I lived through Milenyo, which knocked out the power lines, sent small trees flying, and brought down billboards.
And now I have lived through Tropical Storm Ondoy. The storm likened to Hurricane Katrina, even exceeding its rainfall with 410mm (that's 16.8 inches) in only 8 hours. That is probably a month's worth of rain.
I actually did not know that it caused so much damage in Marikina, Pasig, and other parts of Metro Manila until I saw the news. I thought that it was just a really bad, rainy day..
Saturday.
I was at school to attend a seminar on leadership and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I was actually hesitating to go since it was already raining, but eager to learn (haha), I attended on behalf of the entire PsychSoc (whodathunk I'm 2nd year level rep?). I went to the MPH in the Tropical Building, registered, and took a seat beside my friend Jam; the vice-president of CommSoc.
During the snack break we were happily gobbling our pancit and puto when the lights suddenly died. We heard the roaring wind and torrential rain as we tried to divert ourselves by having a few games, headed by the speaker, Luigi. A few minutes later, Sir GJ said that we would have to transfer venue - the MPH at the College Building across the street. As we went down the stairs to the Tropical Bldg. parking lot, we noticed.. Tropical Avenue was more of Tropical River already, with the water even reaching to where the tricycle station was. GOOD GRIEF, how were we supposed to transfer? O_O Good thing there were shuttles to bring us there.
Back to the present.
I am now listening to Astrud Gilberto and at the same time talking to by best friend Cid while wondering what to type next into this blog. :D
Ah, here we go.
I believe that Ondoy came for a reason. To remind us that with all these plans and laws on protecting the environment, failure to realize this in forms of policies and advocacy for disaster preparedness results in times like this, where people have been greatly affected and devastated by a tropical storm. WHAT MORE IF IT WAS A TYPHOON?
I believe that the fortunate should help. We were fortunate enough to have our homes still standing, our water still running, our food supply still sustainable, out internet access still accessible. Why don't we do something and help by donating canned goods, drinking water, clothes and other items for the affected. Schools and other organizations, even individuals, have been volunteering and soliciting help in the form of usable goods and other means to help the affected. THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS HELP.
I believe that the Filipinos are, and will always be, the race of the brave. During these troublesome days we have witnessed heroic acts. People who braved the floodwater to save not only themselves, but others as well. 6 military men have perished saving those who needed help. A mother grieved over her son who died in the floods but is proud of him for saving 30 people before he did. A judge who saved over 100 people on his jetski. These selfless acts have shown us that there is still hope for the Filipino people. If these people were brave enough to help others rather than themselves, then we can be brave enough to pull ourselves out of the slump and show the world how we really are - A NATION WHO CAN WITHSTAND EVEN THE WORST OF STORMS AND STILL HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
Let Jericho Rosales and Gerald Anderson (and his brother too) be examples to all of us.
They were selfless enough to brave the raging flood to save others.
We should at least be selfless enough to help the affected.
I believe that the government, as well as other politicians, should shape up, and that the budding presidentiables should prove themselves before actually running. If they can spend so much on early campaigning, on motorcades in different areas of the country, on expensive trips abroad to watch the latest Pacquiao fight, on expensive dinners in New York - can they spare a portion of that vast sum to help the people who need it most right now? Can they spare some cash for the thousands who have lost perhaps all they possess except a few pieces of furniture and clothing, and a Santo Niño? CAN THEY, FOR ONCE, DO SOMETHING RIGHT AND BE SELFLESS ENOUGH TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY SERVING?
I believe that the Philippines will find the silver lining in this obnoxiously enormous gray cloud, and pick up the pieces and rise up again in this world.
I believe that we will clean up our reputation as a corrupt nation and that we will find it in ourselves to be better than ever.
I believe that we will live another day, another week, another month, another year.
I believe that God is trying to tell us something.
I believe.
I believe.
I believe.
And you should, too.
6 comments:
sometimes it takes a calamity to bring the people together...if only it didn't HAVE to take a calamity for all to realize that.
Those were pretty good insights. I love your positivity and optimism. You are exactly what this country needs and what we stand for right now :) keep it up!
I believe that too. It's great going to relief centres and realizing that there ARE people who are selfless enough to go out and help. These people are our age, our generation... and our hope. ♥
Ondoy just showed us that we, Filipinos still have in us the value of BAYANIHAN... sadly, sometimes (or most of the time?) we wait for something tragic just for us to act and help each other. Hopefully, this calamity opened not just our eyes to the reality that we should not take things for granted but also opened our hearts in helping our beloved country to be the BEST... again.
Sometimes it takes the worst, like Ondoy, to really bring out the best in people. It's really great seeing everyone doing what they can to help the victims. :)
I truly believe in what you just blogged about!:) ohh yeah..soo, instead of bumming around our houses, we should help out and donate for those who were affected by this catastrophic typhoon! every donation, person who would help out counts!
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