Super Typhoon Odette (International name “Rai”) made landfall on December 16, 2021 in Surigao del Norte Province before crossing the central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. It had maximum sustained winds of 195km/h and gustiness of 260km/h.

Odette made nine landfalls in seven provinces. Initial data as of December 20 shows that Caraga and Regions VI, VII, VIII and IV-B (MIMAROPA) were hit hardest, with communities in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, Southern Leyte, Bohol and Cebu most severely affected.

As of December 26, Odette has claimed at least 378 lives, while 62 people are still missing.

Storm data from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Lists of nationwide efforts from media

• PhilStar: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/12/20/2149102/list-heres-where-you-can-donate-odette-relief-efforts
• Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/moveph/help-communities-affected-by-typhoon-odette/

Dinagat Islands (among first hit by initial typhoon landfalls)

Dinagat Islands Provincial Information Office: https://www.facebook.com/DinagatIslandsPIO/posts/223487889932517

Donation channels have already been put in place through BALAOD Mindanaw, an alternative law organization based in Cagayan de Oro and a partner of the Provincial Government in development initiatives:

BALAOD Mindanaw contacts & GCash info:

• Nolasco Ritz Lee B. Santos III. BALAOD Mindanaw Executive Director.
• Contact Number (and GCash linked number): 09209380692 (currently inactive due to reaching the wallet limit).
• Alternative GCash number: Loi Cabaluna of BALAOD Mindanaw: 09561274786

Banco de Oro (BDO), Unibank:

• Account Name: Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw (BALAOD Mindanaw), Inc.
• Bank Address: Corrales St., Cagayan de Oro City
• SWIFT Code: BNORPHMM
• Account Number: 001768028140

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI):

• Account Name: BALAOD Mindanaw, Inc
• Bank Address: Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City
• SWIFT Code: BOPIPHMM
• Account Number: 2041-0351-05

Bohol

Plastic Free Bohol: https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreebohol/posts/2008525509307913

• Paypal: plasticfreebohol@gmail.com
• Gcash: 09662412786, Edeliza Macalandag

Donations will be used for the following:

• Water
• Canned food, non-perishables
• Hygiene kits or toiletries
• Towels
• Blankets
• Sleeping mats or banig
• Mosquito nets
• Flashlights or solar-powered lights
• Medicines
• Face masks
• Alcohol
• Other essentials/necessities

Deaf Boholanos Society: https://www.facebook.com/DBSpage/posts/5177052682329422

Gcash:

• Raymond J Manding
• 09661681462

Any Padala Express:

• Clint Louie Hontalba
• Alfer Lopoy

Please take the screenshot of your donation receipt to send/contact through Deaf Boholanos Society (FB page) or deafboholanossociety@gmail.com or Alfer Lopoy (FB messenger).

Cebu

Youth with Risa Hontiveros: https://www.facebook.com/kabisayaanparanirisa/posts/415841730215149

For donations channel to Christian Andrei F. Derafera.

• GCash: 09335678393.
• Paymaya: 09335678393.

Bank of the Philippine Islands via Aimee Santos

• Aimee Santos
• Acct. Number: 0189573278
• Please note as Akbayanihan Cebu

Negros

Siliman University, Dumaguete: https://su.edu.ph/call-for-donations-typhoon-odette/

For them to trace donations deposited in any of these banks, please observe the following:

1. Email a PDF of the validated deposit slip to treas@su.edu.ph and vpd@su.edu.ph;
2. Write “Continuing Calamity Response Program Donation”; and
3. Indicate in the email (a) the purpose of the deposit, (b) full name of the donor, and (c) address and contact number of the donor.

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) – Dollar account:

• Perdices Branch, Dumaguete City
• Dollar Account: 1084-0273-47
• Swift code: BOPIPHMM

Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI):

• San Jose Branch, Dumaguete City
• Peso Account: 9215-8032-25
• Swift code: BOPIPHMM

Banco de Oro (BDO):

• Silliman Campus Branch, Dumaguete City
• Peso Account: 0080400-000-63
• Swift code: BNORPHMM

Indigenous Women

Lilak (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights): https://www.facebook.com/katutubonglilak/posts/4836389543049752

Donations will support ATA BUKIDNON from Negros Occidental; ATI from Antique; MAMANWA from Agusan del Norte; MANOBO from Agusan del Sur; MANOBO from Surigao del Sur; and PALAW’AN from Palawan.

You may send your donations to Lilak via the following options.

Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI):

• Account Name: LILAK/PURPLE ACTION FOR INDIGENOUS WOMENS RIGHTS INC
• Account No.: 1993 2179 28

GCash:

• Account Name: KATRINA MARIE MAGTOTO
• Account No.: 0945 110 6278

Paypal:

• paypal.me/katutubonglilak

For more information:

• Kat Magtoto
• 0945 1106 278
• babayenihan.lilak@gmail.com

What is Ilocano for bamboo shoot? What is a “rice flour roll” from Zamboanga?

Learn this and more from an alphabet of Filipino vegetables & vegetable-based Filipino food, from A to Z! 

The alphabet features dishes and ingredients from different parts of the country such as Palapa, a delicious and spicy Maranao condiment from Lanao del Sur. It also features different words for Filipino fruits and vegetables such as Yangka, which is Kapampangan for jackfruit!

26 different vegetables and vegetable-based dishes and ingredients can be found in the alphabet. It is illustrated with cute and playful characters, and highlights Filipino food beyond the meat-based or fried dishes we also grow to love.

Did you know Ampalaya has been used in many traditional medicines as a natural remedy for treating diabetes? Or that Malunggay is known to have more nutrients than regular sources of vitamins such as oranges, carrots, and even milk?

After my mother’s stroke, I was surprised to find many different Filipino dishes that were healthier for us. I illustrated this alphabet to highlight some of these dishes and ingredients.

So introduce yourself and your family to a world of Filipino vegetable dishes and ingredients. Start with this alphabet and let’s start cooking & learning!

What do the stars tell you about your favorite Filipino food?

A series of art posts highlighting Filipino food and Zodiac signs were created by Joanne Boston of @jbkollaborations and myself back in 2020. Each sign of the Zodiac, from Aries to Virgo, was assigned a Filipino dish. 

Lechon, with its crispy golden skin, was chosen for the Leo’s (Jul 23 – Aug 22), whose element is fire and spirit color is gold, according to Horoscope.com.

Libras (Sep 23 – Oct 22) who love Pancit are in luck, as the dish associated with long life by Filipinos was assigned the Libra zodiac.

The connections were based on a short survey Jo conducted for fun with her Instagram following. She then sent the results to me to create artwork using cute Filipino food characters, and together we finished this Filipino Food Zodiac.

There are many memes and social media posts of Zodiac signs assigned to different dishes from sandwiches to pizza. The zodiac itself is a set of characters assigned to the stars.

The Chinese Zodiac is connected to various animals like the Rooster or Goat, and was based on the Chinese lunar calendar over 2,000 years ago! The reason why Filipinos view pansit as a symbol of long life is because of a Chinese tradition: the consumption of noodles every Chinese new year, which is based on the lunar calendar.

The western Zodiac we know today has roots with the Babylonians. According to NASA, the Babylonians looked up at the stars and assigned names to the constellations which were passed by the sun every year. This tradition lived on, and eventually the Greek word zôion meaning “animal” gave way to the word we use today, Zodiac (and “zoo”!)

The next time you celebrate your birthday (or look up your horoscope for the week), be sure to find your own inner Filipino dish. Don’t forget to share.

May your stars be aligned, and be forever in your flavor.

Get your Filipino Food Zodiac sign

• Get details on each sign from Jo’s website here.
• Get artprints of your Filipino Food Zodiac on Society6, or get a downloadable hi-res printable of all the Filipino Food Zodiac signs on Etsy.
• See more Filipino Food Art by me on my main page here.