Following a Basic Life Support (BLS) course, the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers has recently started its Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training under the tutelage of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The WASAR follows rigid modules of instruction on water rescue over a period of eight weekends consisting of technical water rescue and boatmanship (rubber boat operation).  The theoretical trainings are conducted at the PCG Headquarters in Manila while practical applications will be conducted either in Anilao, Batangas or Infanta, Quezon where live simulation of WASAR principles are applied.

The WASAR training of MCFRVI is in preparation for any exigencies that may arise in the expected La Nina months and in response to lessons learned from typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009.

After the WASAR, MCFRVI will immediately commence training on Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue in preparation for the expected “Big One”.

More details to follow…

Living among the rubbles, the citizens of Haiti are still digging out remains of people who were trapped on that fateful day.  Millions are still homeless, making the country appear as if the earthquake happened just yesterday.  They are until now, clearing the rubble to live once again…

 We can only hope that the Philippines do not suffer as much when the expected Big One hits. 

MCFRVI, in conjunction with the Philippine National Red Cross and National disaster agencies, is participating together with other volunteer rescue groups in a preparedness training that spans three months.  The training capacitates and ensures inter-operability of various organizations like the MCFRVI into forming a Metro-wide Disaster response network that would respond to exigencies, particularly earthquakes and flash floods.

The training include Basic Life Support, Water Rescue and Safety, Enclosed-space Rescue, Collapsed Structure Search and Recovery procedures and other relevant instructions.

Though we pray that the Big One does not come and that we do not get a repeat of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy), the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers is funding itself in the said trainings, now running into tens of thousands of Pesos, with the firmly belief that in failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail…

May God bless the Philippines…

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport.   They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, ‘I love you, and I wish you enough.’

The daughter replied, ‘Dad, our life together has been more than  enough.  Your love is all I ever needed.  I wish you enough, too, Dad.’

They kissed and the daughter left.  The Father walked over to the window where I was seated.  Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry.  I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, ‘Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?’

‘Yes, I have,’ I replied.  ’Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?’..

‘I am old, and she lives so far away.  I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,’ he said.

‘When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’  May I ask what that means?’

He began to smile.  ’That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations.  My parents used to say it to everyone…’  He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. ‘When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.’  Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE….  Take time to love…

To all our friends and loved ones, WE WISH YOU ENOUGH.

The Officers and members of the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers, Inc (MCFRVI) join the nation in looking forward to a new era of Philippine Governance with the inauguration of the new President, His Excellency Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III.

May the new President be provided with Divine Guidance in governing the country in a just and sincere manner and may he have the strength and the will to implement and carry into fruition his noble intentions for the benefit of the common good.

May the Philippines continue to be blessed by the Almighty under the firm but fair governance of the new administration.

Pilipinas, MABUHAY KA!!!

The Officers and Members of the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers, Inc. (MCFRVI) join the nation in celebrating our Independence Day today, 12 June 2010.

This Independence Day, may we be reminded of the lessons learned from our history - that whatever we have achieved as a country thus far resulted from the Unity and Patriotism of our forebears.  We wouldn’t be where we are now had they faltered.

May God continue to bless the Philippines!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!! 

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!!!

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan!!!

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday night sending thousands of panic-stricken citizens to the streets.

While no injuries were reported, it sends a chilling reminder to everyone about the expected “Big One” to hit the National Capital Region of Metro Manila anytime soon.  Metro Manila after all sits on top of several Faults or Valley Fault Systems (VFS), some of which run right at the heart of the metropolis.

A study conducted jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)  in 2002 – 2004 showed that a rupture along the VFS could result in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which could kill up to 33,000 people and injure more than 100,000 if adequate preparations are not made.

Metro Manila today comprises 13 cities and four municipalities with a total population going up by 2.5 times in the last 30 years to the present 10 million.

It is estimated that by 2015, about 25 million people will be living in this National Capital Region, including rapidly urbanized areas of Laguna, Cavite and Rizal Provinces.

As a result of rapid urbanization, reducing vulnerability to potential natural disaster, through raising awareness of people and organizations, developing a comprehensive disaster management plan and strengthening networks of national and local governments as well as communities, is crucial to safeguarding safety of those who live and operate in Metro Manila.

In and around Metro Manila, numerous earthquake sources exist, such as Valley Fault System (VFS), Philippine Faults, Lubang Faults, Manila Trench and Casiguran Faults. Among these, VFS, which transects the JICA Study area, is considered to cause the largest impact to Metro Manila area if it will become active.  Recent studies show that VFS has ruptured twice to four times in the last 1400 years with a return period being approximately less than 500 years.   And since no event of a major earthquake has been known along West Valley Fault since the 16th Century, active phases of the Valley Faults may be approaching.   Results of many researches indicate that an estimated magnitude will be around 7 or higher.

Citing history of the recent earthquakes’ sources, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology  (PhiVolcS) Chief Renato Sulidum, Jr. predicts that the VFS in and around Metro Manila are most likely to be active soon.

It must be highlighted that the recent quakes to hit Haiti and Chile measured 7.0 and 8.8 magnitude respectively, closely similar to the predicted Big One for Metro Manila.

Which now brings us to the all important question :  ARE WE READY FOR THE BIG ONE? 

Several Volunteer Organizations such as the MCFRVI have been continually discussing and plotting response scenarios, should the Big One hit, but the alarming reality is, basing from the response shown by the government from Typhoon Ketsana (a.k.a. Ondoy), WE ARE NOT READY!!!

Practice evacuating the building blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a fire most likely will make it difficult to see.

Practice staying low to the ground when escaping.

Feel all doors before opening them. If a door is hot, get out another way.

Learn to stop, drop to the ground, roll if clothes catch fire.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista was proclaimed last Tuesday as the duly elected mayor in the recently concluded polls.

In a landslide victory, Bautista garnered 497,965 votes while his closest rival, Michael Defensor, obtained 126,246 votes. Mary Ann Susano, a former congresswoman, came in third with 68,035.

The chief of staff of the Vice Mayor said that the official’s track record was reason enough for residents to vote for him.

“The unblemished service and tangible programs of Bautista in government for the people of Quezon City, including the ground swell of support that we received, strengthen our faith that the people will bring us to a well-deserved mandate to continue serving as Quezon City’s new chief executive,” Aldrin Cuna, Bautista’s chief of staff, said.

The Officers and Members of the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers extends their utmost support and felicitations to the newly elected local executive who is also a staunch supporter of a fellow volunteer organization, the Central District Fire and Rescue Brigade, where Aldrin Cuna is Brigade President.

The Officers and Members of the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers, Inc. would like to extend our warmest gratitude to all mothers!!! 

Happy Mother’s day to all moms!!!  Thanks for making us what and who we, your children, are now!!!