Help needed now

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The destructive passing of Typhoon “Frank” has led the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz and Antique to declare states of calamity. In Iloilo alone, 135 people have been reported dead. In Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, floods hit the homes of 77,870 residents. The typhoon also totally destroyed 513 houses and damaged 1,325. More than a hundred fishermen from Negros Occidental who were caught unaware by the powerful storm are still missing at sea.

For those of us who survived the typhoon with a few minor inconveniences, it is easy to forget that these statistics are more than just numbers. These are real people whose lives have been turned upside down by the wrath of Mother Nature.  By the time typhoon “Frank” left our area, people lost loved ones, houses, and belongings. Everything they worked for literally washed away. 

Filipinos are an extremely resilient people, and that has been seen by the uncanny ability of typhoon victims to survive these catastrophes and rebuild their lives from scratch year after year. However they will need all the help they can get to be able to get through these trying times.  With Typhoon “Frank” leaving a swathe of destruction spread out all over the country, the government will be hard pressed to provide enough relief goods and assistance for all the families adversely affected by the typhoon.  We can make a difference by providing any kind of assistance, or relief goods that can help the victims of Typhoon “Frank” get back on their feet.

The Philippine National Red Cross, the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center, and other local churches would surely be glad to accept any kind of assistance that can be given to the typhoon victims.  Let us show our love for our country and others by giving our distressed countrymen a helping hand.*