By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2011 Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO (jGLi) – President Evelyn R. Tolledo of the Bikol U.S.A. of the Midwest handed last Saturday, July 30, a $1,000 check to Mr. Roger R. Odiamar of the Bikol National Association of America, who will turn over the donation to victims of Typhoon "Juaning" that devastated the Bikol region a few days ago.

The turnover ceremony was held during the Bikol group’s Hawaiian Dance fund-raising held at the office of AML Business Corp. Tax & Accounting Services at 3839 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

The donation was in response to the report of former Bikol U.S.A. of Chicago and former BNAA President Zayda O. Baron, who appealed to BNAA members to help the typhoon victims of “Juaning.” Ms. Baron has now relocated back to Bikol.

Mr. Odiamar, former vice president of Bikol U.S.A. and later, president of BNAA, earlier urged the new BNAA President Adolf R. Manlangit, to request “Regional VP's (vice presidents) and Regional Advisers to request them to start mobilizing their regional fund raising campaigns for our poor kababayans (region mates) in the Bikol region.”

At this year’s 31st BNAA convention from July 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency – Downtown Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Odiamar reported that BNAA has donated $10,000 to the Bikol region this past year.

In her email last Tuesday, July 28th, Ms. Baron told BNAA that when they arrived at “Legazpi Airport at 7:20 a.m. two days after the biggest of flood to hit Bikol, we waited for our ride, but (the ride) came very late at 3:00 p.m. due to the flooded roads. At Camalig and Daraga, houses were carried (away) and covered by water.

NO MORE RICE FIELDS

“W ay ahead at Polangui, an ocean of water dominated the scene by the road side. Passing by Nabua, our jeepney swam the flooded roads while the water covered the surroundings of the place. The rice fields are nowhere to see.

“Upon seeing the destruction, very early this morning Senen (her husband) and I drove to Naga to go to the bank. The amount withdrawn was P200,000 (US$4,651.00) to purchase the first available rice to ration at the following places – Nabua, Bato, Bula, Baao and Iriga. The balance is P14,000 for the Disaster Program. Thank God, we did not spend this money during the three early typhoons in the month of May.

“By Saturday our early distribution will start, but the number of families to ration is more than the money we have on hand. Whatever you can add I will wait and check our email daily. We travel back and forth to Naga as our base and Patitinan.”

Ms. Baron said she, her husband, Senen, and her brother, Jen, are going to buy more sacks of rice for distribution to the victims.

MOTHER OF ALBAY GOVERNOR FALLS AND DIES

E arlier, it was reported that the mother of Albay Governor Joey Salceda died after slipping on the floor of her house at the height of typhoon “Juaning.” She was officially listed as one of the 50 disaster fatalities.

Cielo Adelina Sarte Salceda, 89, of Polangui, Albay, was included on a list of Juaning victims by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which previously ruled out as storm-related. It later reconsidered "fall" as cause of death to include her in the list.

Mrs. Salceda was walking to the toilet at 1 a.m. when she slipped on the flooded floor, hitting her head. She was rushed to the hospital but died hours later.

The NDRRMC also counted 40 injured and 25 missing, including 19 fishermen whose boat, the FB Hope Christy, capsized at the start of the storm.

Some 86 people, most of whom had accidents at sea, were also rescued in separate operations.

Total damage was placed at P1.466 billion (US$34-million), with P1.24-billion (US$28-million) in infrastructure lost and P223.5 million (US$5.1-million) in agriculture. A total of 6,145 houses were damaged, 578 of them totally.  # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)