Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras said I dont think it is an acid test of this administration. This is an acid test of the Filipino people. Well, I beg to disagree. Filipinos have overcome countless calamities and tragedies, whether man-made or not, and they will also overcome Yolanda and other storms in the horizon. No more tests needed. We have (literally) nothing left to prove. However, I dare say that this is an acid test of PNoys Daang Matuwid campaign because what is the use of a straight path if its flooded with water, and littered with debris and dead bodies, and nobodys cleaning them up. What good is a Teflon president if hes ill-prepared for disasters that test a presidents mettle? I know we should try to help more and criticize less under the circumstances. And, in our own small way, we (Da Big Hearts foundation) did a survey of the damage in the northern towns of Cebu and in Bantayan island THE morning after the storm had passed, and since then weve been organizing relief efforts and medical mission for those places. Now, if we could do that, shouldnt we expect more from the government with its vast resources? Or should we just accept the fact that our national coffers are depleted of calamity funds coz they have been looted by the likes of Napoles and her cohorts? Its so easy for some people, like House Speaker Belmonte, to condemn the looting in Leyte, yet they turn a blind eye to the excruciatingly slow government response and selective assistance. It took 4 days before the president declared a state of calamity, which wouldve sped up the much-needed emergency relief supplies. If we dont call out their ineptness and inefficiency, we might as well live in Somalia where theres no functioning national government. The criticisms from highly-respected international journalists of the BBC and CNN are well-founded because theyve been to Haiti and other 3rd world countries, and theyve been doing live news coverage in Tacloban for several days; a few were even there before the mega typhoon struck land. They have witnessed the destruction, the chaos, the survivors, and the dead, and theyve smelled the overwhelming stench of death all around them. Its sickening. Its disgusting. But what the survivors and journalists havent seen yet is an organized form of rescue and relief operations. Where is our government? is the unanswered cry for help. It IS heartbreaking to watch the survivors having to sleep on the sidewalks under makeshift roofs, next to the dead bodies of their kin and neighbors. And the only available light comes from burning tires. Some of them have yet to recover from the trauma and devastation left by last months 7.2M quake. Perhaps the continuing aftershocks serve as a reminder, to the rest of us, of their struggles to survive, to rebuild their homes and communities. When all is said and done, and when the dust settles, I hope we all realize not just the destructive effects of super typhoons and global warming in general, but also how the unabated corruption exacerbates the tragic aftermath. I hope we choose our leaders wisely next time. I hope our government will be more proactive in dealing with the nations problems. That said, I continue to have faith in the Filipino people. That a better tomorrow is in our future, hopefully in our lifetimes. Bangon na Pilipinas!
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:23:08 +0000
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