Operation Damayan - The Action took place in two place: studios one and two of the ABS-CBN network. The happening: a star-studded show aptly called Damayan '72. It was a six-hour tv happening, manned by no less than top tv men Tony Santos, Ben Aniceto and Ver Lunaria, and with the participation of practically all of the celebrities from radio, tv, stage and the movies eager to help in one way or another the unfortunate victims of the two-week deluge, particularly those in Central Luzon. Nora Aunor, in a poncho of Igorot materials, came with a P1,000 check. Vilma Santos and Edgar Mortiz gave several sacks of rice. Gines Soriano, Nestor de Villa to his movie fans, contributed P2,000.
The cast of Nardong Putik, through Ramon Revilla, handed out a P1,000 check. Comedianne Chichay turned in a P1,000 doncation which, she said, she solicited from friends and admirers. The rest - and this included the sisters Maritess and Tina Revilla, Jay Ilagan, Tirso Cruz III, Perla Adea, Novo Bono Jr., Lita Gutierrez, Perla Bautista, Victor Wood, Romy Mallari, Garaldine, Connie Angeles, Dindo Fernando, Dolphy, Panchito, Sahlee Quizon, Ike Lozada, Lillian Laing, Rosa Aguirre, and Carina Afable - not only performed free, to the delight of televiewers, but also gave donations in cash and in kind. The Happening proved one thing: despite their human frailties, the spirit of kawanggaw (charity) and pakikisama (camaraderie) remains intact among our movie stars. - Graphic Magazine, 23 August 1972
Damayan '72 by Channel 2 (ABS-CBN) A Heart-Stirring Success - Something wonderful happened in Channel 2 noong August 5. At itoý and Damayan, ang paghingi ng saklolo para sa flood victims ng ABS-CBN na ang focus ay nasa showbiz people. Noon lang nangyari sa TV history na magkakasama ang TV, radio at tambak na movie people sa isang programa. Ang Damayan ay hindi ordinary TV program kundi pagla-launch na pagbibigay-tulong sa mga nasalanta ng baha sa Luzon where the movie and other showbiz personalities gladly and unselfishly gave their all. Ang tutoo, maraming maganda't di inaasahang pangyayaring naganap nang gabing naturan. Isa na ang pagkikita nina Vilma Santos at Nora Aunor. Bago sila nagsidating, tense ang lahat. Pagka't baka raw mag-isnaban ang dalawa the moment they see each other. At siyempre, tiyak daw na magkakaisnaban din ang kanilang fans. But to everyone's delight, it was a beautiful meeting that happened between the two champion superstars. Para bang long lost friends (mahigit na 2 years silang hindi nagkasama sa isang pook) sila at sweet na sweet talaga. Kuwentuhan, tsismisan, at biruan ang dalawa. Who sez Vi and Guy are enemies?
Isa pang heartwarming happening ay ang konfrontasi nina Sahlee Quizon at Guy kung confrontation ngang matatawag ang halikan at pakawalang kuwentuhan ng dalawa. And gosh, imagine na "badi-badi"ang dalawang itinuturing na magkalaban sa korona bilang Jukebox King! Di ba dyagan? Sino rin ang nagsasabing mortal protagonists sina Victor Wood at Eddie Peregrina? Naroon din si Manny de Leon, Pero sa laking panghihinayang ng lahat, hindi niya nakaharap si Guy at Tirso Cruz III. Pero tiyak, it would have been a pally wally meeting din. That feeling was in the air that night. Bakit hindi naman mata-tug ang heartstring ninyo. Kahit mga artistang wala na sa limelight ay nagpunta rin sa Damayan para maiambag ang kanilang tulong sa ating flood victims. Lahat ng artistaý nag-extend ng help in cash o food, clothing, medicines at mayroon pa ngang sa lahat ng forms na iyon. Ang ABS-CBN, ipinangakong papantayan daw ang cash donation ng mga artista. Those who very generously helped ay si Guy (P1,000), Nestor de Villa (P2,000), at and the Ambivalent Crowd (P4,606) to mention few. And mind you, more or less 90% of the movie stars came to help in any way they can. God bless you all na mga showbiz people who did their bit para sa mga napinsala nating kababayan. Thank you also sa iba (Mayor Amoranto, city couselors, etc) who gave their unselfish help. - Cleo Cruz, Superstar 21 August 1972
Para sa Mga Flood Victims: On with the show's star-studded "Operation Damayan" - Dahil sa flood victims isang very significant happening ang naganap sa kasaysayan ng local entertainment and charitable projects. Ang tinutukoy namin ay ang star-studded "Operation Damayan" na inilunsad ng ABS-CBN through its very popular tv show sa Channel 2, ang On With The Show. Ginanap noong nakaraang Sabado ng gabi, ang On With The Show's "Operation Damayan" ay dinaluhan na mahigit na 80 artista sa pelikula, radyo, telebisyon at tanghalan - isang pambihirang pangyayaring ngayon pa laman naganap sa mga rare occassion na tulad nito. Isipin na lamang ang mahigit na 80 artistang nagkasama-sama sa iisang okasyon? Ang "Operation Damayan" ay inilunsad ng ABS-CBN para sa mga biktima ng baha sa Central Luzon. Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang malaganap na palatuntunang On With The Show, nanawagan sila sa lahat ng artista - sa radyo, telebisyon, tanghalan at pelikula - para makiisa sa kanilang napakagandang proyekto. At hindi naman nabigo, sa halip, higit pa sa kanilang inaasahan ang naganap. Santambak na artista ang dumating na hindi lamang nag-perform nang walang bayad, kung hindi nanawagan pa rin sa lahat ng mga civic-minded citizen to contribute in whatever means para makatulong sa mga flood victims.
Hindi lamang iyon, iilan sa mga dumating artista ay nagsipagcontribute pa ng cash money and goods. Tulad nina Nora Aunor na nagbigay ng P1,000; Fernando Poe Jr - P3,000; Vilma Santos - P1,000; Nestor de Villa - P2,000; The Ambivalent Crowd - P4,660; Jimmy Morato - P100 at iba pa. Dahil sa dami ng artistang dumalo, ang isang oras na On With The Show ay ginawang 6 na oras. Iyo'y upang mapagbigyan ang lahat ng mga dumalong bituin na makapaghatid ng kani-kanilang message or sympathy sa mga flood victims. Dahil sa flood victims, nagkasama-sama ang mga adult star at ang mga young ones. Sa unang pagkakataon, nawala ang pagitang humahati sa kanila - nagkasama-sama sila for a good cause. Dahil din sa flood victims, naging magkakaibigan ang mga yound stars. Ang iba na dati ay hindi nagbabatian ay nagyapusan at naghalikan bilang tanda ng pagkakaibigan. For the first time, nagkabati-bati sina Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Tina Revilla, at Sahlee Quizon! Nang gabing iyon, mahigit sa P12,000 ang nalikom ng "Operation Damayan" mula sa mga artistang dumalo, bukod pa sa katakot-takot na bundles of packages na naglalaman ng mga relief goods. Ang lahat ng mga padalang tulong o contributions ay ipapamahagi sa mga sinalanta ng baha.
Meanwhile, bukod sa cash money - ang lahat ng kinita mula sa iba't ibang sponsors ng 6 na oras na show ay ipagkakaloob na lahat ng ABS-CBN Studio sa mga flood victims! Talagang kapuri-puri anbg ginawang ito ng ABS-CBN Studio. Ito ay patunay lamang na ang ABS-CBN Studio ay involved sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sa bansa - lalo na tulad nito. Sa pamamagitan nito, nais naming papurihan at pasalamatan ang ABS-CBN Studio, ang buong cast ng On With The Show, Direk Tony Santos Sr., mga crew members - at higit sa lahat - ang lahat ng artistang nakiisa sa "Operation Damayan" - We salute you! Ilan sa mga artistang dumalo ay ang mga sumusunod: Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III, Woody Cruz, Eddie Peregrina, Nida Blanca, Maritess at Tina Revilla, D'Two of Us, Carina Afable, Eddie Mesa, Ike Lozada, Sahlee Quizon, Imelda Ilanan, Aurora Salve, Novo Bona, Marlene Dauden, Vic Pacia, Margie Tanquintle, Dases Lazareta, Janine Frias, Romy Lapuz, Ariel Ureta, Nova Villa, Jay Ilagan, Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz, Carmen Pateña, Geraldine, Elizabeth Bankhead, Rosanna Marquez, Fred Panopio, Marilen, Lita Gutierrez, Dindo Fernando, Tony Santos jr, Manolo Favis, Arleine Medina, German Moreno, Ike Lozada, Maya Valdez, Lillian Laing, Marilyn Paspero, Perla Adea, Espie Fabon, Romy Mallari, Mary Ann Murphy, Eddie & Boyet Ilagan, Gina Alajar, Danny Cruz, Elizabeth Ledesma, Armando Ramos, Millie Mercado, Romy Jalosjos, Jeanne Young, Eddie Gutierrez, Panchito, Caridad Sanchez, Ronald Remy, Jerry Pons, Vic Vargas, Fred Montilla, Boots Anson Roa, Lily Marquez, Bert Lerory Jr, Yolanda Casanova, Dolphy, Chiquito, Medy Valdez, Rio Del Mundo, Victor Wood, Jimmy Morato, at ipa ba pang hindi na namin matandaan ang mga pangalan. Sa mga binanggit naming artista, More power to you and may your tribe increase! - Rino Fernan, Weekly Movie Specials Magazine, 19 August 1972, Photos: Vergel C. Hao, Tropical Studio
The Great Philippine Floods of 1972 - "...In July 1972 the island of Luzon in the northern part of the Philippines archipelago experienced its most serious floods recorded or remembered by man. At one time a vast inland sea connected Lingayen Gulf with Manila Bay (Fig. I). 775 persons were confirmed dead and damage to the economy amounted to some L60 million. The series of events started with moderately intense typhoon which passed about 50 miles to the north of Manila at the end of June. This storm was accompanied by heavy rains which created local flooding in central Luzon. During the first half of July rain was above average. A fall of 388.6 mm was recorded at the Philippine Weather Bureau's Science Garden in Quezon City, a northern suburb of Manila, during period 1-16 July inclusive. The average for July for that station is 350.4 mm. Although not unduly excessive for the rainy season in the tropics, the falls were sufficiently large to prevent drainage and evaporation of the flood waters which had already accumulated from the passage of the typhoon in late June. The stage was set for the phenomenal events of 17-21 July culminating in the continuous torrential downpour which lasted from midday, Tuesday the 18th to midday, Friday the 21st. I will put down the events as I remember them..."
The Days the Rains Came - "...Intemittent heavy rains had been falling during Mondy 17 July and Tuesday morning 18 July. At noon on the latter day I was in Manila and wondering whether it was worth risking the 40 minute car drive to my office in Quezon City. The sky looked a little brighter and the rain had stopped for a couple of hours. Road and traffic conditions would not be too bad if there was no more heavy rain in the afternoon. I decidedc to go. Before many minutes had passed I began to have doubts about my forecast. The sky began to look distinctly dark and ominous. By the time I reached the office it was pouring steadily. It did not let up until 72 hours later. I had a off-chance visitor and it was not until 5 pm that I was ready to go home. The rate of fall had, if anything, increased. On the way out I dropped into the Central Forecast Office. The synoptic chart did not show anything particularly unusual. A vigorous typhoon was centered 1500 miles to the north-east and a moderate pressure gradient of the monsoon type covered the South China Sea. Fresh southwest winds were reported from ships to the west of the Philippines. I asked the forecaster on duty why it was raining so steadily..." - A. H. Gordon, Wiley Online Library, Vol 28 Issue 10 Abstract (READ MORE)
Aug 4, 1972: Philippines hit hard by flooding - Floodwaters finally recede in Luzon, Philippines, on this day in 1972, revealing devastation and hundreds dead. An astounding rainfall in July had caused rivers all over the large island to flood. One storm after another battered Luzon in July 1972. Manila received nearly 70 inches of rain during the month. On July 13, a monsoon caused several dikes to fail and 32 people lost their lives in the resulting flood. Less than a week later, a typhoon dropped even more rain on the already saturated region. Dikes throughout the area broke down, flooding large swaths of land. Millions were left homeless and 142 people died. Nearly all major and minor roads were under water or mud. The flooding continued until the rivers finally peaked on August 4. In addition to the thousands of people forced from their homes, the rice crop for the season was lost. Food riots broke out in several places and looting was rampant. Cholera and typhoid epidemics also resulted. - This Day In History (READ MORE)
