Weder weder lang

How difficult it is these days for authorities and what they all have to deal with, all the issues that present themselves and the way every juan perceives all that is going on. I wish to deal in this story the calamity we all have witnessed in recent days. Many have pointed a finger or two at someone or some government agency but never at themselves. Cancellation of work and suspension of classes are being made major issues. Not to mention also the way MEDIA highlights all these in favor of a few and not the majority of the general public. Election is definitely in the air.

All these grumblings going on seem to make people believe that these agencies or personalities are not doing anything. But then we all fail to realize that while we point a finger at others, there are three other fingers pointing back at us.

So who’s to blame? One official publicly blamed the dikes and the manner it was made, another one blamed the release of water from dams, while some actually blamed GARBAGE. Didn’t those dikes and dams serve their purpose but the amount of rain was simply too much? If this is the way we think, we might as well blame PAGASA for not declaring it a storm rather than a monsoon. We can also blame the wind pattern because it should just have gone extreme north of the country so as not to hit NCR and all other low lying areas that surround it. Maybe we just blame it all on CONGRESS… why? Because of the RH bill the CBCP said, in all their sermons, that trouble will befall us. Even the bible’s account of the Great Flood in the book of Genesis chapter 8, verses 7-12, was coined to appear coincidentally as the date of the flooding, 8-7-12. Hahaha it just gets crazy and crazier by the minute with the way “some” think.

There is always a reason for everything. Government agencies made all these decisions because it had to be. Even PAGASA did not say it was a storm because it really was not. Definitely there will be flood because all passageways are clogged by squatters and garbage. While the election is nearing, you might have noticed that even in the tightest eskinitas in the smallest barangay gets a facelift with the politician’s faces plastered beside the project. It makes me wonder why the maintenance of roads is more a priority than the drainage, sewerage or canals. Isn’t it obvious enough that during the rainy season every year, we have these problems? But politicians would rather focus on aesthetic projects that can obviously be seen by all in plain sight. And equally hard headed constituents would even have the guts to say “sanay na kami”, instead of doing something to prevent the same scenario from happening. Didn’t “Ondoy” and “Peping” teach us anything? While there was a declaration of NO CLASSES in the flooded areas, I was dumbfounded to hear DILG Sec. Robriedo ordering the same for Benguet. How could that be? But what amazes me even more was the submission to such order. Shouldn’t the Governor just have politely declined the order and explain that even PAGASA said his region is not affected? I’m glad that the City Mayor did otherwise. We already had our share of much heavier rain the week earlier.

In the news it showed some people laughed at those who wanted to leave their homes early in the day. Is this the way we are as a people? We once scoffed at the Americans when they left Subic and Clark right before Pinatubo erupted. In the end of the day who was laughing? I ask we all change our ways, the way we react and speak, especially in times of need. We are a nation of “OAs” and hypocrites. Oh by the way if ever you don’t see the Leader during these times, he is working. Those you see instead are just “pa pogi”, leave that to the artistas. Just like the general, he is never to be seen in the battlefield. Rest assured he is surely doing something to the benefit of everyone. How unfortunate it would be for rescuers to rescue the very person who is supposed to be taking charge.

Politicians being in troubled areas causes disruption of operations because MEDIA would want a photo op and an interview. In closing, may I suggest that at times like this, and as a mere citizen of the community, just do what you can on your own small way. Save yourself first then the others around you. Prepare hot soup if you may or share a blanket or two.

These small and simple things will be more appreciated than the plastic bags of goods with names or faces you’re expected to remember in the polls. As long as I see those around me are safe, warm and well, I know I have done something significant. One does not have to be elected to bein a position to serve his community.