Political Quotes

“Five days ago Typhoon Yolanda devastated the central Philippines. As a category 5 supertyphoon, this was reportedly the strongest storm ever to make landfall anywhere in recorded history, sweeping away almost everything in its path. Nearly 10 million people were impacted by this supertyphoon and tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Eighty to ninety percent of the homes in city of Ormoc, the second largest city in the Leyte Province, are gone. The stories of loss are shocking and heartbreaking. We do not yet know the full extent of the devastation this typhoon has brought to the Philippines. Local authorities estimate as many as 10,000 people may be dead in the Leyte Province alone, one of the hardest hit regions. The State Department has said roughly 3,000 Americans were impacted when the storm hit. Our Embassy in Manila is coordinating with U.S. agencies to locate these Americans and bring them home. The United States and the Philippines share a special bond, rooted in strong cultural and historical ties between our two countries. In Hawaii, where more than 197,000 Filipinos have made their home, we know this bond well. Our Filipino community has been a part of the islands for more than 100 years, and many at home maintain close relationships with family and friends in the Philippines. My deepest condolences go to those who have lost family and friends in this tragedy. Although the storm is over, our work has just begun.…”