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This photo (by Carmela Aquino) of a man saving a child during the height of Typhoon Ondoy is one of many images posted on the internet showing the victims saving other victims.  There are also many stories of bravery being told.  My own officemate (whose house in Cainta was inundated) swam through the murky floodwater to get to Mercury Drugs Store to buy food for his stranded neighbors.  The most poignant story account I have heard so far is that of the young man who, at the height of the storm, swam through flood waters to save thirty lives.  That young man is Muelmar Magallanes, also a victim of the storm.  He died saving the life of an infant, the thirtieth life he saved.

I was in the supermarket on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and as the days passed, I saw the supply of water, instant noodles and canned good dwindling.  There was a mad rush to buy relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. In the many Relief Operation Centers, there were countless young people accepting donations and packing goods to delivered to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.  On the social networking sites, there were, and still are, countless individuals keeping the stream of information on where aid is needed most going and urging others to help.  Somehow, help has reached those that need it.

While there are still the opportunists and apathetic among us, I tell you now, I have never been so proud to be a Filipino as I am today.  For in times of great tragedy, many among us find it in themselves to help others.

*Photos of Ateneo Relief Operations by Ojai Ramos

This entry was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 8:56 pm and is filed under In and Around the Philippines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.