Pablo's Devastation

The other day, I said this:

If there's anywhere you don't want to be stuck in during a typhoon, it's coastal Surigao.

I couldn't be more wrong. Well, Surigao del Sur is already in a state of calamity, but thank God there are no casualties. But I was wrong. If there's one place (or two) you wouldn't want to be in when Pablo struck, it's Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Pablo has already left our part of Mindanao, and is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday. But this doesn't mean the storm is over. In fact, for many of our brothers and sisters in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley Province, the storm has just begun.

When Pablo hit ground, Mindanao LGUs were praised because of the preparedness; there were 0 casualties in day 1. Unfortunately, Pablo has a mean streak - almost like that friend who kisses you and stabs you when you turn your back. We were tuned in to the news yesterday, since Y was sick and I didn't work, and as of yesterday, the death toll was around 200. This was already devastating, but the numbers continue to rise. According to Rappler.com, as of this morning, there are already 325, and that doesn't even include the vast number of the missing. This, my friends, is devastation:

Photo from Rappler.com

Photo from Rappler.com

According to various reports and updates, a lot of baranggays in Davao Oriental and ComVal are almost "erased" from the map; what used to be lively communities and even tourist destinations are now wastelands and ghost towns. My heart aches when I see the children in the news, covered in mud and shivering from the cold. But those are the lucky ones. Many are still under the mud and are still fighting for dear life.

I feel so shallow - and heartless - for complaining about our power outage and intermittent internet connection. In reality, I am very, very lucky. I'm thankful we didn't feel the damage here in Davao City. I'm thankful J only had to spend one night in evacuation and has finally gone home to his family earlier. I'm thankful our yaya's family is safe in Capalong, Davao Oriental - even though we heard their small banana plantation is a total wreck.

Friends, if you have a heart, please, please, please send donations to ABS-CBN, GMA, the military, private organizations - whatever, here's a list! People in evacuation centers are badly in need of food, water, clothes, blankets, slippers, cash. I'm sure you have something to give.

On a final note, I'm not in the mood to read the updates I usually get from the blogs I usually follow. It's as if nothing's happening. I know your lives should not stop because of the calamity, and I'm not asking for your life to stop. But please, when Ondoy hit the worst of Luzon, people from Mindanao worked together to help you. That's true. Now, people in Mindanao are dying. When will you help? It's good that your heart goes out to the devastated, but when will you actually go out and help?

Typhoon Pablo

Typhoon Pablo is already in the Philippine area of responsibility as of yesterday. It is supposed to be a really strong typhoon, a super-typhoon in fact, and would be stronger than last year's Sendong - which devastated a lot of brothers and sisters in CDO. 

As of now, various provinces in Visayas and Mindanao are already under signals 1-3. We, in Davao, are already experiencing strong winds (which I can feel from the window beside me while typing). But I'm not worried for myself; we live in a secure place that is not flood-prone and far from the sea. What I'm worried about is J, who is in Surigao, as well as his family. Heck, his boarding house is situated right beside the sea.

Surigao is already under Signal No. 3. I can't help but be worried, but I pray that everyone will be fine. I'm worried especially for J, but I really pray that everyone will be spared from the storm's wrath. 

Photo from National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council's Page

There is nothing we can do but pray and be prepared. Here's another photo detailing what we should prepare before the storm sets in. 

Photo from MinLand Foundation's Page

I already told J to prepare these things. Actually, I was begging him to go home to his family where he would be safer and, at least, be farther from the sea. He told me last night that he can't go home yet as they still have work to do. I'm really hoping the company would suspend work and allow all of them to go home safely.

To everyone reading this, especially those from Visayas and Mindanao, please be safe.