In Haiyan’s Wake

The howling winds of Typhoon Haiyan are no longer ripping across the Philippine archipelago, but the people are still struggling with its effects. While its impact on Manila was no greater than a few showers and winds for two days, Tacloban City and parts of the Visayas island have been left in a state of devastation. On Friday, November 8th, the Philippines was met with yet another typhoon for the season. However, Yolanda, internationally known as Haiyan, would prove much more dangerous than any other storms this year. According to SunStar, with winds of up to 235 kilometers per hour, the storm destroyed homes, buildings, and took 150 lives in its wake.

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It is the sheer size and intensity of this storm that makes us realize: nature sympathizes with nobody. The Central Visayas region experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on October 15th of this year (Inquirer). Not even a month later, that same region was hit by Haiyan and devastated. Now, as they struggle to recover from the wreckages of the storm, they are still experiencing rainfall. But the region has not seen the end of the typhoon season. The tropical depression Zoraida is, as of November 11th, riding on the tail of the Philippines (PAGASA). It is expected to hit the same region that has already suffered two natural disasters within a month of each other.

In times like these, when destruction is followed by more destruction, hope is not lost in the Filipino people. Even just a few days after Haiyan, the country was still awake and fighting. Currently, relief efforts have been organized both by international and local organizations. Volunteers are plentiful, and the

Screen Shot 2013-11-21 at 7.15.34 AM Pinoy spirit is stronger than ever. Spirit, of course, is only half the battle. If you would like to donate to the cause – whether it be in the form of funding or supplies – please contribute what you can to the ISM relief fund. Let’s show that our school is truly waterproof, and that our host country can brave through this stormy season.