Help for Filipinos Affected by Super Typhoon Odette

Last December 16, 2021 @ 1:00 pm the Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) made its landfall on the southeastern part of the Republic of the Philippines specifically Dinagat islands, Siargao and Surigao City. It was a harrowing experience that cannot be etched out from our memories on what it was to be in the middle of a severe typhoon such as Odette. I was documenting the onset of the event from a three-storey concrete building opposite the Birthing facility along the boulevard in Surigao City and have shared it with our Viber group until all power, water and communications went down at around 2 pm when Typhoon Odette made its landfall.

The actual event is indescribable; that many of the neighbors called it “end of days” and have pleaded the higher being for it to STOP. A desperate cry and prayer for 4 hours -- terrified, holding for dear life, and holding each other. The aftermath was a numbing shock from what we saw of the utter destruction all over the city. And the looters and robbers started prowling in the dark taking advantage of vulnerabilities. That was 7 nights ago. Until now the whole province of Surigao del Norte and the Island Province of Dinagat have no power, no water, and spotty telecommunications. The help that came was from each other on the ground sharing our scarce resource of food and potable water.

This will be a dark Christmas and New Year for the victims of typhoon Odette. What I learned from CDRRMC, the power restoration work will stretch out up to 3 months.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED YOUR LOVE. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS.

We will send what we can gather like tools and aid that I can bring back to the disaster-hit areas as I volunteer myself to help the displaced people and families. Packets of rice, canned goods, instant noodles, water, and cash among others as well as portable generator sets, solar chargers with LED lights, and mini water filtration systems.