Nagsama sina Dingdong Dantes at Marian Rivera sa pamamahagi ng tulong sa mga biktima ni “Ondoy" sa Cainta, Rizal, isa mga lugar na matinding sinalanta ng bagyo.

Ayon kay entertainment reporter Audrey Carampel, nagtungo sina Dingdong at Marian sa Brgy San Andres sa Cainta. Kasama ng mga Kapuso stars ang Yes Pinoy Foundation, Philippine National Red Cross, at mga tauhan ng Philippine Marines.

Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang baha sa lugar na hanggang binti ang lalim, at kulay itim na ang tubig.

“We can only do so much kumbaga hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang pwedeng gawin dito hanggang ngayon flooded pa rin sila. Bukod sa relief goods I think one is matanggal na ang tubig dito," pahayag ni Dingdong sa Chika Minute ng GMA news 24 Oras nitong Biyernes.

Nagpapasalamat naman si Marian na natapos kaagad ang kanyang taping kaya nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na nakasama si Dingdong sa isinagawang pamamahagi ng tulong sa mga biktima ni “Ondoy."

Hindi naman alintana ng mga residente ang mababad sa baha. Pumila ang mga lalaki, babae, matanda at maging ang mga buntis.


Marami pa rin sa kanila ang hindi makalimot sa dinanas na trahedya. Samantalang mayroon ding naging masaya dahil nakita nila ang kanilang mga iniidolo sa gitna ng kanilang kinakaharap na problema.

“Masaya kahit mahirap, nakikita yung mga artista," ayon sa isang ginang.

Sinabi ni Dingdong na patuloy na iikot ang kanilang grupo sa iba pang lugar na sinalanta ng bagyo para magkaloob ng tulong.

“Hangga’t meron (relief goods) patuloy kami sa pamimigay," ayon sa aktor.

Bukod sa pamamahagi ng relief goods, nag-volunteer din sa Marian sa pagsagot ng telepono sa isinasagawang telethon ng GMA Kapuso Foundation. Tumulong din ang aktres sa isinasagawang repacking ng mga ipinapamahaging relief goods

MANILA - Floods are no novelty to 54-year-old Jeff Flores. A street cleaner along Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, Flores has lived along the banks of a nearby river for more than 4 decades.

He and his neighbors have come to expect that the river would overflow and soak them in knee-deep waters whenever the rains come during the monsoon season.

Tropical storm Ondoy, however, caught them unawares. “The news said it would only be signal no. 1,” Flores recalled. Half an hour after the waters started to rise, however, what seemed like an ordinary flood managed to engulf their two-storey plywood-made house. “Ang bilis talaga [umakyat ng tubig],” he said, shaking his head.

Flores and his family had no choice but to climb up to the roof of their house and stay there until floodwaters subsided the following morning.

His experience is shared by hundreds of thousands of other residents of Metro Manila and its environs who lost their homes and possessions in the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy.

Naturally flood prone

Many blamed the devastation on climate change. In 24 hours, Ondoy dumped over a month's volume of rain on the metropolis and its surrounding areas in just 9 hours.

But in the case of Metro Manila, urban planners and public works engineers say that is not all there is to it. And while they warn people of more calamities resulting from global warming, even some climate change experts also share this opinion.

Frequent flooding in Metro Manila, these experts say, is brought about by a confluence of factors.

Climate change, population pressure, and the fact that proper urban planning is bogged down by politics and corruption in government exacerbates matters. But even without these factors, a substantial portion—about a fifth—of the 63,000 land area that makes up Metro Manila, is naturally flood prone.

To a great extent, this is caused by the fact that the water level at the Manila Bay, particularly during high tide, is higher than the elevation of many inland localities, public works engineers told this writer during an interview a few years back.

A 62-year-old Filipina was among the fatalities in the tsunamis that hit the Samoan Islands, the foreign affairs department said Friday.

DFA Spokesman Ed Malaya identified the Filipina as Gudofreda Palma, an immigrant in Pago Pago, Samao.

"We have received report that a Filipina, a 62-year-old immigrant in Pago-pago, Samoa named Gudofreda Palma died during the quake last September 30,” Malaya said in a phone interview with ANC.

Malaya said the government is now working to repatriate the remains of the victim.

“The Consulate in Honolulu headed by Consul General Cardenas is coordinating the repatriation of the remains,” said Malaya.

He added that Palma has no relatives in Samoa.

“Although some community leaders in the area are assisting us in taking care of the remains, and in the eventual repatriation of those remains to the Philippines, specifically to her native province of Mindanao, in Dipolog City, Zambo del Norte.

Nearly 200 people died in the quakes and tsunamis that struck Samoa, with hundreds still missing.

Food, water, and medicine for victims have arrived from the US, Australia, and New Zealand but aid groups are still in need of medical personnel.

Manila - The Philippines' international singing sensation Charice showed her love to her Filipino fans by giving donations to victims of tropical storm Ondoy, which flooded the country last Saturday (September 26).

In a message sent to abs-cbnNEWS.com, Charice said she already extended her help to her fellow kababayans with the help of her sponsors.

"Hi po. Nagbigay na po ako ng donation, and tumulong din po mga sponsors ko po para sa mga Pinoy na nasalanta ng bagyo," Charice said.

The pint-sized artist also gave her deepest condolences to all Filipinos who lost not only material things but also loved ones.

"Gusto ko lang din pong sabihin na condolence po sa mga tao po na nawalan ng mahal sa buhay dahil sa bagyo," Charice added.

The YouTube sensation said that she's really blessed and thankful that God spared her relatives and friends from the wrath of Ondoy, especially those who are living in their province Laguna and in Tagaytay.

'Another standing ovation'

Meanwhile, Charice once again made the Filipinos proud as she got another standing ovation from her performance at the Wynn Las Vegas casino last Saturday.

Charice, accompanied by popular songwriter-musician David Foster, performed at a benefit concert produced by retired tennis star Andre Agassi.

Reports said that the concert, which raised almost $8 million, would support Agassi's foundation.

In an interview before the show, Charice said that she was so thrilled to perform another Lady Gaga song.

During the event, Charice first sang her first international single "Note To God," which she dedicated to all the victims of Ondoy.

After her inspirational hit, Charice then performed her version of Lady Gaga's hit "Just Dance."

Charice is finishing her first international CD. She is also gearing up for another show with David Fosters and friends.

Charlize Theron is not 'an exhibitionist'.

The 'Burning Plain' actress - who appears naked in the first scene of the movie, and has also stripped off in 'Monster' and 'The Devil's Advocate' - insists she only flashes flesh on film if it is integral to the storyline.

She explained: 'I'm not some exhibitionist. I think people think I just love walking around naked.

'When you start making it about yourself, you stand in the way of doing your job. I have to sit in an editing room with the director and a bunch of execs, and if I had to sit there and think about myself and these men watching me, I think that would make me insecure. I'm just like every other girl out there. I would cringe.'

The 34-year-old actress added making 'The Burning Plain' - in which she stars as Sylvia, a woman who found out her mother was having an affair when she was a teenager - made her think about her own upbringing.

Charlize's parents had a turbulent relationship, culminating in her father being shot dead by her mother after he attacked her when Charlize was 15.

She told the USA Today newspaper: 'I looked at my parents and I was so judgmental, and you don't understand the struggles of what it is to be in a marriage and be committed and raise children and to be part of a family.

'Their marriage wasn't great. As a child, you see things very differently, and then I got older and I went, 'Wow, that's amazing.' You start going out with a couple of boys, and some of them aren't so nice. There's a lot more that plays into this whole relationship thing than you think.'

MANILA - Eva Fonda star Cristine Reyes is trapped on the roof of her home in Marikina City following the downpour from tropical storm “Ondoy” that has also left many areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces flooded.

In a phone interview with ABS-CBN News on Saturday, Reyes tearfully appealed for rescue teams to help them.

“Sana may dumating na rescue kasi kanina pa kami dito ng 1 p.m. Kapag hindi pa tumigil ang ulan aabutin na kami sa roof. Hindi ko alam anong gagawin namin,” Reyes said.

Reyes said that the flood already reached the second floor of their house, forcing them to move to the roof.

“Lagpas na ng puno. Nakarating na siya sa second floor. Pinasok na yung mga rooms namin, so konti na lang, dito na siya sa roof,” she said.

Reyes fears for the safety of her family as flood waters continue to rise because of incessant rains brought by the typhoon.

“Mommy ko kasi, hindi marunong mag swim at may kasama akong dalawang bata,” she said.

On the roof with the actress are her mother, a sibling, two children, household helpers and some neighbors.

“Mommy ko, pamangkin ko--dalawang bata--isang five years old at isang three years old. Tapos yung bunso namin, yung PA ko, yung maid namin, tapos driver tapos yung kapitbahay namin pumunta na dito sa roof namin kasi mataas yung house naming,” she said.

Reyes’ road manager earlier sent a text message to ABS-CBN to ask for help to rescue the star.

The road manager said that Reyes needs to be rescued as her house located at Provident Village in Marikina City is already flooded.

The sister of Ara Mina was recently nominated in this year's Seoul International Drama Awards for her role in ABS-CBN's defunct hit series, "Eva Fonda." Reyes is also shooting a movie, "Patient X," with actor Richard Gutierrez.

The sexy actress was supposed to co-host the “Rockatropa” concert tonight with Wowowee host Valerie Concepcion and Bubble Gang’s ‘Iyo Tube’ sensation Moymoy Palaboy.

However, the concert scheduled at the SM Mall of Asia has been cancelled due to the tropical storm. The concert, which will feature bands including Parokya ni Edgar, Itchyworms, Kamikazee, Sandwich, and Bamboo, was supposed to be held at 6 p.m.

Long after PBB Celebrity Edition went off the air, Bianca still finds herself being judged by other people for what they saw on television. “I’m still struggling,” says the 23-year-old Bianca. “As much as I’d like to think na people have accepted how things turned out for me paglabas ko, siyempre marami pa ding tao who have their own opinion, and I respect that. Except na, ’yon nga, mahirap. It’s not over yet. My struggle is not yet over. But my frame of mind is really, I’m just so young. I have so much to learn pa. And if I’m down now, like they say, parang gulong lang yan, e. Minsan nasa ’baba ka, minsan nasa taas ka. So it’s an emotional roller coaster talaga. I can say na I make the most out of everything that comes my way. Kahit papa’no, you have to be thankful na God cares a lot. Pinapadalhan ka niya ng trials na no one doubts naman you’ll get through. Di ba?” (YES! January 2007 issue)