Strategic Planning: Preparing Beyond the Basics

Episode 32

In this episode of The Philippe Soriano Podcast, Philippe and radio enthusiast Mclaine De Guzman continue their preparedness series with a deep dive into Strategic Planning — the essential third step after putting together your Go Bag and Bug Out Bag.

They talk about how to build a solid plan for various emergency situations, manage resources wisely, and strengthen communication within the family. Philippe and Mclaine also share valuable tips on staying organized, proactive, and adaptable when faced with unexpected challenges.

This episode is perfect for anyone looking to elevate their level of preparedness and stay ready for anything that comes their way.

Philippe: So alam naman natin that every time we have a calamity like we have floods, fire, tsunamis, earthquakes, it’s very important to have at least the basic knowledge of what to do in those situations. It’s always good to learn and to be in the know on what to do during these occurrences.  

Kaya may code red is may fire. When it comes to fire, evacuate immediately.  Code blue is flood.  Evacuate immediately as soon as you see the water rising.

Philippe: Now when it comes to earthquake, tama, duck and hide first.  Earthquake naman, brown. So we try to match it with the elements, neba, so the kids can remember it. The one thing that we don’t have a code for is civil unrest. 

But we name it Code X.  Civil unrest. Pano kumain, riot?  War. Now every situation is different. You’re number one, bro.

This transcript is machine-generated, and we apologize for any errors.

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Philippe: Okay, welcome to this next session.  This is a continuation of our series of disaster preparation. And we’re going to be talking about strategic planning.  So alam naman natin that every time we have a calamity,  like we have floods, fire, tsunamis, earthquakes, it’s very important to have at least the basic knowledge of what to do in those situations.  

First, we’ve talked about the go bag, emergency go bag. Then we talked about our bug out bag, which is a bag full of supplies that could last you two to three days.  And if you have the budget to extend it to a whole week, that would be something that everyone has their own personal preference,  but we’re basing it on the average Filipino on what to do. 

Philippe: Now, when it comes to strategic planning, syempre alam natin na things happen at the moment that will take us by surprise. So for example, earthquakes. At this time of this recording, we’ve had earthquakes in Cebu, Davao, and hopefully not in the zone, but in case it happens,  it’s always good to learn and to be in the know on what to do during these occurrences.  

So let’s say during earthquakes. Of course, during our school days, in our case, we have earthquake drills,  we have fire drills, but never flood drills or tsunami drills, right? But it’s good to have some sort of a refresher.  And as average Filipino, you might be working in an office away from your home,  and we’re going to be teaching you the basics of what we know. 

Philippe: Just a short disclaimer, hindi naman kami professional preppers, but we have enough knowledge to help you and guide you. Of course, mga professional preppers out there, please comment your suggestions in terms of strategy planning in this video,  just so we could help others learn from your experiences and your skill set. 

Let’s talk about earthquakes since yan ang hot topic natin. Apart from duck and hide, if an earthquake arises, what do we do after in your case? Ano yung first, sabihin natin, first line of defense or first line of planning that you do?

Mclaine: First, during earthquake, unang tinuro naman sa atin is always go under the table. Kung familiar ka sa bahay mo, alam mo yung part ng bahay mo na yung structure is matibay. So yun yung pupuntahan mo. So after nung earthquake, assessment na agad.

Check mo agad yung family mo, especially kung hindi kayo magkakasama.  Kung magkasama kayo ng family mo, yung parents mo or yung relatives mo, always check on them. Assess mo sa kanila kung meron bang na-damage or meron bang kailangan nang respond.

Mclaine: And dito babagsak yung communication natin.  Meron ba tayong na-establish na good communication?  Kasi minsan, pag nagkaroon ng earthquake, merong structure na masisira.  Especially kung ang communication yung isa sa madadamay.

So tendency niyan, magkakaroon ng effect yan sa mga individuals.  Minsan wala kang reception ng phone.  Minsan magkatabi kayo. Siya may signal, ikaw wala. Siya nakaka-call, siya ikaw hindi. So kailangan ma-assess din natin na we have our own way of communicating with our loved ones.

Philippe: Iwasan natin yung pag may lindun o pag may calamity, ipopost sa Facebook agad. Although it’s great, it’s the fastest way.  It’s faster than the DRMMC. Pero sa akin, try niyo iwasin yung pag-post.  I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s good to be informed.

But before you post, duck and hide.  Duck and hide.  In my case, I’ve trained my family and my kids during these types. Actually we have a well-documented, mayroong coming full there. We made it kind of playful para at least when the kids look at it. 

Philippe: What happens during the floods, kung may fire, or kung may earthquake,  o kung may civil unrest. Number one, let’s say in Andito and I, we’re doing a podcast.  Alam nyo din na what they have to do.  Kung may sunog, evacuate the house immediately.

Don’t try and leave everything behind.  Evacuate the house and go outdoors.  Number one instruction ko is kung nandun yung wife ko,  yung mga yayas, yung drivers, and mga parents ko,  get out of the house. Kasi dun sa village, may clubhouse.  That’s the safest area you could do.  

Philippe: Kasi covered court, malaki siya. And then it’s right behind, not totally directly behind our house, but it’s a two-minute walk.  And from there, they’re safe from the elements, from the fire, kung maulan.  It’s a dry court. It’s a big basketball court.  

They won’t get wet and they’re safe there.  So that’s in our village. Hindi naman nakatera sa village. Go to your nearest barangay.  Go to your nearest evacuation center. It could be a school.  It’s different.  

Philippe: So always learn this in advance. So sa mga tao, let’s say nagwo-work sa ibang lugar,  make sure educated yung family nyo sa mga gano’n for evacuating. This is part of strategic planning.  And then from there, yun, papasok communications.

From there, post nyo na. Oh, nalumindol, may sunog, may baha. Post nyo na as long as you’re in a safe area. And then communicate. Communication is key para at least alam natin saan yung family members.  O kompleto na ba tayo o sino pa yung natira, di ba?  

Philippe: Sinong kailangan natin i-contact?  Yung ibang in-laws, yung ibang families mo, yung mga kapatid,  yung nandito, nandun, di ba? Hiwalay yan. So there should be, meron kayong as a family,  meron kayong at least chat group sa lahat kayo for updating. 

Ngayon, kung coms are down,  whoever is head of each of that location, head of that family, sino yung pinang-response, who takes the role of response,  who gets the responsibility of safekeeping their family, kayo yung magkontakan. 

Philippe: Dapat may radio na kayo, di ba? Nakaset up in advance, di ba? And mura naman yung mga tools from our previous video nga,  previous podcast, mura nga na. Bibili nga sa Lazada and Shopee. So, learn these strategic plannings. 

What’s also good to know is,  dun sa amin, when it comes to fire, evacuate immediately. When it comes to flood, evacuate immediately.  Go to the clubhouse as soon as you see the water rising.  Now, when it comes to earthquake, tama, duck and hide first.

Philippe: When it’s done, ya, ases mo agad yung structures and everything.  See if there’s a pathway going out.  If not, like we said in our previous, buy a whistle. And if you think you can still communicate, make sure the phone or your radio is near you, or any form of communication. 

Anyway, yung mga tao naman doon, makikita nila kung structure is unstable, they’ll give you a warning, di ba? Everyone helps each other.  So, it’s always good to be in the know. And if you think there’s a pathway out of the house,  or out of a building, di ba?  

Philippe: Take it.  Get us, make sure it’s my open area. That’s the safest place, especially in an earthquake. Monitor the ground nga lang. Kasi, like this recent one that I saw in Thailand ata,  sinkhole.  Who ever thought? Sinkhole, right?  Monitor the ground.

Cracks, minsan, kasi humaulan, or basa yung lupa,  lagang landslide sya.  So, always find like an open area,  make sure you monitor the area,  monitor everyone.  If you have the chance to help others, help others. And then, when you know that your family is safe,  and once you contact them,  make sure it’s safe for you to go back to them.

Philippe: Buti sana kung makasama kayo,  but just, in this case,  taga Bulacan ka, dito ka sa Manila. What if lumindol doon? Or what if lumindol dito? We need to go find our ways, di ba? Number one, make sure kung may mga kids,  may mga elders, may mga seniors, di ba? Make sure, prioritize them.

Hindi dapat baliktad yung mga ano, but it’s also good to educate them. Anong mangyayari kung ganito?  Just like in the movies, magtawagan kayo,  oh, code red, code red,  code blue, code blue,  ano ibig sabihin doon?  Kami, code red is my fire, code blue is flood, di ba? 

Philippe: Yung earthquake naman, code brown.  Kasi earth, brown. So, we try to match it with the elements, di ba? So, the kids can remember it easier. What happens if it’s code brown, right? Earthquake, duck and hide,  and then aftermath, go to the open area, right?  

What happens with fire, if there’s a pathway, or if there’s no pathway,  let’s say, block yung ano, we have our portable fire extinguishers. Kung wala, basang tela, right? And then, try to find a pathway out. Because if you stay inside during the fire,  yan ang mahirap e, di ba?  Or find an area na walang masyadong  puro concrete, that helps.  

Philippe: And if you’re trapped, basahin mo lang yung surroundings mo, di ba?  Just try as much as possible. Kahit nasa CR ka, basahin mo yung ano. I think, yung CR is one of the safest places  if you have no way out, di ba?  Basain mo yung kisame, lahat. And that helps a lot. 

It won’t put out the fire, but that helps a lot. The one thing that we don’t have a code for  is civil unrest.  But we name it code X. Civil unrest. Paano kung may riot, may war,  yan, yan ang mga ano. Doon naman,  our strategic planning is stay indoors.  

Philippe: Don’t go out. Stay indoors. Lock everything. All the blinds, close it.  Everything. And then, of course, the previous video, when we talk about protection,  if you can afford to buy a gun and you have a license to carry,  buy guns.  I prefer guns.  

If you can’t afford guns  and you don’t have a license to carry, and you could afford, maybe, airsoft. Airsoft,  that’s deadly. It’s deadly, airsoft and real guns.  If you can’t afford that,  you can buy toy guns, BB guns. Hindi siya deadly, pero you could injure someone  with toy guns.  

Philippe: Lalo itong mga toy guns. I was in Divisoria  a few weeks ago. Yes, I know. Nag-Divisoria talaga ako.  It’s my happy place.  I love going there.  People think na parang hindi ka marunong mag-ano. I know how to go to these places  and masarap kaya kumain sa Ongpin.

After Divisoria, kakain ako doon. Divisoria, I found there’s a lot of toy stores that sell these BB guns. And I’ve tried them. I’ve tested this  kung may mga predators,  mga hayop,  mga loose dogs and everything.  It works.  It saves lives.  And having those alone,  may 500 pesos, may 800 pesos.  

Philippe: Meron yung medyo mas high-powered  na mukha siyang totoong airsoft  na sa 1,000.  Mura pa din. Now for the average person, 300 pesos can buy you a BB gun with bullets na.  And that can protect you.  At yung iba mukhang totoo.

So kung may civil unrest at may mga tao sa labas tapos nagpasukan yung bahay mo, pakita mo lang yung bariyan. Mukhang totoo kasi.  Merong mukhang glock.Yung glock, yung anong version.  There’s a certain glock na maliit.  Mukhang totoo.

Philippe: And mabigat siya. So I think those are important when it comes to strategic planning. You set up your security. Now every situation is different. Right now, during this session, malayo tayo sa pamilya natin. Kung kailangan nila tayo, at least if they’re well-educated what to do, always remember, since ikaw yung head of the family, what we have to do is make sure they’re educated properly with a plan.

Halimbawa nandun na, natuloy na yung plan, your number one goal  is to go to them na.  So ikaw, pwede akong Bulacan  Ako pwede ako sa  somewhere in QC.  And then,  sit tight,  I’m coming. Pero when you get there,  kumpleto na. They have all the equipment and everything, all the tools.

Philippe: That’s your turn to take over the responsibility. And then, if the roads are open, one thing that I make it a habit,  everyday na papa full tank ako ng kotse, kahit konti na gamit, bakit ka mo? Number one,  it’s good for your car.  It’s good for your car kung laging busog.

Number two,  it’s good for emergency situations. Kasi, ang kira pa yung emergency, ay, kailangang pumagas. Yan yung problem. Ay, shit,  daan muna tayo, pagas muna tayo. Pag-full tank laging.  Anywhere you go. Emergency, momentarily, you can go.  

Philippe: Susunduin mo yung kamag-anak mo, or kailangang pupuntahan kasi may emergency,  aandar ka. And dun sa car, it’s always good to put  a lot of your bug out bag and your emergency go bag.  It’s always good to put. Although, make sure na hindi nainitan. Kasi, pag nainitan yung  mga gamit mo.

Iba na,  yung water,  yan na siya, okay. So, make sure, for example, yung gamot,  baka mawala yung effectiveness ng gamot.  put a backup thing in your car. If you go to work, let’s say, dalhin nyo na lang. It’s easy naman eh. Just backpack, diba? And I know it’s kind of,  medyo hassle lang.

Philippe: May dala ka lagi eh,  diba? But it’s always good to have it and not need it.  Mahirap na yung you need it,  but you don’t have it. So,  always keep it  in your car. Make sure na may shade para at least cooled yung gamit mo. And then, always educate  your family  and plan together with them. 

You guys,  easy. Code red,  sunog. Code blue, baha.  Code brown,  earthquake. Code X,  civil unrest. You can create your own version of code,  diba? Code 007,  balo na kami.  So, educate your family.  A trick  that I do is  piniprint ko with colorful icons and images para it looks, it doesn’t look, hindi siya mukhang nakakatakot. It looks,  ah, okay,  kung may baha, diba?  

Philippe: Yung ganoon, diba? There are, we have details  o kung mataas yung tubig o at a higher, ano, higher level. Kung may second floor ka. If not, labas ka ng bahay. If you need to swim out and find a higher ground, you can do it before it,  talagang bago ka lumabas, diba?  

So, there’s a lot of those things. You can find a lot  of these online. Basically, syempre from common knowledge.  Sa mga preference natin dyan, if you have, if you have suggestions for strategic planning, what to do,  and where to go, especially,  dapat, wherever you work, wherever you live,  make sure you know where is the evacuation center,  right? Whether it’s school yan or Barangay,  basketball court,  talk to your LGU,  go to your Barangay, wag kayong mahiya,  or you could go to,  in your city hall, nandyan lahat. 

Philippe: They will entertain you. Plus, yung mga first responders, okay,  it’s always good. Strategic planning to, make sure you know  first aid training, make sure you know CPR, or make sure you know about medicines,  the basic antibiotics, the at least,  in case of, you need to know  the strategize how to ration your food in case na, kailan mo, you need to survive in a certain time period  na kundi na yung food.  

So, make sure you know how to start a fire, make sure you know how to start a car, hot water, hot water, mga, make sure you know how to, dapat, hindi mo kailangan matechy, pero make sure na, you know how to operate certain things, like a radio, a phone, whatever, right? So, these are strategic plans that you need to share with your family, your kids, your elders, and all that. Anything you’d like to add? 

Mclaine: Well,  regarding this strategic plan, you know,  uhm, share ko na rin to, nakita ko to sa isang group, uhm,  I guess, we could mention na dito, parang, they could also visit the page. Hindi, hindi naman ako admin dun,  or, nag-member lang din ako, Sergeant Prepper, okay, Sergeant Prepper Group. 

Uhm, nabasa ko dun sa isang post, nung, ah, ano siya, Prepper siya. So, very aware siya kung anong dapat gawin. Nung lumindol daw, uhm, nakalimutan na niya yung family niya. Kasi, at the time na nangyari yung lindol,  syempre, i-assist mo yung mga kasama mo.

Mclaine: May mga students, tapos, may mga, meron daw hinimatay na professor, so, tinulungan niya. Syempre, iisipin mo yung pamilya mo, pero syempre, dun sa, within your AOR, kung nandun nasaan ka, syempre, iisipin mo rin yung kapakanan ng mga tao dun sa paligid mo. 

Lalo, kung ikaw yung, ikaw yung head or supervisor, parang barko yan eh. Hindi naman tatalon yung kapitan ng barko hanggang di niya sigurado na everything is safe. So, ganoon na nangyari. Iluna niya yung mga nandun sa paligid niya and then, after nung, after niya ma-assess yung mga victims, dun lang niya naalala na ako yung family ko pala nakalimutan ko.

Mclaine: And then, nag-post siya dun sa last part, sabi niya, kailangan natin mag-usap mamaya pag-uhi ka. Nakakatawan, nakakatawan yung bandang part na yan, pero, you could imagine, those people na nag, they have been prepared preparing for quite some times na alam na nila yung gagawin nila, mayroon sila kumpleto sila, may bag out bag, may whatever, kasi, nandun sa group. 

Pero, nung dumating yung scenario, iba nangyari. Kahit ganoon ka-prepared, kung mentally talaga, siguro, ano na lang talaga to. If we train ourselves mentally, na ito yung gagawin mo, parang muscle memory. 

Philippe: Yes, yes.

Mclaine: Pagkagising mo emergency, kaya, kahit sabihin mong may hindrance, itong gagawin ko. Pero, syempre, bilang tao, may concern ka rin dun sa mga, ano mo, kailangan magkaroon ka rin ng concern, kasi, sooner or later, yung mga tao na yun magkaroon din ng concern sayo pagdating ng panahon na kailangan mo.

So,  yun lang. Una, yun nga, these people, mayroon silang strategic planning. Pero, nung dumating yung disaster, or emergency, yung actual, iba talaga  yung actual. Kahit naman sa driving lesson, marunong ko mag-drive, pero, nung pagdating na, kinabahan ka, kasi, yung mismo, parang iba yung kotse, iba yung feel ng clutch,  iba yung feel ng pedal, so, naninibago ka. Laging mayroon adjustment. 

So, dapat maging flexible tayo na we know how to adjust based on what is happening in our environment. 

Philippe: And for sure naman, once you have that muscle memory, eventually, once you start doing it, you’ll come back to your real place. Imagine the ones who don’t have that, who don’t train themselves, who are not aware, at that moment, matataranta na sila. 

And they don’t have the basic knowledge of what to do, they don’t have the strategic planning, they don’t have the go-backs, they don’t have, that’s why it’s important for every individual, no matter how much you don’t need it, take it, accept it, because at the times that you need it and you don’t have it, that’s the worst.

Philippe: Better to have it than not need it. So tama ka when it’s time for action, even if you’re well prepared, still, you’re still a human being, you might react differently. But eventually, after a few moments during the situation, maalala mong training mo. 

So, I feel sorry for the ones na walang training, at that moment, matataranta na sila, they don’t even know what to do, they rely on others. Anong pangalan ng group? 

Mclaine: Sergeant Prepper.

Philippe: Sergeant Prepper. Saan natin mahanap to? 

Mclaine: Facebook.

 Philippe: So, Google lang, ay Facebook lang, Sergeant Prepper. Is this a Facebook page? 

Mclaine: Yes, it’s an official Facebook page.

Philippe:  So do you have to be  a member? 

Mclaine: I think so, yeah.

Philippe: But I mean,  is there a payment? 

Mclaine: Oh no, no, no

Philippe:  Open for everyone? 

Mclaine: Open for everyone. I think they create this for, ano talaga, for people who are really interested to be a prepper. Pero kung magmamatsag ka lang,  I guess, Google is enough. 

Philippe: Google is enough, yeah. I believe it’s good to have to know, to visit a community.  I think that’s part of strategic planning. If you are really serious about this and you want to be prepared, then, join community groups just like this, you can learn a lot because everyone has their own experience, they have their, alam ko siya nishare nila yung mga ideas nila, yung mga strategies nila, yung, you could pick up a lot from this. 

Maclain’s part of the group, I’m not part of that group yet but I know a lot and I’m sure I could learn a lot more from that group. And this is a local group, right? Puro Filipino dito, right? I’ve also seen community groups in the U.S. because, nung nag-research ako, ang dami ko na-visit sa U.S. version. 

Philippe: Sa U.S. naman kasi, especially in the southern area, marami silang tornadoes floods, earthquakes, and all that.  So marami silang ideas din. They have also iba-ibang klaseng tools and sa U.S. kasi, having a gun is like buying coffee in Starbucks.

You could go in the shop, you could buy a gun easily, just like that. So una dun sa U.S. when it comes to prepping, security talaga. uns, guns and bullets and all that.  It’s a little different there in the culture but the basic preparation, the basic knowledge,  it’s the same. 

Philippe: You know, it’s the same. I’m also, I’m quite interested though,  I’m sure may mga groups, prepper groups in Japan.  Kasi diba Japan madalas ma-earthquake? So I think we could learn a lot. Yun lang. I think it’s in Japanese. I hope it’s in English,  diba? 

But I’m sure meron groups and communities for that. And it has to be, honestly, my idea is I believe that it has to be part of the school education system. We have to, they don’t do fire drills, earthquake drills. We do it, like what, they do it once a year. 

Philippe: Right now, diba, we don’t even, we don’t even remember. Where do,  what do we do? Where do we go? Dapat merong mga flood drill as well. Okay, forget, forget the scandals and all, but at least meron ka earthquake drill, may flood drill, may, anyway, earthquake, fire, flood, and also civil unrest. 

Or, or not or, and, it has to be mandatory in schools,  diba? Na, first aid. Hindi nila tinuturo. They’re not, they’re not teaching us diba? So, it’s our responsibility as, it’s our responsibility as parents, alright, or as brothers, as sisters, as kuyas, or ates, alright, to teach our family that. 

Philippe: You have to take the responsibility as, you take that role, take that responsibility. So, because that saves lives.  If your family’s good na, then you could save others as well,  right? Ayon, I think we said a lot. We didn’t say too much in detail, but, yun nga, everyone has their own special, everyone has their own tailor fitted strategy.

We gave only the basic tips.  Remember, kung makasama kayo at home and everything, that’s great. Just assign, someone has to be, take responsibility to take over, of your family or your friends while you’re away. And once you regroup with them, then you, you take over the responsibility.  

Philippe: If you have several families in different areas and several friends, karoon kayo in chat group in case of emergency, where to go, find your nearest evacuation center, your barangay hall, your elementary school, a basketball court, any sort of court. 

Just make sure you visit  your LGU, you visit city hall in your area and see what works best for you. Also, also,  make sure you watch our previous two videos. We talk about, you know, emergency go bad and your bug out. Yeah? Anything you want to add? 

Mclaine: I think that’s, that’s it. You just need to be, to be prepared. 

Philippe: You have the budget, you have a car, you have a van, you can have that. That’s also part of it. Now, our videos are only based on the average Filipino, kung anong kaya nila at that moment, at this moment, anong kaya na ang finances nila.

Having that as the bare minimum is actually good enough, right? You don’t need to have the fanciest equipment. You don’t need to have a Starlink. 

Philippe: But if you can afford, why not? But, I think for the LGUs, having a Starlink each barangay would really definitely help everyone. In these types of regions. So, for the preppers out there, the pros, remember, you can visit Sergeant, what? 

Mclaine: Preppers

Philippe: Sergeant PreppersAt yung mga members and Sergeant Preppers, if you have any suggestions, please comment that in our comment section. That would help a lot of our listeners and viewers. 

And, hopefully we can invite one of you guys to share your strategic plannings, the tools, the strategies, the plans that you have that you’ve set up for your own family and friends. yeah, I think that’s super good for this session. Ingat lagi. Alright.