Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy) let loose on Metro Manila a record setting 13.4 inches or rain in just 6 hours. In less than 12 hours, most of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces went under water and the lives of more than a million people were re-written.
The waters have, by now, receded to allow everyone to slowly go back to their houses and start rebuilding. The government, on the other hand, is contending with total damages that the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) pegged at P2.3 billion.
Amidst all the tragedies and sad stories in the news, there are stories of heroism and bayanihan. They say the Filipinos are a resilient people and they are right. In the middle of all the destruction and death, different persons from all walks of life rose up to the challenge and become heroes in their own right.
We hear about Judge Ralph Lee of Regional Trial Court Branch 83 rescuing about a hundred of his fellow citizens riding his jet ski. There is also a super swimmer Muelmar Magallanes who braved the rampaging currents to save 30 souls and, in the end, gave up his own life while saving a baby floating on a piece of styrofoam.
There were those who were right in the middle of the action. And then there were the volunteers across the metro and across the nation who have helped and is helping bring together all the goods that everyone affected badly need.
Student leaders took upon themselves to set up ad-hoc “command centers” receiving information on who needs rescuing and sending the advisory out to the government agencies involved in the search and rescue efforts.
The internet was awash with everything and anything about the flooding in Metro Manila. The world watched and the world is now listening to the Filipinos’ call for help.
Google helped set up a dedicated page complete with a map marked with information on who are still stranded by the high waters. Facebook became the de facto communication medium for everyone. Status updates became calls for help or information on who to call or text if anyone needs rescuing.
A lot can be done and anyone can do something, anything.
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That’s the title of an article I wrote during one of our Journalism classes. I submitted that article to our teacher hoping that maybe, just maybe, it’s going to be published in one of the local papers here in Davao City.
Last night, my teacher sent me an email telling me that she sent my article for review to one of the papers here. She also told me to make sure that I buy a copy of that paper today (Sunday). I did not buy a copy but I did check the online version of today’s paper.
Lo and behold! I did get published. My article really got published! This is just so awesome!
It was a lazy and boring Sunday for me and this was a great way to end the day!
My big thanks to Ma’am Gem, my Journalism teacher and to Sun Star Davao for according me the privilege of having my write-up printed.
Scratch one off from my bucket list.
Click this link to check out my article.
William Wallace led his fellow Scots in a rebellion against English rule back in the 13th century. They all fought for freedom. The shout over the fields of Scotland was always about freedom. We are all in the 21st century now and I shout freedom.
My name is Roark Masbad. I am thirty years old. I am still in college. And this is the story of how things came to be.
It was a cool Monday morning. My father was driving our maroon 1979 Mitsubishi Lancer on our way to Kabacan for another week of high school studies at the University of Southern Mindanao. About 10 minutes into the drive, my father broke the silence and said that he wants me to enroll at the home of the Blue Eagles – his alma mater. I, of course, objected to the idea. I wanted to enroll at Ateneo de Davao. He insisted. And much like any other son, I obeyed. And much like any other son, I rebelled.
I did not finish one year at Ateneo de Manila even though I knew I could. I squandered my time there and spent needlessly the money my parents poured into my college education. I transferred to Ateneo de Davao where, at last, I was home. At least I thought I was and I spoke too soon. Before I even realized it, I was already careening down the side of the “be-a-rebel” mountain.
I wasted away three years in Ateneo de Davao. I shifted from one course to another and managed to flunk most of my subjects too. And so I went back home to Kidapawan and enrolled at Notre Dame of Kidapawan. And there, it became worse. After about 4 years of being a Notre Damean, I got fed up with school. I did not want to go to class anymore. I thought that school was nothing more than a nuisance in life.
The year was 2004 and for eight years I was a prisoner of my own making. My peers paid little attention to me. I did not earn their respect and may not be able to at all. I moved to Makati and got a job at a business process outsourcing company. I excelled. I moved up the corporate ladder. And yet, it wasn’t enough. I had the admiration of people but still not the respect.
Finally, I realized that I needed my degree. I needed to finish college. I needed to graduate. I needed to march up to the stage and claim my diploma. Two years ago, I left my high-paying job in Makati and came back home. Three semesters ago, I enrolled myself and became a student again.
My name is Roark Masbad. I am thirty years old. I am still in college. And I will be free.
Photo credits to www.pcij.org
1986 Time Magazine Woman of the Year
1986 Nobel Peace Prize nominee
1999 One of Time Magazine’s 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
2006 One of Time Magazine’s 65 Asian Heroes
Mother.
Housewife.
Leader.
The Philippines thanks you Tita Cory.
My fellow bloggers, I’m inviting you to tie a yellow ribbon for Cory Aquino as a tribute.
I’m not really sure if it’s called pochero. it’s the first name that came to my mind when i pulled this out of the fridge along with the pancake.
It’s what i had for dinner. Weird? Or not?
Kainan na! Southern style!
Dinner
