Eye Opener
The day typhoon Frank wrecked havoc in Iloilo
Nature's wrath wrecked havoc to 42 towns, two cities in Iloilo and Western Visayas provinces on June 21. According to the confession of many Iloilo mayors over the airlanes, the destruction of Typhoon Frank was massive and catastrophic all over their towns for the first time in 50 years! Even San Rafael town situated on top of the mountain and above sea level was flooded. The town of Pavia about 12 kilometers from the city was the most affected as the tributary streams coming from big rivers in central Iloilo unleashed its fury in the town covering almost all barangays. Rescue volunteers failed to promptly respond to people in rooftops, atop buses in terminal area, flooded homes and treetops due to impassable roads, damaged bridges and 6 to 8 feet high polluted water on highways. Dozens of elderly persons and children including women were missing and were believed carried by the rushing flood. In Tigbauan, over 12 fishermen went down with their fishing boats in deep Parara waters where the liberating 61st Infantry Regiment landed on March 18, 1945. Four local radio stations reported that as of late Sunday evening, over 600 people reportedly died, about 100 persons missing and close to 200,000 people took shelter in evacuation centers in public schools in the city and 42 towns. Sea-like scenario in rich ricefields of Iloilo including corn were completely damaged and about P3 billion was the total estimate of Agriculture and DPWH officials in Iloilo. Statistics released by government spokesperson stated that as of Monday noon, 20,718 houses were partially damaged; 20,037 houses completely damaged. There were 44,708 families in the evacuation centers. The data on dead, missing and persons in hospitals were still partial but more victims are reported unaccounted for.
Nights before typhoon Frank hit Iloilo and the rest of Western Visayas, people were reportedly seen feasting and doing all sorts of worldly acts abominable to God. Despite the typhoon warning of Pag-asa days before the forthcoming disaster, people did not heed the warning. Many Christians were reminiscent of what happened to wicked people in Noah's time. Genesis 6:5-7: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts on his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man whom I have created from the face of the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them."
In the June 21 tragedy, hundreds of cattle, pigs, chickens, and livestocks went down with human beings in the swirling flood reminiscent of the flood in Noah's time. Is the recent disaster a stern warning to people that unless they sincerely look up to God and do away with their wicked ways, then the Lord will spare our city and country for future disaster?
There is no denying that all mayors were all out in helping their affected constituents. Even acting City Mayor Jed Mabilog has done a wonderful job. Vice Pres. Noli De Castro, Senator Mar Roxas, Health Secretary Francisco Duque and other Malacañang officials were in Iloilo City Monday morning to assuage the deep suffering of typhoon victims in Iloilo, Panay, Guimaras and Negros Occidental. Our government officials should lead the crusade against graft and corruption in the government so that in times of calamity like this, funds will be made available to help our distressed countrymen. Many kind hearted Ilonggos trooped to three radio stations Bombo Radyo, Aksyon Radyo and RMN with used clothes, rice, groceries, money, and other merchandise to alleviate the deep sufferings of victims in the Iloilo flood.