BLAME GAME: YOLANDA'S AFTERMATH

November 8, 2013 – who would have forgotten this date? The super typhoon Yolanda, Haiyan as its international name, smash its eye in the most part of Visayas region, most especially the Tacloban and its neighbouring provinces. According to the research and obvious damages, it is the strongest typhoon recorded in history to make landfall, killing almost 5, 300 people, still 1, 613 remain missing and 23, 501 individuals were injured having a total number of 1, 112, 731 houses were damaged, over 22 billion cost of damage to agriculture, and most of the casualties were from the badly-hit Eastern Visayas according to PDRRMC. Now, tell me, who to blame of this aftermath? Was it the government’s way of disregarding the people in the shore before the storm surge? Do they lack this so-called ‘preparedness?’ Or was it simply because it’s God’s way to remind us to repent now?

It’s been two weeks since the calamitous typhoon hits Tacloban and the rest of Samar, but still the headlines and contents of televisions and radios are still the repercussion of the storm. Those people begging for help, food, water and medicines. Babies are crying, old ones are being bed ridden, others in need of medical assistance, and most of them are starving to death. You just can’t resist, you feel like your heart is being wrecked into pieces. Still, many places from Visayas province haven’t received any relief goods. President Noynoy Aquino starts scratching his head because he doesn’t know how to deliver the goods from the needy. They’re lacking boats, airplanes and trucks.

Gladly, the foreign people were helping us. The countries that we had old grudges were ready to help the fatalities. People we used to call “Hilaw na kano,” we should have thanked for their airplanes and boats. We used to call them “sakang,” but thank you for lending us medical practitioners for assisting the needy patients. We used to call them “tsekwang hilaw” but they never think twice on helping the dupes by giving millions of dollar. We used to call them “mabahong Arabo,” but they never hesitate on helping the sufferers. Because of Yolanda, people were unified. The slitness of eyes, the complexions, and the pointedness of nose were unnoticeable.

Now, let’s talk about the government and its way of informing the inhabitants of the place. Does the administration supervise the natives before the super typhoon bump? How was the information dissemination regarding to the strength of the said typhoon? What about the precautions? The thought that’s still bunging to my mind is the fact that there are at least two days before the shattering typhoon, but still, thousands of people wasted their lives in just a blink of an eye. Who to blame of this fatal? No, not the government, of course! According to the interviews, from governors, mayors to Barangay Captain, they made all the things to save the citizens. What about the deceased bodies? Numerous of it was in the side of the roads or buried in the huge debris, or just inside their house. Who to blame again? Was it P-Noy because he has nothing to do? Was it Binay’s fault that he put first his name in the relief goods, which leads to delayed releasing? Was it Mar Roxas’ fault because of his slow procedures. Was it Korina Sanchez’s fault for the inaccurate and unethical way of reporting? Was it Henares fault because he delayed the help from international communities? Or Napoles’ fault because people are busy watching her trial and didn’t prepared much for the typhoon?

Have you ever notice that the value of money in the place has nothing to do with their primary necessities? In just a blink of an eye, the worth of money eroded away. Money is just a paper or coin, it can be tore into pieces, can be burn into fire. Some sufferers were searching for food, others stealing and looting. You can’t eat your paper money nor can’t drink your coins. Your money can’t save you from the strong wind, unstoppable rainfalls, tornado, storm surges and tormenting floods. The only thing that would save us is our “pakikipagkapwa,” being always prepared and obedient.

Filipinos has so much pride, but you know what? Decades and centuries from now, we can’t forget the aid we had received from US, Britain, Australia, UNICEF, Japan, China, Taiwan, ASEA, Belgium, Canada, Qatar, Denmark, European Union, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK, Red Cross, World Vision Mercy Corps, Doctors without Borders, Vatican, Ireland, Vietnam and NBA players.

I realize that I should stop blaming, because it doesn’t help at all. It worsens, actually.

Whether it’s God’s way to repent us, we will, surely, rise again. With our observant and vigilant eyes, one, unified voice, the conscience of political figures and businessmen, the aid of the international community, and of course our love. Love for our fellow, the world we live in, peace and justice, and to our pearl of the orient seas.

Author’s Note: I’d like to thank Jonathan Navarra of AB English (College of Arts and Letters) for translating some phrases here from Tagalog to English. This article I made is for my friend Grace Nerbes of Bicol College.  11/25/13