OPINION: Dateline Cebu by Al Jacinto (Tragic Indeed)

Tacloban City

Tragic indeed…

IT WAS A HEART-BREAKING COVERAGE to Tacloban City in the central Philippine province of Leyte which was devastated by monster typhoon Haiyan on November 8. The whole of Tacloban is really ravaged and it is there where I saw the determination of the locals in putting back their shattered lives, dreams and rebuild the future.

Food was so scarce for many, a week after the typhoon since there is no government aid coming. Thanks to the various nongovernmental organizations, international donors, foreign governments, and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their quick disaster response. Without them, life for typhoon survivors would even be harder…harsher.

Government response after the typhoon was really miserable. There was no clear direction where to start or how to go about the total devastation of Tacloban, and I supposed all other areas in Leyte and Samar provinces. People were crying and begging for food and many resorted to lootings. It was a total chaos.

President Benigno Aquino and Interior Sec. Mar Roxas were in Tacloban, but they spent a lot of their time going around and assuring survivors that government aid is coming. And these assurances won’t satisfy a hungry stomach.

Again, thanks to foreign donors!

I don’t know how typhoon survivors would rebuild their lives. They are left with nothing, but their sheer spirit to survive. And everything in Tacloban disaster response is politics.

And many people also took advantage of the situation in Tacloban. Looters sold whatever they can on the streets. Car owners charged as high as $300 a day for vehicle rental. Hotel employees charged as high as P125 to wash a pair of pants (no ironing). A modest room costs around P2,500 and so on.

Tacloban will rise again, like a burning phoenix; it shall fly high once more.

Cebu Grand Hotel

CEBU is bustling and is, as usual, very busy with tourists. I was billeted at the Cebu Grand Hotel at the Cebu Capitol Commercial Complex in North Escario Street in Cebu City.

The hotel is clean and the accommodation is really good. Got a good sleep at my suite room and looking forward again to stay in the Cebu Grand Hotel.

Food is great at the Lorenzo Bar and Restaurant and is not really so expensive. Breakfast is free and I feasted on the ham and other cold cuts. I would definitely recommend this hotel to travelers in Cebu.

Oh, by the way, I forgot to say that this hotel has its regular copies of the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper, so happy reading. (aljacinto@gmail.com)