Philippines. Typhoon Ondoy. A State of Calamity. September 2009.

By now, the devastation left behind by Typhoon Ondoy in Philippines has become world news. It pains me so much to see thousands of people lose their homes, their personal belongings, their clothes and food, and their loved ones both human and animal. I have been through many typhoons myself, having grown up in that country, but nothing compares to destruction caused by Ondoy. A natural steamroller that knew no mercy, Ondoy, basically, trashed everything in its path. How can people rebuild their lives when all have been washed away in the flood? How can one survive the aftermath when there is no food to buy? Ondoy reduced thousands of people to a state of penury. There are many tragic stories, but I learned that a couple of directors for the Philippine Animal Welfare Society were stranded on their houses' roofs for two days without food or electricity. Those who can save their pets had them on the roof, some as many as ten or more. As of yesterday, the estimated dead was more than 200 people, but that figure is expected to grow when the flood subsides and bodies are found. An estimated 1.9 million people have lost their homes or have their homes made unlivable.

I feel for the people as I do for the animals. Where are the stray animals who didn't have a home to begin with? Strays were surely washed away to become flotsam, an ignoble end to a life of utter neglect and apathy. Even those animals who had families who loved them perished. One PAWS director lost a dog ( one of her many dogs ), birds, and chickens to a flash flood in her neighborhood. And her story shouldn't be the worse. How about those horses who pull kalesas? There is a photo of one of them below. How did they survive since they can't climb unto a roof? They must have perished themselves. The thought of lives lost, both human and animal, is all so painful.

The Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC) survived the typhoon and the animals there are unharmed. PAWS Director Anna Cabrera braved the waters to spend the last days and nights there. The center is open to take in abandoned animals, and some have already arrived there. They will need a lot of help, and for those of us who are overseas and cannot help in person, I urge you to donate to PARC. There is a Paypal button on the main page of this blog. I am also going to add a link to the Philippine Red Cross ( http://www.redcross.org.ph/ ) for those who want to donate and help the human victims of Ondoy. Please join me in making a difference.

For people in the Philippines needing assistance, here are some numbers you can call, if you are able to : National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120. More:

NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCIL
NDCC EMERGENCY NUMBERS
9125668
9111406
9122665
9115061

HELP HOTLINES
7342118
7342120

BAGYONG ONDOY PHILIPPINE HOTLINE
7342118
7342120

COAST GUARD
5276136

MERALCO
16210

UPDATE: Oct. 1, 2009 The Humane Society International is sending a team of rescuers to help rescue animals in distress in the aftermath of Ondoy. They are on their way already. The team will be working with local animal rights orgs like the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and the Animal Welfare Coalition.

Lastly, below are photographs that I could find on the web. I would give credit to the photographers if I only knew who they truly are. If there is someone out there who objects to my use of their photograph, please send me a comment and I will oblige you. I have intentionally chosen photos that depict animals in distress, leaving out photos of humans struggling to stay alive, or humans already dead.