Those of you who’ve checked out various news outlets may have noticed that portions of the Philippines are in a state of calamity due to rains that simply keep coming and refuse to stop. Flood waters have caused many roads and highways to become impassable, people are stranded on their roofs (or worse) and for the most part, this rainfall we’re having is comparatively worse than the last really bad storm we had three years ago in terms of how much water it’s dumping on us.

To stress how bad this is, one of the most recent tweets for assistance is for a hospital where water is about to reach the third floor; the generators that provide support for people in critical condition could die without warning, and there’s not a lot I can do to help from my location.

Right now, I’m okay, and most of my family’s okay. I’m lucky in that our house is in an elevated place, and that we have running water, electricity, and phone connections. Many of my fellow countrymen, and a good number of my friends are in more dire straits.

If you can afford to send a dollar or two to the Philippine Red Cross I’d definitely appreciate it. The donations would be really helpful for further disaster-preparedness during this extremely trying time.