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Need Batik Textile? Please call…

remzamora — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:40:58 +0000

Saw this posted somewhere in Quiapo, Manila.

Typhoon Pepeng Aftermath

remzamora — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:08:34 +0000

Woke up early today, 4 October 2009 to see what happened after continuous rains and heavy winds battering the area of Aparri, Cagayan after spending a night at the Ryan Hotel.

D-Day + 1

6:38 AM

Just a few meters from the hotel where we are staying.

Was surprised to see people up this early clearing their houses of fallen trees and debris brought about by Typhoon Pepeng the day before.

Went straight to the breakwater and was happy to see the sun peeking through rain clouds.

6:42 AM

It was still raining but winds have been stable already.

Next stop was the Aparri Municipal Gym where residents staying near the breakwater sought help and shelter during the night before.

7:03 AM

7:12 AM

Residents line up to receive relief goods prepared by the local government of Aparri.

7:16 AM

Children staying inside the gym.

7:19 AM

How resourceful can you get? Boys use card boards found inside the Aparri Municipal Gym to clean the floor.

I was surprised how prepared the local government was after seeing them distribute goods very early in the morning. Residents were also disciplined enough that they kept the gym clean even for just staying for a night. After they saw that the weather is starting to subside, many went back to their houses to go back to their normal life.

Since it was a Sunday, I decided to visit the church and saw that many attended the mass.

7:38 AM

Residents of Aparri in Cagayan wear their Sunday’s best to attend a mass a day after Typhoon Pepeng stormed the area.

After surveying the town, I went out to see nearby towns particularly those towards Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

Most of the roads are cleared already of debris. It is amazing how fast the residents can clean their own area. While mostly went ok during the typhoon, there are also parts which became flooded due to heavy rains. Flooded areas are mostly agricultural lands but there are also residential ones.

9:27 AM

A house along Baranggay Cullit, in Camalaniugan, Cagayan.

I texted a friend about what I saw today. I said, “It amazes me how people accept what God gives to them and just move on. Today I woke up with people cleaning their houses, attending the mass with their Sunday’s best. I pause to think and realize how sophisticated people from the metro consider this typhoon a big and major problem while people residing in these provinces seem to just go on with their lives uneventful yet fulfilled and satisfied.”

9:33 AM

SITTING PRETTY. A dog feels safe as it sits on the rooftop while the owner stays below at M. Antiporda Hiway in the town of Buguey, Cagayan.

Even the snails had to evacuate and place themselves to higher grounds!

As a photojournalist I was fine with my photos. I don’t have a “Pullitzer” photo but still I was glad that Typhoon Pepeng didn’t do much damage as to personal properties and lives. Most of the damaged areas are agricultural lands but we can all save for that. The experience in covering this typhoon made me very much aware of how things can be simple yet happy and fulfilled. Things can be beautiful indeed…

Residents of Baranggay Cullit in the town of Camalaniugan, Cagayan use a boat to survey their farmland where rice stalks were used to be seen but is now under water

My friend replied to my previous text.

“Sa probinsya kasi mas nakatapak sa lupa ang mga tao. In every sense of the word. They depend on the earth, that’s why they know that the world isn’t about them Their life has always been a life of waiting for what the world feels like giving them. harvests and calamities, bounty and loss… Different faces of the same coin. Tayo lang naman sa Maynila ang nagfi-feeling na tayo ang nagpapatakbo ng mundo eh “

Makes sense… makes a lot of sense!

Typhoon Pepeng in Aparri, Cagayan

remzamora — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:10:11 +0000

Volunteered to cover Typhoon Pepeng up north. I was with our driver Romy Tamanu. We left the office at around 9pm of Friday, 2 October 2009.

3 October 2009

8:06 AM

A man struggles to walk along the highway of San Pablo in Isabela as heavy winds blow brought about by the incoming Typhoon Pepeng.

The weather was still manageable. But winds are starting to get stronger.

We were just supposedly instructed to go in Bayombong but news came that typhoon Pepeng diverted and that it will land fall now in Aparri so we went there right away.

Arrived just before lunch and we went to Baranggay Maura just near the ocean and I saw how strong the waves are.

11:31 AM

12 year-old Buboy Mabbagu looks at heavy waves brought by Typhoon Pepeng in Aparri, Cagayan.

Residents are already preparing for Typhoon Pepeng.

11:36 AM

Renato Ribiacos fortifies his house’s fence as heavy winds and strong waves push houses lined up at Baranggay Maura, Aparri, Cagayan

I decided to find a hotel after that since my body and camera was all wet due to rains which started to fall around that time.

After lunch we went around town to see what’s happening as Typhoon Pepeng is about to hit the area.

This was what I saw…

People are already fleeing though some are just roaming around town as if it’s just but natural for a typhoon with this strength to hit their area.

A colleague from ABS CBN which was also supposed to go to Aparri was stuck in Tuguegarrao. She said there were already road blocks caused by Typhoon Pepeng and it’s too dangerous to push thru.

2:19 PM

Residents flee their houses in Aparri as Typhoon Pepeng starts to storm the area at around two in the afternoon of Saturday.

Some parts like Rizal Street started to become like a ghost town.

A Presbyterian Church was converted to an instant evacuation of residents living in Baranggay Maura.

I asked why I only see women and children and they said their husbands are inside their houses looking for it as the typhoon might destroy their homes.

2:39PM

Residents of Baranggay Maura in Aparri seek shelter inside a Presbyterian Church.

This was around the time when my camera started to moist. I decided to give the camera a break as we have only one issued camera and if this conks out on me then it’s game over.

Just sent photos to the office. Winds are getting stronger and police authorities are going around town looking for those in need of help.

I have my camera, cellular phone, laptop, GPS and all the necessary chargers needed for them to work plus an power inverter inside the pick up so this will be my mobile station for now. I also have a VHF-UHF portable radio just in case cell sites become clogged.

Will update as soon as I have time. Will do my rounds first in Aparri.

Militant Youth Successfully Entered Malacanan Complex

remzamora — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:20:20 +0000

A Presidential Security Guard tries to prevent militant youth from entering the Malacanan Complex during a protest rally in Manila.

The group were able to enter the complex as authorities push and shove them outside the area.

This PSG official was seen taking photos of the protest and was later confronted by the youth group questioning him of the purpose of his picture taking.

Media practitioners were also harrassed by the authorities as they cover the event as a PSG official claims that media is in cohorts with the militant groups even though the media is covering a legitimate event. Camera’s were blocked as they punch and kick protesters caught and are already behind the front lines.

This simply shows how one-sided the PSG and this administration view the role of the Philippine media.

Initial reports claim that 22 youth members were arrested and brought to the Manila Police District. In the end, the protesters rally behind the gates of Malacanan and call their action a success.

Basura

remzamora — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:33:20 +0000

JUST LIKE JESUS WALKING ON WATER… only Bryan, a 5-year old scavenger from Malate walks on water filled with garbage washed ashore at the Manila Bay brought about by Typhoon Kiko. He will then sell plastics gathered in Pasay afterwards for Php18 a kilo.

Waiting in Vain

remzamora — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:50:51 +0000

A member of the Philippine Airforce while his time away on his hammock near the Mendiola Bridge in Manila, Philippines on the day of Gloria Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA). Different government forces are stationed in vital locations around Mero Manila to maintain peace or order during the SONA.

A(H1N1)

remzamora — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:08:01 +0000

Students of University of Santo Thomas wear face masks as precautionary measure to avoid the spread of Influenza A(H1N1) virus. The Philippine’s Department of Health (DoH) confirmed on Monday the country’s first death due to Influenza A(H1N1), a 49-year-old woman, who also had heart disease.

Another Day at the Office

remzamora — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:44:47 +0000

It’s been a while…

Farmers together with militant groups seeking for the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) is violently dispersed by anti-riot policemen along C.M. Recto after they tried to push their protest towards Mendiola in Manila.

Tropa!

remzamora — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:04:12 +0000

Grade 1 students of Baseco Elementary School in Manila share a cubicle to take a restroom break during their recess from their first day of class. The comfort room in this school is shared by many grade levels and are therefore used batch by batch.

Emo or Apple Cut?

remzamora — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:23:28 +0000

So these are the new hairstyles now huh?

Taken in a local barbershop in Manila as kids get their haircut for the opening of schools the following day.