Category: typhoon yolanda

December in the life of the De Venecias

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. Rep. Gina de Venecia talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.

Rep. Gina de Venecia talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.

December 26 is the birthday of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, who is now sporting an arm sling after he figured in an accident at his relative’s house in San Francisco, California last month. He stepped on a hose in the garden and fell to the ground fracturing his shoulder and harming his knees. His doctors advised him against undertaking long-haul travels in the next two to three months.

The accident compelled the peripatetic JDV to forgo attendance in the meeting of the standing committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Ankara, Turkey last Nov. 21 and 22.

JDV co-founded ICAPP, a forum of political parties of various ideologies among countries in Asia-Oceania to promote exchanges and cooperation; enhance understanding, and create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region.

ICAPP members include political parties in Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Vietnam.

In a message sent to the Ankara conference organizers, JDV urged ICAPP members to work on or with their respective governments to undertake measures to cope with Climate Change. citing the “apocalyptic destruction of the Philippines’ Tacloban City and Visayan Islands.

The women lawmakers of the House of Representatives visit Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte. From left are Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Representatives Sandy Ocampo, Gina de Venecia, Marie Anne Pernes, Linabelle Ruth Villarica, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres.

The women lawmakers of the House of Representatives visit Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte. From left are Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Rep. Sandy Ocampo, Rep. Gina de Venecia, Rep. Marie Anne Pernes, Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres.

JDV said the destruction wrought by typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) “reminds us (that) it is the poorest countries that suffer the most from the greenhouse gases the richest countries let loose heedlessly in the atmosphere.”

Last week, the De Venecias marked the 9th year death anniversary of their daughter KC, who perished in a fire on Dec.16, 2004 in their old house on Magnolia Street in Dasmariñas Village, Makati.

The admirable thing about the De Venecia is how they have channeled life’s adversities into something good. Out of that grief, Gina, who is now a member of the House of Representatives representing the fourth district of Pangasinan, formed Inang Naulila sa Anak (INA) Foundation, a support group for mothers who have lost a child.

In INA, in times of grief, they hold each other’s hand and offer a shoulder to cry on.

Last Thursday, Gina, together with her fellow women lawmakers (she is president of Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc. or AWLFI) and three members of INA – Yna Yulo, Titing Brillantes and Ditas Tan visited Palo, Leyte, one of the places devastated by typhoon Yolanda last month.

They met parents who lost several members of their family. “Who could understand them better if not another parent who experienced the same grief?” Gina said.

“In great tragedies like this, equally important is the moral support to the victims. Their great loss will be lightened by their understanding that they are not alone,” she added.

The all-women group didn’t limit their counseling to mothers. They met Michael Abadia, 50, who lost his wife and five children. Gina said Abadia told them that they sought refuge in a two-story shelter together with two other families but when the structure collapsed and got carried by the waters all the 18 who were there were gone.

‘Bakit ako pa ang nakaligtas?’ Abadia lamented, which Gina said is a common sentiment of survivors of a tragedy that claimed lives of their loved ones.

The other women lawmakers who joined the relief mission were Representatives Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Rosenda Ann Ocampo (6th District, Manila), Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor), Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres (4th District, Nueva Ecija) and Victoria Noel (An-Waray).

Gina said last Thursday’s visit is just the first of a series of missions they will be doing for the victims of Yolanda. They will continue to hold their hands, help them find meaning in all these sufferings and together face the future.

Rehab czar should restore Yolanda victims’ human right to a decent life

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Former Sen. Ping LacsonIt has been reported that President Aquino is considering former Sen. Panfilo Lacson to head the awesome task of rebuilding part of Visayas devastated by typhoon Yolanda.

The report has not yet been confirmed by Malacañang but if it’s true, that would be an indication that Aquino understands the gravity of the situation and the challenges of the rebuilding of the ruined and shattered communities, most especially in Leyte and Samar.

Let’s hope that partisan politics, particularly the 2016 presidential race, do not again get in the way of this more urgent task. Aquino fumbled bigtime in dealing with immediate impact of the Yolanda-created crisis but he can still redeem himself in the reconstruction of the destroyed communities.

If it’s not Lacson, it is hoped that he does not make the mistake of giving the job of the reconstruction czar to retired Army Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the body that was supposed to oversee efforts in coping with disasters but acted helpless at the time when they were needed most.

Or to the man who recommended del Rosario for that job– Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who chairs NDRRMC and whose post-Yolanda pronouncements do not inspire confidence about the government’s capability to cope with another major disaster.
Aquino should instead, transfer Gazmin to a high-paying cozy job. He deserves that after serving his mother and him faithfully.
Another mistake that we pray the President would not commit is to make Interior Secretary Mar Roxas oversee the post-Yolanda rehabilitation job.

Yolanda exposed the disaster that was Mar Roxas. He should take seriously criticisms that Yolanda obliterated whatever little chance he has to be elected president in 2016. Aquino should not try to save Roxas presidential plans at the expense of the Filipino people.

Whoever would be the Reconstruction czar would oversee some P41 billion funds. It is important that the one who would handle those funds is competent, strict and honest.

Lacson has never been involved in any corruption case or anomalies involving misuse of money. He in fact, got into0 trouble with Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Mike, for his exposes on their corrupt activities.

Lacson is synonymous to discipline due to his military training and experience as police officer.

His detractors complain about his human rights record having been accused of having a hand in the killing of members of the Kuratong Baleleng, an organized crime syndicate involved in bank robberies, kidnapping and illicit drug. He was also implicated in the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. Charges against him in both cases were dismissed.

The reconstruction of communities destroyed by Yolanda which could take at least five years will attempt give back to the people who have been displaced a decent life.

It’s the right of every human being to have enough food to eat, shelter to protect him from elements and a peaceful and orderly environment to live in.

It’s the job of the Reconstruction Czar to create in the land devastated by Yolanda an environment where the residents can work to earn for a living. An environment where they can walk in the streets without fear of being robbed and can sleep soundly without being afraid that a hungry refugee would break into his house.

Those are the most basic of human rights.

Rehab czar should restore Yolanda victims’ human right to a decent life

Ellen Leave a comment

Former Sen. Ping LacsonIt has been reported that President Aquino is considering former Sen. Panfilo Lacson to head the awesome task of rebuilding part of Visayas devastated by typhoon Yolanda.

The report has not yet been confirmed by Malacañang but if it’s true, that would be an indication that Aquino understands the gravity of the situation and the challenges of the rebuilding of the ruined and shattered communities, most especially in Leyte and Samar.

Let’s hope that partisan politics, particularly the 2016 presidential race, do not again get in the way of this more urgent task. Aquino fumbled bigtime in dealing with immediate impact of the Yolanda-created crisis but he can still redeem himself in the reconstruction of the destroyed communities.

If it’s not Lacson, it is hoped that he does not make the mistake of giving the job of the reconstruction czar to retired Army Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the body that was supposed to oversee efforts in coping with disasters but acted helpless at the time when they were needed most.

Or to the man who recommended del Rosario for that job– Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who chairs NDRRMC and whose post-Yolanda pronouncements do not inspire confidence about the government’s capability to cope with another major disaster.
Aquino should instead, transfer Gazmin to a high-paying cozy job. He deserves that after serving his mother and him faithfully.
Another mistake that we pray the President would not commit is to make Interior Secretary Mar Roxas oversee the post-Yolanda rehabilitation job.

Yolanda exposed the disaster that was Mar Roxas. He should take seriously criticisms that Yolanda obliterated whatever little chance he has to be elected president in 2016. Aquino should not try to save Roxas presidential plans at the expense of the Filipino people.

Whoever would be the Reconstruction czar would oversee some P41 billion funds. It is important that the one who would handle those funds is competent, strict and honest.

Lacson has never been involved in any corruption case or anomalies involving misuse of money. He in fact, got into0 trouble with Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Mike, for his exposes on their corrupt activities.

Lacson is synonymous to discipline due to his military training and experience as police officer.

His detractors complain about his human rights record having been accused of having a hand in the killing of members of the Kuratong Baleleng, an organized crime syndicate involved in bank robberies, kidnapping and illicit drug. He was also implicated in the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. Charges against him in both cases were dismissed.

The reconstruction of communities destroyed by Yolanda which could take at least five years will attempt give back to the people who have been displaced a decent life.

It’s the right of every human being to have enough food to eat, shelter to protect him from elements and a peaceful and orderly environment to live in.

It’s the job of the Reconstruction Czar to create in the land devastated by Yolanda an environment where the residents can work to earn for a living. An environment where they can walk in the streets without fear of being robbed and can sleep soundly without being afraid that a hungry refugee would break into his house.

Those are the most basic of human rights.

Rehab czar should restore Yolanda victims’ human right to a decent life

Ellen Leave a comment

Update: The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Lacson has accepted Aquino’s offer to be the Rehabilitation Czar.

The Rehabilitation Czar

The Rehabilitation Czar

It has been reported that President Aquino is considering former Sen. Panfilo Lacson to head the awesome task of rebuilding part of Visayas devastated by typhoon Yolanda.

The report has not yet been confirmed by Malacañang but if it’s true, that would be an indication that Aquino understands the gravity of the situation and the challenges of the rebuilding of the ruined and shattered communities, most especially in Leyte and Samar.

Let’s hope that partisan politics, particularly the 2016 presidential race, do not again get in the way of this more urgent task. Aquino fumbled bigtime in dealing with immediate impact of the Yolanda-created crisis but he can still redeem himself in the reconstruction of the destroyed communities.

If it’s not Lacson, it is hoped that he does not make the mistake of giving the job of the reconstruction czar to retired Army Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the body that was supposed to oversee efforts in coping with disasters but acted helpless at the time when they were needed most.

Or to the man who recommended del Rosario for that job– Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who chairs NDRRMC and whose post-Yolanda pronouncements do not inspire confidence about the government’s capability to cope with another major disaster.
Aquino should instead, transfer Gazmin to a high-paying cozy job. He deserves that after serving his mother and him faithfully.
Another mistake that we pray the President would not commit is to make Interior Secretary Mar Roxas oversee the post-Yolanda rehabilitation job.

Yolanda exposed the disaster that was Mar Roxas. He should take seriously criticisms that Yolanda obliterated whatever little chance he has to be elected president in 2016. Aquino should not try to save Roxas presidential plans at the expense of the Filipino people.

Whoever would be the Reconstruction czar would oversee some P41 billion funds. It is important that the one who would handle those funds is competent, strict and honest.

Lacson has never been involved in any corruption case or anomalies involving misuse of money. He in fact, got into0 trouble with Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Mike, for his exposes on their corrupt activities.

Lacson is synonymous to discipline due to his military training and experience as police officer.

His detractors complain about his human rights record having been accused of having a hand in the killing of members of the Kuratong Baleleng, an organized crime syndicate involved in bank robberies, kidnapping and illicit drug. He was also implicated in the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. Charges against him in both cases were dismissed.

The reconstruction of communities destroyed by Yolanda which could take at least five years will attempt give back to the people who have been displaced a decent life.

It’s the right of every human being to have enough food to eat, shelter to protect him from elements and a peaceful and orderly environment to live in.

It’s the job of the Reconstruction Czar to create in the land devastated by Yolanda an environment where the residents can work to earn a living, where they can walk in the streets without fear of being robbed and can sleep soundly without being afraid that a hungry refugee would break into his house.

Those are the most basic of human rights.

Beware of vultures preying on Yolanda’s victims

Ellen Leave a comment

Photos from ABS-CBN video

Tacloban children displaced by Yolanda

Tacloban children displaced by Yolanda

What has been feared by human rights advocates is now happening in Tacloban: human trafficker vultures are on a prowl preying on the hapless victims of typhoon Yolanda.

ANC had a report of a human trafficking attempt in Tacloban. DSWD Assistant Secretary Cheche Cabrera related about two cases which they were able to stop. “A very beautiful girl was escorted by two burly looking guys,” she said.

Cabrera said together with the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations, they are setting up a desk in Tacloban Tacloban City, Ormoc and Guiuan, Eastern Samar.“There are lots of possibilities where very young girls will be trafficked,” she said.

DSWD is also coordinating with the Philipine Air Force which is offering free transport through C-130 of refugees to Manila and the Philippine Navy through their ships to be alert in the screening of passengers. Priority is given to the highly vulnerable – those with very young children, pregnant women, persons with disability and seniors. Kapag delikado at hindi makakasagot sa assessment hindi ire-recommend sa C-130, Navy or even the buses,” Cabrera said.

Last weekend, VERA Files conducted a seminar-training for journalists on Human Trafficking in cooperation with the United States Embassy and the Embassy of Canada in Manila.

In his presentation, Ricardo R. Casco, IOM national program coordinator officer and mission coordinator, shared the observation that disastrous calamities, like what happened in Leyte and Samar and much earlier in Bohol and Cebu, heighten vulnerabilities to trafficking.

Exodus from Tacloban

Exodus from Tacloban

“Quickly after realization of calamity damage to homes, property, livelihood and infrastructure, victims of both gender and working age including the youth, are likely to migrate internally and internationally as a coping mechanism to and succumb to unverified job offers,” he said.

Another speaker, Lucille Dejito, special counsel for Interventions, International Justice Mission, and Cebu said they observed that in the aftermath of typhoon Sendong that devastated parts Mindanao of December 2011, there was a spike of of requests for birth certificates and application for passports.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.

Republic Act 9208 known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003″ defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s consent or knowledge, within or across national borders by means of threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation which includes at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs.”

Boarding C-130

Boarding C-130


Casco said human trafficking is the world’s third largest criminal enterprise generating $15 billion last year alone- behind only to international drug and arms trades.

The Philippines is a source country and to a certain extent the destination and transit country for men, women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.

Casco said a significant number of Filipino men and women who migrate for work abroad are subsequently subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude.

He said findings reveal that 90 percent from the almost 4,000 repatriated OFWs were irregular or undocumented having fake passports and 90 percent of them are potential trafficking victims.

Persons are trafficked for a variety of reasons including debt bondage, forced labor, pornography, prostitution, removal or sale of organs, sex tourism, sex exploitation and others.

An official of the British government, an aide to Justine Greening, Britain’s international development secretary, who is helping to coordinate the UK’s response to the crisis caused by typhoon Yolanda which struck parts of Visayas last Nov. 8, expressed concern “about the safety of women and girls in the Philippines.”

“After previous emergencies in the Philippines, we have seen an increase in violence against women and girls and in particular the trafficking of girls,” the British official said.

The British official recommended sending a women’s ‘protection specialist’.

It is also useful to make the environment not conducive to human traffickers to operate like lighting up the place. But how about in places devastated by Yolanda where power has not been restored?

The British official recommended solar lanterns with built-in mobile phone chargers for remote and vulnerable communities, used in other countries like India which also experienced devastation caused by a cyclone.

Casco said officials and concerned individuals should watch out for indications of increase in the requests for birth certificate and passports without special government-facilitated employment assistance.