'Ondoy' death toll hits 246 as 'Pepeng' nears RP

MANILA, Philippines - Swollen rivers and debris-strewn streets yielded more bodies yesterday, bringing the death toll from massive flooding brought by tropical storm “Ondoy” to 246.
As disaster teams sifted through tons of debris in search of bodies – and hopefully survivors – two new storms brewing in the Pacific threatened to complicate relief efforts.  Full Story.

Storm causes widespread flooding

(The Philippine Star) Updated September 26, 2009 02:30 PM

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Hundreds of people fled their homes today (Sept. 26) after overnight rains brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy flooded Metro Manila and areas in the northern Philippines.

Water was chest-deep in low-lying areas of the capital and part of nearby Rizal province, said Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesman.
"Warnings were given to local government units but the rains have not stopped since yesterday," Golez told ABS-CBN television.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said he had to take the commuter train to his office because the roads were too flooded to drive.
"This kind of flash floods in metro Manila took us all by surprise," he said, adding that flooding was also reported in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces north of Manila.

Swollen creeks forced many residents in some communities on to the roofs of their homes and they were calling for help to evacuate, according to local radio reports.
Television news footage showed one flooded road in suburban Quezon City appearing like a raging river.
The storm intensified the seasonal monsoon, drenching much of the main island of Luzon where Manila is located, weathermen said. A dozen flights in and out of central and northern Philippines were canceled because of poor visibility, airport officials said.
Power distributor Meralco cut off electric services to some flooded areas in metropolitan Manila to prevent accidents, spokesman Joel Zaldarriaga said.
Hundreds of vehicles stalled in flooded streets around the capital and nearly 2,000 passengers and more than 150 vehicles were stranded in ports in several provinces south of Manila after the coast guard suspended ferry operations.
Tropical Storm Ketsana packed 53 mph (85 kph) winds with gusts up to  100 kph when it made landfall early Saturday about  80 kilometers northeast of Manila. It was moving westward toward the rice producing Central Luzon region at 19 kph .
The rains have also caused the water in two dams near the capital to rise to spilling levels, the national disaster agency said.

Pinoy Poitical Awareness

Pilipinos are politically enlightened people, from the hotbed of student activism of the UP campus to the barber shops and OTBs (Off Track Betting Stations) the kwentong kutsero of Pilipinos are mainly about political issues, everyone has an opinion.

As can be gauged by the last Senatorial elections pinoys are now more savvy and intelligent voters, gone are the days when moneyed candidates (Chavit) or popular celebrities (Cesar Montano, Richard Gomez) are almost assured of a candidatorial win.

Yes, pinoys are politically aware individuals although some are more astute than others. A High School classmate of mine posted and commented (in our Yahoo eGroup) on the subject of Senator Mar Roxas' giving way to Noynoy Aquino's bid for President. He had a very insightful and edgy opinion of the subject and I quote him:

"With the development at the Liberal Party front, we may be expecting some major political re-alignments among the Opposition's rank, Chiz's camp included?

Many believe that Noynoy's unexpected rise in the political ring opened some window of opportunity for unity among the non-administration bloc, something that was considered closed and next-to-impossible before Cory's demise.

Sen Mar saw the writing on the wall. He was trailing behind paid and independent surveys, despite spending around 600Million in political tri-media ads, and despite the forthcoming union with broadcast and TV celebrity Korina. He also correctly read that if he stonewalled using his Party built-in influence (His late Dad was the founder of the Liberal Party) against the rising tide of Noynoy's popularity principally pushed by the Cory Magic (and even by Ninoy's stature), division among the Party's already tattered lines (occasioned by the Atienza-Mike Defensor faction) would inevitably lead to its possible collapse.

Would it be illusory to even hope for others to follow the selfless example of Sen Mar?

The Noynoy factor is seen by a number of analysts as some sort of a Divine Intervention, considering the timing.  At a time when no apparent strong credible, presidentiable could unite the opposition, Noynoy's name surfaced from the mist of mourning eyes mostly of people who long for relevant change Cory's magic has woven into the minds even of the ordinary Filipino. He commands relative respect and credibility, hence, acceptability, for many reasons. One, he has no personal ambition to become president. This sets him apart from the other wannabe's. Two, he has no history of political wheeling-dealing, influence peddling, or has he been identified with corrupt politicians. Three, his apparent or perceived lack of political sophistication or savvy is no argument against his capability to lead a nation who needs moral integrity more than mercenary intellect, mental honesty than technical competence-- one who is patriotic and not narcissistic.

I hope he (whether he ultimately becomes the standard bearer or not) could unify not only the political opposition (many of whom do not even qualify as opposition if by opposition we refer to the act of fighting political patronage, endemic corruption, and abject poverty in this country) but also the ordinary people whose interests the traditional and elitist political players (both admin and Oppo) pay only lip service to, ever since "democracy" has been established in the national political landscape.

God bless this country, the only one we have!"

Yes, Pilipinos are politically aware, the 2010 elections will put this point on center stage.

Mar gives way to Noynoy

Country above self.
Heeding the signs of the times, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas announced Tuesday that he is sacrificing his presidential ambition to give way to his Liberal Party colleague, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, whom he endorsed to become the party’s standard bearer in the May 2010 elections. Full story.