General Info

I hope Catholic Charities and The phil's Catholic church, have enough trained manpower, resources, means and networking to distribute aids quickly to the needy.

US Navy' commanders should instruct their air crews to throw aids directly on the population and into churches' properties liek they did before in the Adaman sea tsunami.

When the needs for victims' survival are so large and so urgent as in this typhoon Yolanda disaster, any means or any organizations should be used to fill the needs quickly first. Then afterward, I hope the bros will analyze the effectiveness, efficiency and failures of various organizations and charities, and let the rest of the world know the results.


[QUOTE=Sammon; 1496305]I think in Phi best thing to do is distribute aid through the church. Phi people are generally afraid of the church. They are not afraid of government, police, military.

If the our military aid is air dropped local corrupt leaders will hoard it and sell to people. There needs to be a distribution system so the needy people get it. I hope in this time of need people do not keep the aid for themselves rather share it with others.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=LukeSkywalker; 1496310]The US bought Hawaii long before that. I don't see how Hawaiians, being the same Polynesian stock, were any better than their neighbors in the Philippines such that the US had to pay a very high price to buy over their islands, but their location was smack in the center of the Pacific with a deep harbor in Honolulu, enabling the US' diesel-driven fleet full coverage of the entire ocean.

As of 2012, 1 division of US Marines has been sent to Australia to cooperate with Australian defense forces to dig in a defense line on the North coast.[/QUOTE]The US never really "bought" the PI, nor Hawaii for that matter; not as in a land purchase agreement such as the Seward Alaskan deal or the Louisiana land purchase. The 20 million USD paid circa 1898 was more to settle the Spanish American war in part simply because funding the war itself was going to cost that much or more. Hawaii in contrast was "purchased" by individuals (US, European) who negotiated private sales of real estate with individual chieftains. The US did annex and later incorporate HI into statehood, but by the 20th century most "Hawaiians" were ancestral descendants of immigrants and not truly Hawaiian nationality. So by the time "democracy" and voting were established in HI, the original tribal Hawaiians had lost all forms of power. HI has also always been worth much more to the US in strategic and commercial terms than PI ever has or will be. In the PI of course the US ended up killing quite a few pinoys to impose her rule. From the Spanish to US and Japan, pinoys have only been stepchildren and that's how their Govt and for that matter disaster management has evolved.

It will be interesting to see how much actual aid is delivered by the USN et al especially with the sequestration effects on the US military. The joint chiefs are howling about the US military in general losing all manner of combat preparedness, resources etc; will a humanitarian crisis in the PI get a meaningful response from the US govt and DOD?

Small correction on the Aussie based USMC; really that's an augmented battalion there, maybe a brigade in the coming years; just enough for a footprint, plant the flag and let the Aussies know we have their 6. I think we have about 1500 there now and a division is more like 15-20, 000.

[quote=econo tech;1496197]though, as i said before, a filipino voice has started saying "donate directly, not via the govt" and then the ph govt says, items that are routed through them are the only items duty exempt, all else taxable.[/quote]i was stunned to read et's comment but a quick check indicates it may (emphasis on may) have been a rumor and was quickly clarified that there would be no taxes on donated items. the customs commissioner, ruffy biazon, said it was a rumor started over a lufthansa shipment and that the relief goods were released immediately and exempted from taxes.

however, i did find that donated goods must be accompanied by paperwork and items of clothing will apparently be confirep001ed by the philippine department of social welfare and development (dswd). i'll assume these asshats think adding an additional, unnecessary step in the process will make things better. i've managed to talk to a few people in the tacloban area and there were 3 items they said they needed critically; food, water, and clothing. i was surprised there was no mention of shelter but i would also imagine filipinos are finding a way to shelter themselves; they are a resilient people. if the dswd is in fact fucking things up by confirep001ing clothing, they need to be shot.

[url]http://customs.gov.ph/news/2013/11/12/processingreleasing-of-foreign-donated-shipments/[/url]

The coverage of the post-Yolanda disaster is massive, both in the international and local broadcast and print media. Many of the articles and programs express astonishment that no one from the government is in charge. It's only the enormity of the international relief effort that's offering any solace and assistance to the survivors. One Tacloban resident who survived the storm was quoted in Le Monde as saying that he thought the helicopters of the Philippine government were there to look at the scenery since they weren't being used to provide any assistance.

The bland indifference on the part of the national government to the suffering of it's own citizens is more than bewildering; it's incomprehensible.

GE

Yo Gents, I hope I'm not the only perv to donate to the relief effort of the Philippines. The tragedy is catastrophic and they need help badly. I donated a couple of bills to [url]https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/onetime.cfm[/url] 2 days ago. When I donated the funds they had a box you could check stating that your donation was strictly for the Philippines. Now I don't see that box. I called them to complain and they said it was a technical glitch. Well I don't know if I can recommend DWB but if you look around there are other options.

I hope there are guys here that can afford to help these people in their time in hell and maybe make it survivable. These people in Tacloban and a huge surrounding area have no water, food, or a roof over there head. The survivors (many of them) watched their loved ones die in the rushing waters. If they found their dead loved ones there is no where to bury them, we're talking thousands of dead bodies twisted in the mud and rubble, the survivors are left to sleep and starve in the same rubble.

This is beyond words to understand. I gave $200 and I will give another $200 in a week or so. To watch this disaster play out on CNN is heartbreaking, I feel really bad for every one of them. I never liked Anderson Cooper but he is doing a great (and I mean great) job, describing the hell the locals are going through. I have to say he is very impressive in this coverage. Before his reporting from the PI I thought he was just a talking head. I am stunned by the strengh of these people that live there. I hope all mongers can spare some dough for this cause.

Good luck to the survivors.

[QUOTE=Socker;1496463]Good luck to the survivors.[/QUOTE]PS: to those not in the know, keep your criticism of Aquino's leadership within the expat crowd, or online.

As usual as many Filipinos are disgusted by his style, many more are madly ready to commit harakiri to defend PNoy's honour. After all, he took over from a dirty president (Arroyo) and he has cleaned out corruption, and of course, he lost his mother and that was a great reason to elect him in right?

And as usual the PH Church has waded in to not see his mistakes, but to glorify PNoy's good deeds, like being onsite, firing some govt officials. Not declaring Martial Law. Etc.

Here in SG, a local almost got beat up by Proud Filipinos, who don't believe anybody could have done a better job. Though it is 7 days since the disaster hit and nobody knows who is in control, nor did anybody own up to not preparing for a well-recognised Cat 5 storm.

And to add to the comedy, many Filipinos insist that the weather warning didn't warn of Storm surge, and that could have saved lives. Yah right.

[QUOTE=OralFanatic;1496368]I was stunned to read ET's comment but a quick check indicates it may (emphasis on may) have been a rumor and was quickly clarified that there would be no taxes on donated items. The Customs Commissioner, Ruffy Biazon, said it was a rumor started over a Lufthansa shipment and that the relief goods were released immediately and exempted from taxes.[/QUOTE]In Singapore the PH Embassy has reminded to route all donations via DWSD, to avoid taxation. No, I didn't want to bother asking too much details.

Of course, the comedy is, those kababayan boxes are rarely taxed. So many are anyway not bothering and sending stuff via the Kababayan boxes.

I remembered when I was stopped in NAIA years ago, and asked to pay tax for a old sound system I was taking to gift a church. The Officer did say if I had packed in normal boxes, he could have let me go, but I packed in the original boxes, and he didn't want to be seen inept if he didn't intercept it. Especially since a Foreigner was bringing in "taxable" items.

No kidding, when I told him the thing was worth not more than 100$, he made ma pay 10$ or so in taxes, I have the recipt. As he again, didn't want to be seen letting me go without any tax being levied.

That's the reality.

My Filipino friends are all shipping any relief stuff by LBC / AFreight, JollyB Box and the likes, knowing they will not be taxed, as they are all declared as 'personal effects'

[QUOTE=GoodEnough; 1496400]The coverage of the post-Yolanda disaster is massive, both in the international and local broadcast and print media. Many of the articles and programs express astonishment that no one from the government is in charge. It's only the enormity of the international relief effort that's offering any solace and assistance to the survivors. One Tacloban resident who survived the storm was quoted in Le Monde as saying that he thought the helicopters of the Philippine government were there to look at the scenery since they weren't being used to provide any assistance.

The bland indifference on the part of the national government to the suffering of it's own citizens is more than bewildering; it's incomprehensible.

GE[/QUOTE]A further depressing fact is that some think the international media is not telling the truth GE.

I was shown some Facebook posts shwoing a picture of Anderson Cooper and the lady anchor from one of the local news stations. She was quoted as saying "I don't know what he (ie A Cooper) is talking about"). Based on ths likley stupid post many pinays all believed the lady and felt that the government was doing a good job and the media were wrong and biased agianst Filipinos and the country (cpmpletely barmy IMHO). I did point out the girl that this was rubbish and the post was someone trying to deflect criticism etc but she said I was anti Filipino if I thought that and on the side of the international media (I also pointed out that much of the aid work and workers are foreign. Tho\is made her think!)

Again PNoy has been caught with his pants down, saying recently that the death toll was around 2000 when the BBC today quoted a sign in Tacloban that said the death in the city alone was 4500. And the President is asking the media to be fair (maybe a veiled reference to the local boys to "tow the government line or else"?)

Other educated pinays I know and meet are more forthcoming and outspoken. They understand the problems and allocate blame fairly IMHO and are saying the government will pay at the ballot box but what would the next lot of family dynasty politicians do?

As a post script and not on the subject of the typhoon but based on what some are saying, a recently article in the Inquirer about young Estrada complaining that the DOJ wanted his passport due to his alledged dealings in the pork barrel scam resulted in many (all negative) comments. One guys called hima "pig" and felt he should be in the "pig pen with all the others", was an interesting read and I was surprised to read such vitriole. As it was Estrada left the country saying he would return soon (watch this space).

Lots of heart-breaking images:

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/14/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/[/url]

Just watched an Anderson Cooper video in which he interviewed the US Marine Corps General, who lamented that he didn't have enough trucks to distribute relief supplies. When questioned, he indicated that the Government of the Philippines has provided a total of 8 trucks! Eight trucks! What the hell is the matter with the government here. In another video Cooper said that the people here are used to being let down by their government, and in fact have decades of experience in realizing that their government will do nothing for them. In this case, he said, the Government is living down to expectations. Here's the link to the videos; a link that I copied from Luke Skywalker, whom I thank.

[url]http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/14/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/[/url]

GE

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1496532]Just watched an Anderson Cooper video in which he interviewed the US Marine Corps General, who lamented that he didn't have enough trucks to distribute relief supplies. When questioned, he indicated that the Government of the Philippines has provided a total of 8 trucks! Eight trucks! GE[/QUOTE]Nie FR GE.

Further to my earlier FR this is a link to the issue Korina Sanchez (aka the wife of the Interior Minister Roxas) had with Cooper and his reporting in Ta cloban. His reply is somewhat pointed. I did like his comment about "am sure she can get a flight to Tacloban"

[url]http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/527763/anderson-cooper-to-korina-sanchez-go-to-tacloban[/url]

As you said GE "what the hell are the Philippine government doing" However as the video stated citizens are used to being let down. So why bother to vote them out as at least the politicians are a constant source of disappointment. Imagine what a new ser of non aligned family politicians could do with the taxpayers LOL.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough; 1496532]Just watched an Anderson Cooper video in which he interviewed the US Marine Corps General, who lamented that he didn't have enough trucks to distribute relief supplies. When questioned, he indicated that the Government of the Philippines has provided a total of 8 trucks! Eight trucks! What the hell is the matter with the government here. In another video Cooper said that the people here are used to being let down by their government, and in fact have decades of experience in realizing that their government will do nothing for them. In this case, he said, the Government is living down to expectations.

GE[/QUOTE]On another mongers forum lots of comments and kudos to Anderson for reporting the truth.

He made a well reasoned rebuttal to Korina Sanchez by showing what he had said, in response to her questioning his statement as to whether hed actually seen any Philippines government people in Tacloban. He suggested Korina go there and see what he had seen. Korina, well known for being the type of journalist who says, then checks later. A quite unpleasant lady up close and personal.

Anderson a real thorn in the side of Philippines at the moment, purely for saying what he sees.

BBC is equally is equally factual and brutally honest about the lack of aid and the suffering of the people.

And in response, The Pres says he would like to see more "uplifting stories" Anything to deflect from the torrents of criticism.

GE[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1496541]He made a well reasoned rebuttal to Korina Sanchez by showing what he had said, in response to her questioning his statement as to whether hed actually seen any Philippines government people in Tacloban. He suggested Korina go there and see what he had seen. Korina, well known for being the type of journalist who says, then checks later. A quite unpleasant lady up close and personal.[/QUOTE]Remember of course that her husband is Mar Roxas, the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which is one of the front-line agencies that will be blamed for the failure of support systems.

Mar Roxas is trying to position himself to make a run for the Presidency in 2016, but this disaster might see him fall of the track.

I want to know where is VP Binay? No sign nor sound of him anywhere.

I guess he is another of the invisible leaders.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1496543]Remember of course that her husband is Mar Roxas, the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which is one of the front-line agencies that will be blamed for the failure of support systems.

Mar Roxas is trying to position himself to make a run for the Presidency in 2016, but this disaster might see him fall of the track.

I want to know where is VP Binay? No sign nor sound of him anywhere.

I guess he is another of the invisible leaders.[/QUOTE]

Where is Manny Pacquiao? Mr Philippines himself.

The USA should just send over Silvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger and clean it up. In 1 hour and 50 minutes.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1496543]I want to know where is VP Binay? No sign nor sound of him anywhere.

I guess he is another of the invisible leaders.[/QUOTE]I think his invisibility will be his trump card. We both know he will say he was busy working behind the scenes, and didn't want to take any attention from the President. Hes probabyl got his Boy Scouts packing noodles.