The Aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy (Philippines)

The aftermath of typhoon Ondoy left us with hundreds of people dead and missing. Millions of pesos has been accounted for damages and Metro Manila will never be the same again. This was, so far, the most tragic flash flood in Manila for decades now. But the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy is not really the damages it has done to our infrastructures and, in my opinion (not to be insensitive to those whose loved ones has perished), not even the death toll. The aftermath of this disaster is more on how it changes us and how others react to it.

I’ll be writing below some of the things I think was affected by this typhoon:

Spirituality
I would say that this is the first thing that is affected by this disaster. Every disaster that happens to human is a test of his faith in the spirituality he stand on. For some, they would rather curse God for what happened. Can we really blame God? Well, I cannot blame others who blames God…most peple blame God if they cannot blame anyone with the bad things that are happening to them. But in my personal experience, although I haven’t experienced having a loved one died in a tragic event and I’m not even hoping, I believe that most tragic event in our lives are caused by people too. On the contrary, tragedies like this does reminds us of God and we can either strenghten our faith in Him or curse Him and die.

Attitude
I have read a comment in Facebook about a woman who said that there are a lot of sinners in our country that is why this happened (attached picture). What she forgot was that there were also children who were affected by the flood, and worst was children who did not survive. Yesterday, in the clean up operation they have discovered a child covered with mud, cold dead. Can you really say that things like this happens only to sinners? Did God break His promise not to wipe out human beings with flood because of their sins? I don’t think so. But tragedies like this can change attitudes. It can make you or break you! Attitude, in the first place, is how you look at something or someone. If you have a positive outlook in life then probably you will have a positive and optimistic attitude on this. However, if you have a negative outlook in life then you will be like this lady who just cursed everyone in the Philippines.

Government
With the 2010 Election coming, a tragedy like this that happened in the middle of the election circus can be an opportnity for most officials running for presidency to show people how much they “care”…that is if they really care. Take for example the photo here that has a small note that says: “Tulong galing kay…” (”Help from…”). Well, if you really want to help do you really need to announce to everyone that you are helping? Did not Christ said not to let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. For God rewards OPENLY those who does good things in SECRET. Don’t get me wrong. Before Noynoy Aquino announced that he will run for president in the 2010 election I was going to vote for Manny Villar. I am not against Manny Villar…I am against those politicians who are using tragedies like this for their own benefits. When will they stop using the Filipinos for their own benefit that they may consume them with their lust.

Bayanihan
But then again, the Philippines is not all about corruption! In midst of every tragedy (in the past and even in the future), the Filipinos will be like bamboos who may bend but will never break. Like bamboos, when put together, we show our strength in times like this. We extend our hands to help to people where help seem hopeless. We can still laugh at our calamity making us the happiest people on earth based on studies. In this time of crisis we, the Filipino people, always rise above the waters and many unsung heroes are made