In the Midst of Calamity

tut tut tut.. my brain is quite functioning now.. so i can blog. again.

WHAT: Tropical Storm Ondoy on the rush
WHEN: Last week of September 2009
WHERE: Pacific Ring of Fire

so here's the thing...

typhoons are common occurrences in the Philippines, but this typhoon, Ondoy, is one heck of a menace.

As I woke up on September 26, 2009 morning, it seems like the rain for a year was gathered all together and poured in just one day. Literally, when it rains, it pours.

Nevertheless, this seems like a normal day to me since it is typical in our country. But the thing struck me when i watched the news. "What has just happened?!", I exclaimed.

The Metro Manila and nearby town is devastated with flood. Would you imagine that the flood will rise at almost neck level? Civillians were trap in their own homes and are waiting for rescuers on the roof; vehicles and house debris are floating with the current; many are injured and some unfortunately died and all I can do for that moment is watch for my fellowmen while they are in distress.

But it seems like I am not the only one who is feeling remorseful for them. It is relieving to see in every channel that they cancelled their shows to televise and ask for donations and volunteers to help the victims. They also faced the peril of the typhoon to report the status of those who need to be rescued.

In the midst of calamity, it is heartwarming that every Filipino is taking part in his role for his fellow citizens. That makes me proud. But, it's irritating to hear news about those circulating pranks like opening of the Marikina dam, breaking off of zoo animals and other things that are absurd and ridiculous. There are scared people in the affected areas and those kind of pranks are not laughable for the time being. To those who started those pranks, there is a time for such things and I daresay, it is not now. DO THEY IMAGINE those people who are covered with panic and trauma with the incident? DO THEY CARE for those people who haven't been eating for the past few days for they don't know where to search for food? DO THEY CONSIDER those people who cannot sleep day and night for they are searching for their lost companions? DO THEY KNOW that there are those volunteers who risked their lives to search for strangers to whom they are concerned? DO THEY THINK of those people who are clinging to the edge of life and is taking their last breathe at this moment? So please...be aware of the situation. please.

One part that made me sad as well was on September 28, 2009. It was the "FaMEALy Day". But my family haven't observed it though I really wanted to eat together with the whole family. I am thinking of those family victims in the flood. We are lucky to be able to celebrate it but didn't took the chance while some of the family in the evacuation centers haven't got the chance to do it with the lost of their loved ones. Try to think about it.

For the mean time, as a Filipino youth who is just watching the news in the TV before, I'm one of the numerous citizens who wanted to extend their help to the victims. So tomorrow, we will donate and gather the necessary things that will alleviate the sufferings of the victims. We want to help in the simplest ways we can do.

Every survivor have his own stories to tell and from this incident, we should learn our lesson before it gets worse. It's hard to fight back when it is nature that is struggling. How many lives should be taken and how many homes should be broken before we act to prevent these calamities. Should we wait until the whole archipelago is a goner? We have our responsibility to our people and country so let's act on our own discipline and start to replenish the nature that we are still destroying.

ayan. brain's system shut down.