Advance copy. Dec. 5, 2013 The Capiz Times Point & Counterpoint Buaya Behind Yolanda Virgilio Clavel Yolanda, perhaps the world’s strongest typhoon in history, has brought the best and worst in us. Just as fast as the wind was, meat went in and came out as fish---Yolanda’s victims hoodwinked by food aid handlers. What a shame! Left over tin cans are the best form of evidence; “inodoros”, the indispensable witnesses. Thus, garbage collectors and plumbers may well serve our purpose for the time being. Brutz Banderas, anu “pusnga” sang dragon naman da sa inyo? Pakan-on na sa palad, tukbon pa ang siko. May mga tampalasan gid man sa aton: ginhold-up nila ang nagbulig sa pagpatindog o pagbangon sang mga Capisnon. Sa Brgy. Tanque natabo. May kinawatan pa sila lap top sa isa man ka dumuloong. Ikadahua na bala nga pagpangawat lap top ini sa sulod mismo sang provincial capitol, Brutz Banderas? Character reveals itself in times of great crisis. My high respect for those Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who, through their kins/parents here in Capiz, directly distributed relief goods to hardly-hit barangays. OFW’s relief goods were the early help received by typhoon victims. I also commend Pres. Noynoy Aquino when he promised that food packs will come to Capiz in two to three days. The food packs did come, 4,000 packs for the first batch, and 1,200 for the 2nd batch. Unfortunately, the provincial and city governments started giving food aids after the aforementioned food packs from the Department of Social Welfare & Development office arrived. May palabra-de-honor ka nga Noynoy. Mr. Pres., pakisilip naman sa city government. Kinaltasan pa ng tax ang pag-release ng calamity fund. Presidente ka namin, Liberal partmates man o hindi. Sabihin mo lang kung tama o mali ito, maniniwala kami. A true President does not lie to his people. If my memory serves me right, the provincial and city governments distributed food packs taken from their respective calamity funds on or about November 13. In one barangay, daw bokbok na nga bugas ginpanghatag sang isa ka official from thw city government. Daw wala sini kabalo si Mayor Celino? Sa Brgy. Cagay, expired nga sardinas rason nga nagkatol kag naghabok an bibig sang isa ka tigulang. Sa Brgy Lonoy or San Jose bala adto nga hambal sang typhoon victim, “mabaho ang bugas kag indi nag id makaon sang sapat.” Ginluto na lang nila kag ginpakaon sa lais nga baboy. “Bastos sila”, mulay sang nakabati! There were also inspiring stories worth telling. I was touched by the simple story of a cultural worker, whose house was flattened during the height of the typhoon, hid himself under a wooden structure for safety. But when called by a superior to help in disaster operations, he enlisted as volunteer. He left his family, also victims, and responded beyond the call of duty. In any undertaking, in war and in peace, in crisis and in good times, no one can beat the “heart of a volunteer.” The famous French legion knows this. By the way, I am grateful to the men and women, including the on-the-job trainees, of the Capiz Provincial Tourism & Cultural Office, for a wonderful memory you displayed two or more days after Yolanda’s wrecked havoc. People’s character tends to chart one’s own destiny. It also safe-keeps the honor of a community. Respect and responsibility are always shaped by character, an inside-out disposition toward that elusive quest for humanity, together with its ennobling values and principles. I’m anxious some Capisnons had already gone from bad to worst. Wala na sila pag-isigkatawu, nalimtan na ang patugsiling, and pagkakulang sa pinaniiran. I do not play “god” when I write my column. By choice, I hate to act this role—even if speaking on behalf of the voiceless, exploited and oppressed Capisnons. Si Yolanda lumayo na, ang mga buwaya nandidito pa rin. But as old folk would say, if God closes a door, He opens a window. John Gabriel aptly put it in a song: “Stand, stand, be counted unite. Like birds rising on flight. Soar high, up up high in the sky. Tindog Capisnon, subong. Kag balikdon puod naton. Nga may paglaum. Ginbugayan ka, O Capisnon. Ikaw pinili sang Diyos makakagahum. Kay kadamo sang mga nasyon. Katimbang sa pagtindog naton. To the foreign nationals and international agencies that helped us, my sincerest gratitude! Thank you for the charity of your people. May God bless your nations even more. God bless us all!
Posted on: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 06:46:12 +0000
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