Life at Evacuation Centers // A Call for Help

Today, I had to go look for an evacuation center to cover for work. Typhoon Nesat (Pedring) has shown her wrath, and today I got to see the people who felt it. It was my first time to see an evacuation center of this scale, and I'm slowly learning how to handle the things I see, because more often than not, it isn't pretty.

The whole place is a horrible mess. It smells of piss and half of the place is just children, and half of the children are crying. There are newborn babies in every corner. It is depressing, and sad, and most of us don't know, and even worse, a lot of us don't care.

This is no way to live. :( But we can help. The following accept donations (grabbed the list from propinoy.net) :

1. Gawad Kalinga needs food and water for the 2,000 families in Baseco, Tondo. To donate, call 09164379941 or drop them off at Gawad Kalinga Headquarters, #212 Haig st., Brgy. Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City
2. Philippine Red Cross accepts cash and checks.
   Account Name: Philippine Red Cross
   Bank Name: Banco De Oro
   Peso Account: 453-0018647
   Type of Account: Savings
   
   
   You can also donate through SMS
   Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart)
   G-Cash Donations
   Text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS to 2882
   You can donate the following denominations:
   Globe: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000; Smart: 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000
3. UA&P - Food, clothes, medicine. Drop-off point at UA&P, Pearl Drive, Pasig City. Give donations to the UA&P guards. Donations will be delivered directly by Brgy. San Antonio Disaster Management Group to Marikina flood victims. Contact Ivanna 09178454826.
4. CDRC - Visit http://www.cdrc-phil.com/donate/ for donations and volunteering

Thousands of families have been displaced. They're hungry, homeless, and they need your help. Let's please pray for them.

**my photos appear online at the Wall Street Journal, TIME (I still can't believe it!) , Daum (Korean News), SNT Online, The LA Times,  and The Jakarta Globe, among others

Volcanoes at Training

The Philippine Volcanoes National Rugby Team invited me to come shoot the National Men's 7s Team right before they flew to Borneo to represent the Philippines. Really, how could I say no? These lads are awesome. I probably can't stress well enough how down-to-earth they are, and it's really sweet, their brotherhood. Meeting them indoors was incredibly different from seeing them play outdoors.

For the rest of the photos I took and for information about the team, check out their blog, which they launched today :) The players' names are there. Keep posted! Also, follow the team on Twitter.

They're competing for the Philippines this weekend, so throw them your support!

Rooting for you, boys! Make us proud!

PS This is just a sneak peek--the other photos will debut at their blog so watch out for it!

**update: They placed second in the Asian 7s Championships in Borneo! AAAA. So proud!!!!!  :)

GRACIAS for all the kind comments, tweets and inspiring messages I received yesterday and today. I'm truly humbled.

UNIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS!

Today was legendary. There are no words.