Hope

THEME DAY: CONTRAST • First of all, I would like to thank everyone who came by these past few days to ask about my family's safety. Seeing all those messages of concern was truly heartwarming. Secondly, I apologize for not visiting much this week, but I think most of you know and understand why. Those of us who were lucky enough to have escaped the wrath of tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana) are trying to help its hundreds of thousands of victims in our own little way, whether by donating food and clothes, volunteering time and physical labor, or spreading useful information. You have probably seen many images of Ondoy's devastation already, so as a contrast to those, I offer you images of a relief operations center located in the Ateneo de Manila University. It is only one of many around Metro Manila and though not the biggest, "Ateneo Task Force Ondoy" is probably one of the most organized and orderly. Traffic marshals guide vehicles bearing donations inside the courts where volunteers unload, sort and pack them into plastic bags.



More volunteers form human chains to load the bags into trucks, vans and SUVs, which are also volunteered by their owners. Between the Philippine Jesuits' social apostolates and the university's social involvement organizations, areas that need relief goods are readily identified and contact persons in the area help ensure that distribution is orderly.



While immediate relief assistance (food, water, clothes) continues, Ateneo Task Force Ondoy has begun the next two phases of its operations: health and clean-up. Recovery will be slow and this will be a sad Christmas for many, but as long as there are people who are willing to help and people who can make sure that attention will not waver several months down the road, our people will recover.


The first of the month is always Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers around the world. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.