Tag: ondoy

Flooding in Manila following Typhoon Gaemi: Déjà vu all over again!

July 24, 2024 benign0 6 Comments

Journalists “reporting” on the devastation wrought by the passing of Typhoon Gaemi (along with southwest monsoon rains) may as well be copy-and-paste jobs. After all, there is a trove of past news reports on typhoons (and even minor weather disturbances) hitting the Philippines and causing disproportionate devastation. Indeed, what stands out is the embarrassing sameness…

Development, Environment

After the Storm: Stories on Ondoy

November 13, 2020 benign0 6 Comments

The following is a re-post of my article “Day Ten, post Ondoy” originally posted on FilipinoVoices.com on the 7th October 2009. The article has since been included in Elbert Or’s After the Storm: Stories on Ondoy, an excellent collection of pieces “mostly written in the midst of and immediately after the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng…

Culture, Society

‘Disaster preparedness’ has become an oxymoron in the #Philippines

October 8, 2014December 21, 2021 benign0 14 Comments

It has been becoming increasingly apparent that “natural” disasters are now a routine occurrence all over the Philippines. The idea that Filipinos ought to be more “prepared” for such calamities — whilst something one would think ought to have been an obvious national priority — is only now resonating across the broader public. To the…

Civics, Development, Government, Politics, Society

Deja vu all over again as Typhoon Mario’s devastation of Metro Manila mirrors Ondoy’s in 2009

September 19, 2014 benign0 26 Comments

Today may as well have been a day in September 2009 when Typhoon Ondoy struck and devastated Manila. Back then I wrote about the Philippine government’s utter failure to step up and provide relief to hundreds of thousands of its victims (a failure to be repeated many more times since), and how Metro Manilans pretty…

Civics, Development, Environment, Government

Why comparing pork barrel scams and natural disasters during Arroyo’s and Aquino’s terms is ultimately pointless

August 22, 2013 FallenAngel 73 Comments

Sometimes, you’ll see things on your timelines (FB and Twitter) that you don’t expect to. Apparently, a few people think that it is a worthwhile exercise to compare former president Gloria Arroyo and current President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (BS Aquino), in terms of pork barrel and natural calamities faced. But then again, should we…

Environment, Government, Politics

Manila monsoon flooding: People are just collateral damage

August 21, 2013 benign0 20 Comments

Another year, another flood. How much more can Metro Manila take? Well, whether or not it can take any more, it’s gonna get more. In the Philippines’ grand old megalopolis, population is galloping at a rate faster than the city’s ironic water supply can keep up with. Its rivers are all silted up and its…

Environment

DSWD relief goods in Davao: looted or confiscated by Typhoon Pablo survivors?

February 28, 2013 benign0 5 Comments

Perhaps it is a bit too much to ask of a government agency such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to implement leaps in improvement in the efficiency with which they operate within four years. Back in 2009, in the aftermath of the devastation wrought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, then blogger…

Civics, Environment, Government, Media

Is PNoy to blame for the recent flooding in Luzon?

August 10, 2012June 13, 2013 Ilda 99 Comments

When former President Gloria Arroyo (GMA) was in power, people were quick to blame her government for what happened during the flooding brought about by typhoon Ondoy in September 2009. Yes, her government could have done more to prevent the flooding but the deluge brought forth by the rains induced by the storm that caused…

Development, Environment, Government, Politics