Reprinted from Flipland

On Wednesday, August 5th, former President Corazon C. Aquino, will be laid to rest. After suffering from colon cancer for the last year-and-a-half the lady in yellow, “Tita” Cory, quietly passed away at 3:18AM. She was the embodiment of peace, change and hope for millions of Filipinos. That was in 1986 – the year when Filipinos woke up from their complacency and took to the streets for their rights and for their freedom.

I was away at university at that time. I was sitting in my room with the television set glued to CNN as images of the Philippines’ snap elections were being broadcast. I saw images of my friends taking to the streets, some rallying the crowds with fervent speeches and some acquaintances being taken to the emergency rooms after being beaten at the polling stations. It was with frustration and excitement that I sat there with my American friends watching history transpire.

She delivered a magnificent speech to the US Congress in 1986. It was written by now House of Representatives member Teodoro “Teddy Boy” L. Locsin, and she made it greater with her simple, humble and sincere delivery. The members of Congress loved it, and their respect and awe for her was manifested by their outstanding and equally sincere welcome of her to their home.

Cory and her administration will be criticised for their shortcomings in instituting economic and political reforms. But it was her honest resolve to return freedom to her countrymen that gave Filipinos inspiration and hope. These are two conditions that today are seemingly in short supply.

Click here for the speech’s video links

Over the past week or two,  the local papers and online activists have been pummeling HK columnist, Chip Tsao, for his “The War at Home” column. Mr Tsao claims his column was meant as a satire.  However, neither that nor his apology have placated irate Filipino activists.  Amidst the noise, F. Sionil Jose, one of the Philippines’ foremost literay figures, contributes a reasoned analysis of the controversy generated out of Mr Tsao’s column.

Mr. Tsao’s fifteen minutes of fame, or rather notoriety is nearly over. However, the unfortunate circumstances of millions of Filipinos deployed overseas still persists, and it will continue to linger on which is unfortunate for the Philippines as whole.

F. Sionil Jose’s “Why are we ‘a nation of servants’?” - The Philippine Star, 5 April 2009

Chip Tsao’ “Have Hong Kong Girls Stopped Looking for Mr White?” – a reaction

Robert Reich argues that the US needs to see more government spending to get it out of this quagmire. The problem, as he sees it, is not the lack of credit. Rather, the problem lies with the lack of demand. Click here to read his assesment of it all: The Mini Depression and the Maximum-Strength Remedy.

Robert Reich is the nation’s 22nd Secretary of Labor and a professor at the University of California at Berkeley. His latest book is “Supercapitalism.”

The US sub-prime mess, festering since over a year ago, finally crumbled like a deck of cards over the last few months. It quickly degenerated into a global financial crisis. The US Fed stepped in with ad hoc rescues of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG. Lehman was the sacrificial lamb. WaMu and Wachovia collapsed due to exposures to the dubious debt. Many others were facing the same fate. In a couple of months, credit completely disappeared as worries over counterparty risk increased. The contagion quickly spread over the Atlantic hitting the UK, and Europe began their own individual bailout and/or defensive plans. Unfortunately for Iceland, it was too late and it fell apart. Commodity prices sank. Global stock markets plunged. TED Spreads were double, even triple, what they normally have been. Confidence in the financial system was completely destroyed.

The collective expectation was that the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), or better known as the US$700 billion bailout plan, would bring relief to the financial system and resucitate credit flows. That did not happen immediately. Credit is still very tight. Practically no one is lending to anyone. The TED Spread hovered around 4.5. Concerns about global economic growth took a turn for the worse, and today it is being reported that nearly 75% of people in the US already thinks the country is in a recession.  The TARP was finally passed in early October, but the crux of the problem – housing prices – have not been tackled yet.

The media is now asking who is at fault. The banks for willy-nilly giving out loans to everyone? The credit rating agencies? Securitization of mortgages? Missing regulatory framework? Greed? The Fed?  Well, today former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has spoken and said he may have “made a mistake” – that he may have missed the warning signs and the his stance on deregulation may have been off the mark.

Related Links

NYU’s ‘Dr. Doom,’ Nouriel Roubini, says U.S. recession could last 18-24 months

30 September 2008: Andrew Houston, Managing Director of Amba Research, talks about the global credit crisis.

02 October 2008: Michael Spencer, Chief Economist for Asia at Deutsche Bank discussing passage of the US$700 billion bailout plan on the second round, the global credit crisis, implications for Asia and regional market picks. (Apologies to Mr Spencer for the team having used the wrong photo.)

30 September 2008: Former Energy Secretary and now president of Alterenergy, a renewable energy company, Vince Perez talks to us about the Renewable Energy Bill passed by the Senate the day before.

10 October 2008 Albay Gov. Joey Salceda talks about his Php50 billion ‘financial defense’ package.

Business Nightly report on FGEN’s potential new funding on Oct 7, 2008. FPHC president Elpidio Ibañez said that FGEN needs to issue more shares or borrow from market to cover debts falling due.

An interview with current and former government officials and Asian Institute of Management almuni: former cabinet Secretary Rafael Alunan, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. How can governnment attract and retains effective professionals into public service? September 5, 2008.

Part I

Part II

An interview with Pag-Ibig president Romero Quimbo on ANC’s Business Nightly.

Click on image above for more photos

It’s about time. The backlog of cases being heard and/or dismissed has been primarily due to a shortage of judges at the courts. Today, it was announced that the Supreme Court ordered the decongestation of the Manila City Jail. To assist in this effort, the court will rely on its “Justice On Wheels” program.

“An P8-million truck serves as the court sala for the JOW Project. It has a judge and a full court retinue, who mission is to decongest the City Jail and the Manila Youth Rehabilitation Center (MYRC) in the next three months.”

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Related Post

Manila City Jail

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“What would be the best ways of advancing global welfare, and particularly the welfare of the developing countries, illustrated by supposing that an additional $75 billion of resources were at their disposal over a four‐year initial period?”

This was the question posed to a panel of 10 economic experts – 8 of whom are Nobel Laureates. The global challenges discussed were: Air pollution; Conflicts; Diseases; Education; Global Warming; Malnutrition and Hunger; Sanitation and Water; Subsidies and Trade Barriers; Terrorism; Women and Development.  Proposals on how to engage and resolve these challenges were discussed in 30 detailed papers which were presented during this May’s Copenhagen Consensus.

The top priority based upon cost-benefit analysis is combating malnutrition through MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS FOR CHILDREN (vitamin A and zinc). This was given the highest priority after Canadian economist Sue Horton from the Wilfrid Laurier University presented her paper arguing that an economic case can be made for providing micronutrients to children in developing countries. She argues that of the 10 million children deaths per year, 2.8 million perish due to malnutrition, and that 700,000 child deaths can be averted with low-cost, low-tech solutions that could help children, and as they grow into adults, stave off infections, increase cognition and productivity, thereby increasing overall economic output and economic growth.  The cost: US$60 million per year that could translate into a US$1 billion in yearly benefits.

The second highest priority is for FREE TRADE – passage of the DOHA development plan. With DOHA it is estimated that global income could increase by US$3000 billion of which US$2500 billion would go to the developing world. Coming in third is MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION (iron and salt iodinization) of basic foodstuff to address deficiencies in approximately 2 billion people worldwide. With US$19 billion, salt-fortification can be achieved in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe where this is lacking. It can also fund iron fortification in areas such as in sub-Saharan Africa and in South Asia where such activity is practically nil.

Of the 30 solutions presented to tackle the 10 global challenges, the top 10 focus on malnutrition, education and women’s issues. The second 10 mostly focus on water and sanitation, education and diseases.  The last 10 focus mostly on air pollution and global warming issues, with climate change mitigation at the bottom of the list. Based upon the papers and analyses presented to the panel, US$75 billion would not result in benefits towards climate change mitigation. Some experts remarked that the best way to tackle climate change would be to help alleviate poverty, and improve access and quality of education in order to boost overall economic productivity and growth in developing countries. Terrorism did not figure in the list at all and has been determined to be a waste of much needed financial resources in terms or economic cost benefits.

Click the link for the  Copenhagen Consensus 2008 list.

The Copenhagen Consensus 2008 Panel

• Jagdish Bhagwati -  Columbia University
• Nancy Stokey -  University of Chicago
• François Bourguignon – Paris School of Economics and former World Bank-Chief Economist
• Finn E. Kydland -  Nobel Laureate, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Robert Mundell  -  Nobel Laureate, Columbia University
• Douglass C North  -  Nobel Laureate, Washington University in St. Louis
• Thomas Schelling  -  Nobel Laureate, University of Maryland
• Vernon L Smith  -  Nobel laureate, Chapman University

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© 2007 NINFA Z. BITO

I had the opportunity to meet Julia Campbell when we volunteered for typhoon relief work with the Hands On Disaster Response group in Santo Domingo, Albay in February this year. She said she lived in Brooklyn and I thought, “Man, what a change!”. She had been living in the Bicol region for nearly two years and had only about 4 months left before she was to head back home. Her language skills were definitely much better than mine as I heard her fluently speak Tagalog and Bicolano to boot! She managed to weather Typhoon Milenyo. She managed to survive the ferocity of Typhoon Reming, which devastated Legazpi City and the entire Bicol region on November 30th. I was supposed to meet up with her and the HODR gang in Donsol over St. Patrick’s weekend to paint the marine ecological center which she had organized for the community. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to Donsol as planned.

Reuters’ chief photographer Darren Whiteside called me on the Saturday morning after she disappeared. He was asking if I knew of her whereabouts as there was a text message going around looking for her. I casually asked him to forward the message to me, and that I would contact the HODR guys in Santo Domingo to contact her immediately. When it finally came through I was incredulous to read that the NY Times had gotten a phone tip that she was missing. Soon enough I got confirmation from Marc at HODR that she had been missing since Easter Sunday and was last seen in Banaue, Ifugao. I emailed some people and got a note back that rescue teams were being deployed already and that the PNP, the Army, the DFA and the Palace were all in the loop about her disappearance. Now everyone just had to wait, hoping that at best she was just lost or had fallen by accident.

A memorial service was quietly held for her at the US Embassy this past Saturday. It was a solemn affair with some lighthearted moments. Her exuberance for life, generosity and compassion were clearly made evident by the number of people who chose to recount their memories of her. The rescue team, which found Julia, was also invited. When the Peace Corps’ country head acknowledged them, the audience spontaneously stood up and applauded them to show their appreciation for their efforts in finding Julia.

Julia lived a full and meaningful 40 years before she was brutally robbed of her life. Her disappearance and death were overshadowed in the US media by the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. However, it was in the forefront of the consciousness of everyone out here. A friend of mine overhead the manicurists and staff at a salon wondering how this could happen to someone who had given so much to help Filipinos out of kindness. Her disappearance was sadly talked about while everyone quietly hoped, albeit in vain, that she would be found alive. Her memory will live on and will permanently be on the lips of the people she touched in Donsol with the marine ecological center being dedicated to her. We are truly sorry for the loss of the Campbell family and of the Peace Corps community. Julia, may you rest in peace.

The last few weeks have certainly caught up with me. I am writing from my sick bed fighting an awful bug, and sniffling my way through a leaky nose. Thankfully, my body was able to hold out until after I got back to Manila from the Operation Smile medical mission in Cebu. Prior to that, I found myself on an overnight trip to Baguio (which thankfully turned into two nights). Then back to Manila for a couple of days before flying out to Legazpi City to join the Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) volunteers in Barangay San Isidro for a week. Then back to Manila for another couple of days before heading out to Cebu with Operation Smile.

Click on image above for HODR photos in Albay Province.

I always seemed to have a hard time waking up at 6:00AM in NYC, London, or HK, to don on a suit and pantyhose (yes! I did for those of you who did not know me during that lifetime!); but there was no escaping the crowing roosters bellowing away at 5:30AM daily in San Isidro. It was go, go, go! We were out the doors at by 8AM to either tarp or dig lahar. The treat at the end of the day was electricity from a generator set from 5PM to 10PM; a shower in either an outdoor shower or indoor shower; dinner at 6PM sharp prepared by San Isidro’s own Marisa; and, warm beer hurriedly chilled over ice till lights out. Then it was back to bed in sleeping bags over air mattresses tucked into mosquito nets. Just be sure to have your headlamps ready at your side in case you need to make a trip to the loo in the middle of night.

On my first morning in San Isidro, I thought I’d take it easy on my back and lay out tarps on roof tops. I quickly became bored with tarping and went to dig out lahar from the corner of a house instead. When I arrived at the house the first afternoon, I told Tim that something was decomposing underneath that pile of lahar and debris. Two days later, I came upon what looked like a femur. A few minutes later Tim discovered a vertebrae and then what looked like a scapula. All looked too small to be human, and we all hoped it wasn’t human. Soon enough Tim, perched above the buried kitchen, discovers some ribs which turned out to be from a decomposing dog.

There were 20 volunteers when I left San Isidro – all were foreigners who flew out to join HODR when word got to them of the group’s project in San Isidro. They came from all walks of life: a bartender from south London, an ex-corporate banker from London, an Irish electronics engineer who used to work in Silicon Valley, a retired Scotsman who used to work in shipping, a caterer from Seattle, a freelance writer from Brooklyn, a pair of engineering consultants from New Zealand, an investment management executive who quit his job with one of the top investment management firms in NYC to help out the residents of San Isidro. A number of them had joined HODR in their other projects in Biloxi, Mississippi (Hurricane Katrina), Thailand (2004 tsunami ), and Indonesia (Yogjakarta earthquake). By the time the daily evening meeting came to a close on my last night, nearly half of the them had indicated that they were willing to stay until the project ends on April 1st.

Unfortunately I had to leave and return to Manila and then to Cebu for Operation Smile. This is an amazing operation that has been in existence for the past 25 years. Also notable is that Op Smile’s first ever mission was conducted here in the Philippines, in Naga City 25 years ago. Every year an international mission sets out to perform hundreds of surgeries on underprivileged children with cleft lips and cleft palates all over the world. This year’s international mission was held simultaneously in Bacolod, Cebu and Davao with a team of foreign and local surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and pediatricians.

I was amazed at the energy of the international crew who, despite jet lag, managed to plow through hundreds of screenings on the first day, and through an average of 45 surgeries per day. Even more amazing was seeing how the parents reacted after their child was operated on and their cleft lips/palates are repaired. As someone said in Cebu, they thought they’d do these missions for 5 years tops. However, as each year comes along more and more children seem to seep out of from hiding and head out seeking help and hope from Operation Smile’s medical teams.

It has certainly been an interesting month. The only problem is that whatever weight I lost while digging out lahar in San Isidro was quickly replaced by “crispy pata”, “lechon” and whatever else sweet native delights the MSY Foundation pulled out of their magic Cebuano hats.

Related Links

Typhoon Reming (Durian) – The Aftermath

Flipland – Typhoons

Flipland – Relief Operations

Click on the image above to view more photos.

It’s been two weeks since typhoon Durian crashed through the central part of the Philippines severely damaging the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Marinduque and Catanduanes on November 30. The province of Albay was hit with the highest casualty/missing list, as hundreds of tons of lahar and volcanic debris were swept down from the slopes of Mayon volcano and buried entire villages in its path. Bamboo and thatched roof homes, as well as adobe and concrete structures were no match for Durian’s winds of up to 230kph which blew through the area for nearly a whole day (as compared to typhoon Milenyo’s two hours onslaught in Manila), and its 466 millimetres of rainfall. Communication links to most of the area has been severely incapacitated. Legazpi City, Albay and its immediate surrounding areas have been able to get mobile networks running while the others are still very spotty at best. It’ll be a dark holiday season as utilities attempt to repair fallen power and telephone lines. Hundreds are homeless: over 330,000 people in Camarines Sur alone; other sources are quoting nearly 1.54 miliion people have been affected – mostly in the Bicol region.

In Albay province, provincial authorities are focusing on taking care of those who survived the onslaught. Casualty/missing count may reach the thousand mark – with many remaining unidentified or missing as hundreds have been swept away by floods or buried under several feet of lahar. UNICEF, Red Cross, international donors have stepped in to help with relief efforts.

However, much more needs to be done for the long term as relief transitions into rehabilitation/reconstruction. Over 2000 schools have been damaged and their books/learning materials destroyed. Affected individiuals who survived just barely made it with the clothes on their backs, but their source of income (farming) have been buried under mud and volcanic debris or just simply blown away.We are nearing the end of the Philippines’ typhoon season. While in Albay last week, people prayed that not another typhoon would hit. Two days ago typhoon Utor came through and thankfully it was nowhere near as ferocious at Durian. It headed south of the Bicol region, it managed to cancel the ASEAN summit, and it managed to cause damage to the tourist island of Boracay. Being one of the prime tourist attraction for the country, Boracay is well stocked with generators and people motivated to clean up to gear up for holiday makers. Not so the case with Bicol and the areas hit by Durian.

Some positive things about Typhoon Milenyo: 1) it unleashed its winds and fury for no more than two hours before heading out to the South China Sea; 2) it cleared out the air over Metro Manila of that nasty brown cloud called pollution; and, 3) it got rid of those distractingly dangerous billboards along EDSA more effectively than MMDA’s Bayani Fernando’s efforts. Here’s a photo of the air at the Fort at about 3PM this afternoon. It’s taken with my crummy phone camera and it’s the best of the lot as no distracting particles are hanging in the air to distort the image.

The clean-up is still ongoing. Metro Manila, with some parts on still on its 4th day of blackout, was shocked at the severity of the storm. Normally placid areas were subjected to howling winds which increased pressure inside high-rise apartment buildings. Makati’s tree lined avenues and leaf strewn residential subdivisions ended up sounding like an illegal logger’s camp at the end of the storm. Hotels in the city were fully booked over the weekend as those without generator sets sought refuge in Manila’s air-conditioned hotels. Those who stayed put in their homes in Forbes or Dasmarinas could be found at the Polo Club Lounge having their meals, getting online, recahrging their phones and laptops, and showering in the locker rooms.

Bicol, Sorsogon, Samar Provinces… I can only imagine the devastation it is facing today. In my previous post I noted that I was trying to outrun Milenyo through Northern Samar’s remote mountain top villages. I wonder if they are still there….

Video links of typhoon Milenyo and its aftermath in Makati can be found here typhoon, MPC, Dasma – as well as on the sidebar menu on the left. Typhoon photos are here.

Related Links

Flipland – Typhoons

Flipland – Relief Operations

Click on image above for more photos.

For the last two days, typhoon Milenyo (international codename:Xangsane) had been at my heels. Fortunately for me , I misread my itinerary for the Northern Samar leg of an assignment. I was supposed to have stayed in Catarman, North Samar on Monday night. But, having misread the the itineraray details, I insisted on being taken an hour and half’s drive to Calbayog City. The rain started to pour Monday night in Calbayog. By the time my tricycle driver go me to Calbayog airport on Tuesday morning, it was too late. A piece of paper, scotched tape to the shuttered doors of the departure area simply read: “All flights cancelled due to bad weather.”

I puttered my way via tricycle back to the hotel in Calbayog. Afer being convinced that I was being ripped off for tricycle fare, I had to hire the same guy to take me to the “bus” terminal to try and catch some sort of transport to Tacloban City – four and a half hours away. It was the best bet having a slightly “bigger” airport with Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines flying out of it.

I ended up on the first bus that arrived the Linda’s terminal in Calbayog. The tricycle driver noted it wasn’t air-conditioned. Then I had to think about it: 4 1/2 hours sitting in air-condontioning rivaling arctic temperatures, with no toilets on the way, and with recycled air from at least 3 dozen strangers from who knows where and what type of germs. Heck, I boarded the al fresco bus — along with two roosters and a lechon! (At least we wouldn’t go hungry if we got stuck.) The roosters announced each and every stop, and I, in my nylon-like hiking pants kept sliding off the plastic covered seats at each turn and at every bump. My orange windbreaker was the only shield I had against the rain being driven in by the sheer lunatic speed of the bus as it wound its way through narrow mountain passes and dirt roads. We went through some remote areas and I realised that when my Smart mobile phone lost its signal.

By the time I got to Tacloban, I was convinced I had “Rip Me Off!” stamped on my forehead. The first tricycle driver would not tell me the fare to downtown Tacloban unless I got into his side car. The second one just flat out asked me for Php50.00. That about US$ 1.00, but knowing that I was only about a kilometer away from town and that fares in the city were Php5.00 only, there was something wrong. I finally called Roy, who ferried me to Guiuan from Tacloban the previous week, to get the lowdown. Turns out it was no more than Php15.00 and I was shortly on my way to the Hotel Alejandro where I had stayed the previous week. With my backpack securely on my back and my camera bag slung on a shoulder, I walked into the pre-war structure only to walk out in five minutes as there were no more rooms available. I was now in search of  a pension house that the desk clerk said was just around the corner. They had one room left, and I snapped it up immediately and requested for a wake up call at 5:30 AM the next day to catch my flight back.

I woke up the next morning and called Philippine Airlines to check if their 5:45 AM flight was boarding and not cancelled. The gate was just opening for check-in the 24-hour line tells me. Huh? How could that be? It was only 4:45AM and an eager intern at the front desk woke me up an hour early. Oh well, no reason now to miss my flight. And, I finally made it back to Manila.

By Wednesday night, I was told that the next leg of the trip would be re-scheduled on account of the typhoon. I was supposed to go to Daet. I had just managed to escape typhoon Milenyo (codename Xangsane) through the Samar and Leyte provinces, and now I was being scheduled to head straight towards it from Manila. It was with great relief that I welcomed the news that this leg of the trip was to be re-scheduled. I was to stay in Manila and I did.

I headed out this afternoon into the streets of Salcedo Village to experience the wrath of typhoon Milenyo — probably the strongest typhoon to hit the city since nearly a dozen years ago. I had my rain gear on, and battled with the wind as I tried to operate a video  camera and a 35mm still camera in driving rain and whipping winds. Trees were down everywhere! My $40.00 Goret-tex Timberland knock-offs from Kathmandu were flooded, and I was sloshing through rain water. I can safely say that this is the strongest storm I have ever experienced. It wasn’t so much the rain, but the wind. There was no way to beat back the 160KPH gusts that tore through this town.

Click here for a video of typhoon Milenyo

Click on image above for more photos.

After a 10 hour drive through winding roads, and possibly the worst stretch of highway that has been under construction since the ’90s (at least that is what I am told), we finally arrived atop Lignon Hill at 5:30AM on Tuesday, August 8. Mayon was just peeking out from behind a cloud cover and it would only be a few hours before it would be fully hidden from the prying lenses of the media. Alert level 4 was issued on Monday prompting forced evacuations of villages within the Mayon Volcano’s extended danger zone. Off we went to see the deserted villages and hopefully sneak a peek at Mayon and some lava flows. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and we were all left wondering how to get past the cloud cover to get a peek at the volcano. We did get to go up to the lava wall that had been slowly creeping through the Bonga Gully and this is what a volcano outing looks like for the Philippine press corps.

Thankfully we arrived in Manila safely at around 7:30PM on Saturday evening after departing Legazpi at 6AM. An ABC 5 TV crew was not as lucky. After covering President Arroyo’s visit to Legazpi City on Saturday morning they headed back to Manila on the same stretch of road that we took. Somewhere in Pamplona, Camarines Sur their van was rammed into by a speeding passenger bus. I saw the video footage on the early morning news today. There is no way anyone could have survived that crash. Except for that stretch in Quirino (Andaya Highway) most of the roads, although one lane either way, are fine and well paved. However, safety issues abound with speeding passenger buses and cargo trucks whose handlers perceive themselves to be Formula One race car drivers. Worse, there is a perception with provincial drivers that turning off one’s headlights at night while driving will help conserve fuel.

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It’s been a busy week-and-a-half or two for the Philippines. First, there was the Guinsaugon landslide in Leyte. Then a week later President Arroyo puts the nation in a “state of emergency”. Then this afternoon at about 5PM as I was about to enter pre-prod Giana rings me to ask if I had heard about any troop movements at the Marines HQ in Fort Bonifacio. I made some calls and nothing could be confirmed. A few hours later, all hell broke loose and everyone and their mothers were being called for another “People Power”-like gathering, or heading out to Fort Boni in the hopes of being part of what could possibly be another historical turn of events in the Philippines.

Was there a coup? Did PGMA lose her military backing? After the meeting Martin and I headed out to Fort Boni to see for ourselves. I was advised to take the Pasong Tamo route into Fort Boni, but by the time we got there that had been blocked by EDSA. I headed out down the McKinley way and was blocked from getting no further than Essensa, so I parked the car at the guest parking lot beside one of the residential buildings and walked down to the barricade a few blocks away.

No way was I going to get in. I found a few other photographer buddies waiting it out, having their cigs and contemplating a drink or two. Around 10:30 we decided to call it quits and headed for the Makati Shangri-la in search of fresh fruit juice.

The night before I decided to get out of St. Bernard. A lot of noise was being heard about rallies being held and another coup possibility. The 20th Anniversary of People Power/EDSA I was this weekend and I decided to cover it, in case something happened. Capt. Parmer and Gunnery Sgt. Ray, US Marines PAOs for the Balikatan exercises, came through and arranged for me to be on the first chopper flight out of St. Bernard. I then rang up my Air Force contacts to check if there was another C-130 transport plane I could hitch a ride on. Unfortunately not. It was 10PM and I still had no idea how to get back to Manila from Tacloban. Patrick and Marites were nowhere to be reached, but finally Trina rang back and I begged her to get me on a PAL flight out the next day. Thanks to her, this solved the logistical problem of my “Amazing Race”-like trip to Leyte.

While still at St. Bernard we heard that Col. Danilo Lim was arrested and that a coup had been “thwarted” in Manila. In the meantime, the Taiwanese rescue team, as well as the US and Philippine troops were mobilizing at base camp to head out to the site to try and search for the ever elusive school house. The rains may have washed away the earth burying the school house roof making it visible, but at a location estimated to be approximately 330 metres from its original site. By this morning, it was decided that the terrain leading to the original school house site was too dangerous and recovery operations were to be restricted to the lower elevation of the disaster area.

It was about 10:30AM when we finally touched down at the Tacloban airport. The Spanish K-9 rescue team had flown in one chopper, and I was in the second one with Red Cross volunteers who had spent the entire week at St. Bernard tirelessly searching for the lost residents. I immediately ran to the PAL ticket office to get my ticket and while waiting in line watched President Arroyo declare a “state of emergency”. Well, at least I was in Tacloban. I checked in my backpack with K&K’s sopping wet tent attached to its bottom bound by duct tape, then went to lunch. The “Amazing Race” travel bit was nearing its end, but I still had to figure out how to get to Villamor Air Force Base where I left my car parked in front of Base Ops. Manila was on heightened alert. I was pretty sure that base security would not have let in stinky, gear-laden moi with her mud-caked Gortex boots set even her big toe into its perimeter.

While waiting for the luggage carousel to disgorge my duct taped backpack, SMS messages came flying in that the EDSA rally had been dispersed and that Cory was the Paseo de Roxas triangle. I was able to get a taxi relatively quickly, headed for Villamor and was lucky to get in touch with my contact there to get me in. Leyte was done. Now it was time to check out the rallies and figure out what was going on.

Click here for photos.

Related Links

Guinsaugon Landslide 01

Guinsaugon Landslide 02

Guinsaugon Landslide 03

It rained all through the evening and it was still pouring when the camp stirred to life. By 7AM rescue teams set out for the sodden site to search for the school building. By 9AM US Sea Stallion choppers were busy buzzing back and forth between the base camp and the site. A decision was made to extricate the Taiwanese and the US Marines who were at the site. The rains had made the ground dangerously unsafe and and its terrain ever changing. Two Taiwanese rescuers had to be pulled out from the muck, but not before insisting that the chopper pull up a corpse they had unearthed from the area. Marines were soon pulled out and by noon Gen. Ramos ordered the suspension of search and recovery activities for the day.

The team the Red Cross sent out was heading back when they came upon a body that had been dug up by another rescue team. In the other team’s haste to pull out, they decided that it would be unsafe for them to bring the body back with them. Leo, the Red Cross field leader, then ordered his team to bring back the body with them.

I hopped onto a payloader to cross the river and check out the forensics team identifying the bodies. There were about 14 bodies that had been recovered over the last few days and a sickeningly sweet stench pierced the air. I forgot to bring my mask and ended up on the wrong side of the wind. There was child amongst the bodies; most were naked or had their clothing snipped off for inspection. I kept trying to think about how I was feeling about being up close to this scene, but nothing seemed to kick in. I just kept taking pictures, but I guess that was a way to distract myself from the reality of it all.

On a happier note, a US Marine Sgt. Kemp Miller was reunited with his long lost grandfather who lives in Jaro, Leyte. Miller had been sent back to his ship when he got word that his grandfather was looking for him and was making the 6 hour bus ride to base camp to see him. His superior officers allowed him to return to base camp and at about 10AM this morning, both were engulfed by a hungry media looking for a story. They both gave the obligatory interviews and then retired into a tent where Miller shared MREs with his grandfather.

By the mid-afternoon I found myself at the evacuation center at St. Bernard. The school housed about 4 neighboring barangays that were evacuated from the vicinity. During the day, the locals would return to their homes to retrieve personal items. However, those I spoke to would rather be relocated out of fear of being confronted with this tragedy again. I asked what they needed most – most said, “Money.” Sending relief goods is the humanitarian act to do; but, most of these goods may end up in the markets to be sold, even at a discount, just so the recipients can get some money to re-start their lives.

US Marines were scattered all over the place attracting crowds of young children brimming with curiousity, and hoping to practice their English language skills. Helicopters dropped into the grassy field in front of the school every 20 minutes or so, disgorging more personnel or more relief goods. Further up the road was the St. Bernard Municipal Hall – the operations base for the LGU and the US Marines.

Leyte was lucky that Balikatan exercises were scheduled for the same week. As soon as word of the tragedy broke out, the US command diverted troops away from the exercises and into search and rescue missions. Troops from the engineering corps could be spotted along muddy roadways and river banks dumping gravel or setting up make shift bridges to facilitate access to the areas. Lines of Marines linked up to dig and move rocks. The Chinooks and Sea Stallions were an indispensable in ferrying rescue teams, volunteers, the media and even some members of the Philippine Armed Forces to and from Tacloban. The Philippine Army was present and in charge of the field operations, while the US was to provide assistance and support wherever it was needed. However, the impact of the Army’s presence paled in comparison to the efficiency and the urgency which was projected by the US contingent.

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Guinsaugon Landslide (2)

7:22 AM —- I have not had coffee nor breakfast. I am sitting on the floor, in the rear of a Philippine Air Force C-130 transport plane leaning against an assortment of bags and boxes of relief goods bound for Tacloban, Leyte. This is the first leg of the trip that will eventually take me to St. Bernard to the site of the Guinsaugon disaster. There are about 50 relatives of surors and victims of the Guinsaugon tragedy crammed into the hull of this flying tin can. The rest are media people and Philippine Air Force personnel. I think I chose the wrong spot. I could feel the bags and boxes pushing against me as we take-off for out flight.

10:22 AM — Step 1 completed: We’ve arrived at the Tacloban airport. It’s hot! I have to keep hydrating myself and I quickly feel the weight lightening off my camel back as I take sips from the hose. I’ve got another 6 pack of water in my backpack to keep me going these next few days, but at the rate I was swigging water I fear that I may have not brought enough.

We are waiting at the VIP Lounge. This air-conditioned area has been turned into the US Marines’ airport command post. Fatigue-clad personnel scurry about talking into radios and carrying boxes of all kinds. In the middle of the room, boxes of MRE’s are stacked up against a planter box for easy access. And for once, military efficiency has made going to an airport’s women’s toilet a pleasant experience by making sure that toilet paper, paper towels and soap have been all provided.

Two Indonesian Air Force planes arrived bearing relief goods and rescue personnel. Outside, US Marines and Philippine Army troops load a truck with mineral water and fuel for generator sets.

In between lulls of activity, a US Marine take in the sight from the tarmac and click off a few shots on their digi cams. Several members of the media, a Turkish rescue team, an Army PAO and myself are all waiting to hear what time we can hitch a flight out to St. Bernard on a Chinook helicopter. We were given a pre-flight briefing and Step 2 of the travel leg is nearly done. Next thing to do is to find a place to sleep in tonight.

2:00 PM — After nearly 20 minutes circling off the coast of St. Bernard we finally arrived at the St. Bernard base camp site. I gingerly make my way through the soft and mushy ground being careful not to keel over from all the weight I am carrying. As soon as I get closer to the camp, I see CNN’s Hugh Rimington discussing the situation with some other people. Out of nowhere I hear someone say, “Hey cuz!” It was Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, running around with CNN.

Tents are pitched all along the river bank. Four wheel drive vehicles compete with military vehicles for access on the narrow dirt road in and out of camp. It is disorganized organization and it’s difficult to ascertain who is in charge. The American presence is overwhelming. Fatigue green is the color of the day. Gigantic bladders with “Drinking Water” stenciled on it are attached to filtration systems. I went to look for the Philippine National Red Cross and their K-9 team and found them on a spot along the river next to the US medivac area. I immediately pitch Kath and Kevin’s tent next to the Red Cross’ tent. The sun was still out, but gray clouds were looming over the horizon and soon enough they would hit us. At about 3PM I leave base camp with two Red Cross volunteers to head out for Barangay Magatas.

The most immediate access way to the site is to cross the river; however, the walk is torturously long through mushy earth. We chose to access the site via Magatas from where we walked for about 30 minutes along a dirt road. As soon as we reached the periphery of the landslide area the change in scenery was striking. Officials estimate that about 20-30 metres of rock and earth blew out from the top of the mountain and buried . I was now looking straight into a barren landscape of volcanic soil and boulders instead of lush green rice fields and coconut covered slopes. Locals say that they heard rumblings that sounded like heavy machinery or helicopters before the mountain top exploded and spewed out what they thought was black smoke. It turned out to be soil and rocks which eventually rained down upon Guinsaugon.

We made our way to a site thought to have been the original location of a school house where over 200 children and their teachers were trapped in. Several rescue teams and experts had converged around the site and dug a deep hole had been dug up. A geologist team was scanning the area, but still no luck. Slowly I realize that no matter how sophisticated the equipment or how efficient a rescue dog’s sense of smell is, the amount of earth that has been piled atop this area is just way too much of a challenge for any of the experts or optimist to compete against.

Dusk was setting in and the Red Cross volunteers were recalled back to camp. We hitch a ride with a dump truck that was ferrying gravel. We needed to cross a river with a torrential current and got stuck in the middle. A US marine wades out and hitches us onto a tractor to pull us out of the current and we head back to base camp. Dinner was at the municipal gym which was taken over by the Red Cross as it base ops. I’ve had two bites from a protein bar all day and was feeling a wee bit hungry. Canned goods cut open with a spoon were passed around. After a long day in the heat and being on your feet all day long, a can Fiesta Ham (if that’s what it’s called) with rice is like a gourmet treat to cap off the day. It began to pour heavily in the late afternoon and everyone is drenched to the bone.

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Landslides seem to be the dominant event in the news in the Philippines this week. Yesterday, it was reported that heavy rains resulted in a landslide in Negros Oriental; the day before that another was reported in Zamboanga. However, it has been the landslide in St. Bernard in southern Leyte that has dominated the headlines. So massive was the destruction when the entire mountainside buried an entire village that it deflected attention away from the “Wowowee” stampede disaster about 2 weeks ago that it hardly figures in the local news anymore.

Rain and bad weather seems to be hanging over the disaster area making rescue efforts difficult. Search and rescue dogs from the Philippine Canine Search and Rescue Foundation, Inc. were deployed on Saturday morning. Bad weather forced the team to be transported by land rather than by helicopter and it took them nearly 6 hours to reach the area from Tacloban City. Text messages were flying around yesterday that 50 survivors were found. Unfortunately it was just a rumour and the possibility of finding survivors decrease exponentially everyday. Most are now searching for corpses instead. So far, 94 deaths have been confirmed with more than 1000 more listed as missing.

More sophisticated search equipment is needed to sift through and dig through all the mud and the debris. I guess, fortunately for the Philippines, US forces are in the country for “Balikatan” training exercises. Apparently a total of 5500 US troops are in the country for training exercises – 3000 have been re-deployed to Leyte to help local and international serach and rescue teams in the area.

I’ve just found out that I am scheduled out on a C-130 transport flight to Leyte at 7AM tomorrow morning. Hopefully this pans out. Apparently, that flight is being prioritized for the dependents/relatives of victims/survivors in Leyte. Seven other media personnel and 3 PAF personnel are also listed for the flight. Looks like step 1, getting there, is pretty much set. Step 2 is getting to St. Bernard from Tacloban. Step 3 – finding a place to sleep: well I’ll have to figure it out when I get there. I’m off to pack my sleeping bag and to borrow a tent.

Click here for photos

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After being informed that I was awarded 1 out of 4 photojournalism grants by the Panos Foundation I prepared to head out to Kathmandufor a 3-day workshop. In no time I was booking a flight and requesting for a much coveted window seat on the right hand side of the plane. Apparently, this is the best side to get a view of the Himalayas as the plane approaches Kathmandu for landing. Unfortunately, the airline’s Philippine staff did not understand what “a seat away from the wing” meant and planted me right smack in the middle of it. That was annoying, to say the least.

The Kathmandu airport reminded me a bit of the airport in Laoag (bricks and all) – so that means that is is even more appealing to the eye than the decrepit building of an airport we call NAIA. I panicked a bit when I got out of the airport to look for the hotel shuttle. I forgot to ask what the tipping convention was in Nepal, and I was afraid that I may give too much, or too little. I spotted the guy with the Panos sign and he immediately assisted me with my luggage. He was one of those freelance porters that the hotel rep had allowed to hold the sign. He and the rep escorted me and another “Japanese”-looking fellow passenger to the van. After some frantic questions from me about how much to tip the porter, I handed over Nepali Rp100, or about US$1.40.

On the way to the hotel, the driver asked where I was from and I mentioned that I was from the Philippines. Almost immediately, the “Japanese”, who was sitting in front of me, turned and says: “Pinoy ka pala!” (“You’re Filipino.) Whoa! He turned out the be Conrad, a Bangkok-based Filipino working for the FAO. He probably would’ve said something in Tagalog to me about tipping, had he known that I am “Pinoy”. But, he thought I was some sort of “British-Chinese” traveler with my Timberlands and equipment bag. Then he tells me that I tipped the porter way too much and that Rp20.00 would’ve done the trick. I learned quickly after that.

That evening Conrad and I decided to walk from Durbar Marg to Thamel, the tourist area, for dinner. This certainly felt like I was going back in time with every step into the maze of darkened and unpaved alleys. I could feel the culture being solidly intact as we wandered through centuries old buildings made out of bricks and wood with their low-slung doorways. Then, suddenly, I was jolted back into the modern age as I entered one of the neighborhood’s temples and heard Christina Aguilera blaring through invisible speakers.

The next 3 days were spent at the Panos workshop where we discussed issues regarding tuberculosis with WHO, Stop TB and other industry experts. Workshop participants came from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt and the Philippines (Kay Alave from BusinessWorld was awarded a print journalism grant). There was a lot of ground to cover, but our group was manageable enough. I’d wake up at about 4:30 AM each day to take advantage of the coolness of the early morning and the softer light. Although it was the monsoon season, the heat could be appalling. By 9:30AM the sun would be too up high giving off the most ferocious glare. I was told that there really isn’t dusk in Nepal. It’s just way too high up to get a proper sunset. The sun just shoots straight up from underneath the Himalayas and straight back down underneath it at sunset. Waking up early had its advantages a I could get to nearby Patan’s Durbar Square and witness the locals go about their daily morning routines and temple visits. Plus, the tourist police were not in place yet and you can get into the square without having to pay the entrance fee.

Nepal is cheap! Nepali food is not very spicy at all. Their version of rice wine is another matter. Served in a shallow dish the size of a soy sauce dunking dish at a Chinese restaurant, this liquid poison leaves a trail of heat and spicyness as it flows down your throat into your digestive tract. Plus, its alcoholic content is lethal. Cuisines abound: Indian, Chinese, French, Mexican, Continental, Italian, and even a proper wood-burning oven for pizza. Of course, all that is in Thamel.

Traffic is a killer. There are no rules and the motorcycle rules. That is if there are no cows around. It’s common to be grazed by a rickety taxi or bumped into by a noisy motorcycle. I did witness a woman being hit by one of those two wheel monsters. Her feet went straight up into the air, then the grating of metal, the blaring of car horns and the screeching of brakes. There was silence for about 30 seconds, then before I knew it the woman was up on her feet, hands on her head and screaming at the motorcyclist. Crossing the street in Kathmandu is like being in a pinball machine!

I wish I had had more time to explore other areas. It would’ve been interesting to experience being “taxed” by the Maoists and receiving a receipt (I did hear a story that indicated that these guys know that the Euro FX rate is more favorable than the US Dollar FX rate.). Generally, the locals are corteous and hospitable. And, like most third world countries, the children were not bashful in asking for cash. Although still steeped in tradition, hip-hop music compete with chants and hymns throughout the area, and beautiful saris are accesorized with the latest designer sunglasses. No point in riding a Mercedez through Kathmandu’s mostly unpaved streets and alleys. A white Land Cruiser, with some sort of agency logo, is the “in” modes of transport. It’s time travel back to a place where life is much simpler and where culture, architecture and tradition is heavily intact. The whole country should be declared a UNESCO Heritage Site, if it isn’t already (is it?).

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In the early morning hours of 14 March 2005, 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) detained at Camp Bagong Diwa overpowered jail guards and took over the facility. They had taken over a building housing 129 Abu Sayyaf members. The group had demanded for a) rights to speedy trial; b) more visitation rights; c) to speak to actor Robin Padilla, a Muslim-convert, and a Mindanao congressman; and, d) access to the media among others.

Although police authorities had agreed to the demands, the stand-off continued. At approximately 9AM the following morning, Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced to the media that the group would be given 15 minutes to peacefully surrender. With no signs of complying with the ultimatum, flash bombs were exploded at approximately 9:15AM to signal the start of the assault. Tear gas was deployed and fire trucks were brought into the jail yard to hose down those affected by the tear gas.

After nearly two hours of gunfight, 23 people died in the assault. Among those killed were 3 top Abu Sayyaf leaders — Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot; Alhamser Limbong, alias Commander Kosovo; and Nadjmi Sabdulla, alias Commander Global.

Click on the image above for photos.

On 29 November 2004, flash floods swept through Infanta, Real and General Nakar in Quezon Province. Residents talk about how cold, turbulent waters swelled to heights of 15-20 feet and swept through their barangays in a span of three hours. Rice fields, homes and everything in its path were destroyed by the mud and logs that accompanied the flood. With the only road leading into the area blocked by landslides, Infanta was isolated for nearly a week. With no electricity, communications, drinking water, or food Infanta residents had to rely on relief to be brought in by air, weather permitting. Access by sea was dangerous at best. Inclement weather made for big waves and the coastline was blocked by tons of logs that ended their journey along the coastline.

“Kung walang mga troso, ‘di ganoon kalaki ang tubig.” (If there were no logs, the flood would not have been that big). This was a common sentiment amongst the people of Infanta. Survivors tell a common tale of having to completely disrobe so as not to be weighed down and drowned by their mud-laden clothes; of crawling their way to rooftops or tree branches atop dangerously floating logs; of punching holes through ceilings to escape rising flood waters; of swimming in turbulent waters as torpedo-like logs battered them; and, of waiting for daybreak atop whatever safety they could find only to find their homes completely washed out or buried in mud.

Thousands became homeless. Schools were not re-opened until mid-January as they had to be dug out of mud and cleared of debris. Most of Infanta’s residents were left with no means to generate income. The majority of agricultural land and irrigation canals remain buried in mud rendering them useless. Desiltation is ongoing and is emptying out in the estuaries destroying marine life and fishing areas. Housing is a problem and most of those affected are uncertain of what prospects they have for relocation or for housing materials.

As the the first quarter of 2005 draws to an end, the biggest challenge facing relief organizations, government and NGOs is how to maintain the momentum for giving as the relief phase shifts into rehabilation and recovery. Food security is the biggest problem as the residents of Infanta have had their entire livelihoods washed out by the flood.

The Manila City Jail (MCJ) has been ravaged by time. It is under-staffed, overcrowded, and its facilities in disrepair. Originally built by the Spaniards in the 19th Century, “Bilibid”, as it is commonly known, was home to prisoners of war during the Japanese occupation of Manila in World War II. Today it houses over 5,300 inmates – a 5x overcapacity rate – on 1.2 hectares, making the MCJ undoubtedly one of the most over-congested jail facilities in the country.

As of August 2004, the Bureau of Jails Management & Penology (BJMP) had an average of 54,582 detainees in its city jails nationwide. On average approximately 92% are awaiting trial, while the remaining 8% are convicted felons serving sentences from 3 years and below. The MCJ houses approximately 24% of the total city jail population in the National Capital Region (NCR), or 9.4% of the total jail population of the country. It is a social and health catastrophe due to an excruciatingly slow criminal justice process and a severe lack of funding for the BJMP and the Judiciary.

On average it takes between six (6) months to a year for a detainee to be arraigned or get his/her first hearing. Court dockets are so backlogged that a judge or Justice has an average case load of over 1,000 cases. This is due in part to the high ‘vacancy rate’ being experienced in the lower courts. As of September 2004, the ‘vacancy’ rate in the lower courts was at about 34%. In the city of Manila, seven (7) out of fifty-six (56) Regional Trial Courts (RTC) are designated as Special Drug Courts. In September 2004 only two (2) out of these seven (7) courts had presiding judges, the rest were “vacant”. With nearly 35% of the Manila City Jail Population awaiting trial for drug offences, the courts are stretched to its limits.

Based upon the “Action Program for Judicial Reform” study by the Supreme Court, the Judiciary has seen its share of the national budget consistently decline. With allocated funds from the national budget at 1.17% in 1998, the Judiciary has seen its share of funding from the national budget steadily erode from 1.1% in 2001, to 1% in 2003 to 0.9% in 2003. Shrinking funding allocations makes it even more difficult for the courts to attract and retain qualified personnel. It is estimated that the compensation packages the Judiciary is able to offer are 72%-84% below the prevailing rates being offered in the private sector for comparable positions.

Funding for the BJMP has always been a problem. Since 1999 its Mainteneance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), as a percentage of the national budget, has been less than 0.5%. It is from this allocation that the BJMP takes its funds for its meal allowances of Php35.00 per day per inmate (approximately US$0.64 per day).

The medical/health situation is extremely tenuous at the MCJ. Its medical staff is under-manned, its facilities lacking and its medical supplies under-supplied. Over-congestion and the lack of properly ventilated facilities makes the jail a breeding ground for illnesses. Respiratory illnesses is rampant with Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB)topping the list. Skin diseases are also rampant and detainees frequently complain about feeling “manas” – the swelling of the body due to inactivity.

Without the political will and funding support from the governemnt, decongesting court dockets and hence the jail facilities will be an impossibility.