“The Last Mile: Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) One Year After” Photo Exhibit: (Pasay City, Metro Manila)

 

“The Last Mile: Super Typhoon Odette (Rai)
One Year After” Photo Exhibit

This coming December will be the first anniversary of Typhoon Rai (known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Odette), the costliest typhoon in Philippine history after Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda) and many are still recovering from the impact of the typhoon. The European Union, through its EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations (EU-ECHO) and various organizations, have set out and help those who were greatly affected.

 

To aid the seven provinces (Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, Negros Occidental, Palawan, and Surigao del Norte) affected, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, together with its humanitarian partners, re-launched “The Last Mile: Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) One Year After” photo exhibition at the lobby of S Maison in Conrad Manila in Pasay City. 

Three of the 22 photos on exhibit

The photo exhibition was first held in August 15 in Siargao Beach Resort in Gen. Luna, Siargao Island, just a few days before the commemoration of World Humanitarian Day (August 19).  In humanitarian parlance, the “last mile” is the final stage of the humanitarian relief chain in which we make sure that we reach those most vulnerable wherever they are and being true to the essence “that no one should be left behind in disasters.”

 

H.E. Mr. Luc Veron (European Union Ambassador)

The exhibition, organized by A-List & Partners (represented here by CEO Ms. Ailene Chua-Co and Ms. Victoria Elgin Santos, Director of Events & Partnerships), aims to raise awareness about the impact of Typhoon Odette and the concerted efforts of residents and various groups in rebuilding the affected communities.  On display are 22 (0.60 x 0.85 m.) from almost a hundred images captured by organizations that implemented the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (EU-ECHO) emergency response for the survivors of Typhoon Odette. 

 

Ms. Rhoda Avila (Humanitarian Portfolio
Manager of Oxham Philippines)

Ms. Rhoda Avila, Humanitarian Portfolio Manager of Oxfam Philippines  and H.E. Mr. Luc Veron, European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines, gave messages at the opening event of the exhibit.  Both discussed how calamities are becoming more unpredictable and powerful amid climate change and global warming and that highly destructive typhoons and other extreme weather phenomena are expected to became more frequent due to this.  Then, Mr. Veron, Ms. Millie F. Dizon (SM Senior Vice-President Marketing & Communications) and Mr. Hans Sy Jr. (President of SM Engineering Design and Development) cut the ribbon officially opening the photo exhibit.

 

Mr. Hans Sy Jr., Ms. Millie Dizon and
H.E. Mr. Luc Veron 

EU-ECHO’s funding of the Typhoon Odette emergency response enabled the provision of emergency services to almost 500,000 individuals in seven provinces through two consortia: one led by CARE Philippines, with ACCORD Incorporated, Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (National Rural Women Coalition - PKKK), Plan International Philippines, and Action Against Hunger Philippines; and another led by Oxfam Pilipinas, with Save the Children Philippines and Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion (HI), together with local partners Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya (SIKAT) Inc. and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (IDEALS, Inc.).

 

The joint efforts of these groups resulted in the distribution of food and livelihood assistance to 70,643 individuals; water, sanitation and hygiene packs for 75,394; protection assistance for 147,549; shelter provision for 72,902; health services for 68,317; and “education in emergency” assistance for 41,205. After the initial rescue and relief operations came the work to ensure people could start leading normal lives.  The EU, and its member states, has delivered more than Php920.4 million worth of humanitarian assistance to the communities affected by Typhoon Odette.

 

The exhibition, running until November 30, wants to be a message of hope, offering a glimpse of the different phases of EU's relief and early recovery operations following the typhoon and is a powerful account and reminder of our humanitarian obligation to save lives and help communities recover from natural disasters like Odette.  

In addition, it also highlights the importance of preparedness which is crucial in limiting the number of fatalities during a super typhoon.  Other humanitarian organizations involved in the exhibit include Community Organizers Multiversity - CO Multiversity and United Youth of the Philippines-Women. 

 

“The Last Mile: Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) One Year After:” Level 1, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Blvd., Pasay City.

A-List & Partners: 7/F, Finman Bldg., 131 Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City.  Mobile number: (0917) 536-6856. E-mail: info@a-listconsulting.com. Website: www.a-listconsulting.com. 

European Union of the Philippines: 30/F, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 8819 Avala Ave. cor. Sen. Gil Ppuyat Ave., Makati City, Metro Manila. Tel: 8859-5110. E-mail: Delegation-Philippines@eeas.europa.eu.  

Oxfam Pilipinas: 3/F, 150 Corporate Center, 150 Panay Ave., Quezon City, Metro Manila.  E-mail: infoph@oxfam.org.uk. Website: www.philippines.oxham.org.

ACCORD Inc.: Unit 202-203, Bldg 1223, Casa Rafael, 1223 Quezon Ave, Quezon City, 1104 Metro Manila.  Tel: 8351-5010. Mobile number: (0947) 896-5012. Email: info@accord.org.ph. Website: www.resilientphilippines.com.

Action Against Hunger Philippines: 4/F, Gloria Bldg., 109 Aguirre St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Tel: 8840-1808. E-mail: contact@ph.acfspain.org. Website: www.actionagainsthunger.ph.

CARE Philippines: Unit 512 Cedar Executive Bldg. II, 26 Timog Ave. cor. Scout Tobias St., Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila.  Tel: 8351 6458. E-mail: carephl.info@care.org. Website: www.care-philippines.org.

Community Organizers Multiversity - CO Multiversity: 18 Marunong St., Brgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila. Tel: 8922-0246. Website: www.comultiversity.org.ph.

Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion (HI): Unit 1401, 139 Corporate Center, Valero, Makati, Metro Manila.  Tel: 8812-6990.

Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (IDEAL): 13 Matipid St., Brgy. Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, Metro Manila.  Tel: 8241-7174.  Mobile number: (0917) 527-5356. E-mail: go4ideals@gmail.com.  Website: www.ideals.org.ph.

Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (National Rural Women Coalition, PKKK): 54 Bukidnon St. Brgy. Ramon Magsaysay, Bago Bantay, Quezon City, Metro Manila.  E-mail: ruralwomencongress_ph@yahoo.com.  Website: www.pkkk.org.

Save The Children Philippines: 4/F, Sunnymede IT Center, 1614 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, Metro Manila. Tel: 8682-7283.  E-mail: Philippines@savethechildren.org. Website: www.savethechildren.org.ph.

Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya (SIKAT) Inc.:
Brgy. Mauswagon, Dinagat, Dinagat Islands.  Website: www.sikat-philippines.org.

United Youth of the Philippines-Women: Block 26, Lot 3, Peñafrancia Village, Cotabato City, Maguindanao.