Let's Help Save Lives

I'm at home again to Atcha.



I Thank God for the safe trip and a chance to be with my family again even just for the holidays. And for the past week since I arrived home, have never been busier during the Christmas shopping rush. Well, as on being thrifty as I ám now, I just bought gifts for my nephews and nieces.



And while people keep on buying gifts to family and friends, last 2 days, Mindanao area of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are hit by typhoon Sendong that left houses, buildings and bridges destroyed, and 713 dead and 563 missing (latest update as of moment). Most of the victims are children, as the flash flood went through their houses and swept them with mud, big rocks and wooden logs. Its so heartbreaking to see people still searching for their missing loved-ones, though on the verge of losing hope to see their family member alive, at least recovering their remains for a decent burial.



For the moment, those who survived barely make it through after the disaster. Evacuation centers are filled up. Food, medicine and most of all, clean water for drinking are needed. You might have a spare money for the moment, please help.



Here are ways we can help (From PNRC website):


Cash or Check Donations



Please send cash or check donations to the PRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.



We now accept cash donations for the Philippine Red Cross at any 7-11 store or Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop nationwide.



Bank Deposit



Bank accounts for Donations
Banco De Oro
Peso: 00-453-0018647
Dollar: 10-453-0039482



Bank of the Philippine Islands
Peso: 4991-0036-52
Dollar: 004994-0103-15


Metrobank
Peso: 151-3-041631228
Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2



Philippine National Bank
Peso: 3752 8350 0034
Dollar: 3752 8350 0042



Unionbank of the Philippines
Peso: 1015 4000 0201
Dollar: 1315 4000 0090



All Check/Cash for the account of Philippine Red Cross (Swift Codes)
Banco De Oro
BNORPHMM



Bank of the Philippine Islands
BOPIPHMM



Metrobank
MBTCPHMM



Philippine National Bank
-PNBMPHMM



Unionbank of the Philippines
-UNPHPHMM




For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.




SMS and G-Cash



SMS
Text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart)



G-Cash
Text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882



You can donate the following denominations:
Globe: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000
Smart: 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000



Through your generosity, we can stand prepared for disasters. We appreciate your continuous and unwavering support. Thank you.



Email us: fundgeneration@redcross.org.ph



Call Hotline 143
or (+632) 527.0000



NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area
Manila 1018, Philippines
Email: prc@redcross.org.ph




I've postponed my getaway vacation and shopping for myself, and instead about to donate the money. Please do the same. We may not alleviate totally the way of living of the victims right away, but at least, to help them survive for days until such time they can rebuild their lives again and start anew...May God bless us all!

24 Hour Hotline against Kotong

Its Christmas season. In the Philippines, this season starts as early as "BER" months start. Bonuses keep coming in for regular employees. Mall sales are sprouting everywhere. And so are the crocodiles on streets preying on helpless motorists to earn extra with their Kotong operations.


(photo credit from anti kotong fb page)

It is when you are driving peacefully on any time of the day, whilst on being a good motorist and seems when everything is ok since you followed all rules, when all of a sudden a crocodile in a blue uniform called your attention for violating a rule.Most of the time, victims are jeepney/taxi drivers whose mere income is just enough for a family of four, and with a boundary quota to meet. As you wouldn't want to get into the hassle of getting back your license at the LTO office, those crocodiles will just ask for some money to let you go. For such incidents, local agencies now launched an anti-bribery drive as you may send an SMS on their 24-hour hotline: 0918-8882749. You may want to send your details as anonymous as well.

Pera Natin Toh!

In any case of corruption you might encounter when dealing with any government offices, our very own Department of Finance has initiated a site where you can file your complains online. Time for a move to help the government save taxpayers money from hungry crocodiles that eats up most of the funds and lounging away in luxuries, while ordinary Juan breaks his back on work on most days.

Links here: pera ng bayan.

No Smoking Please

I've always been against smoking. I hate the smell of nicotine, the smoke scent clinging on my hair and clothes once you're exposed to it. You might find me drinking wine occasionally, but you'll never catch me smoking. So what must a tobacco-hater like me to do about it? Stay away from a smoker, that is. Easier said than done, especially when you're left with no choice but to be with them.

I'm deeply concerned on children living with smoking parents, as kids could inhale the second-hand smoke. Its like smoking first hand, with the effects as much as lethal. On an instance when I happened to ride on a public transportation, sitting next with a guy carrying a child on one hand, and holding a cigar on the other. I'm not a parent yet, but I guess, any normal adult know that children exposed to smoke could alter their development, physically and mentally. Children look up on their parents as someone they could be like on times they're developing awareness around their environment. See a father hurting people, and more probably, expect his child to be a batterer as well. Moreso on smoking, as children could develop the habit, turning themselves into the same addiction their parents have been to.

Some got into the habit through peer pressure. I knew someone who's been into a group who smoke during their break from work. She eventually turn herself into smoking for blending in. I always ask her to stop, and will never stop nagging. Would you let your loved ones keep hurting themselves?

I want to help people stop smoking. Everyone else know there's nothing good in this habit. Some did realized it later and had been successful on quitting, but some just got in late. Just like my father. He succumbed to a sickness caused by almost 2 decades of smoking. Though none of my siblings smoke, isn't it bad enough to lose someone so soon? I tried a stick once, but thank God it didn't turn out fine, I choked bad on first puff.

We Need Your Help

We live in Navotas, a city known for frequent high tides, but we are thankful to the Lord we are spared in a calamity that strucked Metro Manila. It rained hard yesterday, and water did leaked on the first floor of our house. By 6pm the time the rain subsided, so did the tide. We finished cleaning by 730pm. My sisters' in Malabon had their appliances moved up to the second floor for the water keeps on rising on the first storey of their house, with electricity and water supply also cut by authorities to prevent further damages and contamination, caused miscomfort for 2 days, but still little fortunate so to speak, because our fellow countrymen's houses in other municipalities were not spared, and even caused tragedies to some.

Yesterday, September 26th, NCR & Northern Luzon were hit by tropical storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) and caused the far most devastating flood since 20 years ago. State of calamity was declared and people on certain cities are forced to flee their homes as water rises continuously submerging everything from cars, homes and even hospitals.

Here's a sample video of the tragedy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bCW7IkICKA

Though the storm subsided, and is now noted leaving Philippines area of responsbility, people from affected cities are still in despair since most of them are displaced and currently staying in evacuation centers. Help in any kind are needed, and we're appealing on your generosity for this one.

Ways to donate:

(source: http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx)

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK

Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT

Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK Port Area Branch

Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8

Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2

Type of Acct. : SAVINGS

Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS Port Area Branch

Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99

Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS UN Branch

Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94

Type of Account: SAVINGS

Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.

Credit Card

Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .

In-Kind Donations

LOCAL

Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL
Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the

(a) original Deed of Donation,

(b) copy of packing list and

(c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.

The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.

SMS and G-CASH (Globe) SMS text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

G-CASH text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882

Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable waterMedicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Call Hotline 143 or 527.0000

Let's be a blessing to others.

MMDA's Trip Tracker

This information is handy for abusive drivers that I guess will be rampant for the coming "bonus" season.

I-text sa MMDA Trip Tracker