My country gets hit by typhoons year after year. No biggie. Floods a province or two, we watch the news to see how bad the damage is, and move on in life. Seen it before, and we were always okay. Besides, this usually happens in Luzon, and I'm miles and miles away south of the country.

Only this time, it hit my hometown.

As work settled down on my night shift last night, I check out Facebook on my iPad. First thing that grabs my attention is a post that says my high school best friend needs help. They were talking about a party a few days ago so I thought it was about that party. Until I read the message and it continued "he and his family are on the roof of his house. His wife is pregnant. Please help and pass on to rescuers."

Holy crap.

My wife and I are from Cagayan de Oro, one of the cities hardest hit by the flashfloods. So far, my family and my wife's family are safe. No news yet about any deaths on my side of friends, but one of my wife's college pals lost her mom; she was one of those who drowned during the night.

I ask that the community pray for the people hit by this calamity. God bless us all.








Yes, that is an Army 6x4 truck halfway buried in floodwater.



People gathering what they can of their belongings.



A woman looking, wondering how half of her house has gone. I bet she's thankful she's alive though. And yes, that is mud on the second-floor level of her house.



Debris washed up ON TOP of the bridge. This bridge my parents cross every day to take my younger brother to school, the school itself further up-river but is on low ground. I suspect much damage has been done there too.








I know that this family is now with God in heaven, and I pray for all those they have left behind.




Yahoo news saying 436 have died.
Some views of this aerial footage looks familiar, it would've been further down the road from where my wife and I used to live.
Iligan City, 45 minutes west of Cagayan de Oro, also hit hard.
CNN news coverage of the event.


I'm hearing reports of close to 4,000 lost their lives, and many more have lost nearly everything else.

My god Ice. I have no words for this except our prayers go out to you and Cagayan de Oro.

I'm really sorry to hear this Ice, prayers and condolences for those that lost their lives.

DO NOT CLICK ON SHOW ME!!!!!


I can't get that out of my head.

I hope their parents are gone too... I can't imagine living if that were my children

My thoughts are with them.

Wow very impacting pics

Think I'll leave the 'do not click'. Not the praying type, but they have my sympathy for what its worth, and I'm glad you and your wifes families are Ok Ice....that's awful. The world can be a cruel place.

My prayers are on the way for those suffering, and in hope that in the future steps can be taken to prevent such terrible losses.

I will pray for the people of your town, Ice.

Maaaaaaan, UTR was right. I can't help but imagine my son in his place.

Thoughts and prayers!

Thanks guys. And I apologize for those who found the last pic disturbing, but that's how it is now, bodies all laid out waiting for relatives to ID and claim him.

Just got word that one of my high school batchmate is still missing his 2yo son after 2 days of searching. Please pray especially for him. We are hoping for a miracle, and we believe since a 1yo boy was found alive.

I am very happy to see that a lot of people back home are mobilizing to help, and not just the government and the military. DHL, a courier company, is asking for no fees for any package sent to the calamity area. My alma mater and alumni are organizing soup kitches and relief centers, giving out food, clothing, slippers, etc. Local malls and other social centers are offering free "electricity" for charging cell phones. I can only hope that they learn their lesson and keep on helping each other even long after this calamity is over.

God bless us all.

You're prayers wont help #%&*$#. Send money to whatever agency is helping these people. They need money so that people can help them! Red Cross is probably over there. Do your part!

Ah yes, money could help too. Unfortunately, only a percent of what is actually sent/donated reaches its destination. A fact of life, and the percent that gets to the people is even smaller in this case since the calamity area is in a small province far away from the eyes of Manila, unless you send the money directly to relief operations in the area.

However, your prayers will have 100% effect.

For myself, I am sending money direct to my friend I mentioned in my first post. I will be asking my sister to give him the money directly. He is being asked to report to work in a few days, but with him losing all his possessions, no food or water in the area, and he won't be paid unless he goes to work. Tough times, but some people are still being SOBs.

my thoughts to your mate, hoping the kid is somewhere safe now...

They will be in my prayers tonight Ice.
Pescador

My thoughts and prayers go out to them. I hope they find the boy. God bless.



Bullet