The fire victims

The way he boarded the jeep took us all by surprise: first he slid a plastic drawer, no doubt part of a cabinet, with a jersey shirt covering the contents. Then he hoisted a little girl without shoes, with feet covered in soot. His wife then entered the jeep, with a baby in her arms. Only then did he board, his wide dirty unshodden feet quite noticeable.

The little girl whined that they have no slippers, to which the man grimly said, "Bibili na lang tayo."

He set the girl on top of the pile of clothes on the drawer in the jeepney aisle.

The family was quiet, and everyone in the passenger jeep seemed to have the same question even as the vehicle continued to weave through traffic on E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue.

"Nasunugan kayo?" the man's seatmate, a woman, asked curiously.

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To Sendong victims from an Ondoy survivor

Dear Sendong victims,

It took me a while to write this letter, although it’s already been on my mind for a month, ever since I heard about the monstrous flash floods that took lives and swept away homes in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan, and even Dumaguete.

Watching the news that Saturday night in mid-December and the following days, I could only gasp, horrified, at the images I saw. That photo of a father in tears clutching his child all muddied and lifeless – which became viral on the Internet – brought me to tears.

And I just shook my head in disbelief and bowed my head in prayer when I learned that someone I know – well, technically someone I have transacted with in the past via phone and email as we have not yet met in person – lost three of her loved ones: her parents-in-law and a sister-in-law.

I’ve been to Cagayan de Oro City twice in the past, and discovered it to be a friendly city indeed. It lived up to its moniker, City of Golden Smiles. I found it safe to go around, and enjoyed walking around the city proper, having dinner at Bigby’s, shopping at Robinsons, buying pasalubong of Sler’s chicharon and pastel. Everyone had a ready smile everywhere you look.

I’ve also been to Iligan, to Maria Cristina Falls in fact, on a land tour around Mindanao that took us to the Del Monte Pineapple Plantation in Bukidnon, Dakak resort, and Rizal’s old home in Dapitan. The Maria Cristina Falls was beautiful and pristine, with clear rushing waters that were a sight to behold.

So it pained me to see Cagayan de Oro and Iligan suffering.

And the pain was greater because, in a way, I know what you have gone through.

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Being thankful

I overheard someone say our weather these days is bipolar. It can be very very hot in the morning until early afternoon, then rainy from late afternoon to early evening. Four days ago, it was stormy; yesterday was a sunny day, and today promises rain and flood as typhoon Quiel is here.

On social networking sites, particularly Twitter, I read many comments from people all over the world. “Crazy weather,” said one. “The weather needs to be better informed about our needs. I say we write a petition. No, protest. With signs,” tweeted Vaguery. “Weather today is so confusing. One minute the suns out, next minute a monsoon mixed with tornado-like winds coming down the street. Umph,” posted benthal.

I find it ironic that here we are complaining about the weather when, just a few weeks ago, survivors of 9/11 were recounting their stories on History Channel, Discovery Channel, and CNN. It has been 10 years since September 11, 2011, yet these survivors still choke up when recounting their experiences finding their way out of the North Tower before it collapsed, and running away from the humongous debris cloud when the twin towers collapsed.

I think these survivors wake up each day thanking God just for being alive. Shouldn’t we do the same instead of complaining about the “crazy” weather?

The next time you feel the urge to complain (it’s in our nature, don’t fret), think of something you can be thankful for. It can be the nice orchid blooming in your garden, the bird you hear chirping away outside your window, even the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting in from the kitchen. It can be the smile on your child’s face in the morning, instead of a grumpy one. Thank God for time to have breakfast, a safe ride to school or work, and the privilege to earn a decent living. It’s a new day after all.

Click here to read this on the Smart Super Women blog.

Wish list on a stormy day

The timing of Pedring's wrath was noted by many Filipinos today. As typhoon Pedring felled trees, made bodies of water swell, brought down power lines, and flooded Roxas Boulevard, people noted that, just two years ago, it was Ondoy causing destruction.

The images shown on TV today were familiar: cars in Manila were submerged in water, evacuation centers were crowded, free hot soup handed out to adultd and children at evacuation centers, men cutting down trees blocking roads, and old and young people wading in floodwaters.

I wish and pray things won't be the same anymore. I wish that:

1. there will be no more floods in Metro Manila and the provinces

2. the Department of Education would suspend classes early enough, such as the night before

3. there will be no more power outages during a storm

4. mobile phone services will not be disrupted

5. Meralco would restore power in less than an hour

6. evacuation centers won't be so crowded

7. people would stop complaining about everything

8. LRT and MRT services will continue their services rain or shine

It's a tough wish list, but one the Philippines can aim for. While we can't do much if we're not in government, we could all certainly do number 7.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Over coffee today, I started reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, a book about writing "and life." The author tackles the topics discussed in her writing classes, from how to start writing to dealing with writer's block, and more. I like what Lamott wrote in the introduction: "One of the gifts of being a writer is that it gives you an excuse to do things, to go places and explore." But she's not one to romanticize writing fully. In succeeding chapters, she tells readers how difficult writing really is, but you have to just do it, and do it "bird by bird", as her father advised her brother who was agonizing about doing a paper about birds due the next day.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11

Japan on my mind

We all gasped in horror in the newsroom last Friday (March 11) as the first videos were aired on CNN showing huge waves racing toward ricefields, the runways at Sendai airport, and homes. Cars were swept away, and bobbed up and down, the same way they did during Typhoon Ondoy.
I remember my Japanese sister-in-law Tomie saying that almost every building in Japan is earthquake-proof. This is the reason why there was no extensive structural damage in Tokyo and other areas.

But the tsunami was something else. What happened in Sendai just goes to show man is powerless against a tsunami.

Since that Friday over a week ago (March 11), I have been thinking of Japan. It's such a beautiful country with wonderful people.

May God help the people of Japan rise over this tragedy. And may the people of Japan acknowledge that though it may be hard to understand, God is in control and Lord over the whole earth.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: For my birthday last January, my mom gave me a paperback copy of Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. I missed seeing the movie version of this in cinemas, so I looked forward to reading the book. I still have 100 pages to go to finish the book, though. The concept is good: a young woman embarks on a yearlong project to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Somehow though, Julie & Julia the book hasn't intrigued me enough to the point that I want to finish the book in 3 days. It's been weeks and I'm still reading it, a few pages a day. Verdict so far: The movie (which I caught on HBO recently) is more interesting.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm." ~ Psalm 75:3

Cheering with Chile

Like many people around the world, I couldn't take my eyes off the TV as CNN showed live footage of the rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean miners yesterday.

And today, I have been glued to CNN for almost 2 hours now since waking up, waiting with the rest of the world for miner number 30 to come up from the bowels of the earth.

What a great story of faith, perseverance, unity, selflessness! Anyone trapped for more than 60 days in a dark place would have gone nuts but these men have shown courage and unwavering faith in God that He will provide a way out.

"I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit." Psalm 30:1-3