Carigara urgently needs help

Carigara is a town in Leyte where probably one family in every three has a relative overseas. I should know because my wife is from there and has a sister, her only sibling, in the United States. Many of her close relatives and friends are too.

To give you an idea of how much this overseas deployment of labor means to the economy of Carigara, practically all money remittance firms in the country have a branch or two in the town. And when Christmas or fiesta time comes around, it is an incredible sight to behold long queues of people waiting for their padala.

But that Christmas padala should come sooner than usual. In fact, Carigara needs more than just the usual Christmas padala. Carigara is one of the places in Leyte devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda. Carigara needs a financial crutch if it is ever to get back on its feet after such a crippling blow.

Carigaran-ons, or Kalgaran-ons as they prefer to call themselves, may travel far and wide in search of a better life. Such is the immensity of their diaspora that there is probably a Kalgaran-on on every country on earth. But they never seem to cut their ties back home. In fact, when they can, they love to come home.

Kalgaran-ons seem to be fired by a fierce competitive spirit. Even among themselves they seem to compete as to who made it better in their overseas forays. They even love to outdo each other in throwing money away in that dance called curacha, a practice tightwad Cebuanos like me never could seem to understand.

Anyway, the reason I am writing this is to appeal to all Kalgaran-ons overseas to promptly respond to the calls for immediate relief and assistance from their families, friends, and ordinary townmates. As this was written, little or no help has reached the town.

That is because supertyphoon Yolanda broke all means of communications down. As this was written, the town of Carigara was virtually isolated. The roads leading to either Tacloban or Ormoc were impassable. There is massive devastation in the town and it needs all the help it can get and quick.

But since the government has its hands full -- there are many others crying out for the same help in Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Negros, Panay, and even in the north of Cebu -- Carigara will have to rely heavily on the Kalgaran-ons who have the great fortune to be outside the town when Yolanda struck.

In Cebu, my wife and a few other Kalgaran-ons who have made Cebu their residence have started a small relief operation. Her friend, Haydee Ricacho Remedio owns a fleet of trucks and has offered to transport and ship any relief goods for free.

Another friend, Carmel Pami Ulanday, is the wife of Col. Rudy Ulanday of the military logistics command in Cebu. Any relief goods for Carigara -- water, rice, canned goods, noodles, and medicine -- may be delivered to 7 Forward Service Support Unit, Army Support Command, Philippine Army, Pier 3 Arellano Boulevard, Cebu City.

Ms. Remedio can be contacted at 09175498601, Ms. Ulanday at 09173110604, my wife Arlene at 09295166126. Those who prefer cash donations may make deposits in the name of Carmel Pami Ulanday, BPI Family Bank Ortigas Emerald Branch current account 6795-1437-83.

            All donations will be acknowledged on the Bulig Para Carigara community page on Facebook. Those who wish to send their donations or relief assistance by other means or through other organizations or campaigns should do so promptly. For it really doesn't matter how the aid comes, so long as it comes.

            The needs of Carigara and the Kalgaran-ons are very urgent. Remember, the supertyphoon, which US weather experts have described as the strongest ever to make a landfall in all of recorded history, struck last Friday yet, November 8. I wrote this appeal last Sunday, November 10. At the time, Carigara was still down.

This is one time Kalgaran-ons must come forward and not rely on government to help themselves and their loved ones and their beloved hometown. Send relief fast by whatever means. Those overseas can mobilize and organize themselves. Time is of the essence.