LEGASPI CITY is the Philippines' NEW ORLEANS

"OMG! MAS MALAKAS PA SA MILENYO!!!"

I received this text message from one of my best friends,
Dr. Elmo Isip of Polangui, Albay,
early Friday morning.

We exchanged more messages through that day,
but he seemed confident that REMING would blow over
and not leave too much devastation in her wake.

He was secure with the knowledge that,
since he had recently bought a generator set,
that his family,
specially his newborn baby,
wouldn't be too inconvenienced by the expected brownouts.


All of us in Manila sighed collectively in relief
when the supertyphoon bypassed our part of the country,
and we all had a pretty cool long weekend.

But when the bad news started coming in from down South,
just like HURRICANE KATRINA in New Orleans a year ago,




None of us were ready for the utter devastation
of Legaspi City and its surrounding towns.


Elmo's been incommunicado the past three days---

no cell signals,
no lights, no DSL, no landlines,
no gasoline to even power his genset.

I'm sure my good buddy is fine,
but I can't help feeling worried,
given the scenes that I see on TV nightly.


Elmo and his family are the BEST BICOL HOSTs,
ever.
So proud of their beautiful province and its' heritage.



I'm optimistic that Albay and her people,
hardy and hearty as they are,
will recover soon enough,
but meantime....



Do say a little prayer for Elmo and his family,
and all our other sisters and brothers in Bicol.

And in the spirit of Christmas and Charity,
you may send donations here:


From the Red Cross Site:

Typhoon Reming has left death and destruction in its wake.
Many families have lost their homes and property
after a series of mudslides and flash floods
struck their villages.

Schools and other makeshift centers
are now crammed with thousands of evacuees
with no other place to stay.

They are in dire need of your help.
You may send you donations
to the Philippine National Red Cross through:


Metrobank Port Area Branch

1) Peso Account
Account name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Account number: 151 – 3 – 041 – 63122 – 8 – MBTC

2) Dollar Account
Account name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Account number: 151 – 2 – 151 – 00218 – 2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

B. Globe G-Cash
Just text:
DONATE <4-digit MPIN> RED CROSS
then send to 2882

C. Globe Donate-A-Load
Just text RED
then send to 2899


Many Thanks to Awesome Anton for the RC info!