Typhoon Ondoy: Who is to be blamed?

In a span of 9 hours, typhoon Ondoy has successfully drowned millions of houses and submerged most of the areas in NCR. The urban cities were transformed into rivers and people were forced to evacuate the residential areas to high places. In that span of 9 hours of raining, lives were lost and thousands of families were displaced. In an eagle’s eye view, Marikina, Rizal, Pasig, Laguna, Quezon City and other parts of Luzon looked like swamped because of the water that engulfed the places. For the time being, many places are still flooded.

Behind fears, nightmares, cries and stress brought by the flood lies the question, “Why did this happen?”
On the process of recovery, the government also asked the same question. The MMDA chairman, the DENR Secretary, and the LLDA has been picking holes against each other. Now, the national government and local government also exchanges fault at each other. Many experts have also shared their opinions. However, despite everything that what these people and agencies told, there is only one clear answer- All of them should be blamed.

It is not beyond one’s knowledge that development has been swift over the years. Mountains have been flatted to make way for housing projects and subdivisions. Farms and agricultural lands were converted into industrial and residential areas. Some of which, actually, have been submerged by typhoon Ondoy. Developments have also been fast along the creeks, bridges, esteros and other natural and artificial resources.

While housing projects and subdivision houses were built in mountains and farms, shanties were also built below the bridges, along the esteros, rivers, and even canals. It has been surprising that thousands of the population has been living a poor life in areas not meant for dwelling. With these developments, pollution of water and land followed. The rivers, canals, esteros and other bodies of water were converted into a garbage pit. Aside from that, greater bodies of water lie bays were covered with land to pave way for another industrial development.

There is nothing wrong with the developments. However, development for betterment and not for betterment only leads to abuse and disaster. On the part of the government, the fault should be pointed to them for they have the power to prevent developments and the people from residing and polluting the natural resources, yet they were heedless and completely ignored the problem. Though there are various environmental laws and plans for developing areas near the rivers, the government was incapable of properly implementing such laws and plans. Why? What was making them busy?

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was completely inutile in protecting and preserving the environment. The rivers and other natural resources were within their jurisdiction, yet, they failed to protect it from abusive people. Why did the DENR failed to prevent people from abusing the natural resources? The local government units, on the other hand, are clearly responsible for the people within their jurisdiction. How come that there are people living a hell life on the places not meant for dwelling. How come that they did not taught of cleaning their areas, especially the rivers, canals, and esteros? People abusing the environment are also at fault for they do not know where to dispose off their garbage. These reasons are merely shallow actually but were too difficult for the government agencies and lgus to address. Usually they reason out that they cannot do it, they cannot do it! Then, they should step down from their sit because they are completely inefficient and lacks the political will in exercising their power. They should be ashamed because they are a failure.

How should be blamed of the disastrous flash flood? All those in the government who used their power for their own good and the Filipino people lacking discipline of loving and caring the environment should be blamed.

I HOPE THAT WITH THE TREMENDOUS EFFECT OF TYPHOON ONDOY, NO ESTEROS, RIVERS, CANALS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER WILL BE FILLED WITH GARBAGE, NO MOUNTAINS WILL BE FLATTENED TO PAVE WAY FOR HOUSES, THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL BE SERIOUS IN IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, AND THAT EVERY PERSON ALIVE WILL LEARN HOW TO LOVE AND CARE THE ENVIRONMENT. DENR, WAKE UP!

I feel blessed ^-^

In time of need, unity is an essential factor for survival. This is what I saw after the devastating wrath of typhoon Ondoy. Indeed, many have not recovered yet. But through unity and the passion to help each other, everyone will surely survive.

Yesterday, my friends and I went to Gawad Kalinga, a non-government organization with the purpose of helping those in need. Gawad Kalinga also enforced relief operation for the victims of typhoon Ondoy. It was relieving to see how many fellow lending hands for others. Many fellow volunteered their time and effort in repacking relief goods. Everyone was active in helping. Young and old, poor and rich, prominent and ordinary people were there. Everyone was sweating but no one seems tired after an arduous and continues work. Each one of us there was contributing in making the job easier and faster.

The repacking is also non-stop because the donations coming from different good-hearted people and entities continued to pour. There were boxes and boxes of canned goods, sacks of rice, clothing and support from various people. Hour from hour, trucks of repacked goods are deployed in many affected areas. Despite the tiring job of non-stop repacking, everyone was smiling and happy especially when the in-charge announces how many goods were deployed.

In times of need, you would not really feel the boundary that separates the people. In this society, yes, there are poor and rich, educated and not, but when everyone united for the same purpose, such boundary is erased. As for my experience, it was gratifying to see people happy in helping those in need with no strings attached. For this, I salute everyone who volunteered and donated for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy. Let us keep the sense of unity and generosity for us to survive.

Evidence of typhoon Ondoy's wrath

more pics from Times and USA Today

My “Floody” Birthday Experience

On Saturday morning, I woke up with a smile on my face. This is because few two days more and I’m gonna be celebrating my birthday again. The rain continues to pour but we felt like it was a normal rain. Nothing extraordinary would gonna happen on that day. Like an ordinary day, we had our breakfast and then lunch. After watching noontime show, we played chess. As the fight of mind becomes intense, the rain is becoming stronger as well. The rain is now accompanied with whirling wind. The disturbing noise made by the wind and every angry drop of rain were enough to catch our attention that that day is not an ordinary day.

At around 4 pm, quantity of water began to creep near the gate door. Few minutes more and the water was now inside the house. The water creeping in the house made me stunned for a moment while my heart was pumping fast. Though I wanted to run for help, I couldn’t because my knees cannot move. When I had the chance to make one step and collected my thoughts, fear continued to weaken me. So many things were running in my mind. Hope and death were rumbling and fighting over in my head.

When I had my bag, I joined my housemates to find refuge. As we climbed to the second floor, the water continued to pursue us. There was no place where we can find safe haven. On that very moment, everything moved fast like a thunder. It could have also been fast in taking our lives.

On the verge of death, there was nothing more important that saving your life. I realized that everything I have is of no importance in times of calamities like flash flood. There was no one to turn to but God. You would not wish of anything but forgiveness and saving your soul so that in case death comes to you, you will be safe in the hands of God. I felt that life is no worth at all and everything you have planned can be swept in one instance if God wills for it. I also felt the desire to help people I saw who are in need of help, but I just cannot do it because my life is also at stake. It was actually impossible. The only thing you do is to cry and pray fervently while watching more quantity of water eats up properties and people.

But despite the fear and nearing death, hope and faith strengthened me. I firmly believed that God would not grant me a gift of death on my birthday. I believed that God will save us and will stop the water from pursuing us. Then, the flash flood stopped before it reached the roof of the house. Thank God, you spared our life. Thank you also for the experience because I realized how worthless life is without You. For people who had the same experience, I feel the same for you. The calamity that visited us and devastated properties and lives should not weaken our faith but should remind us that God hold our lives and it’s only Him that can save us.