Give thanks, give help

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City may have declared a state of calamity because of super typhoon Yolanda but one look at the news, especially of the effects of what is widely regarded as one of the most powerful storms in history on places like Tacloban City, shows us that most Bacolodnons and Negrenses might be in a better position to give, rather than receive help at this point.

There are inconveniences that some of us are currently feeling due to disruptions in the delivery of basic utilities such as electricity and water that could possibly count as a calamity, if we were among the areas worst-hit by Yolanda. But it is becoming clearer and clearer that our calamity is nothing compared to the death and destruction in the areas directly hit by wrath of the super typhoon and any self-respecting Filipino who still has a roof over his head and loved ones to come home to, should not burden the national government any more than absolutely necessary.

In our island, it was Northern Negros Occidental that felt the fury of the storm. Those who want to send donations in cash and kind to fellow Negrenses should not have problems finding people and organizations such as your Visayan DAILY STAR that can help them focus their gratitude and generosity there. Those whose hearts have been broken watching and reading about the devastation in Tacloban, Capiz, Bantayan, Coron, Cebu and other areas more affected by Yolanda than us, may send their donations through reputable organizations such as the Red Cross or media outlets like GMA or ABS-CBN, and the DAILY STAR.

Our country has been hit by what is regarded by many as the worst disaster to hit the world  in recorded history, and once again, most of Negros has been fortunate enough to have been spared. The scale of the destruction is unprecedented and if the truth be told, we just barely missed being part of the utter devastation that we keep seeing on local and international media outlets.

Those of us who escaped unscathed and can still afford to breathe a sigh of relief or say a prayer of thanks, can surely afford to send help in whatever way we can to the areas that have been most affected by the typhoon. This is as good a time as any to show our gratitude, and to show the world what the Filipino Bayanihan spirit is all about.*