Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

I find it difficult to write about events such as this. What is there to write about? Cold hard facts you can get from anywhere, and they change as the days pass, even as the hours pass. Yesterday, there was a hundred confirmed dead; now the toll is up to 240. My family is safe in the south, but the same cannot be said of many, many others who live further north and were affected by the heavy rains and flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy/Tropical Storm Ketsana. Reports are also around that there is one, two typhoons still coming after this. Only days after.

Phonebooth becomes a makeshift boat by rembcc

Phonebooth becomes a makeshift boat by rembcc

We are a small country, and maybe we brought this on ourselves by the poor state of flood prevention mechanisms available, the pollution, and whatever else–God knows Taft flooded a bit everytime there was a storm when I was still in college. But no one deserves to go through this disaster, losing all possessions, losing friends, losing family, and even possibly losing their lives.

Shot from V. Mapa station, street flooded at depths between 4-5 ft., by rembcc (n.b.: yes, that is a man trying to keep afloat)

Street flooded at depths between 4-5 ft., by rembcc (n.b.: yes, that is a man trying to keep afloat)

Please help, if you can. Prayers, good vibes, or something more tangible. The Yahoo! Philippines Answers team are compiling a list of ways to donate and help out, if you are so inclined.