HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010...
VOLCANO MAYON WATCH
( Status Downgraded 01/08/10 See *** Below for details )
( Status Downgraded 01/08/10 See *** Below for details )
PLUS
AN UPDATE
ON OUR ONGOING
PROGRAMS RELATED
TO
TO
TYPHOON, FLOOD RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AND
FORWARD THINKING
FORWARD THINKING
CRISIS MITIGATION
AND
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS...
" HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES IT IS NOT A MATTER OF
" IF "
BUT MORE A MATTER OF
" WHEN "
WE WILL BE VISITED AGAIN BY
EITHER ANOTHER
NATURAL OR MAN-MADE CALAMITY... "
PLEASE HELP US BE BETTER PREPADED TO RESPOND TO WHAT WILL SURELY BE THE NEXT ONE...
WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SOLICITING, SHIPPING AND PRE- STAGING ITEMS THAT WE KNOW WILL BE NEEDED NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. BE IT A TYPHOON, FLOOD, MUDSLIDE OR VOLCANIC ERUPTION...
SUCH AS THE ITEMS SHOWN BELOW WHICH ARRIVED IN MANILA ON
DECEMBER 15TH...
This represents only a very small portion of what we have already
received with much, much more on the way now.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION AND PREPAIREDNESS
CAN GO A LONG WAY IN PREVENTING THE
NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE AND HUMAN SUFFERING...
AND
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS...
" HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES IT IS NOT A MATTER OF
" IF "
BUT MORE A MATTER OF
" WHEN "
WE WILL BE VISITED AGAIN BY
EITHER ANOTHER
NATURAL OR MAN-MADE CALAMITY... "
PLEASE HELP US BE BETTER PREPADED TO RESPOND TO WHAT WILL SURELY BE THE NEXT ONE...
WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SOLICITING, SHIPPING AND PRE- STAGING ITEMS THAT WE KNOW WILL BE NEEDED NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. BE IT A TYPHOON, FLOOD, MUDSLIDE OR VOLCANIC ERUPTION...
SUCH AS THE ITEMS SHOWN BELOW WHICH ARRIVED IN MANILA ON
DECEMBER 15TH...
This container was unloaded on December 15, 2009
Hundreds of family disaster buckets, blankets
and personal hygiene kits are currently on hand.
received with much, much more on the way now.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION AND PREPAIREDNESS
CAN GO A LONG WAY IN PREVENTING THE
NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE AND HUMAN SUFFERING...
HELP US BE BETTER PREPARED...
PLEASE CONTACT US
TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN DO THAT...
//////////
STATEMENT AND APPEAL
All of OUR efforts in the Philippines since 2002 and especially those since September 26, 2009 have been in association with a very small cadre of highly dedicated individuals, local and international NGOs and GOs.
Nothing presented here is to be construed in any way shape or form as having been a singular effort of or on behalf of any one person or organization.
WE firmly believe;
" That service to humanity is the best work of life..."
( From The Jaycee Creed written by C. William Brownfield in 1946. )
and
WE believe in;
" Service above self..."
( From the Motto of Rotary International, first used by Frank Collins as " Service, not Self " in 1911
and officially adopted by Rotary International in it's current form at their National Convention in 1950. )
Since September, in addition to the hundreds of personal rescues and medical missions which were conducted by members of our partner INGOs, Local NGOs and GOs in some of the hardest hit and far flung locations in the country, WE have been able to solicit and deliver more than three million dollars worth of food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies and equipment to many devastated areas in the Philippines as well.
So far, WE have solicited, shipped and delivered five 40' cargo containers in partnership with various other international and local NGOs ( Non governmental organizations ) which contained more than 600,000 individual meals, enough equipment and supplies to re outfit four emergency rooms with enough basic equipment to function again after having been totally destroyed by the floods and mudslides which hit in September and October as well as smaller individual shipments of lifesaving medicines worth in excess of $ 500,000.00 for another group of partner INGOs and local NGOs for their use in conducting individual medical missions.
BUT
WE still have three 40' cargo containers committed and ready to ship but WE still need funding for the costs of shipping them here at approximately $ 18,500.00 each. These contain a total value in excess of $ 850,000.00 in medical supplies and equipment, PLUS WE now have an incredible opportunity to obtain nearly 2.5 million dollars worth of urgently needed medicines which will have at least 2 years life left on them upon arrival in the Philippines for only $ 50,000.00 which includes the costs of shipping from Europe...this represents a HUGE savings and can no doubt go along way in saving many lives in the POST Typhoon Philippines where they are still digging out from the series of killer storms that hit in September and October and even as late as November and many of these medicines are still in very short supply.
//////////
FOR NOW WE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN A REPRIEVE...
*** No fresh lava on Mayon crater - Phivolcs
By Cet Dematera (The Philippine Star) Updated January 08, 2010 12:00 AM
LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines – Five days after its alert level was lowered from 4 to 3, Mayon volcano further subsided with an aerial survey showing no fresh lava on its crater.
“What we can see is a small volume of lava pile or incandescent material resting at the inner crater wall. No fresh lava is also visible,” Ed Laguerta, resident volcanologist here of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said as he reviewed video footage from the aerial survey.
Fellow volcanologist Alex Baloloy said though that 20 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours – from only four on Tuesday – as well as 20 rockfall events.
The volume of sulfur dioxide emitted, however, drastically dropped to 672 tons from 1,914 tons the other day.
If these abnormal parameters continue to subside in a few more days, Baloloy said Mayon’s alert level could possibly be reduced to 2 in a week or two.
But he said a lower alert level “will only be seriously considered if all the abnormal signs simultaneously go down.”
He said they would also review the results of ground deformation surveys they are conducting until today.
Phivolcs is still prohibiting any human activity within the volcano’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone and the seven-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast flank due to sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.
“People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with post-eruption activity, such as rockfalls, pyroclastic flows, and ash fallout which can also occur anytime due to instabilities of lava deposited on the steep slopes,” Phivolcs said in its latest bulletin.
It said that active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southern sector should also be avoided, especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.
“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejected ash and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may pose hazards to aircraft,” it added.
Meanwhile, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said he has approved the release of P3 million for the construction of core shelters for the 313 families still housed at the Anislag resettlement site in Daraga, and at the Fidel V. Ramos-Florencio Muñoz relocation site in Camalig. – With Helen Flores
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YES THOUSANDS DID SPEND CHRISTMAS
IN DISASTER SHELTERS
IN THE PHILIPPINES...
JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE FINALLY CATCHING A BREAK...
ANOTHER DISASTER STRIKES THE PHILIPPINES....
Villagers living on the slopes of the Mayon volcano ride on a truck after evacuating their houses in Camalig, Albay, 500 km (310 miles) south of Manila December 15, 2009. Philippine authorities started evacuating about 50,000 people from around the country's most active volcano on Tuesday as it spewed burning mud and rocks. Mayon volcano, famed for its near-perfect cone shape in a coconut-growing region of the central Philippines, started to release lava early this week and vulcanologists are expecting a major eruption in the next few days.
PLEASE NOTE...
AS NEEDS BECOME KNOWN
THEY WILL BE POSTED ON THIS BLOG...
With lower Mayon alert, thousands return home
By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated January 03, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday lowered the alert level around Mayon volcano from level 4 to level 3 despite the volcano’s relatively high state of unrest.
Thousands of villagers who evacuated at the height of the volcano’s rumbling headed back home even as Phivolcs warned that the “overall state of unrest remains relatively high and that the people should still remain outside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.”
Most of the 47,000 evacuees whose homes are within the eight-kilometer danger zone have been told it is safe to return home, said Cedric Daep, head of the disaster management office of Albay province.
Only about 5,000 people whose homes are on the southeastern slope of the volcano and in the path of lava flows remained in shelters.
Chief state volcanologist Renato Solidum said scientists were closely monitoring the volcano and may raise the alert in case of a resurgence of activity.
“At the moment, the activity of the volcano is declining, but the volcanic unrest is still high,” he said.
Relative peace and quiet
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered that all schools be prepared to reopen for classes tomorrow. Many schools had been used as shelters since the evacuations began Dec. 15.
The evacuees heading home also will be given enough food for three days and will continue to receive supplies already set aside for them by the World Food Program, Jukes Nunez of the provincial disaster office said.
Daep said the military and police will help transport the villagers back to their homes.
“We are very, very happy we are going home to our village,” said 59-year-old seamstress Myrna Avellano. “We had a sad Christmas and New Year’s Eve at the evacuation center.”
Mayon, known for its perfect cone, has erupted nearly 40 times over 400 years, sending people packing for months at a time. But never has it happened during the all-important Christmas celebration, when Filipinos gather with family and friends for traditional meals and merry-making.
“The latest activity of Mayon still indicates that its overall state of unrest remains relatively high. Phivolcs-Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is lowering the alert status of Mayon from alert level 4 to alert level 3 to reflect the overall gradual decrease of activity,” Phivolcs said in a bulletin.
The agency, however, said the lowering of the alert level should not be interpreted to mean that the unrest of the volcano has ceased.
“If there is resurgence in the volcano’s activity and the potential for explosive eruptions is perceived to be forthcoming, the alert level may be raised back to 4 but if there is noticeable downward trend in the monitored parameters, then the alert will be further lowered to alert level 2,” Phivolcs said.
It also clarified that the moderate seismicity, high volcanic gas outputs and continuing glow of the summit that is covered by the phase of unrest are processes normally associated with very gradual return to the repose period.
The volcanic system is expected to continue to produce earthquakes and to vent a large amount of gases because of the fresh magma that still resides along the whole length of the volcanic pipe and near the summit.
The decision to downgrade the alert level in the area was based on Mayon’s behavior during the last six days.
Since Dec. 28, Phivolcs has noticed a declining trend in the volcano’s activity, as there has been no ash ejections observed since Dec. 29 while the steam emission was most of the time weak and white in color, indicating considerable decrease in energy and absence of ash.
Majority of the type of earthquakes that were recorded during the past days were associated with rockfalls and rolling down of fragments from the lava deposits along the Bonga gully and the advancing lava front.
The measured sulfur dioxide levels have also showed a decreasing trend, from a maximum of 8,993 tons per day to 2,621 tons per day. The still high concentration of sulfur dioxide emission suggests that there is residual magma degassing at shallow depths.
Explosions still possible
But even if there is a reduction in the alert level, Phivolcs warned the public about the possibility of sudden explosions that might occur due to localized pockets of gas within the magmatic system.
The effects of these explosions are expected to be contained within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) around the volcano and within the seven-kilometer radius extra danger zone (EDZ) in the southeast quadrant.
Phivolcs-DOST suggested that the six-km radius PDZ around the volcano be put in place and the seven-km EDZ on the southeast flank of the volcano should be free from human activity because of sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.
“People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with post-eruption activity, such as rockfalls, pyroclastic flows, and ash fallout which can also occur anytime due to instabilities of lava deposited on the steep slopes,” it added.
Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.
Pilots were also advised not to fly close to the volcano’s summit since it is still ejecting ash, and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may pose hazards to aircraft.
Veteran climber warns tourists
Meanwhile, a veteran Mayon climber warned people, including tourist guides, not to attempt to scale the 8,078-foot mountain while its overall condition remains abnormal.
Ricardo Dy, 70, who has climbed Mayon over 600 times, issued the warning following reports that local and foreign tourists, accompanied by neophyte guides, continued to sneak past checkpoints to watch Mayon’s oozing lava from close range despite the government’s no-human activity policy within the PDZ.
“Most people, especially tourists and mountain climbing enthusiasts, are lured to trek Mayon volcano because of its postcard beauty. But the truth is deadly experience awaits anybody who will climb it without a veteran guide, as if you are groping in the dark,” he said.
Dy told volcanologists that Mayon might erupt anytime in 1984 based on his actual observation of animal movement and the foul odor he smelled as he trekked the volcano. Mayon erupted weeks later.
Pagasa: Cloudy day in Albay
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) does not expect heavy rains over Albay today, sparing the residents of the province from possible volcanic mudflow.
“The Bicol Region would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. It would be a cloudy day so there is no cause to fear lahar,” Pagasa weather forecaster Bobby Javier said.
Javier added that rains would fall over the Visayas but it would not affect Albay and the Bicol Region.
In its 24-hour public weather forecast, Pagasa said moderate to strong northeasterly surface wind flow will affect Luzon and wind convergence will affect the Visayas.
The Visayas and Northern Mindanao would have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the eastern section of the Visayas, which might trigger flashfloods and landslides. Southern Luzon would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered light rains.
The rest of the country would be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast would prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east and northeast over the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters along these areas would be moderate to rough.
Elsewhere, winds would be light to moderate blowing from the northeast with slight to moderate seas. -With Cet Dematera, Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan, AP
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Philippines: NDCC Update - Sitrep No. 18
Mayon Volcano update
Source: The Government of the Philippines
DATE 28 December 2009, 10:00 PM
Source: DOST-PHIVO LCS. DSWD. DOH. DepEd. OCDRC-V. ALBAY PDCC. AFP. JTF MAYON. DPWH V
I. SITUATION OVERVIEW
Alert Level 4 remains hoisted over Mayan Volcano which means that a hazardous eruption is possible within days. PHIVOLCS-DOST reiterates that the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) from the summit of eight kms at the southern sector of the volcano and seven kms at the northern sector should be free from human activity
PHIVOLCS recommends that areas just outside of the EDZ should prepare for evacuation in the event that hazardous explosive eruptions intensify; and active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall
For the past 24 hours, Mayan Volcano's intense level of unrest persisted
Seven (7) ash explosions were observed during times of good visibility. The explosions produced dirty white to light gray ash columns that reached a maximum height of about 2,000 meters
A total of 44 volcanic earthquakes and 137 rock fall events related to the detachment of lava fragments at the volcano were detected by the seismic network
Red hot lava continuously flowed down along the Bonga-Buyuan, Miisi and Lidong gullies
At Alert Level 4, mandatory evacuation of 9,946 families I 47,285 individuals staying within the 6 km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the 6.8-km EDZ in the southern quadrant - particularly Buyuan, Mainit and Bonga areas was imposed
As of 11:00 AM, 28 December 2009, the number of evacuees is 10,032 families I 47,563 persons inside 29 evacuat io n centers (Tab A)
The PDCC projects an emergence of health related problems based on prior experiences and the current weather which is likely to contribute to the increasing risks for colds and other related diseases. Thus, the fear that zero casualty goal may be compromised by health risks and the willingness of the population-at-risk to stay in the evacuation centers
PDCC Albay reported four (4) cases of conjunctivitis or sore eyes in Tabaco City
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Volcano Mayon as seen from space
Image Credit: NASA/Jesse Allen
Tens of thousands of people living within the danger zone of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines were forced to evacuate to emergency shelters in mid-December 2009 as small earthquakes, incandescent lava at the summit and minor ash falls suggested a major eruption was on the way. On the evening of Dec. 14, the local volcano observatory raised the alert level to Level 3, which means "magma is close to the crater and hazardous explosive eruption is imminent."
This natural-color image of Mayon was captured on Dec. 15, 2009, by the Advanced Land Imager on NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. A small plume of ash and steam is blowing west from the summit. Dark-colored lava or debris flows from previous eruptions streak the flanks of the mountain. A ravine on the southeast slope is occupied by a particularly prominent lava or debris flow.
The Phillipine Star said on Dec. 22 that "ashfall blanketed at least three towns in Albay, raising new health fears for thousands already bracing for an eruption that could come at any time ... Health officials warned the tiny particles could cause respiratory problems or skin diseases, and could affect the thousands of people crammed into evacuation centers.
Also on Dec. 22, CNN reported that "tens of thousands of people have already fled their homes. More than 9,000 families -- a total of 44,394 people -- are being housed in evacuation camps after authorities raised the alert status of the country's most active volcano" as "fountains of red-hot lava shot up from the intensifying Mayon volcano."
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It's not such a Wonderful Life here in the Philippines this Christmas
'White Christmas' for Albay folk'
By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) Updated December 25, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - It’s going to be a “White Christmas” in Albay after Mayon volcano yesterday continued to spew ash, covering the province with a layer of fine light gray ash.
Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the ash clouds reached at least two kilometers skyward.
Thirty explosions were recorded yesterday morning, the largest producing two kilometers of ash columns in the sky, he added.
Solidum said alert level 4 remained hoisted over Mayon, which means that a hazardous eruption of the volcano is likely within hours or days.
Phivolcs continued to monitor lava flows from the volcano during the past 24 hours, he added.
Solidum said sulfur dioxide emission rate also remained high at an average of 6,737 tons per day from Tuesday to early Wednesday.
A total of 124 booming and rumbling sounds were intermittently heard, he added.
However, volcanic earthquakes slightly decreased yesterday to 815 from the 1,051 recorded the previous day, Solidum said.
Last Wednesday, Solidum warned that Mayon could unleash deadly pyroclastic flows within the week.
The explosions have become hazardous because of the ash fall and the alert status will be raised as soon as pyroclastic flow is observed, he added.
A pyroclastic flow is a turbulent mass of ejected fragmented volcanic materials like ash and rocks, mixed with hot gases, that flows down slope at a very high speed of more than 60 kilometers per hour.
Solidum said raising the alert to level 5 – the highest alert level – requires pyroclastic materials to be spewed by explosive eruption.
Level 5 means a hazardous eruption is in progress, he added.
Alert level 5 could be declared anytime as volcanologists waited for one major sign – a chocolate-colored mass of ash column shooting straight up into the air as high as 10-15 km from the crater.
Solidum warned the public against entering the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) of eight kilometers from the summit on the southern sector of the volcano and seven kilometers on the northern sector.
“Areas just outside of this EDZ should prepare for evacuation in the event hazardous explosive eruptions intensify,” he said.
Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southern sector should also be avoided, especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall, Phivolcs warned.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has allowed candidates in next year’s elections to distribute relief goods in evacuation centers to spread cheer to evacuees.
Nearly 50,000 Filipinos evacuated from homes in the shadow of Mayon volcano received some holiday cheer from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), when packages of high energy biscuits arrived in evacuation centers yesterday.
WFP has sent a total of 20 tons of high energy biscuits to assist the evacuees during this difficult moment. The biscuits will nourish evacuated families living in temporary shelters in schools and government buildings. – With Cet Dematera and Celso Camo
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Holdouts start fleeing Mayon
By Celso Amo (The Philippine Star) Updated December 22, 2009 12:00 AM
Photo shows young evacuees praying during a special class
at a temporary shelter in a village near the town of Guinobatan. AP
LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines – More than 3,000 villagers remaining in a prohibited danger zone around the rumbling Mayon volcano yesterday began to leave after officials threatened to force them out.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that powerful booming sounds emanating from the volcano indicated that a major eruption was imminent.
Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said seismic activity had “increased in number and size” in the past 24 hours and a total of 1,942 volcanic quakes were detected since Sunday, after the alert level was raised from 3 to 4, following a greater frequency of earthquakes and sulfur dioxide emissions.
Yesterday, sulfur dioxide emissions continued to be “very high” and the glow of crimson lava could be seen oozing from the volcano overnight.
In Guinobatan village, lying on a dirt road in the foothills of Mayon, district officials and police went house to house, urging residents to board a truck and take shelter outside the danger zone.
Nearly all the villagers boarded the hired truck, carrying their personal belongings in sacks and heading to evacuation centers set up by authorities outside an eight-kilometer zone.
But some of the men folk refused to budge and were left to fend for themselves.
"There are still one or two men who don't want to go but their families have come down to the evacuation centers," village councilor Mulad Bucad said.
"There are always a few who don't want to go. They say they are used to eruptions and they never get hurt anyway," he said.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said authorities are having trouble keeping people away from their homes and farms.
"There are people who have been evacuated three times and we sigh: 'You again?'" Salceda said. "We've been playing cat and mouse with them."
Salceda yesterday said authorities "will physically remove" those refusing to leave the danger zone after volcanologists raised the alert level to four on a five-point scale.
Level four means that an "explosive eruption is possible within hours or days," according to Phivolcs.
There were still 729 families or more than 3,000 people staying put on the edges of the eight-kilometer danger zone that has been declared around Mayon, local disaster preparations chief Cedric Daep said.
Just over 9,200 families or nearly 44,400 people had already taken shelter in evacuation centers since Mayon started belching ash, steam and lava last week.
If the alert level is raised to five, meaning that an eruption is in progress, another 16,000 villagers living beyond the danger zone would also have to be evacuated as a precautionary measure, Salceda said.
Army troops and police added more patrols to enforce a five-mile (eight-kilometer) exclusion zone around the mountain, Salceda said.
Salceda said about 5,000 more villagers were being transported out of Mayon's danger zone, where scientists said red hot lava flows had reached three miles (five kilometers) from the crater. A major eruption could trigger pyroclastic flows - superheated gas and volcanic debris that race down the slopes at very high speeds, vaporizing everything in its path. More extensive explosions of ash could drift toward nearby towns and cities.
Salceda said, however, military and police would refrain from using excessive force after the government's Commission on Human Rights (CHR) warned against forcing people out at gunpoint or with batons.
In past Philippine evacuations, holdout residents have been carried onto military trucks by unarmed troops and police personnel.
In an effort to persuade people to leave, Salceda ordered the provincial veterinary office to bring all cows and water buffaloes to a government agricultural station so they would be safe.
In Mayon's other eruptions in recent years, pyroclastic flows had reached up to four miles (six kilometers) from the crater, Salceda said.
"The probability of survival in an eruption is zero if you're in the danger area. The solution is obviously distance," he said.
Mayon last erupted in 2006, when about 30,000 people were moved.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs director Solidum said in a television interview "he cannot say exactly when the hazardous eruption is likely to occur."
But he stressed: "The important thing is the distance from the volcano. That is why it is important that people not be inside the danger zone."
3 episodes of lava fountaining
Three episodes of lava fountaining which reached about 200 meters above crater were recorded yesterday morning.
Solidum said that lava fountaining was observed at 8:07, 8:08 and 8:18 Monday morning.
Solidum also said that red hot lava continues to flow along the Bonga-Buyuan Miisi and Lidong gullies and the lava front has now reached about five kilometers down slope from the summit along the Bonga-Buyuan gullies.
"The lava fountaining might affect some lava to go toother sites like Sto. Domingo and possibly Anoling," said Solidum.
Solidum warned that the amount of lava at the summit and on slopes could generate a pyroclastic flow equally dangerous to people even if the volcano does not explode.
He also warned of the threat of lahar when volcanic debris comes into contact with water and cascades down the slope of the volcano towards rivers and streams during heavy rains.
Defense department offers help
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales has ordered the deployment of more doctors and nurses at the Armed Forces hospital near Albay to help address the health concerns of the evacuees.
Gonzales also donated P1 million for the children at evacuation centers to celebrate the Christmas season.
"I want to give this P1 million to Governor Salceda so children at the evacuation center will enjoy Christmas," said Gonzales, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), during the full Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) meeting.
Gonzales also said that the NDCC will extend all the support needed by the provincial government of Albay which he considers a model among local government units for effective disaster management in the country.
Salceda, for his part, said the focus now of the disaster response operation is to address the health concerns as well as ensure that the evacuees will not go back to celebrate Christmas and New Year at their homes inside the high-risk danger zones.
"Zero casualty policy also includes mortality inside the evacuation centers," said Salceda, adding that common problems inside the evacuation centers such as the lack of toilets, water and food are already being addressed.
He said some 57 comfort rooms have already been repaired and 24 portalets set up at the different evacuation centers.
The Local Water Utilities Administration has already deployed four water tank lorries with 1,000-liter capacity, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) fire trucks each as well as a water purifier with 30,000-liter capacity donated by the Spanish government at the designated evacuation sites.
Salceda also said that all hospitals in the province have been placed on code blue, meaning they can accept 50 to 100 evacuees if needed, while all evacuees have been given PhilHealth cards.
To prevent the displacement of classes at the evacuation centers, Salceda said he needs some 600 tents to be established at various evacuation centers. The UNICEF has already donated some 100 tents.
Salceda also said some 4,800 farmers have been affected by the imminent Mayon eruption, as well 2,000 cattle and carabaos.
Dept. of Health regional director Nestor Santiago told the governor that there was a need to decongest some evacuation sites and they would need P3 million for the construction of toilets inside the evacuation centers.
Some of the evacuees suffer from common ailments like cough and cold, fever, toothache and hypertension.
Salceda also said he would use everything at his disposal to make the evacuees merry and comfortable this Christmas.
"If I need to request our soldiers to wear mascots or to do a Santa Claus to spread cheer to our devastated evacuees, I will," Salceda said. With Helen Flores, Cet Dematera, AP
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Phivolcs may raise Mayon alert to level 4
By Cet Dematera (The Philippine Star) Updated December 19, 2009 12:00 AM
Photo by EDD GUMBAN
LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines — Farmers have begun returning to the foothills of Mayon despite an increasing flow of lava and a higher possibility of a hazardous eruption after the volcano showed signs of increasing restiveness in the past 24 hours, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs monitoring chief July Sabit said they are now considering raising the alert status from three to four as a major eruption might occur in the next few days.
The picturesque volcano continued to spout spectacular fountains of ash into the sky amid a series of minor eruptions, heightening concerns that a major explosion was at hand.
Earthquakes inside Mayon also increased due to the enormous pressure of the ever-increasing amount of lava on its slopes.
Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum said Mayon’s activity intensified yesterday with seven successive ash explosions recorded in a matter of two hours.
Solidum said Friday’s explosions were recorded as the biggest from the volcano since it began acting up this week.
“These explosions produced dark gray to brown ash columns that reached a maximum height of up to 1,000 meters above the summit before drifting southwest,” he said.
The Phivolcs chief also appealed to the public, especially to tourists, not to enter the danger zones.
“The important thing is that people should not be in those danger zones when a hazardous explosion happens,” said Solidum.
The so-called danger zone is a radius of six to eight kilometers from Mayon, and nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated from those areas since the volcano began spewing lava on Monday.
But the zone is a fertile vegetable farming area and many people from the evacuated villages have been creeping back to look after their crops and animals.
“There is nothing we can do except to keep taking them out when we find them in the danger zone,” said Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay province where Mayon is located.
Sabit said that after the 6:59 a.m. explosion, at least nine more weaker ash emissions took place over the cone-shaped volcano until 12 noon yesterday.
He, however, admitted that Mayon’s abnormal condition was indeed intensifying, though still within the parameters of alert level three.
“While we confirm that Mayon’s abnormality is gradually escalating, but until this time, what we are observing are still within the alert level three precursors,” Sabit told The STAR.
In the monitoring that ended at 8 a.m. yesterday, at least 248 volcanic quakes and harmonic tremors, both indicators of moving magma inside the volcano, were recorded, 50 of which were explosive type or containing gaseous materials.
Forced evacuation
anwhile, Salceda said that since curfew has been declared in the six-km radius permanent danger zone and up to the eight-km high risk zones around the volcano starting early yesterday morning, some 3,422 people from Barangays Magapo, Buhian, Bonot, Oson and Buan all in Tabaco City have been forcibly evacuated.
The governor has dispatched four M-35 Army trucks in Sto. Domingo town to evacuate residents living in high-risk areas to achieve the goal of zero casualty.
As of 11 a.m. Friday some 8,080 families comprising 38,528 people have already been evacuated as Mayon showed a high probability of hazardous volcanic eruption.
To ensure that peace officers implementing the forcible evacuation will not be saddled by human rights complaints, lawyer Pelagio Señar, regional director of the Human Rights Commission in Bicol, started monitoring the evacuation starting early morning yesterday.
Señar said he has gone as far as Tabaco City, Bonga and Boyuan as part of the Joint-AFP-PNP Task Force Mayon to monitor the evacuation and also gave proper advice to peace officers implementing the forced evacuation.
Greg Bañares, spokesperson for the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Bicol, concurred with the forcible evacuation order as he assured the authorities that the New People’s Army operating in the area will not conduct any combat operation.
Palace is prepared
Meanwhile, Malacañang assured yesterday that it is prepared for the worst-case scenario in Albay if ever Mayon volcano erupts.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar said all of the concerned government agencies are already on hand to assist the residents and the local government of Albay to deal with the situation.
He said medical teams are already being ferried by the Philippine Coast Guard to Albay to provide assistance if needed.
Olivar noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has already frontloaded relief goods to Albay in preparation for the possible increase in the number of residents displaced by the activity of the volcano.
Several residents have already been relocated and according to Olivar, the DSWD has already provided assistance to them.
“The governor has placed Albay under the state of calamity so that he can mobilize the five percent calamity fund that he is authorized to do in a situation like that,” Olivar said.
“People have been evacuated to evacuation zones so I think we’re pretty ready for whatever might happen,” he added.
An expert from the Department of Health (DOH) also urged those living near the volcano to observe precautionary measures as the ash fall it is emitting can trigger upper respiratory tract infection.
“The most common is asthma. Those who are asthmatic must be careful because the ash fall coming from Mayon can trigger asthma attack,” said Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, DOH program manager for Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases. – Helen Flores, Celso Amo, Marvin Sy, Sheila Crisostomo
//////////
Philippine Volcano Forces 20,000 to Evacuate
Jim Gomez
AP
MANILA, Philippines (Dec. 15) -- The Philippines' most active volcano oozed lava and shot up plumes of ash Tuesday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and face the possibility of a bleak Christmas in a shelter.
State volcanologists raised the alert level on the cone-shaped, 8,070-foot (2,460-meter) Mayon volcano overnight to two steps below a major eruption after ash explosions.
Dark orange lava fragments glowed in the dark as they trickled down the mountain slope overnight. Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the activity could get worse in coming days.
"It's already erupting," Solidum told The Associated Press.
More than 20,000 people were evacuated to safety by nightfall Tuesday, said Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay province, where Mayon is located about 210 miles (340 kilometers) southeast of Manila.
The first of 20 vehicles, including army trucks, were sent to villages to take residents to schools and other temporary housing, provincial emergency management official Jukes Nunez said.
"It's 10 days before Christmas. Most likely people will be in evacuation centers, and if Mayon's activity won't ease down we will not allow them to return to their homes," Nunez said. "It's difficult and sad, especially for children."
Residents in Albay are used to moving away from Mayon. Nearly 50,000 people live in a five-mile (eight-kilometer) radius around the mountain, and some villages were evacuated last month when the volcano spewed ash.
Mayon last erupted in 2006, and about 30,000 people were moved. Another eruption in 1993 killed 79 people.
Salceda said Tuesday that he has placed the central province under a "state of imminent disaster," which will make it easier for him to draw and use emergency funds.
Although the alarm has been sounded, life continued normally in many laid-back farming villages near the restive volcano. Throngs of farmers flocked to the town hall in Guinobatan, which lies near the danger zone, for a Christmas party, then headed home bearing gifts.
Village leader Romeo Opiana said the 249 residents in his farming community of Maninila, near the volcano, readied packs of clothes but no one had left. An army truck was parked nearby, ready to haul people if the threat grows.
"We're ready, but we're not really alarmed," said Opiana, 66. He could not remember how many times he had seen Mayon's eruptions since childhood.
Provincial governor Salceda said he had decided to cancel a trip to Copenhagen, where he was to attend the U.N. climate conference to discuss his province's experience with typhoons and other natural disasters.
He said he would appeal for foreign aid to deal with the expected influx of displaced villagers to emergency shelters.
"Whatever the volcano does, our target is zero casualty," Salceda told The Associated Press.
Magma had been rising at the volcano over the past two weeks and began to flow out of its crater Monday night, Solidum said. He said the volcano had so far only gently coughed out red-hot lava, which had flowed half a mile (half a kilometer) down from the crater.
Some classes were suspended indefinitely near the danger zone. Officials will find a way to squeeze in classes in school buildings to be used as shelters, Salceda said.
Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried a town in mud.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. About 22 out of 37 volcanos in the archipelago are active.
//////////
FYI
All of the items referred
to below arrived
safely in the Philippines
on November 28th and appropriate Distribution is
currently being organized...
OUR MOST URGENT
NEED RIGHT NOW
IS FOR....
THE FUNDING REQUIRED TO SHIP NOT ONLY
HIS VERY HARD TO LOCATE AND SELDOM
DONATED C-ARM AND OTHER URGENTLY
NEEDED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
BUT ALSO THE FUNDING TO SHIP AN
ADDITIONAL 6 CONTAINERS OF
VERY CRITICALLY NEEDED
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF GOODS
TO THE PHILIPPINES IN RESPONSE TO
THE FLOODING CAUSED BY
TROPICAL STORM
" ONDOY "
A DISASTER OF
EPIC PROPORTIONS
IN
THE PHILIPPINES
Double click on this link to watch an example of what was happening here during the flooding
WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK....
Double click on this link for updated information on the floods in the Philippines
Not only are we are in need of the immediate funding required to ship this URGENTLY needed, very hard to locate and fully functional Philipps BV 25 C-Arm Fluoroscopy Machine to the Philippines in Mid October.
This C-Arm, two brand new portable anesthesia machines, and one electro-surgical generator plus several other items of medical equipment and hundreds of boxes of supplies have been set aside for us in the US pending our ability to raise the funds needed to bring them here.
If we don't raise the funds required for this shipment we stand not only the chance of losing this single shipment but the Donor as well.
The estimated cost to bring these very valuable and much needed items which are worth in excess of $ 350,000.00 to the Philippines is $ 18,500.00 +-.
FYI
We currently have standing by ready for immediate shipment a minimum of six containers of food, clothing and shelter items for which we need funding.
It takes Approximately 30-45 days to receive any items shipped from the US so we are only accepting those items which, from our many years of experience, will address the needs of the tens of thousands of victims of Tropical storm “ONDOY” that far out.
This is the absolute worst flooding in the Philippines since 1973 and is being called by many, the Katrina of the Philippines.
33 barangays ( Barrios or small subdivisions ) in Metro Manila suffered the worst flooding in recent years. These barangays are located in Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Makati City, Pasay City, Pasig, San Juan and Valenzuela City, where its 32 barangays were submerged.
Officials of the flood-prone city of Malabon reported some 400 people were forced to move to their rooftops in the afternoon during the height of the storm.
Pasay City officials, meanwhile, reported some 12,000 families had been relocated.
Outside of Metro Manila, the towns of Sasmuan, Apalit, San Luis, Sta. Ana, Guagua, Mexico, Candaba, Arayat, Macabebe, and Masantol and the City of San Fernando in Pampanga were flooded as water was released to ease pressure on the Angat Dam.
A total of 31 barangays in Bulacan were also flooded, provincial disaster officials reported yesterday.
Provinces in Central Luzon also sustained damage from the incessant rains brought about by Ondoy.
The Philippine National Red Cross,with whom we have worked very closely with the past 6 years has set up 122 Evacuation centers so far with 15,125 families, which translates into 71, 640 individuals and that is only the current number which have been assisted by the PNRC in some parts of Metro Manila and Makati where we are currently located.
///////
UPDATE
MISSION COMPLETE
UPDATE
MISSION COMPLETE
ALL 19 PATIENTS THAT SHOWED UP AND COULD BE CLEARED FOR SURGERY WERE SEEN AND TREATED.
ONE YOUNG GIRL WILL BE BROUGHT TO MANILA IN THE NEAR FUTURE
AS HER CASE WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST THREE SEPERATE OPERATIONS TO CORRECT.
AND
FYI
ANOTHER MISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN TAWI TAWI IN OCTOBER 2010.
Our first registered patient
for the October 2010 Mission
*** PLEASE NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND INFORMATION ON THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL MISSION WILL BE POSTED WITHIN A THE NEXT FEW DAYS
AS WE ARE ALL PRETTY BUSY RIGHT NOW AS A RESULT OF TROPICAL STORM ONDOY AND
THE DESTRUCTION AND HAVOC THAT IT BROUGHT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES.INCLUDING SEVERAL OF THE MISSION TEAM MEMBERS WHO ALSO SUFFERED GREAT PERSONAL LOSS
AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY WHILE THEY WERE AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES SERVING THOSE IN NEED,
BUT THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
JOINT MEDICAL MISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETED
During our Medical Mission to Bongao, Tawi Tawi
which was conducted from
September 23rd thru 26th, 2009
September 23rd thru 26th, 2009
Operation Smile-Philippines
19 cases of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate and other facial deformity operations were performed
FREE of Charge.
FREE of Charge.
This was a joint Medical Mission between:
Operation Smile-Philippines
Holy Family Hospital, Bongao
The Integrated Provincial Health Office, Tawi Tawi
The Hon. Sadikul Sahali, Al Haj, Governor
The Hon. Ruby Sahali-Tan, Vice-Governor
Provincial Government of Tawi Tawi
Rotary Club of Bongao, R.I. District 3850
Naval Task Force 62 and Philippine Marine Battalion Landing Team 2
American Embassy-JUSMAG-P and JSOTF-P
The Alegado Family Foundation, San Diego, California
The RP UN White Helmets Commission ( DFA )
TEAM Network / CDAG
Singleton - USA
and
Knightsbridge International
Mission sites and other info is posted on this map...
Double click on it to enlarge it...
///////
During the entire month of October
in association with The Hard Rock Cafe-Makati
we will be presenting a series of
public awareness concerts and performances
as part of the
8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days
" Harmony for Humanity..."
http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/
Mission sites and other info is posted on this map...
Double click on it to enlarge it...
///////
During the entire month of October
in association with The Hard Rock Cafe-Makati
we will be presenting a series of
public awareness concerts and performances
as part of the
8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days
" Harmony for Humanity..."
http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/
Double click on this image to enlarge it...
2009 PROJECTS UPDATE
Since January 2009 to date, we have been able to solicit and safely deliver in partnership with various international and local NGOs and GOs, 14 forty foot cargo containers of appropriate medical supplies and equipment, worth millions of dollars which were subsequently distributed FREE of Charge throughout the Philippines.
Some of those partner organizations have been, The Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach Program (HSMO) USA, The American Embassy Manila (JUSMAG-P), The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA), The Diplomatic Society of St Gabriel (UN), The Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassion and Relief Foundation-Taiwan and the Philippines, The Century City News, Century City, California, The Alegado Family Foundation, TEAM Network / CDAG, DisasterLogistics.org, The Congress of The Republic of the Philippines, The Philippine National Police (PNP), The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Physicians for Peace, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) through the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation (PGHMFI), Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, The City of Olongapo, The US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), The III Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa, The Armed Forces of the Philippines, The Philippine Marines, The Philippine Navy, The Philippine Air Force, The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
The following Rotary Clubs here in the Philippines, the US and around the world have all played a very significant role in our many successes over the years:
PHILIPPINES
RC Pasay Silangan,(Makati, Hon. Mbr 2002-2009) http://rotary3810.org/rcpasaysilangan/
RC Clark Centennial, (Angeles City/Clark, Hon. Mbr) http://www.rotaryclubclarkcentennial.org/
http://www.bahaybata.org/ona.htm (2003-2005)
http://www.bahaybata.org/sports/baseball/baseball-100.htm (2005-2007)
RC Conception, (Tarlac)
RC of Cubao, (Quezon City)
RC of Forbes Park, (Makati) http://www.rotaryforbespark.org/
RC of Isabela, (Basilan) http://www.rcbasilan.blogspot.com/
RC of Bongao, (Tawi Tawi 2005-2009)
RC of Pasay Southeast (Pasay City 2007-2009) http://rotary3810.org/rcpasaysoutheast/
Rotary International District 3810 www.rotary3810.org
Rotary International District 3850
USA
RC of Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills, California (Hon. Mbr. 2005-2009)
RC of Wilmette Harbor, Willmette, Illinois (2007)
RC of Wilmette, Wilmette, Illinois (2007)
RC of Highland, Highland, Illinois (2007)
Rotary International District 6450, Temple Solar Project (SOLAR OVENS)
http://www.rotary6450.org/tools/fckeditor/UploadFolder/TSOknightsbridgei_intl.pdf
AFGHANISTAN, (2002)
SRI LANKA, (2004-2005)
COSTA RICA
RC of Puntarenas, (2006)
NIGER
RC Club of Agadez, (2007 and 2010 pending)
TIBET
ChaZhu Valley Clinic, (2007)
http://www.tibetanaid.org/tibetan_aid_foundation/new_letter/medical_suplies.htm
ARGENTINA
RC of Santa Fe, (Las Parejas, Santa Fe 2007)
Some of those partner organizations have been, The Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach Program (HSMO) USA, The American Embassy Manila (JUSMAG-P), The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA), The Diplomatic Society of St Gabriel (UN), The Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassion and Relief Foundation-Taiwan and the Philippines, The Century City News, Century City, California, The Alegado Family Foundation, TEAM Network / CDAG, DisasterLogistics.org, The Congress of The Republic of the Philippines, The Philippine National Police (PNP), The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Physicians for Peace, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) through the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation (PGHMFI), Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, The City of Olongapo, The US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), The III Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa, The Armed Forces of the Philippines, The Philippine Marines, The Philippine Navy, The Philippine Air Force, The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
The following Rotary Clubs here in the Philippines, the US and around the world have all played a very significant role in our many successes over the years:
PHILIPPINES
RC Pasay Silangan,(Makati, Hon. Mbr 2002-2009) http://rotary3810.org/rcpasaysilangan/
RC Clark Centennial, (Angeles City/Clark, Hon. Mbr) http://www.rotaryclubclarkcentennial.org/
http://www.bahaybata.org/ona.htm (2003-2005)
http://www.bahaybata.org/sports/baseball/baseball-100.htm (2005-2007)
RC Conception, (Tarlac)
RC of Cubao, (Quezon City)
RC of Forbes Park, (Makati) http://www.rotaryforbespark.org/
RC of Zamboanga City, (Zamboanga 2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGKq1M-fAJgRC of Isabela, (Basilan) http://www.rcbasilan.blogspot.com/
RC of Bongao, (Tawi Tawi 2005-2009)
RC of Pasay Southeast (Pasay City 2007-2009) http://rotary3810.org/rcpasaysoutheast/
Rotary International District 3810 www.rotary3810.org
Rotary International District 3850
USA
RC of Century City, Century City, California (Hon. Mbr. 2002-2009) http://centurycityrotary.com/index.php
http://centurycityrotary.com/portfolio_details.php?ID=19
RC of Ojai, Ojai, California (2006-2009) http://www.ojairotary.orgRC of Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills, California (Hon. Mbr. 2005-2009)
RC of Wilmette Harbor, Willmette, Illinois (2007)
RC of Wilmette, Wilmette, Illinois (2007)
RC of Highland, Highland, Illinois (2007)
Rotary International District 6450, Temple Solar Project (SOLAR OVENS)
http://www.rotary6450.org/tools/fckeditor/UploadFolder/TSOknightsbridgei_intl.pdf
AFGHANISTAN, (2002)
SRI LANKA, (2004-2005)
COSTA RICA
RC of Puntarenas, (2006)
NIGER
RC Club of Agadez, (2007 and 2010 pending)
TIBET
ChaZhu Valley Clinic, (2007)
http://www.tibetanaid.org/tibetan_aid_foundation/new_letter/medical_suplies.htm
ARGENTINA
RC of Santa Fe, (Las Parejas, Santa Fe 2007)
February, March, April, May, June, July, August
In March and April we were invited by the US Embassy JUSMAG to assist with the planning and execution of a series of COMRELS (Community Relations) in partnership with the III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa under their OPERATION GOOD WILL, a program where the military personnel and civilian dependants of the III MEF collect, sort and pack large boxes of high quality, new and used articles of clothing and toys which are then shipped to various locations where they are personally distributed by members of the III MEF and their local counterparts in the host country. These are very high impact community outreach opportunities for the various elements to work side by side in some of the most depressed areas of the Philippines. Thousands of these COMREL Boxes were shipped to the Philippines and distributed throughout the country from Pampanga Province up to and including our visits to Jolo in June and July of this year. Several hundred are still being stored at the Santo Nino Parish, in Pandacan for use during a national disaster or flood in the poorest areas of Pandacan or Boseco which happens each and every year about this time. In addition to the handovers of these COMREL boxes the teams of volunteers also repaired and painted several school classrooms in Pampanga Province, and a clinic at a convent in Pandacan.
Participants in these COMRELS were:
The men and women of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and their families and friends in Okinawa.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, Army, Navy, Airforce and Marines.
The Philippine National Police.
The leadership and numberous volunteers of the Santo Nino Parish, Pandacan, Manila.
The Volunteer members of the RP UN White Helmets Commission ( DFA )
The Volunteers from TEAM Network and CDAG.
The Men and Women volunteers of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The US Embassy JUSMAG and JSOTF-P.
Singleton-USA
and
Knightsbridge International
We have once again been invited to participate in these COMREL Missions in Mid 2010
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Operation Smile-Philippines
In May we were given an opportunity to participate in our first Medical Mission with Operation Smile-Philippines where 100 children were scheduled to receive FREE Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate surgeries in Cauayan, Isabela between May 14th and May 16th, 2009. Our partners for this incredible mission were, The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA ), The Diplomatic Society of Saint Gabriel, and Singleton-USA
JUNE AND JULY
MUSICAL MISSION COMPLETED
MUSICAL MISSION COMPLETED
Check out John's blog on this website
and then
See what happened when John Zeretzke took Flutes Across the World to Zamboanga City, Philippines
Flutes Across the World
Flutes Across the World, Knightsbridge Intel., The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA), Singleton Worldwide-USA and Team Network / CDAG, the Rotary Clubs of Zamboanga City and Isabela, Basilan have joined forces and will bring this innovative youth oriented music program to Jolo, Sulu Province, Zamboanga City, Isabela, Basilan and Manila in Mid July 2009
Internationally renowned musician, John Zeretzke, will travel with Knightsbridge Intl. , The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA) Singleton-USA and TEAM Network / CDAG to join a surgical team from Operation Smile-Philippines, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center and The Healing Hands Foundation on a humanitarian mission in Mid July in association with and coordinated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and US Military JSOTF-P to provide FREE life changing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries and the gift of music to more than 37 children in the Southern Philippines. John will be bring 120 flutes made by 5th grade students in Ojai, CA, especially for this project. And an additional 20 flutes which were made especially for this program last week by counselors at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, in Los Angeles, California where John has worked with Campers for more than 10 years as a volunteer.
Original music by John Zeretzke.
Footage from BEYOND THE CALL used with permission.
Adrian Belic's " Beyond the Call..." PBS Independent Lens
Below are links to SOME of the projects that we have engaged in here in the Philippines within the past three months alone.
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines
Knightsbridge Intl and other NGO and GO Partners
Knightsbridge Intl and other NGO and GO Partners
JSOTF-P delivers medical supplies to Camp Navarro General Hospital
International cooperation brings new smiles to Jolo
AFP, JSOTF-P, Local and International NGO Partners Turn Over Education,
Livelihood Projects and Distribute Relief Packages to Sulu Communities
Livelihood Projects and Distribute Relief Packages to Sulu Communities
Flutes Across the World Visits Jolo in July 2009
INFORMATION ON MISSION SITES
AND LINKS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Tawi Tawi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawi-Tawi
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-72-d-m3332125.htm?Bongao
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701531234/tawitawi_group.html
Jolo Island, Sulu Province
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulu
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-60-d-m3349520.htm?Jolo
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701516830/sulu_archipelago.html
Basilan Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilan
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-22-d-m3349025.htm?Isabela
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701510819/Basilan_Island.html
AND LINKS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Tawi Tawi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawi-Tawi
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-72-d-m3332125.htm?Bongao
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701531234/tawitawi_group.html
Jolo Island, Sulu Province
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulu
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-60-d-m3349520.htm?Jolo
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701516830/sulu_archipelago.html
Basilan Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilan
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-22-d-m3349025.htm?Isabela
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701510819/Basilan_Island.html
PLEASE VISIT THIS BLOG OFTEN AS
MANY ADDITIONAL PHOTOS LINKS AND POSTS ARE FORTHCOMING
City of Olongapo (2003-2009)
