Typhoon Haiyan: Rising From The Rubbles

"Through people I see, Your will in me - 
A kindness seeps through the soul,
By and by"

I am awe-inspired by the people mobilizing to extend their help in different ways to the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda has struck Visayas. More than five thousand people were killed and tens and thousands of people were rendered homeless by this disaster. Friends back home, volunteer with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to sort out clothes and pack relief goods to be distributed in Visayas.

Levi Azarcon, Yang Bautista and  Erika Pabon after packing relief goods at DSWD NROC Pasay
Photo Credited to Levi Azarcon

Lanekar Uriarte sorting clothes( ^ - ^ )
Photo Credited to Lanekar Uriarte

Here in the first world, we are doing our best as well.  People, regardless of race, are extending help in their own ways.  Many donate material needs such as clothes and canned goods but even those who already donated these donate money as well.  The government announced that monetary donations to registered charities will be matched up.  Which means that, a dollar donated by Canadians to charity will be another dollar donated by the federal government to the Philippines.  Among the charities that are widely endorsed by establishments such as cafes and restaurants are the Canadian Red Cross and World Vision Canada.  Other registered charities can be found in the Department of Foreign Affairs website.  Last November 15, I had a chance to fundraise for the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Program with three (3) magnificent volunteers.

From Left to Right: Muhammed, me and Carlo!  Jodie hasn't come yet

"The funds will not only help my own people in short term but with the long term as well, as they start building their lives from the ruins."

We managed to fundraise three thousand CDN ($3,000.00) just from that day alone!  Starbucks, as I know, have donated three hundred fifty thousand CDN ($350,000.00) already.  I also see some fundraising events on the local community board scheduled even after the match up date is done.  In Youtube, you can see people from different places with their own fundraisers as well. Help is pouring from every corner of the world. I am grateful beyond words because I know how much a dollar can help them, sardonically, more so than the local government usually provides.  And yes, in the midst of the oligarchs' continuous farce, it's great to see that people still have the will to help.  I'm sure that a lot of North Americans were rather turned off when Anderson Cooper started pointing out the faulty ways of the government.  What he said was the naked truth!  It reflects how disorganized our leaders are in their priorities. It reflects how easily the supposed leaders put blame on their own people and not in their own incompetency to conduce swift and rhythmic organization amongst the people.  And most importantly, it reflects exactly what the government has been doing with the public's money the past couple of decades. With the super large budget cuts from different departments - including health and education -  in the past five years, public hospitals are so poorly funded to even function at these times. One can't also expect programs for training individuals in times of disaster.  How ironic, really, since storms happen almost every month.  The only thing people know how to prepare for these calamities is to "go to evacuation centers" - which by the way, are old school buildings and open gyms.  When can the higher ups learn to stop playing the blame game like kids?  When can the public get the help they deserve from their own government?  When is the time that a disaster this big happens that we won't need other nation's help?  That we can stand up, and organize ourselves for once.  Tell me, when?

The world weeps with the Filipinos in this unwanted tragedy. Although storms are never new to the Philippines, the trauma from the mishap always is.  For now, as we wait for the time when corruption finally meets its end, our fellow kin faces this nightmare with their bright smiles and resilient hearts. Stay strong, Philippines!

If I were to die... (Simple Clean Version)

Death is perhaps the most appalling subject I could ever discuss with anyone.   Still, I believe that it is also the most attractive topic I could ever pick to dissert.  Why is death so repulsively beautiful?  That is something I keep wondering myself.   I assume that at one point in time all of you have thought about death  in various ways and yet came down with the same dreadful conclusion - we all die.   It's a sad truth we have to take.  And no matter how indifferent we may seem about the fact, we still do worry and wonder.

Death in plain and simple words - the cessation of all the cells that supports an organism's life force.  How complicated is that?  Six feet under the ground, we'll all be rotting away to join the lifestream once again.  Same as our ancestors that came and lived before us on this bountiful earth.  That is how I thought of death before I turned fourteen.  Easy peasy really.  It's by the book and well supported by science.

All of that changed in an instant...

My bestfriend Melanie Avila died in January 11, 2005.  (If you are a close friend of mine, you probably know about this fact.) I have, in truth, adapted quite healthily in coming into terms about her death. Although, at the other side of the truth, I have not quite forgotten everything about her death.  Adaptation is not forgetting.  It is acceptance.    In a span of seven years, I slowly learned to accept the painful truth - she is gone.  But there never was a day that I wouldn't think about her.  I always do.

Just wanted to share a magnificent artwork about life and death I found on 9gag

When death falls near you or your loved ones, you'll perceive it differently.  At the age of fourteen, I learned about it.  Isn't that a reality check too early?  Heck no!  Think about a 9 year old boy who has seen his mother close to dying two times in a freak accident.  Now that is a wake up call to mortality too early.  That same boy, believe it or not, came up to the World Vision booth and picked a child to sponsor.  In turn for the ordeal, he has developed empathy and compassion at such an early age.  That is something only a person who has met and/or glanced death before their eyes can understand.  

So if I were to die, and die very young, I would like to bring with me memories of happiness.  That in every smile I give, I touch a heart with sincerity.  That in every word I mouth, I bless a soul with kindness.  That in every action I do, I move a person into action.  Life is short, I have learned.  I don't want to waste my time in nonsense.  I don't want to wait in a corner and mutter endless excuses.  I will do, not brood.  If I were to die, and die very young, I would like for my friends to talk not only of good things about me but as well as my faults.  For I am not a god, I am human and err I do.  I am nice to the point of bad but I am not perfect.  I am not a messiah who will save humanity - I am just plain Akemi.  Same as everyone else.  If I were to die,  and die very young, I do not want any awards of any kind.  I have always thought of that as silly.  You can't take that to your grave nor can you proudly say you have earned it.  If I were to die, and die very young, I'd like to apologize to those I have left.  I can imagine how hard it would be for you guys.  Especially for my two little sisters whom I love dearly.

Lastly, if I were to die...I would like to be remembered.  Just that.


And no I don't want to be sent away with words of a love song :)