During the height of Typhoon Ondoy’s wrath here in Manila, all I could think of is this scene from the Titanic movie (Nearer My God To Thee). It rained too hard leaving houses, cars, building submerged in muddy floodwaters. People were dying left and right while some were left in the rooftops of their house waiting for rescue. We were all caught unprepared and I thought that we cannot do anything but to ask for divine intervention. You can’t really blame people who resorted to praying during these harsh times—religion keeps people sane.
My family has a couple of near death experiences. I’m not proud of that fact instead, I’m thankful that we’re still alive. While most part of the metro is submerged in floodwaters, we almost didn’t feel the wrath of Ondoy (International name: Ketsana) except that we lost our phone line and DSL connection and my Mom had to wade through the floodwaters of Pasay City to reach home. We were lucky for we were all safe and dry. Losing our phone line and DSL connection is nothing as compared to those who have lost their loved ones and homes. Somehow, this incident made me value life even more.
I glued myself to the television screen (sometimes, the radio), watching (or listening) updates on the ongoing rescue and relief operations for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. The images shown on screen and stories told by the survivors were heartbreaking—bloated dead bodies, homeless and helpless babies and people crying for help to name a few. But it was heartwarming to see a lot of people extending there help to those in need.
My siblings and I, including my mom, raided our closets to look for clothes to donate to those who are in needed. My sister, Dianne, even volunteered for the relief operations of the Philippine National Red Cross while I donated a little to World Vision. I was also online in different social networking sites, including Twitter, Facebook and Plurk to help in the information drive on different drop-off centers for donations and to share different ways on how to volunteer and help flood victims. I wasn’t able to volunteer for I was stuck at home trying to beat the deadline for some school works. But, I tried my best to help and encourage others to extend some help, too.
You know, I firmly believe that this isn’t the right time to blame those in the government for not doing anything to help. Of course, there are doing the best that they can to help. However, resources are limited and that’s the sad truth. I cringe every time I hear celebrities doing the “blame game” on Twitter and on national TV. Seriously. Everyone is exerting effort but these people (those who are extending help) can only do so much. It’s just sad that some people resort to blaming other people during these times. Actually, I really don’t care about those politicians who donated relief goods with their names and pictures on it. Well, at least those politicians helped even though they have a different motive.
Let’s not be stubborn. I just hope that we could all learn from this incident and that we all could start being aware of our environment.
Interested in helping Typhoon Ondoy flood victims? Check out this Typhoon Ondoy Google page for more information on how you can help.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
it is very unfortunate for our Filipino brothers to be hit by typhoon Ondoy. i have seen the massive flooding and the flood victims on TV and it is really horrible.
This is really the time for those people who are up for a governemnet power or position to show their kindness at least, in exchange of a single vote. .And we hope these kind efforts will continue to shine win or lose for the sake of those poor victims.
my friends in Philippines were also victimized by the flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy. i just hope that you guys could recover soon from this natural disaster. `
Kawawa talaga yung mga nabiktima ng Typhoon Ondoy, buti na lang at medyo naka-recover na tayo ngayon. ~