Marikina City to honor Ondoy victims on September 26

The Marikina City government has lined up activities to celebrate the heroism of its people and honor the victims of last year's typhoon "Ondoy" (Ketsana), one of the deadliest tropical storms ever to hit the country. Marikina City, called the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" because of its notable shoe industry, was the area most devastated by typhoon Ondoy. According to the official website of the Marikina City government, a Requiem Mass (Mass for the Dead) will be celebrated at the Marikina River Park on September 26, the first anniversary of the typhoon. There will also be a showering of petals in remembrance of the victims, a parade, and a sharing of the stories of the heroes and survivors The city government will also hold a forum on climate change and disaster preparedness. Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen said the city government's disaster risk and management council will also hold a synchronized flood drill. A "tiangge" (street or open market) will also be put up featuring disaster readiness-related items such as survival kits, life jackets, flashlights, airbeds, among others. A photo exhibit, organized by the Marikina Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, will be held starting on September 20 at the City Hall Quadrangle. It will feature the photos of professional and amateur photographers as well as news organizations. Another photo exhibit will be held at the Blue Wave Mall in Marikina on September 3, featuring photos taken by members of the Marikina Digital Photographers’ Club. According to GMA News Research, typhoon Ondoy, the 15th tropical cyclone to enter the country in 2009, left 464 people dead and 529 people injured. Eleven persons were also missing because of the typhoon. The research team also said the typhoon affected 986, 825 families or 4,846, 417 persons. Marikina was the area most severely affected by Ondoy as 50 percent of its barangays (eight out of 16 barangays) were submerged in floodwaters. According to the Marikina City Mayor's Office, the affected barangays were: Tumana, Malanday, Tañong, Barangka, Industrial Valley, Concepcion Uno, Concepcion Dos, and Barangay Jesus dela Peña. The October 30, 2009 report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, showed that: * the total cost of damage nationwide was P11.06 billion (including a P6.6-billion damage to agriculture, and P4.39-billion damage to infrastructure) * 1,295 school buildings were damaged throughout the country, and * 158, 545 houses were destroyed nationwide According to the Marikina City website, as of November 26 last year, 85 percent of the 4,240 business establishments that were affected by Ondoy, have resumed operations. —with Veronica Pulumbarit, GMANews.TV