Unearthing St. Bernard, So. Leyte

[Tonyang]

Unearthing St. Bernard - calling all geologists and engineers
here... wala bang mas hi-tech bukod sa shovel at mga aso para
mapabilis ang pagbubungkal ng mga putik? Every minute counts... I
think may magagawa pang mas malakas na puwersa bukod sa individual
efforts na nangyayari sa ngayon para maghanap ng mga buhay pa. Pls
echo your thoughts on this. What equipments are needed to unearth
St. Bernard? Please see the maps below:

http://www.multimap.com/wi/144672.htm (http://www.multimap.com/wi/144672.htm)
http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id=46 (http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id=46)

Mapapansin ninyo na ang St. Bernard ay malapit sa North Pacific
Ocean... there must be a way to improvise a creek for the muds to
flow directly to the ocean. I might be thinking too much... but I
think that's possible. Or is there another way? What could it be?
There are foreigners who want to help.. .there are folks back home
who could build this. Please help analyze the situation.

Let's do something, folks. Let's help the situation. Do you think
unearthing St Bernard now will be finished with some bulldozers? We
need bigger equipments to do that.... Don't you think so?

[Dkid]

Ang katulad mo ang kailangan ng ating bayan. Kung meron lang tayong kahit sampung Ka Tonyang na tagapamahala ng ating gobyerno, siguro di ko na kelangang mag abroad pa.
Meron na sana, kaya lang napakawalan pa at sinampahan pa ng kaso (Si Dinky).
Hope she will survive and continue to strive.

Actually nandun na po ang mga US Marines with heavy duty drills (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/02/22/us.marines.use.big.d rill.in.search.for.l andslide.survivors.( 2.30.p.m.).html)

[Tonyang]

We need more solutions, Dkid... di lang aasa sa mga nandoon na. We need more forces to add to unearth St. Bernard. Huwag tayong umasa sa dala ng mga Kano lang. Isip tayong lahat ng puwedeng solusyon. Pag-aralan natin o hanap tayo ng makokontak. Salamat. Also, marami pa akong kakaining bigas para matapatan ang nabanggit mo kapatid. Pero muli salamat sa tiwala.

[Dkid]

We need more solutions, Dkid... di lang aasa sa mga nandoon na. We need more forces to add to unearth St. Bernard. Huwag tayong umasa sa dala ng mga Kano lang. Isip tayong lahat ng puwedeng solusyon. Pag-aralan natin o hanap tayo ng makokontak. Salamat. Also, marami pa akong kakaining bigas para matapatan ang nabanggit mo kapatid. Pero muli salamat sa tiwala.

Yes we really need solutions. We need immediate and long term. For me, I'll go for total log ban moratorium, probably for 30 years. From then, I assumed jungles are aplenty and a balanced ecology and a sound legislation established. Then we can start the ball rolling again, that time, in its proper perspective.
I can see her in you.

[Tonyang]

Yes we really need solutions. We need immediate and long term. For me, I'll go for total log ban moratorium, probably for 30 years. From then, I assumed jungles are aplenty and a balanced ecology and a sound legislation established. Then we can start the ball rolling again, that time, in its proper perspective.
I can see her in you.

Sino si Dinky, Dkid?

Immediate natin... mas maraming equipment ng mas nakakaalam na mga geologist at mga archaeologist. Salamat.

[Paul]

Kung heavy equipment lang ang pag-uusapan, marami na sa atin niyan. 'Yan ang dating business ng uncle ko kaya medyo alam ko na rin kung paano tumatakbo ang business na 'to. Ang problema (as usual) ay pera. Hindi mo basta-basta mapapaandar ang mga heavy equipment nang walang pera. Kelangan mo ng krudo, operator, transportation papunta sa site, mekaniko, parts, atbp. Lahat 'yan kailangan ng pera. Kahit dito sa Japan kapag may emergency na kailangan ng heavy equipment, kailangan nilang maglabas kaagad ng funds. Tulad nitong nakaraang malakas na pagbagsak ng snow sa Niigata at Akita, malaking pera ang ginastos ng gobyerno para doon.

Nung nakita ko yung footage ng rescue operations sa St. Bernard, 'yan ang unang naisip ko. Asan ang heavy equipment? Hindi kaya ng piko at pala lang ang mudslide. Kahit yung mungkahi ni Ka Tonyang na ilihis ang putik papuntang dagat, kailangan pa rin ng heavy equipment.

[Tonyang]

Kung heavy equipment lang ang pag-uusapan, marami na sa atin niyan. 'Yan ang dating business ng uncle ko kaya medyo alam ko na rin kung paano tumatakbo ang business na 'to. Ang problema (as usual) ay pera. Hindi mo basta-basta mapapaandar ang mga heavy equipment nang walang pera. Kelangan mo ng krudo, operator, transportation papunta sa site, mekaniko, parts, atbp. Lahat 'yan kailangan ng pera. Kahit dito sa Japan kapag may emergency na kailangan ng heavy equipment, kailangan nilang maglabas kaagad ng funds. Tulad nitong nakaraang malakas na pagbagsak ng snow sa Niigata at Akita, malaking pera ang ginastos ng gobyerno para doon.

Nung nakita ko yung footage ng rescue operations sa St. Bernard, 'yan ang unang naisip ko. Asan ang heavy equipment? Hindi kaya ng piko at pala lang ang mudslide. Kahit yung mungkahi ni Ka Tonyang na ilihis ang putik papuntang dagat, kailangan pa rin ng heavy equipment.

Bakit nasaan ang mga heavy equipment na nabanggit mo Brod? Di ba may mga fundraising na ginagawa ngayon para mailigtas ang mga biktima? Di ba sagot iyun sa pangangailangan ng pera? Salamat.

[Paul]

Ang mga heavy equipment sa atin ay nirerentahan kaya kailangang makipag-usap ang mga coordinators ng rescue operations at ang mga may-ari ng heavy equipment. Marami sa atin nito kaya lang siyempre mas ok kung kukunin nila yung malapit sa site. So kung sa Leyte, doon muna sila maghanap ng heavy equipment. Ang mga construction companies meron ding heavy equipment, pwede rin silang lumapit sa mga ito. Ang mga minahan meron din.

[Dkid]

Bakit nasaan ang mga heavy equipment na nabanggit mo Brod? Di ba may mga fundraising na ginagawa ngayon para mailigtas ang mga biktima? Di ba sagot iyun sa pangangailangan ng pera? Salamat.

Siguro dahil wala rin tayong blow by blow account ng mga naganap after the incident, hangang news lang tayo, malay natin bumabaha na rin dun yung proceeds ng fundraising. Baka di lang natin na recognise ang efforts ng mga tumutulong dun. Gusto ko yung attitude mo Ka Tonyang, kaya nga nakapagcomment ako sa una kung reply.
At dahil wala tayo dun, nagcomment ako on the long term side solution, thinking that our governement took care on the immediate side ng solution.

[sharja]

As for now, there is available heavy equipment some dala ng barko ng asawa ko (US), pero kahit helicopter hindi pwede lumipad because the soil is still shaky. Please for now, continue to pray and raise funds for the victims and their families.

[Tonyang]

Sharja... yes prayer power the best pa rin... Anong klase ng heavy equipment ang puwedeng dalhin doon? Ano iyung dala ng asawa mo from US? Maraming tumutulong sa mga survivor... sa mga natabunan, konting puwersa lang ang nangyayari. Kailangan talaga ng massive solution ito. Iyung helicopter, sana standby para sa rescue ng mga puwedeng iakyat.

Thanks, Dkid... iyung balita at imaginations natin, puwedeng mag-complement iyun. Bakit kamo? Nanggigising tayo ng mga puwedeng mag-isip para lumapit ang solusyon sa mga problema sa ngayon... kasi pag di tayo nag-isip ng iba pang solutions, sayang ang mga sandali.

Yes Paul, may mga minahan doon... alam mo ba kung saan at sinu-sino ang mga nandoon? So geologist, miners at mga archaeologist. Kailangan natin ang mga tulong nila. Hingi tayo ng saklolo sa kanilang lahat na kakilala natin o mga kakilala ng mga kaibigan natin.

Pag maraming nandoon na nag-iisip at gumagawa ng mga paraan, may pagasa pa!

[Tonyang]

Sana may bayanihan tayo sa Leyte with the governor and officials. Kailangan lang ng sistema. Iyung iba maghahakot at iyung iba magtatapon ng putik sa Pacific ocean.

Baka mas maraming kamay na magtutulungan, maitatapon ang putik sa karagatan. Mag-bayanihan na ang marami at maghakot ng putik para mas maraming putik ang maalis. Itawag natin sa Leyte at request natin ang mga mamamayan sa Leyte na magsipunta sa site para tumulong at sana may dalang gadget ang bawat isa para maghakot at maitapon sa karagatan ang mga putik.

I believe in numbers... kung 10,000 ang maglilinis, it means a lot of help. Can we treat this as
one solution? Let's convince the communities and everybody in Leyte to participate in this bayanihan efforts. O baka may mga equipment pa ang mga US Marine na puwedeng ipagamit sa mga counterpart natin para mas maraming magawa.. How about ang mga gadget ng mga minero natin at mga geologist natin. The more, the better.

[Dax]

Unstable masyado ang lupa ayon sa mga nabasa kong mga news clips. Sabi ng isang rescuer, hindi ka lang lulubog sa putik, kundi lalangoy ka daw. Now, ang heavy equipments ay "heavy" nga - kailangan ng matigas at stable na foundation soil para ma-operate ng maayos. Kung pipilitin mong gumamit ng backhoe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhoe) o bulldozer, mailalagay mo sa panganib ang operator nito. Isa pa, malawak ang area na natabunan - lampas daw 2 square kilometers, malaki ito. Hindi mo madadala/mapapaandar ang heavy equipment galing sa kalsada (assuming galing sa malapit na bayan) papunta sa gusto mong hukayan kasi nga unstable ang lupa. Mangangailangan ka ng helicopter para bitbitin ang machine/s, hindi lang basta helicopter, kailangan yung mabigat din ang capacity.

Ganito ang pagkakaintindi ko sa sitwasyon, kung bakit walang (o kung meron man konti lang) heavy equipments. Ngayon kung tama ang assumption ko, (the mother of all f-ups), ang solusyon lamang dito ay panggastos na pera, willing operators, at availability ng heavy equipments AT capable helicopter. Maaring makatulong din ang bayanihan, if and only if may tig-iisa silang pala. Otherwise, magiging istorbo lang ang mga walang pala.

[houseboy]

Kababayang Tonyang,

Magandang umaga sa yo.

Tama si katotong Dax doon sa kanyang sinabi. Kahit na 100 na heavy equipment ang ilagay mo dun sa lugar, mahihirapan pa rin sila. Hindi po kasi basta-basta hukayin na lang ang lupa para lamang mailigtas ang mga "survivors". Siguro naman ay may mga "eksperto" na pagdating sa lupa na nandoon. Sila ang mas nakakaalam kung ano ang dapat gawin. Lahat po ay ginagawa na ng mga nasa gobyerno, pribadong indibidwal pati na rin ang mga tiga-ibang bansa para lamang mapabilis ang paghuhukay.

Napakasit mang isipin, tila ba kalikasan na ang ating kalaban dito. Kung mapapanood ninyo po ang mga balita, talaga namang parang iniipit ang iyong puso habang nakikinita mo kung ilang tao pa ang nakabaon sa lupa na hindi man lang natin mailigtas. Kumbaga, tanging maitutulong na lang natin ay panalangin, donasyon sa abot ng ating makakaya, at suporta at tiwala sa mga namamahala sa paghuhukay doon. Sana ay marami pa silang mailigtas.

Patuloy sana nating subaybayan ang mga kaganapang ito.

Ang iyong kapatid,
Houseboy

[Dax]

Some links to support previous post:

From The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/23/apworld/20060223094644&sec=apworld):
Some searchers turned back because of the rains, which washed out a foot bridge and prevented use of a earthmover in the digging. Water flowed down a mountainside in one area, and there were signs of fresh landslides. A dump truck carrying a Taiwanese team got stuck in the river beside Guinsaugon, and a U.S. Marine earth mover pushed it to the other side.

From Stars and Stripes (http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section= 104&article=35240):
Parmer said the work conditions were poor, with heavy downpours soaking the area four to five times a day and water running through the work site.

From Chicago Sun Times (http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-phil22.html):
'As we'd dig deeper, we'd try to dig wider, but with the rain last night . . . there were little landslides happening around us,'' said Lt. Jack Farley, who was heading the Marine contingent. ''The soil here is so unstable.''

Please don't get me wrong. I really hope they do find survivors underneath the mud and rocks, not just dead bodies.

To conclude: All I can do to help is, unfortunately, to send my donations and hope that they do not go to the wrong hands, and to believe in the rescuers.

[NemoySpruce]

Sino si Dinky, Dkid?

Immediate natin... mas maraming equipment ng mas nakakaalam na mga geologist at mga archaeologist. Salamat.


Tonyang,

I agree with you, kailangan natin ang pinakamatinding archeologist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archeologist)...si Indiana Jones. Tyak mahahanapan nya ng solusyon ang problemang ito. Sana mapadaan sya sa St.Bernard dahil ang mga St.Bernard na pinadala duon ay lahat nag lulupasay sa init. Seryoso itong sitwasyon na ito dapat hindi tayo mag joke tungkol dito..pasensya na po, hindi ko natiis. Wag nyo po sanang babuyin ang inbox ko.

Talagang prone to mudslides daw ang area na iyon. As early as May of last year, our government was already aware (http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=66626) that the area was prone to this type of disaster. I am inclined to think that the government did not do everything possible to prevent this from happening. Pero hindi din natin pwede ibagsak sa gobyerno lahat ng sisi. Dahil ang root cause ng landsilde ay 'irresponsible logging', matagal na problema na ito, lahat tayo may kanya kanyang prioridad kasi. Ang masaklap nito ay habang binabasa mo itong post na ito, malamang patuloy pa din ang pag putol ng puno. Palagay ko ay alam na din ng mga residente dun na delikado ang lugar nila, pero wala silang magawa, san sila lilipat? doon ang bahay nila.

Kulang sa aksyon ang gobyerno, dapat i-map lahat ng delikadong lugar at i-relocate ang mga tao na nakatira sa high risk area, at hanapan ng ibang gamit ang mga lupang ito, matinding reforestation campaign, para tumibay uli ang lupa. Madaling sabihin alam ko, mahirap gawin pero sa tingin ko kailangan gawin.

[Kanlungan]

sa aking palagay, sa ganitong sitwasyon... di sapat ang bayanihan. nag-commit na ang US ng may 3,000 kawal nila, ganoon din ang Australia, UK at kung anu-ano pang bansa. ang japan ay nag-laan na rin ng malaking halagang pera para makatulong. ang PNRC (philippine national red cross), mga makabayang kawal ng bansang pilipinas ay tumutulong na rin at kung anu-ano pang elemento ng ating lipunan. bumisita na rin si GMA at si Imelda. higit na maituturing itong "bayanihan", di lamang sa leyte, sa pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo na! marami nang tumutulong, pero bakit hindi pa nakikita ang resulta sa halos isang linggo nang pakikibaka?

maraming dapat isaalang-alang na bagay - kasama rito ang kaligtasan ng mga makikipag-"bayanihan", ang madaling pagbabago ng panahon, pagbugso-bugso ng ulan at kung anu-ano pa. kung pupunta doon ang 10,000 katao (on the average: 70 kgs/each) at 100 na heavy equipments (mga 2 tons isa!), baka ito pa ang maging sanhi ng panibagong landslides dahil malambot pa rin ang lupa! kung ung naapektuhan ay higit kumulang lang sa 1,800 katao, ay baka sa pagkakataong ito ay marami pa. kung natatandaan natin ang nangyaring lindol sa niigata, hindi rin nila basta-basta pinapunta doon ung gustong makipag-"bayanihan", dahil sa posibleng maapektuhan din sila ng pabugso-bugsong "tremors".

paano tayong narito sa "timog" o nasa bansang hapon makakatulong?
ang sa akin, habang ipina-uubaya natin sa mga naroon na tumutulong na ang unti-unting pag-resolba sa pagkuha ng mga bangkay ng nasawi, at ang muling pagbubuo ng aspetong pisikal ng st. bernard, pagtuunan natin ng pansin kung sa paanong paraan tayo makakatulong sa mga nakaligtas (survivors). kung paano tayo makakatulong sa kanila na kalimutan ang "kalagim-lagim" na nangyari at i-usad ang kanilang pamumuhay!

[docomo]

..regarding the use of heavy equipment ,most of the areas are water drenched (or used to be) so the use of heavy equipment complicates the situation even more. the US diverted around 2000 to 3000 marines from the balikatan exercises in the south specifically to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts in leyte.

.. they brought along a lot of heavy equipment for use in ground clearing, digging, etc. the thing is the soil has become loamy and soft, the vibrations and sheer weight of these machines made the soil and surrounding structures (or whatever is left of them) more unstable.thus lessening the chances of finding survivors buried under collapsed structures.

.. a team from Korea and Taiwan brought along some machines that use heat and movement (similar to motion detectors probably) with the aid of pin cameras attached to fiber optic cables for insertion into the rubble where the possibility of finding survivors is still possible.

.. there were even reports of text messages coming from survivors.

I do hope something good comes out of this.. May God have mercy on this nation

[Tonyang]

Mga Kasama:

Salamat sa inyong inspiring messages... naririto ang 2 sa natanggap nating mga kasagutan mula sa mga network natin sa OFW world. Sana makatulong ang mga ganitong ideya:

--------------

Hi!
We have used the 'air lift techniques' in removing silts or mud during
salvaging operations of sunken vessels. This uses air compressors
directed through pipes towards the mud underwater. Air will force out
of the pipe bringing water and mud out that can be directed
downstream. This technique is used also in reclamation projects. Hope
this gives an idea.
Melvin
E-mail: rebohan@yahoo.com
------------------
Hi There!
(AN IDEA WHILE UNEARTHING IS BEING DONE)
How about installing an air compressor. This
compressor can generate an air pressure of perhaps
300Kpa (or more but we set it to lower output). This
pressure is just setting a combination of (maybe) four
domestic electic fans.
I dont mean to blow the muds away but to connect many
hoses or tubes (same size as coke straw or bigger).
The length of this straws should be enough to reach
those who are under the gound (maybe 20-30meters).
Then, force these straws in different spots where
there could be buried building or houses.
The idea is, to supply breathable air to those who are
buried alive. What I have in mind is like an octopus
arrangement. One compressor with many hoses directed
to the grounds.
If someone is hit by the hose, then he/she can pull
it. So somehow the hose can be a two purpose, "fishing
rod" or shall we say "saving rod" and at the same time
"source of breathable air".

Just a thought.
Luis Abuel
Instrumentation Technician
ABB Australia
+61-2-97302218
+61-2-404-839-630
E-mail louieabuel@yahoo.com

[Tonyang]

Kanlungan, mga kasama, suggest natin si Dsouthpaw na mag-handle ng ating fundraising sa TF. Ok lang, Dsouthpaw?

[Stacie Fil]

Ngayon ko lang nakita ang thread at map na attached. I know its very late to reply. Opinyon ko lang, observing it as you've said,medyo may kahirapan nga rin sa palagay ko kahit na may mga earth moving machineries. Bukod sa hindi clear ang map, at wala tayo sa site,mahirap talaga mag bigay opinyon.

Ang naglalaro lang sa isip ko ay wash out strategy concentrating on the lowest part and eating up the pile little by little.Then rows of support to continue the flow/like river towards unaffected clear area. Sure it would take time bec. they are all level on low ground. If only they could flow them more to much lower spot, probably towards SEast or flow to much lower open areas. I was thinking of long big fireman hoses and heavy pumps to make flash floods to covered spot cutting the pile like a big cake piece by piece.

Guess thats all I could say and pray.

[d_southpaw]

Kanlungan, mga kasama, suggest natin si Dsouthpaw na mag-handle ng ating fundraising sa TF. Ok lang, Dsouthpaw?

I can do that, although only you and city_rabbit know me here.

If there is anybody who wants to participate in pulling our funds together,
please post your intention here.

The options are:

1/ for you to group amongst your friends and send your fund directly to
the bank accounts (posted by tonyang ang ugnayan) of the volunteer groups

2/ for us to pull our funds together para isa lang ang remittance charge

Pwede sigurong tanungin ang PNB at Metrobank baka sumali
rin sila thru waiving of the remittance charges. That way, anybody can
send his/her contribution directly. Will try tomorrow.

3/ send fund to Japan Red Cross

Again, any hundred yen or thousand yen that we send there may
help save a life in this critical situation.

Please do not hesitate to help.

[luccia]

Tonyang san
share ko lang ang experience at nakita ng mga pinsan ko
na pinapunta ko dun sa leyte.para mag hatid ng kahit konting tulong man lang
mismo dun sa mga victims.
marami ng naka stand by na heavy equipments at mga organization
na ng galing sa ibat ibang bansa.pero sila na mismo talaga
ang umayaw na paganahin ang mga equipments
na yun dahil ang tatapakan nilang lupa ang nasa ilalim nun
ay puros bahay. okey lang kung lumubog mang yung bolduzer pero ang
pinangangabahan nila baka may victims pa dun na buhay na nasa ilalim
eh kung mabagsakan baka mas lalo pang walang buhay na ilabas.

everyone continues praying, visiting, helping, vigiling and expecting na may
makuha pa silang survivors na nasa ilalim.
sang ayon ako dun sa sa sinabi ni kanlungan san na ang dapat nating o yung
mga tutulong na pag tuunan ng pansin yung mga survivors.

yung mga nasa ilalim kahit ako mismo:( helpless para sa kanila
the only things i could give is my deepest prayers.

[tash]

i just want to add ( from the news ) that it is also dangerous for the people who volunteered to help/rescue the victims of the Leyte tragedy because the soil is very soft and it could endanger their lives. :( .

I commiserate with them on their loss and pray for their recoveries.

[3rdy]

Globe and Smart companies (might as well include the ISAFP), what were you doing after the tragedy? Did you exert effort to IMMEDIATELY AIRLIFT some of your EQUIPMENTS to trace and locate the calls and text messeges that were reportedly made by the buried but alive victims? That would have been a very big help in planning the search and rescue operations.

[nick]

Kanlungan, mga kasama, suggest natin si Dsouthpaw na mag-handle ng ating fundraising sa TF. Ok lang, Dsouthpaw?Hi there Tonyang!

I know you mean well, but fundraising or any other forms of financial solicitations is forbidden in Timog Forum. We all want to help; however, the structure of Timog Forum (or the whole Internet for that matter) is such that it can be easily abused by unscrupulous people who prey on others who are willing to help the needy.

Please note that I'm not talking about this fundraising for the Leyte tragedy but about fundraising and solicitations in general.

If anyone wants to help, please contact a reputable charity organization in the Philippines. How about the Philippine National Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.ph/), for example?

[japphi]

I agree with Nick........
For how many years now....ako at ang asawa ko ay sa UNICEF namin dinadaan ang share na pagtulong hindi nga lang kalakihan but we share monthly.Andito kami....kaya mas alam nila kung paano at kanino dapat mapunta ang tulong.

As of St.Bernard's disaster,may darating na envelope o furikomi sho for this dito sa amin sigurado.Prayers and hope for survivors is all I have doon sa mga kababayan natin sa St.Bernard.

[NemoySpruce]

LA Times article (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mudslide22feb22,0,61 51475.story?coll=la-headlines-world)

....U.S. Marines, Philippine troops and technicians from Malaysia and Taiwan had to give up digging at the most promising site because the soft, wet mud kept collapsing. They shifted to a spot about 200 yards away.

Radar that is capable of detecting structures 50 feet down has come up blank.

With the landscape drastically changed, no one could be sure they were digging in the right place. Some people suggested that the school was still on the same spot where it had been built; others said it could have been shoved downhill.

--------------------

There are enough experts down there already, I think that they are doing everything humanly possible to save as many lives as they can. These people are trained for this sort of thing. Best thing to do here I think, is to send help through credible channels of your choice, and ask why this happend and try to think what we can do to prevent it from happening again. Also keep in mind, that these disasters, have happened many times before. Im asking myself, what did I do to prevent it? Why am I helpless to stop it from happening again? What can I do to stop it from happening in the future... good call by boss Nick by the way.

[Tonyang]

Hi there Tonyang!

I know you mean well, but fundraising or any other forms of financial solicitations is forbidden in Timog Forum. We all want to help; however, the structure of Timog Forum (or the whole Internet for that matter) is such that it can be easily abused by unscrupulous people who prey on others who are willing to help the needy.

Please note that I'm not talking about this fundraising for the Leyte tragedy but about fundraising and solicitations in general.

If anyone wants to help, please contact a reputable charity organization in the Philippines. How about the Philippine National Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.ph/), for example?


Thanks, Nick. You meant well too. Deep down everyone's nickname or anymosity is a deep concern not to pollute TF and for this, we understood each other's ideas. Now TF becomes the channel to meet folks who would like to share an opportunity. Can't be helped to have many concerned ones to start walking the talk. Should we stop this? There are many of us who would like to help as members of TF. Is this bad?

Is this just a plain forum? No duty attached... just a plain forum? If it is then we're missing the point of what we want to achieve that's why we set up this forum. This is just my personal thought... no harm meant. I think your group just doesn't want to be responsible of anything that will go wrong especially when it comes to money. Alright to prevent such but not to totally abandon the chance I think and believe, Nick.

If you're anticipating something "dreadful" that might start the thread of "fundraising" at TF, how about thinking of the future of the "victims" that we would like to help?

Besides those who want to start this fundraising thread... they should be responsible for the causes and effects. After all, when somebody does that and folks start to respond, they're the ones involved and not TF. Misintrepretations could happen... can't be helped. But then again, we are stopping the chance to have more meaningful undertakings on board. Sayang!

PNRC support is alright... but a principle could be " to help what you know deserves the help" and if you're putting it as a common or general fund and of course, it's the prerogative and belief/trust of the volunteer, "how much of the learning took place that you actually did the act of helping". In many situations, people go for doleouts/money contributions or donation of goods - that's the easiest for many and not bad definitely - pardon me for this. However, we are missing the point of actually learning more than the act itself. One of the reasons why it is not effective is that "the donor does not commit any responsibility after the act of giving". In a nutsell - "did we become part of the solution process" or "did we really care" after all? The answer is YES but the chance to make every volunteer part of the process is limited because it almost ended after the act of giving. Again, I could be wrong in this analysis or I could be writing too much.

Again, it's your call, Nick. You own this forum anyway. More power!

-------------

www.tpmovers.org (http://www.tpmovers.org)

[Tonyang]

LA Times article (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mudslide22feb22,0,61 51475.story?coll=la-headlines-world)

....U.S. Marines, Philippine troops and technicians from Malaysia and Taiwan had to give up digging at the most promising site because the soft, wet mud kept collapsing. They shifted to a spot about 200 yards away.

Radar that is capable of detecting structures 50 feet down has come up blank.

With the landscape drastically changed, no one could be sure they were digging in the right place. Some people suggested that the school was still on the same spot where it had been built; others said it could have been shoved downhill.

--------------------

There are enough experts down there already, I think that they are doing everything humanly possible to save as many lives as they can. These people are trained for this sort of thing. Best thing to do here I think, is to send help through credible channels of your choice, and ask why this happend and try to think what we can do to prevent it from happening again. Also keep in mind, that these disasters, have happened many times before. Im asking myself, what did I do to prevent it? Why am I helpless to stop it from happening again? What can I do to stop it from happening in the future... good call by boss Nick by the way.


Nemoy, when you wrote "enough", you meant in numbers? If the level of help is enough then there should be solutions that are useful now. Thus, do you think the level of expertise is enough kapatid?

[Tonyang]

I agree with Nick........
For how many years now....ako at ang asawa ko ay sa UNICEF namin dinadaan ang share na pagtulong hindi nga lang kalakihan but we share monthly.Andito kami....kaya mas alam nila kung paano at kanino dapat mapunta ang tulong.

As of St.Bernard's disaster,may darating na envelope o furikomi sho for this dito sa amin sigurado.Prayers and hope for survivors is all I have doon sa mga kababayan natin sa St.Bernard.

Japphi, saan dinadala directly ng UNICEF iyung mga tulong ninyo? Do you know? I think you still care where those donations should go...o ok na sa iyo basta bahala na ang UNICEF? Sa Pilipinas ba ito direct o sa mga sakop ng UNICEF?

[Tonyang]

From: help panaon <help_panaon@yahoo.co m>
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 04:26:14 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: LETTER-APPEAL FOR SUPPORT TO LANDSLIDE VICTIMS
LETTER-APPEAL FOR SUPPORT TO LANDSLIDE VICTIMS

Inter-Faith Humanitarian Mission (IFHM)
For the Victims of Brgy. Guinsaugon, St. Bernard
Province of Southern Leyte of the Philippines

February 19, 2006

Dear Friends:

Greetings from the Eastern Visayas region!

Two days after Valentine's Day, several thousands of our brethren in the province of Southern Leyte, particularly in the town of St. Bernard have been victimized by rampaging landslides last February 17, 2006 just before noon. Rocks, mud and debris from Mt. Guinsaugon avalanched over Brgy. Guinsaugon located at its foot after several days of heavy rain. Geologists and experts point to the continuous rain which surpassed the holding capacity of the soil, as the direct cause of the mudslide.

Profile of the Municipality and Affected Barangays

St. Bernard is classified as a 5th class municipality (ranking as one of the poorest/depressed) with an area of 100 sq. kilometers and a population of 23,089.

It is about 105 kilometers from Maasin City, the center of the province and close to 150 kilometers from the center of the region which is Tacloban City. As an agricultural town, it is no surprise that their patron saint is St. Isidore, whose feast date falls on every May 29th.

The landslide occurred in Brgy. Guinsaugon, one of the 30 barangays of the St. Bernard. It is about 9 kilometers from the town proper and is reportedly the 3rd biggest barangay of the municipality with a total of 320 households and a total population of 1,875. The barangay is also said to be located along a faultline.

Religious affiliations of the barangay are predominantly of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).

The Tragedy

It was about 10:30 in the morning of Feb. 17, 2006 under continuing downpour of rain when suddenly an earthquake occurred recorded at 2.6 on the Richter scale (this is being disputed by other reports that the earthquake came after the landslide). After that, the residents just heard a sound more like an explosion followed by tons of mud and the rushing boulders bigger than the size of a house.

It was so sudden that the residents were caught unaware. School was in session and a Women's Health Day celebration was being conducted in the area.
Reports from different monitoring agencies said that the continuous rain for the past week was the immediate cause of the landslide. It is a rainfall-induced landslide. Southern Leyte received about 4 times more than the normal rainfall. (478mm vs. 137mm).

The Aftermath

There was an estimated 45 hectares of mud-covered area with about a 4-6 meter thickness. The school that was located near the mountain was buried under about 35-40 meters of mud.
Buried under the school building were about 206 (246 on other records) students including 6 teachers and 1 head teacher. From varied estimates, it is feared that more than 1,500 residents are buried under the mud. Some municipal officials were feared dead since they had attended the Women's Health Day celebration in the said barangay when the tragedy occurred. They were identified as follows: Public Health Nurse Athena Letigio, Municipal Social Welfare-CIDSS worker Felicidad Ilagan, Midwife Susan Sabandal, Brgy. Guinsaugon Captain Absalon Libaton and some of his council members. Also feared dead was Pastor Neil Toyhacao of the UCCP who was assigned in Brgy. Guinsaugon together with his 6-month old daughter.

Already (as of Feb. 19, 2006), death toll has reached to 72 with 410 individuals rescued. Other reports put the missing at over 900 individuals.

While it is Brgy. Guinsaugon that was hardly-hit, there were also other barangays affected whose residents who already evacuated. These barangays are Ayahag, Sug-angon, Nueva Esperanza, Carnaga, Mag-atas, Hinabian, Malinao, Kauswagan, Libas, Lower Bantawon, Sta. Cruz and Tambis I.

Thousands have already have already evacuated and they are currently taking shelter at the United Church of Christ Church and Roman Catholic Church in St. Bernard, Municipal town hall, Central School, Municipal Auditorium and the Cristo Rey Regional High School.

The Response

Help are coming in from different government agencies and non-government organizations. There have been commitments pouring in from governments abroad. At present, search and rescue operation is continuing but it is being hampered by continuous rain and the mud which is more like quick sands that are threatening the lives of the rescue workers themselves.

Much is still wanting for the victims, their kin and other evacuees. As such, we in the different organizations are trying to do our part of contributing whatever we can do. But we cannot do this on our own and so we knock on your hearts to share your blessings with the lesser fortunate of our sisters/brothers in Southern Leyte, especially during this time of their need.

You may send donations of food, bottled water, clothing, medical supplies, basic house and kitchen wares (cups, pitcher, pails, mats, mosquito nets, and cooking pots) financial assistance and other materials needed for the immediate relief and eventual rehabilitation of the victims of this grim incident.

For the secretariat,

Rev. Fr. Ambrosio "Butch" Avelino
Secretariat, Inter-Faith Humanitarian Mission
____________________ _________
You may donate and extend help to the victims through the following:
Inter-Faith Humanitarian Mission (IFHM) Emergency Operation Center located at Door A Culion Foundation Compound, Brgy 5, Tomas Claudio St., Tacloban City, 6500 Leyte with telephone (+63) (053) 321-5506 or cell phone number: (+63) 910 851 8961 (Johann) and e-mail addresses:

[d_southpaw]

Came across this site of a Japanese NGO. They are also very quick in their actions for supporting Leyte.

http://www.plan-japan.org/topics/060220kinkyu_phil/index.html

taken from that site:

フィリピン　レイテ島南部で大規模な地滑り が発生
緊急／復興支援にご協力をお願 いします！

Maraming salamat sa kanila!!

[Tonyang]

Brod, magandang balita iyan para sa patuloy na pagmo-monitor habang namamatay na ang balita para sa pagpapatuloy ng takbo ng buhay ng mga biktimang nakaligtas. Tuloy-tuloy lang tayo.