Tag: disaster response

Clichéd Critics’ Critics’ Criticisms and Other Yolanda Do’s and Don’ts

November 21, 2013November 21, 2013 John Bay 8 Comments

Sunday November 10, 2013 was Day 1 after Yolanda (International Name Haiyan) hit the Philippines with a cataclysmic super typhoon that decimated central Philippines especially Tacloban. The following day had already prompted my local church with a special offering for the victims. Most attendees including myself gladly obliged without much hesitation in opening their checkbooks…

Government, Media, Politics

Positivity in times of disaster is overrated

November 21, 2013November 21, 2013 Kate Natividad 24 Comments

But of course it comes across as being “negative” when we talk about just how horrific a disaster Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) brought upon the Philippines. It is being “negative” when one points out how decades of neglect, corruption, and idiocy had laid layers and layers of the groundwork that turned much of the Philippine archipelago…

Civics, Culture, Education, Society

Per R.A. 10121: PNoy may be criminally liable for veto of disaster preparedness budget in 2011

November 20, 2013 benign0 70 Comments

Noted constitutionalist and former president of the Ateneo de Manila University Fr Joaquin Bernas lauded the Supreme Court decision to ban pork which, he wrote, “restores the normal constitutional order of handling public money”. He cited the specific clause in the Constitution that clearly defines the limits of the power of any one government official…

Civics, Crime, Environment, Government

The Man I Hope To Finally See and Respect

November 19, 2013October 23, 2018 Aunt Mary 76 Comments

The first 72 hours in every disaster relief and rescue operation is the most crucial. It’s when a responsible and speedy reaction is much needed. It was during this most crucial time, the 1st 72 hours, that I was hoping our government leaders have acted more swiftly and responded more responsibly as well. No, I…

Civics, Culture, Government, Media, Politics

The Philippines’ long road to recovery after Yolanda: Are Filipinos up to the task?

November 19, 2013November 19, 2013 benign0 37 Comments

In the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda (a.k.a. Haiyan) the hard question stares us squarely in the face: What’s next for a nation that, even in normal times, struggles to deliver the most basic services to the majority of its people?. According to recent reports, up to four million Filipinos are left…

Civics, Crime, Development, Economy, Environment, Government, Politics

Korina Sanchez and how to avoid PR disasters during natural disasters like typhoon Yolanda

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013 Ilda 143 Comments

When it comes to advertising and product placements, Filipino politicians are the best. Advertising executives can actually learn a thing or two about how to optimise exposure of any product from them. The results speak for themselves. Politicians whose names and faces are printed on almost anything – billboards, noodle packets or candy bars get…

Civics, Government, Media, Politics

Typhoon Yolanda has exposed the nakedness of an image-conscious Philippines

November 17, 2013November 30, 2013 FallenAngel 171 Comments

And when we say the Philippines, we don’t mean just the government; we mean to include the Filipino people who voted those incompetent officials in, like for example, president Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III. From the start of his term, it has been painfully obvious that BS Aquino’s presidency was heavily anchored on popularity. Thus,…

Culture, Government, Media, Politics, Society

Korina Sanchez is Mar Roxas’s wife! (and other insights gleaned from the Yolanda disaster)

November 17, 2013November 17, 2013 benign0 34 Comments

Did the Filipino people elect their leaders so that they could be given a “break” in times when their leadership is needed the most? It seems that’s exactly what they did. Many Filipinos are already quite aware of the embarrassingly cringe-worthy manner with which Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III and Department of Interior…

Civics, Environment, Government, Media