Coffee Thursdays...
Returning to crisis
I left Iloilo City on the aftermath of the Typhoon Frank. Months had passed and returning home leaves a bleak shadow of the calamity that once stirred the Ilonggo spirit. Living in Jaro and walking in the streets of the city no longer remind us of the very day when the roads were flooded with mud and water knee high. People seemed to move on with their lives with only a few reminders of government posters thanking each other for the job they are meant to do in the event of crisis.
When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters -- one represents danger and the other represents opportunity. Thus, the lesson of the tragedy always poses a situation, to choose on how we see or react depending on our desires.
Another thing I have observed is the emergence of the celebrated fame of Iloilo government endorsers. The streets fill the public figures with commercial appeal as they juggle their positions being the "Batchoy king", "Chicken girl" and "Mr. Laundry Man". I personally think this is inappropriate on how a government official is somehow related and involved with a private commercial business. Well, they surely gave a new approach to a good old adage: to the people, for the people and "buy" the people.
I can only talk about my personal view and I wish to draw insight in the good side of things. Helen Keller once said: "To see the positive way is a gift," and I couldn't agree any better. I truly salute the determination of the Ilonggos who stand up amidst the challenges of yesterday as strong people who always look to the future with integrity and pride.
Let us focus on the moral lesson the tragedy has put before us. Firstly, Mother Nature is asking us on what we owe to her. She has endowed us with all the resources we need but we continually abused it, and now we are receiving the outcome of our negligence and selfishness to our environment. Secondly, the government should be prepared anytime in state of crisis. Evacuation centers and operations should be planned beforehand and not act on it only if the situation calls. Lastly, individual responsibility is of primary concern; let us instill upon ourselves on what we can do to protect our earth in these very times of need and to our government so we can help each other for implementation of public welfare.
Returning home remains an ambivalent feeling of wanting so much, doing so little and thinking a lot. It leaves me this thought to ponder; I already know and experienced enough to begin and to cope with all the problems and concerns that are now confronting our society, our daily life and much of the rest of the world. Today, our crisis is not crisis information but perhaps it is a crisis of decision of policy and of action.
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