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. Kami ay code red is 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, diba, so the kids can remember it. The one thing that we don’t have a code for is civil unrest. But we named it Code X. Civil unrest, paano kong may rayon? War. Now every situation is different. You’re number one, bro.
Okay, welcome to this next session. This is a continuation of our series on disaster preparation, and we’re going to be talking about strategic planning.
Philippe: So alam naman natin that every time we have a calamity like we have floods, fire, tsunamis, and 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 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.
Philippe: But we’re basing it on the average Filipino and what to do.Now when it comes to strategic planning, syempre alam natin that things happen at the moment that will take us by surprise. So, for example, earthquakes.
At the time of this recording, we’ve had earthquakes in Cebu and Davao, and hopefully not in your area. But in case it happens, it’s always good to learn and to be in the know on what to do during these occurrences.
Philippe: 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. But it’s good to have some sort of refresher. And as an 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.
Just a short disclaimer: hindi naman kami professional preppers, but we have enough knowledge to help you and guide you. Of course, sa mga professional preppers out there, please comment your suggestions in terms of strategic planning in this video, just so we could help others learn from your experiences and your skill set.
Philippe: Let’s talk about earthquakes since yan ang hot topic natin. Apart from duck and hide, if an earthquake happens, 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 an earthquake, unang tinuro naman sa atin is always go under the table or something. Kung familiar ka sa bahay mo, alam mo yung part ng bahay mo na yung structure is matibay, so yun yung puntahan mo.
So after nung earthquake, assessment na agad. Check mo agad yung family mo, especially kung hindi kayo magkakasama. Kung magkakasama kayo ng family mo, yung parents mo or yung relatives mo, always check on them.
Mclaine: Assess mo sa kanila kung meron bang na-damage or meron bang kailangan ng response. And dito babagsak yung communication natin. Meron ba tayong na-establish na good communication? Kasi minsan, pag nagkaroon ng earthquake, may mga structure na masisira, especially kung ang communication infrastructure yung isa sa madadamay.
So tendency niyan, magkakaroon ng effect sa mga individuals. Minsan wala kang reception sa phone. Minsan magkatabi kayo, siya may signal, ikaw wala. Siya nakaka-call, 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 lindol o pag may calamity, ipopost sa Facebook agad. Although it’s great—it’s the fastest way. We’re faster than the DRRMC. It’s faster than the warnings that they provide through text messages. Pero sa akin, try niyo iwasan muna yung pag-post. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s good to keep people informed, but before you post, duck and hide. Duck and hide.
Philippe: In my case, I’ve trained my family and my kids for these types of situations. Actually, we have everything well documented. Meron kaming folder where we made it kind of playful so that when the kids look at it, they know what happens during floods, fires, earthquakes, or even civil unrest.
Number one, let’s say nandito tayo doing a podcast. Alam na nila what they have to do. Kung may sunog, evacuate the house immediately. Don’t try to save everything. Leave everything behind, evacuate the house, and go outdoors.
Philippe: Number one instruction ko is, kung nandun yung wife ko, yung mga yaya, yung drivers, at yung parents ko, get out of the house and go to the clubhouse. Kasi sa village namin, may clubhouse. That’s the safest area they can go to because it’s a covered court.
Malaki siya, and it’s only about a two-minute walk from our house. From there, they’re safe from the elements. Kung may sunog o maulan, it’s a dry covered court with a big basketball court, so they won’t get wet and they’ll be safe there.
Philippe: Now, para sa mga hindi nakatira sa village, go to your nearest barangay or your nearest evacuation center. It could be a school. Every place is different, so always learn these locations in advance. Sa mga taong nagtatrabaho sa ibang lugar, make sure educated yung family ninyo tungkol sa evacuation plans.
This is part of strategic planning. From there, papasok na yung communication. Once you’re in a safe area, saka na kayo mag-post. “Oh, lumindol,” “May sunog,” “May baha.” As long as you’re already safe. Then communicate.
Philippe: Communication is key so that everyone knows where the family members are. Kumpleto na ba tayo? Sino pa yung natitira? Sino ang kailangan nating i-contact? Yung mga in-laws, mga kapatid, at ibang relatives na nasa iba’t ibang lugar. As a family, dapat meron kayong group chat where everyone can give updates.
Ngayon, kung communications are down, whoever is the head of each location or the person responsible for keeping that part of the family safe should be the one coordinating with the others. Dapat may radio na kayo, naka-set up in advance. Mura lang naman yung mga tools na nabanggit natin sa previous podcast. Mabibili lang sa Lazada or Shopee.
Philippe: So learn these strategic planning techniques. What’s also good to know is that sa amin, when it comes to fire, evacuate immediately. When it comes to floods, evacuate immediately and go to the clubhouse as soon as you see the water rising. When it comes to earthquakes, tama—duck and hide first.
When it’s done, i-assess mo agad yung structures and everything. See if there’s a safe pathway going out. If not, like we said in our previous video, buy a whistle. And if you think you can still communicate, make sure your phone or your radio is near you, or any form of communication.
Philippe: Anyway, yung mga tao naman doon, makikita nila kung unstable yung structure and they’ll give you a warning. Everyone helps each other. So it’s always good to be in the know, and if you think there’s a safe pathway out of the house or out of a building, take it. Make sure you head to an open area.
That’s the safest place, especially during an earthquake. Monitor the ground as well. Like the recent one I saw in Thailand, there was a sinkhole. Who would’ve ever thought, diba? So monitor the ground for cracks. Minsan kasi, kapag umuulan or basa yung lupa, nagkakaroon ng landslide.
Philippe: Always find an open area, monitor your surroundings, and monitor everyone. If you have the chance to help others, help others. And once you know your family is safe and you’ve contacted them, make sure it’s safe for you to go back to them. Buti sana kung magkakasama kayo.
But in cases where, halimbawa, taga-Bulacan ka at nasa Manila ka, or lumindol doon o dito, we need to find our way back safely. Number one, if there are kids, elders, or seniors, prioritize them. But it’s also good to educate them. Just like in the movies, you can have family codes.
Philippe: “Code Red, Code Red!” “Code Blue, Code Blue!” Ano ibig sabihin nun? Kami, Code Red is fire, Code Blue is flood, at yung earthquake naman, Code Brown kasi earth is brown. We try to match it with the elements so the kids can remember them more easily. Kapag Code Brown, earthquake—duck and hide first, then after the shaking, go to an open area.
Kapag fire, if there’s a pathway, get out. If the exit is blocked, we have portable fire extinguishers. Kung wala, use a wet cloth and try to find a safe way out. If you stay inside during a fire, that’s where it gets dangerous. If you’re trapped, assess your surroundings. Even if you’re in the bathroom, wet the area as much as possible.
Philippe:The bathroom can sometimes be one of the safest places if you have no way out. Basain mo yung kisame at paligid. It won’t put out the fire, but it can help. The one thing that we don’t have a code for is civil unrest, but we call it Code X. For civil unrest, like riots or war, our strategic plan is to stay indoors. Don’t go out. Lock everything.
Close all the blinds. Lock everything. In the previous video, when we talked about protection, if you can legally afford to own a firearm and you have the proper license, that’s one option to consider. If not, there are other legal means of self-protection. The important thing is to think ahead about how you’ll secure your home during emergencies.
Philippe: I was in Divisoria a few weeks ago—yes, I really went to Divisoria. It’s my happy place. I love going there. People think I don’t know my way around, but I do, and masarap kaya kumain sa Ongpin pagkatapos.
In Divisoria, I found a lot of toy stores selling BB guns. I’ve tried them and tested them against stray animals like loose dogs, and they worked as a deterrent. They’re affordable too. May ₱500, may ₱800, at may around ₱1,000 na mas high-powered at mukhang totoong airsoft. Even around ₱300, you can already buy a BB gun with pellets. Some of them even look very realistic.
Philippe: So I think one important part of strategic planning is how you set up your home security. Every situation is different. Right now, during this session, we’re far from our families. If they need us, at least they’re already educated on what to do. Always remember, if you’re the head of the family, your responsibility is to make sure everyone knows the plan.
Once the plan is in motion, your number one goal is to get to them safely. Halimbawa, pupunta ako somewhere in QC. I’ll tell them, “Sit tight, I’m coming.” By the time you get there, kumpleto na sila, they have the equipment, the supplies, and everything they need. That’s when you take over the responsibility.
Philippe: Another habit I have is keeping my car’s fuel tank full every day. Kahit konti lang ang nabawas, nagpapa-full tank ako. Number one, it’s good for the car. Number two, it’s good for emergencies. During an emergency, you don’t want to waste time looking for a gas station. If your tank is always full, you can leave immediately whenever a family member needs help.
It’s also good to keep your bug out bag or emergency go bag in your car. Just make sure your supplies don’t get exposed to excessive heat. Water, medicine, and other items can be affected by high temperatures.
Philippe:If possible, park in the shade or keep your supplies protected. If you bring your bag to work every day, that’s even better. I know it’s a bit of a hassle carrying it around, but it’s always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Always educate your family and plan together. Keep it simple: Code Red—fire. Code Blue—flood. Code Brown—earthquake. Code X—civil unrest.
Philippe: You can even create your own family codes. One trick that I do is print colorful icons and images so they don’t look scary, especially for kids. For example, if there’s a flood and the water keeps rising, go to a higher level if you have a second floor. If not, leave the house and head to higher ground before the situation becomes too dangerous.
You can find a lot of disaster preparedness resources online. Sa mga preppers natin diyan, if you have suggestions on strategic planning, what to do, and where to go, please share them. Wherever you work or wherever you live, make sure you know where your nearest evacuation center is—whether it’s a school, barangay hall, or basketball court.
Philippe: Talk to your LGU or your barangay. Don’t be shy. You can also visit your city hall because they can provide this information. It’s also good strategic planning to know first aid, CPR, and basic medicines. Learn how to ration food in case supplies become limited.
Learn practical survival skills like how to start a fire, operate a radio, or use essential equipment during emergencies. You don’t have to be an expert, but you should know the basics. These are strategic plans that you need to share with your family, your kids, your elders, and everyone in your household. Anything you’d like to add?
Mclaine: Well, regarding this strategic plan, you know, share ko na rin to, nakita ko to sa isang group. I guess, we could mention na dito, para they could also visit the page. Hindi naman ako admin doon or nag-member lang din ako. Sergeant Prepper. Okay. Sergeant Prepper group.
Nabasa ko doon sa isang post nung, ano siya, Prepper siya. So, very aware siya kung ano dapat gawin. Nung lumindol daw, nakalimutan niya yung family niya. Kasi, at the time na nangyari yung lindol, syempre, i-assist mo yung mga kasama mo. May mga students, tapos may mga, meron daw hinimatay na professor, so, tinulungan niya.
Mclaine: Syempre, isipin mo yung pamilya mo, pero syempre, doon sa, within your AOR, kung nandun, nasaan ka, syempre, isipin mo rin yung kapakanan ng mga tao doon sa paligid mo. Lalo, kung 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. Inuna niya yung mga nandoon sa paligid niya, and then, after niya ma-assist yung mga victims, doon lang niya naalala, “Ay, yung family ko pala, nakalimutan ko.” And then, nag-post siya doon sa last part. Sabi niya, “Kailangan natin mag-usap mamaya pag-uwi ka.”
Mclaine:Nakakatawa, nakakatawa yung part na yan. Pero, you could imagine those people na nag-prepare, they have been preparing for quite some time. Alam na nila yung gagawin nila, mayroon sila, kumpleto sila, may bug-out bag, may whatever, kasi nandoon sa group. Pero, nung dumating yung scenario, iba ang nangyari.
Kahit gaano ka ka-prepared, kung mentally talaga, siguro, ano na lang talaga to. If we train ourselves mentally na ito yung gagawin mo, parang muscle memory. Pagkagising mo, emergency, kahit sabihin mong may hindrance, ito yung gagawin ko.
Mclaine: Pero siyempre, bilang tao, may concern ka rin doon sa mga tao. Kailangan magkaroon ka rin ng concern. Kasi, sooner or later, yung mga tao na yun, magkakaroon din ng concern sa’yo 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 ang actual eh. Kahit naman sa driving lesson eh. Marunong lang akong mag-drive, pero pagdating na, kinabahan ka kasi iba yung kotse. Iba yung feel nung clutch. Iba yung feel nung pedal.
Mclaine: So, naninibago ka. Laging may adjustment. So, dapat maging flexible tayo. Now, 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, it’ll come back to you real quick. 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-bags. That’s why it’s important for every individual. No matter how much you think you don’t need it, take it. Accept it.
Philippe: Because at the times that you need it and you don’t have it, that’s the worst. 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, maaalala mo rin yung training mo, diba? 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. Yeah. Anong pangalan ng group?
Mclaine: Sergeant Prepper.
Philippe: Sergeant Prepper. Saan natin mahanap to?
Mclaine: Facebook.
Philippe: Facebook. So, google lang natin. Facebook lang, Sergeant Prepper. Is this a Facebook page?
Mclaine: Yes, official Facebook page.
Philippe: So, do you have to be a member?
Mclaine: I think so, yeah.
Philippe: I mean, is there a payment?
Mclaine: Oh, 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.
Alam ko, sine-share nila yung mga ideas nila, yung mga strategies nila. You could pick up a lot from this. Yeah. Mclaine’s part of the group. I’m not part of the 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 kong na-visit na U.S. versions.
Philippe: Sa U.S. naman kasi, especially in the southern areas, marami silang tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and all that. So, marami silang ideas din. They also have iba’t ibang klaseng tools. And sa U.S. kasi, having a gun is like buying coffee in Starbucks. You could go into a shop and buy a gun easily, just like that.
So, una doon sa U.S., when it comes to prepping, security talaga—guns, bullets, and all that. It’s a little different there because of their culture, but the basic preparation, the basic knowledge, it’s the same. You know? It’s the same.
Philippe: I’m also quite interested, though. I’m sure may mga 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 may mga groups and communities for that.
And honestly, I believe that this has to be part of the school education system. We have fire drills, earthquake drills—we do them, what, once a year? Right now, diba? We don’t even remember what we’re supposed to do or where we’re supposed to go.
Philippe: Dapat may flood drill as well. Okay, forget the scandals and all, but at least magkaroon ng earthquake drill, fire drill, flood drill, and also civil unrest preparedness. It also has to be mandatory in schools to teach first aid. Hindi nila tinuturo.
They’re not teaching our kids. So, it’s our responsibility as parents, or as brothers, sisters, kuyas, or ates, to teach our family these things. You have to take that responsibility and take on that role because it saves lives. If your family is prepared, then you can help save others as well, right?
Philippe: Ayun, I think we said a lot. We didn’t go into too much detail, but everyone has their own tailored strategy. We only gave the basic tips. Remember, kung magkakasama kayo at home and everything, that’s great. Just assign someone to take responsibility for your family or your friends while you’re away.
And once you regroup with them, then you take over the responsibility. If you have several families in different areas or several groups of friends, magkaroon kayo ng chat group. In case of an emergency, know where to go. Find your nearest evacuation center, your barangay hall, your elementary school, a basketball court, or any sort of open evacuation area.
Philippe: Just make sure you visit your LGU or your city hall in your area and see what works best for you. Also, make sure you watch our previous two videos where we talked about emergency go bags and bug-out bags. Yeah. Anything you want to add? I think that’s it.
Mclaine: You just need to be, to be prepared. Be prepared.
Philippe: You have the budget, you have a car, you have a van, you can, 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, based on their finances. 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. But if you can afford it, why not? I think for the LGUs, having a Starlink in each barangay would definitely help everyone in these types of emergencies. Good.
Philippe: So, for the preppers out there, the pros, remember, you can visit Sergeant Preppers. If you’re members of Sergeant Preppers and you have any suggestions, please comment them in our comment section.
That would help a lot of our listeners and viewers. And hopefully, we can invite one of you to share your strategic planning, the tools, the strategies, and the plans that you’ve set up for your own family and friends. Yeah, I think that’s super good for this session. Ingat lagi. Alright.
