008 at 2:10 pm
hi guys, typhoid fever strikes ibajay hospital. diagnse 50 patients na . got from tex. need to confirm pa this.
halong
July 4, 2008 at 3:26 pm
God Bless to our Kasimanwa thanks sa forum ngara I got feedbacks from our beloved Province, hope may land line eon sa pilang adlaw malisod abi maka-contact sa CP my family
is from Linabuan Norte but we resides now in CA. Thanks again
July 4, 2008 at 5:38 pm
http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20080704com4.html
must read the link. kayo na mag muni muni.
hay gulay..
July 4, 2008 at 11:22 pm
We pray for all the victims of Typhon Frank and MV Princess of Stars
July 5, 2008 at 12:13 am
hara pa
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=146579
July 5, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Bangon Akeanon Viva kay Sr. Sto Nino
July 5, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Hi Che,
Last time I saw you I think was in Grade School. I’m super thrilled to see familiar names on this site. Just sad to see what the topic is. Kalibo will recover. It has to. I haven’t been to Ati-atihan for years and years. I miss it and I miss Kalibo. Hi Lory! Hi Elaine! This is why I can’t find you guys — your names are different….
July 6, 2008 at 12:06 am
OLGAAA! My gulay! Sa blog ko pa ikaw bumati. He He He.
Sa Friendster ka ba? Kasi nandun kami lahat. Nakareunion na nga nun Jan. Wala ka. Wala din ako. Pero dami nila kakaingitttt!
This tragedy will be over soon. I am so sure about it.
I’ll email you later. In the meantime, come visit my blog often. As you can see, I just became the radyo ng bayan.
July 7, 2008 at 10:23 pm
With all this negativity, I just hope I will have a good experience when I go there with my girlfriend in Boracay. My scheduled flight is on the 2nd of August next month.
Well, if it is the truth then it is fair enough to adhere to it but in as much as your personal account with the detailed destruction and loss of property and life, I just hope you would also make the same effort to give a detailed and full report on the recovery and reconstruction that is going on in the said province.
July 8, 2008 at 4:35 am
Hi, everyone!Hope everythings OK with everybody!
Hi, Olga! Naging lost and found din itong forum ni Cheryl. I hope no disaster will come again just to find all other long lost friends, schoolmates,classmates, etc.Hope to hear more from you!
Che, lately because im so praning with the situation in Kalibo, im having some bad feeling, healthwise! Everytime i hear news or familiarity with some bad situation from the past, i felt this weakening inside of me. Hadlok ngani ako. So, I stop opening my computer. But now, cant resist coz i need to know the updates. Thanks! Owa eang gid siguro ako it Kaistorya iya!
July 8, 2008 at 5:04 am
I too feel so weak everytime I see pictures of our beloved place. The plaza that used to be where marched our CAT… the fun Magsaysay Park… the Church where I had my first communion … hay…
But as the previous post mentioned, I “will make the same effort to give a full and detailed report”. He’s right, after accepting the harsh reality (may mga denial pa rin eh) we need to move on. I’ll be in Aklan in Jan 2008 and by then it will be my own take on what we had survived.
How I wish I am in Aklan, giving first hand account of how the people are doing right now. You know who is doing a good job? Nong Valpree http://helpkalibo.multiply.com I like it because his account is personal. Joanne’s too is good I visit it often just getting updates http://akeanonagproud.multiply.com . Mabuhay ang mga bloggers!
And Lory, take care of yourself. You are of no use filling and packing that balikbayan box full of relief goods if you are sick.
July 8, 2008 at 5:26 am
additional link:
http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/Home.aspx?ID=I,1469,P,-1&SS=P&ShowID=402
mga kasimanwa, though help is coming in, it’s not time to stop yet. if you are able continue to do what you have started. tap more resources. either we receive acceptance or rejection on our appeal lets keep on trying. this is the only way we can help them.
in our experience with the guinsaugon landslide and typhoon reming last 2006, families stayed in the evacuation centers for over a year before they finally get back on permanent shelters. just imagine the burden they carry without someone lifting a finger in their situation. it would be hard.
No matter how big or small we contribute, it means a lot to them. What they know is that a caring hand ease their pain.
July 14, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Hi, been in Kalibo after Frank, nalaglag ang puso ko sa aking nakita. Its not the Kalibo I used to know. I got some footage and videos… pls visit http://marscollection.photos.homepagenow.com
July 18, 2008 at 10:29 pm
we were lucky enough the airport was still open because we had a flight to san francisco on june 28 i live in tigayon kalibo and it was really frightning no food no water no electricity no signal no battery playing card washed away books and papers and ballpens disaster and you know what our house is not 1 km away from the river…pero gusto malaman ng papa ko kung may improvement ung kalibo..??last time nakita ko ung kalibo..putik!!tapos umalis na kme pero sa 1 week ko dun grabe!! VIVA KAY SR SANTO NINO!!! VIVA!!!!!
July 23, 2008 at 7:48 am
Hi Ms. Cheryl:
I was in the process of drafting my blog as well. I just want to share with you my experience during the flood which damaged all what i have managed to invest for the last 10 years of my married life. I am from Bliss, Kalibo! We were used to floods. Twice every year it comes but not as deep as this. In the morning of June 21, it was just a regular stormy day. Winds blowing, rain pouring and more! at around 11 am, it halted! Me together with my sis in law had time picking up “indian mango” nga natagak! We had 3 big basket full of it! I even went to the market to buy food and prepare for a long weekend since streets will be slippery. We never expected it that deep. As i’ve said, we are used to floods! Only knee deep floods. When we got home from the amrket at arounf 1:30 pm, we cooked the food and me w/ my husband prepared. All our appliances, gin butang namon sa ibabaw it lamesa, bangko, and even mga palstic empty cotnainers nga mataas! at around 2:30 pm water inside our house hay hasta eon sang paa/legs. We still thought it will not grow deep. but at exactly 3:15 pm, my ref fall from the chair where ko ginbutang pati mga plastic containers nagtumba! I even cried for help but then my husband said, we have no choice but vacate our house. I can’t leave everything! Tanan ro ginpudnar ko for the last 10 years hay naduea! and to cut the story short, when my husband and me with our 9 year old son went out together with my in laws, water on the streets where neck level. Masyadong madeom ag mabaskog ro suoeg. we can’t barely move. we went at a frather area where there is a 2 storey house. The owner was kinda hesitant to elt us in but later on, she said\, “sige sued eon kamo! We have a niece whose son is barely 2 months.
We were all wet whole night with nothing to eat. Nahuya man ami gapangayo sa tagbaeay! We just let the children sleep and wait for mercy.
It was a dreadful day! Miserable we thought! It could have been easier! We could have prepared! But How? There is no way of communicating to other people! even to authorities! Kunta ro probinsiya naton nagpalibot it mga grabasan para mag warning ag maghakot sa mga tawo nga masalanta! Galng Saturday to! Day-off nanda! I’m not blaming otehr people of this tragedy! We should blame ourselves. We care less for mother nature. Hara ro gintao nana kamon! Hopefully illegal logging will stop! kasi ro mga bukid naton wa eon it mga puno angan2 and we can’t afford another disaster like this.
These is just my own opinion and my experience!
Rhoda Jean Dela Rosa Elias
NVC HS 1993
Aklan College 1997
July 25, 2008 at 2:22 am
thanks for your moral support! we need these at this point! medyo very low gid ro morale namo iya sa Bliss!
thanks and regards
July 26, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Mahigit nang isang Buwan pero ang Pantelco hindi parin naka-balik ang serbisyo nila buti pa ang Cruztelco mabilis, lipat na lang tayo sa Cruztelco
August 20, 2008 at 3:33 pm
HELLO ,
THIS IS MEDI OF DIOS MABALOS PO FOUNDATION.
WE ARE AN NGO BASED IN DARAGA, ALBAY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN AKLAN FEEDING 27949 CHILDREN FROM 8 TOWNS OF AKLAN, DAILY /5 DAYS A WEEK/4 WEEKS A MONTH FOR 6 MONTHS.
WE ARE IN AKLAN TO PAY IT FORWARD. PEOPLE HELPED US WHEN TYPHOON REMING HIT ALBAY. WITH THE SUPPORT OF ASSISI FOUNDATION WE ARE PROVIDING VITAMEALS TO THE CHILDREN AND DONORS FROM PRIVATE SECTORS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS ARE PROVIDING RICE WHILE PARENTS AND TEACHERS PROVIDE THE INGREDIENTS AND COOK VARIOUS DISHES FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN DAY CARE INSTITUTIONS OR IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. ROTARY KALIBO AND ROTARY METRO KALIBO AND THE ROTARY SEALS ARE HELPING US.
OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AND OUR PROGRAM OFFICER LINDA SAMONTE ARE IN NUMANCIA WITH THE FAMILY OF PETE RUIZ
I WILL BE IN AKLAN BY SEPT 1 TO DISCUSS OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON WITH PARTNERS. WE ARE DOING SHELTER INTERVENTIONS WITH CATARACT FOUNDATION /CBM. WE HAVE ALSO
URGED OTHER NGOS TO LOOK INTO PSYCHO SOCIAL INTERVENTION AND LIVELIHOOD RESPONSE. NECESSARILY A DISASTER RISK REDUCTION/AWARENESS/ PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ARE MATTERS THAT SHOULD BE INITIATED IN YOUR PROVINCE.
PLS HELP US REACH MORE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN YOUR PROVINCE.
WARM REGARDS
MEDI VILLANUEVA
PRESIDENT
DIOS MABALOS PO FOUNDATION
I WROTE TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.
September 1, 2008 at 5:59 am
Hello!
I just want to share something with you regarding the effects of typhoon Frank especially to my family. We have moved residence now since most of our property are damaged due to the typhoon and flash flood that hit our place.
Now, after 2 months I can feel the after effect of typhoon Frank, tragedy… the property and of course even personal belongings we acquired and have kept for years are lost. I can still feel the depression as I travel from our place to Kalibo as if I can recall the day it happened when I took with me my 3 children 11 y.o., 3 y.o. and 10 months old, wet, shivering with cold and barefoot… running on the street looking for a safe place to stay. I look back and see our house, full of water, only the roof is visible. Thanks to the DepEd teachers who helped us settle on our elementary school where we stayed for 3 days. They provided us with rice and clothes to wear, even medicines. After 3 days, we saw our house full of mud. Until now we ave not yet restored our house and we decided to rent a house to make my family safe.
Thanks God! We are still alive and moving on, the family members are intact.
A call for our government officials and people to start saving our Mother Earth. Initiate plans to restore and help preserve our natural resources… we still have time… we need to start now! that is if we care for our people. This is our place, we have to take care of it!
September 1, 2008 at 9:07 am
[…] Aklan and Typhoon Frank […]
October 6, 2008 at 4:27 am
i am norma ubaldo who are mailing you coz of my mom…she grew up in aklan and now she she dont know where she from it means shes sick…even her daughter and son she cant recognize…i was wondering if u can help us to published my number 09195548872…09213148947….anybody who can help us to see my mom relatives call us….thanks……..