Friday, December 30, 2011

Tabang Sendong

I know I promised to give you an update on the make-up front and I will... Some other time. What I am going to share with you today is a make over of a different sort: the make over of the City of Golden Frienship.

For those of you who don't know, the City of Golden Friendship is Cagayan de Oro City. It is the provincial capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. It lies along the northern coastline of the island of Mindanao in the country's southern portion. It is known as the City of Golden Friendship for the camaraderie and hospitality that are inherent and traditional traits of its people. It is also my hometown.


On December 16, 2011, Typhoon Sendong hit and left thousands homeless, missing, injured and dead.


Since then, the people of Cagayan de Oro have banded together to help those affected by the storm. Volunteers all around the city have been giving out food, water, medicine and clean clothes to the victims.



The association of law students from my university has been running relief operations since the flood. I've visited most of the affected areas and can honestly say that even with all the donations coming in, it isn't enough. Children are sleeping in muddy blankets. The dead are lined up in the evacuation centers where the victims sleep. The rice goes uncooked because there is a shortage in drinking water. There is still so much to be done.


If you would like to help, please visit the Tabang Sendong website.

'til next time,
Maite