SURIGAO DEL SUR – Four siblings in Tagungon, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur who seeked for help received countless donations after netizens launched a campaign.
Hazel Gee Pandeling, one of the good Samaritans, initiated a peso challenge fundraising for the children and raised enough funds.
“They were abandoned by their mother,” Hazel told Story of Every Juan. “Yung father po nila sa malayong lugar nag tatrabaho to sustain their needs and living.”
She said that the children are left at home most of the time.
“Yung bahay po nila is yung nakapalibot sa pader is karton lang,” she described.
Photo courtesy of Hazel Gee Pandeling
“Sila sila lang po yung nag aalaga sa sarili nila − nagluluto. Basta ang alam ko po, nangungutang lang sila sa mga kapitbahay para may ma saing at makain,” Hazel said. “Kaya when I saw a post about them, nag start agad ako ng fundraising. Because I know for a fact that they deserved whatever assistance I can provide.”
Goods, milk, biscuits, toothbrush, and personal hygiene are among the items that the children received.
For in-kind donations and other inquiries, you may reach out to Hazel Gee Pandeling on Facebook. – Story of Every Juan
MASBATE – Residents captured breath taking pictures of “Light Pillars” that suddenly appeared in the night sky in Balud, Masbate, Monday Night, September 6.
According to state weather bureau, The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), light pillars are formed when tiny crystals in the atmosphere reflect the light from the moon.
Suspected thief gets arrested after the victim’s GPS tracking device helped lead the cops to the suspect’s hideout, Sunday, September 5.
The suspect was identified as Marvin Bertulfo Y. Gonzales, after he was caught in a CCTV, breaking into the victim’s house in Barangay Daang Amaya 2, Tanza, Cavite.
According to the police reports, the suspect broke into the victim’s property and carried out a messy search and stole the victim’s cellphone worth P16,000
The victim who wanted to be anonymous coordinated with the police, tracking the suspect’s location via GPS installed in the victim’s phone.
PAG-ASA informs the public especially residents of Isabella that tropical depression “Jolina” may make a landfall as a tropical storm in Isabella on Thursday, September 9.
According to the latest report, tropical depression Jolina was at 205 kilometers east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, or 230 km east-northeast of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. Monday, September 6 at 11am.
According to PAG-ASA, Jolina has slightly intensified and is expected to landfall over Isabela by Thursday.
The said tropical storm is seen to be a Tropical storm by Wednesday, Sept. 8.
PAG-ASA also raised the cyclone wind signal number 1 over Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands, and Bucas Grande Islands
“Strong winds with occasional gusts will be experienced in areas where tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 is in effect. Given that Jolina may likely intensify into a tropical storm before landfall, the highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal that will be raised throughout its passage will be Signal No. 2,” said PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez.
PAG-ASA also stated that in the next 24 hours, Jolina is also expected to bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands and light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also prevail over northern Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
further more, Perez stated Jolina will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Friday, Sept. 10 however, they still advised the public to remain vigilant and keep an eye on possible changes in the forecast track in the succeeding bulletins.
“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” PAG-ASA, warned.
The Department of Health announced 20,000 new Covid Infections making the Philippines grew to 2, 080, 984 on Sunday, September 5.
According to the report, Metro Manila has the highest number of total COVID cases followed by CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas
The September 5 tally is reported to be the 4th highest one-day count so far following the 20,310 reported on Friday, September 3, and 20,741 on Saturday, September 4.
Furthermore, Death Toll climbed to 34, 234 with 172 new fatalities while 20,089 existing patients recovered from the viral infection making the total number of recoveries to 1,889,312.
Moreover, there are still 157,438 active cases that are under quarantine and treatment.
A 15 years old scholar from Muntinlupa city went viral after donating his allowance to the struggling families in his community due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Jarred Gaviola, a young scholar from Muntinlupa Science High School, chose to make good use of his scholarship allowance by giving out essential needs for the families affected by the pandemic in barangay Tunasan and Bayanan.
Photo courtesy of Jarred Gaviola
“Having learned of so many families in need [and] looking forward to receive relief packs, I decided to use my scholarship allowance [to extend help to other people],” Jarred told Story of Every Juan.
He later led a food donation drive tagged as ‘Tara, Tulong Tayo’ to extend more help to other people.
The drive was able to deliver additional food relief to the canteen workers in different schools in Muntinlupa and some families and frontliners in Barangay Tunasan.
Photo courtesy of Jarred Gaviola
He successfully provided aid to 200 families and 60 frontline workers in his community.
Photo courtesy of Jarred Gaviola
“Age and status in life are not hurdles when it comes to helping other people,” Jarred said.
The ‘Tara, Tulong Tayo’ food donation drive continues accepting donation, and you may reach out Jarred Gaviola on his Facebook account for inquiries. — Story of Every Juan
A Redditor with a username of 1st_Lt_Unson shared his experience on June 11 of a “weird chemically/electrical smell” spreading in their area.
“There’s a weird chemically/electrical smell around this time. It began two days ago, I think. And my relatives are also reporting similar stuff,” 1st_Lt_Unson said on his post. “Anyone else? Sorry if I can’t describe well nor construct sentences straight. My head is pounding, and I can’t get away from the smell.”
“Heck, I initially thought it was a meth lab until I heard about it from my relatives. Now I think it’s a conspiracy thingamajig, maybe the smell is affecting me…,” the uploader added.
The post titled “Weird smell around 11 PM – 3 AM” went viral, and some users also shared their common experience of the said weird smell.
“Holy sh*t. You serious? We had similar experience here in sampaloc. Happened last night on that exact hour of the night,” a Redditor washinwashout expressed.
“Partner lives in Malate and mentioned the same funky odor. Baka nga daw gawa ng sunog,” chancelina said.
“Strange. I’m from Imus, there was a strange smell too around Sunday 4am-ish. Woke me up as I thought there was something burning, it smelled like burning electronics,” cringefest77 stressed.
The weird smell further experienced in Visayas as username ddaddie shared his experience in Cebu City. “wth. same here. and I’m in Cebu City,” ddaddie said.
The post has reached hundreds of comments on the same experience of the odd smell.
Meanwhile, the uploader 1st_Lt_Unson edited his post and added that the smell might be the outcome from the fire in Malabon.
The Reddit thread was reposted on Facebook and gained a lot of attention.
For now, whether the smell is really coming from a fire, a natural phenomenon, or a human-made — it still remains unexplained.
While most of us dreamed to travel many places ― may it be in local destinations or abroad ― but due to financial restrictions, failed to do so; for Melchizedek Aranas Garcia, his travel story is different.
Photo courtesy of Melchizedek Aranas Garcia
Melchizedek, has crossed Philippine islands for about 120 days, with 84 riding days and 36 chill days to finish the 10,200 km ride with his bicycle. His love for nature had inspired him to complete this unparalleled experience as with his love for cycling.
“Nung nagkatrabaho na, while onboard a ship, it comes to my mind na I want to travel the whole Philippines and even the whole world,” Garcia said.
“Since I’m used to be a cyclist even before I started working on a ship, it comes to my mind na, what if bisikletahin ko buong Pilipinas? That was 2014,” he added.
In 2015, he boarded an international vessel and had a chance to see a lots of tourist spots from different countries, and met different nationalities.
Photo courtesy of Melchizedek Aranas Garcia
“I realized.. naikot ko na ang mundo pero sarili kong bansa hindi pa. What if gawin ko yung gusto kung gawin before,” he stressed.
In 2016, Melchizedek bought a Philippine map and studied the distance between cities, places to visit, and other information about the places he wanted to visit in. A year after, he shared this idea to his friends but gained no support as some said he was insane. “Some said it’s possible, others said it’s okay ― but most of them doubted,” he added.
“As for my preparation, I climb one of the toughest mountain in Palawan. Then, I went to Malaysia to climb Mt. Kinalabu. I was in good condition, I said to myself,” he stressed.
It was in March 15, 2019 when Melchizedek finally started his journey from North Luzon loop and to the rest of the country which concluded on July 20, 2019.
Photo courtesy of Melchizedek Aranas Garcia
He said the only hurdle he faced was when his tires got flat and other rainy days, the rest went smoothly.
“The reason why I didn’t feel I struggled because I am prepared physically. I trained for four months. I even climbed mountain as a training,” he stressed.
The young Melchizedek have had travelled various places in the country. At 15, he already reached the country’s highest peak, the Mt. Apo and had seen the beauty of nature, that was the time when he started to wander and which led him to brace this unforgettable experience of travelling the country with a bike.
He said that after that trip, he realized that there are more things to discover about the beauty of the Philippines and most of all, it uncovered more things about himself.
He was motivated by the people who doubted him and was inspired by those who believed in him and his dreams.
Photo courtesy of Melchizedek Aranas Garcia
“Anyone can do it. It’s just a matter of courage, confidence, and most of all mindset,” he ended.
When we want to achieve something, no excuses are valid. It’s a matter of belief that we can do it with great determination, and making the actions done. If we want to travel, all we have to do is START THE JOURNEY. — Story of Every Juan
Four displaced workers ventured into selling in Makati City were praised by netizens after their story went viral online.
Susan Isorena-Arcega shared on Facebook that every day these four men are selling turon and lumpiang togue for 10 pesos each and later found out that they were stranded due to the lockdown.
Photo courtesy: Susan Isorena-Arcega
“Dumidiskarte lang, Nay. Kasi po hindi kami entitled sa anumang ayuda. Hindi po kami puwedeng umasa sa wala,” Susan quoted one of the men.
Susan’s Facebook post has already reached more than 122,000 reactions and 58,000 shares — and counting.
The Story of Every Juan reached Justin Art Jomoc Ganza, one of the displaced workers from Butuan City, and he shared that the four of them are living together in one house.
Vincent Demafile from Bago Negros Occidental; Prak Joseph Serrano from Boracay, Albal; and Ariel Gakit from Tagbina, Surigao del Sur
“Napag isipan naming tong magbenta ng turon at lumpiang togue para po makatawid sa pang araw-araw naming pagkain,” Ganza said.
“Hindi po kami nag expect na mag vaviral kami. Nagpapasalamat kami kay Ma’am Susan at sa tumulong sa amin,” he added.
Photo courtesy: Susan Isorena-Arcega
The men are peddling 60 pieces of turon and 60 pieces of lumpiang togue in the morning, while in the afternoon they are selling barbeque “isaw”. — Story of Every Juan
Story of Every Juan 