the longest journey begins with a single step

Even after a week already passed, everything still appears surreal to me.  Since I was (still am) not there when this disaster happened and didn’t (still don’t) have TFC, I mainly relied on the internet for news and updates. I never thought social networking sites could not only be a ‘boredom-alleviator’ but also a good source of news and easiest/fastest way of communicating. To sum up all the news I collected from different sites; 80% of Mega Manila was submerged in flood, leaving millions of Pinoys in ‘world of mud’ (as Time Magazine puts it), and displacing thousands and killing hundreds of people.  Some call it as ‘great equalizer’ because it didn’t spare even rich who seem indestructible. Poor, rich, common people, celebrities, even politicians were affected by it. Although I wasn’t there and my family wasn’t actually affected by it, which I’m very thankful for by the way, still, I was anxious and distraught about the whole thing. One couldn’t see that kind of devastation and not feel a twinge of sympathy and anxiety. All the more I felt that way when I learned that some of my friends’ houses were flooded, some totally ravaged. This experience didn’t just leave some of them broke, but also traumatized.

I heard floodwater hasn’t subsided in some places even though more than a week has passed. As horrifying this whole scenario is; there are great lessons and realizations can be drawn from it. This serves a reminder of how we’ve been mistreating the environment…A wake up call so to speak. This horrendous event impels us to make conscious efforts to take care of the environment and save the planet.

This devastating typhoon brings out the heroes in us. Every pinoy I know here and back home wanted to help…and actually did help…ordinary people who are willing to do extraordinary things. The outpouring kindness and generosity pinoy exhibited inspired not only the nation, but the entire world.

And above all, it shows us that life is indeed fragile. It just proves how fleeting worldly possessions are. Everything can be gone in snap. Everything we have worked for can be figuratively and literally be washed away easily. It makes us realize on what really matters in life…and what matters most is life itself.