Super Typhoon Yolanda/ Haiyan hit Philippines
There's no days that I don't cry watching news, videos, reading articles about the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. A lot of places where devastated but not like in Tacloban City where the major destruction happened. Tacloban City is the capital of the Philippines province of Leyte. It's approximately 360 miles southeast from Manila, the area is 77.88 sq miles with the population of 218.144 (2007). It's heartbreaking! Every time I think my homeland, the word that I can say is "I wanna go home, I want to see the reality, I wanna help personally" but I'm over thousands miles away. When I able to contact my family Friday noon (US time) and it was already 1AM (Philippines time) my sister-in-law said they were deadly tired. They were scared, the slashing wind and heavy rain that caused landslide in mountainous area of our town, flooded river and a lot of trees fell down in our village and the power was bogged down. Nobody hurt in my family and people in our town. Panay island is in Western Visayas region was also hit by typhoon Yolanda. My hometown Leon is located in Southwestern part of Iloilo which is the highly urbanized city of Panay island. The biggest damaged of typhoon in Iloilo are towns located in Northern Iloilo. My sister-in-laws families in Sara town and Concepcion where devastated, their houses were washed out and their pump boat that help them for living was totally destroyed. Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan as called internationally is the super typhoon tore the Philippines, Friday 8th of November 2013. Winds reached 235 kmh (147 mph), waves were as high 15 m (45 ft). The storm brought nearly 400 mm ( 15.75 inches) rain in some places. The BBC reported.
I'm very thankful for UN for sending help monetary and in kinds. Countries all over the world are hand in hands extending their comfort, sympathy, good thoughts and prayers to all Filipinos especially to affected families. Death toll is rising everyday and many are still missing. The survivors are still shocked and helpless waiting for the aids. Tacloban city had much destuctions according to the news "No more Tacloban left" the buildings, infrastructures, hospitals, schools, airport, houses were totally washed out. US militaries, navies and other countries are helping 24 hours giving food, relief to all survivors and digging rabbles to find missing people, gathering and cleaning the area. The sad thing is, where are the Philippine government? It's already 6 days, Tacloban city is still in the dark, no help from our own government, where's the president? Where are the senators and congressmen? Very pour and disorganized system. Only foreign countries allies are working and helping Tacloban. What a shame! When I saw news and one of the foreigner said "Give the monetary help to NGOs (Non Government Organizations) " to reliable persons to be sure that the help will go to the people not to the corrupt officials. Some foreign countries said "Don't give the relief goods or donations to the government". To the Philippine government this is an eye opener. Where's your conscience? Nobody trust any of you, YOU who are in positions now. God bless Philippines.
