Libreng Tawag and Charging Stations from Globe Telecom.

With Glenda finally out of the country, things are slowly getting back to normal around here in San Pablo City, Laguna, and in other areas badly hit by the typhoon. For my kababayans in the Bicol region, here's a bit of good news for you.

Last Wednesday, July 16, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom set up a Libreng Tawag and Charging station in Daet, Camarines Norte to assist residents with their communication needs after Typhoon Glenda ripped through the region Tuesday evening.

Globe Libreng Tawag and Charging Station.

The Globe Libreng Tawag and Charging center was placed at the Daet Elevated Town Plaza where a lot of people usually converge. Through the free call and text service of Globe, Daet residents could remain in contact with their families and friends to assure them of their safety or to request for aid if necessary.

Aside from Daet, Globe has also put up similar facilities in Legazpi and Daraga in Albay on Thursday morning. Globe will also mobilize relief operations in hardly-hit areas as soon as possible.

Globe actively provides mobile and internet support to victims of calamities as well as government and non-government organizations handling relief and rescue operations in the spirit of nation building. The company’s disaster management preparedness makes sure that it also takes care of the communities where it operates.

Wordless Wednesday #51 | Typhoon Maring.

The country is literally in shambles right now, as Typhoon Maring continues to devastate the greater part of Luzon. Classes and even work, have been suspended for the past two days (today is a National Holiday, so no classes still), there's flood everywhere, with houses, buildings, and livelihood all destroyed.

Photo credits: Yahoo / PhilStar / Rachel Linatao

I'm thankful to be living in a place surrounded by mountains. My family is safe, and so is the rest of my hometown. Other towns in my province are not as lucky, as they have been ravaged by floods as well.

The rain seems to have stopped today, and I'm going to the nearest donation center to help in my own little way. I'm bringing some of my little man's old clothes, along with a few canned goods. It's the least I can do for the victims of Typhoon Maring.

If you would like to donate too, here's a list of places I know where you can drop off your relief donations:

- Red Cross

- SM Malls

- LBC branches

- McDonald's 

- Ateneo de Manila

- Colegio de San Agustin Makati

- DLSU - Dasmarinas

- UP Diliman

And here's a list of emergency hotline numbers for everyone's reference.

Here's hoping that Typhoon Maring leaves the country soon. Stay safe and dry, everyone!

Habagat Aftermath.

Almost two weeks of non-stop rain. That has got to be the craziest, meanest downpour I've experienced so far. And it's not even a typhoon, mind you. That was just Habagat, or the Southwest Monsoon.

Thankfully, San Pablo City isn't a flood-prone area, and my hometown didn't experience power or water outages during the onset of Habagat. Although the strong winds and heavy rains saw me with sleepless nights and days of paranoia (not having the husband around sucks big time), the little man and I remained safe and dry the entire time.

Nobody expected that monsoon rains could be this destructive. Not the weather station, not the government, and definitely not the ordinary Filipino citizen. This recent devastation left us with almost half of the country in shambles - 70 people dead, more than 20 people missing, and almost 2 million people displaced from their homes and their livelihood. The number of affected families have become quite overwhelming, and local authorities are currently seeking aid for the victims of Habagat.

Photo credit: DWIZ

Should you wish to help, you may refer to this list of relief centers that are accepting donations and volunteers. This list is originally compiled by GMA News.

I wanted to instill in my son the spirit of volunteerism even at his early age, so I asked him if we could donate his old clothes. Without further questions, he replied "Yes, Mom! Samahan mo na din ng corned beef para may food sila." (Yes, Mom. Give them corned beef, too, so they'll have food to eat.)

And so yesterday, the little man and I went to the mall to drop off our donations. It wasn't much, but it was enough for the little man to understand the meaning of compassion and the spirit of bayanihan.

Ah, I must be raising this kid right. :)