In the immediate aftermath of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana, which hit the Philippines in force on Saturday, the country’s government blamed victims for not heeding its warnings and suggested that its disaster relief efforts were not as bad as those of the American government during Hurricane Katrina. The storm, also called Ondoy in the Philippines, has killed at least 140 people and displaced about 150,000, according to the latest report.
The commentary by Ramil Digal Gulle is also a good read from the perspective of one of the angry citizens just demanding what's due them from the taxes they're paying to the government.
Sigurado akong ang pinakamaraming apektado sa bahang ito ay ang nagmula sa napakalawak na hanay ng mahihirap na mamamayan na kung tawagin ng marami ay "squatters". Pagkakataon na ito para pagkaisahin ang mga mamamayan hindi lamang para malampasan ang hamong dulot ng bagyo kundi para mas lalo pang patampukin ang panawagan para sa isang maayos na gobyerno.
MANILA — When Irene Mendevil, a high school English teacher, shouts at her students, she said, she gets a sore throat. So she has begun to use an amplifier.
August 25, 2009
