METAPHORICALLY, WE ARE already soaked in water with all the typhoons that have affected us. But do we really have to blame landslides, floods turning streets into dirty rivers, and claiming lives to a natural occurrence?
It’s typhoon season once again. According to PAGASA, the peak is from July to October each year. And from today, we can expect 11 to 19 more tropical cyclones until the end of 2025.
Historically, typhoon Gloring on July 18, 1972 called The Great Luzon Flood, was followed by three more intermittent rainstorms. Typhoons Glenda on July 9, 2014 and Carina that started on July 22, 2024 were just few of those which we have survived.
We are all vulnerable to the effects of typhoons, but there are a lot of preparations that we can do to protect ourselves. It’s not raining everyday. Make wise use of the sunny days, especially if you are a government official who has the power and the means to create change and make proper improvements on the lives of others. To use that power for your own personal gain is criminal. When you do that, then you have no right to be in that position.
FOREST DEGRADATION
Recently, there have been photographs going around social media about forest degradation all over Sierra Madre, Mount Banahaw, Mount Makiling, and so many more places in the country. Those who are responsible for these never really care causing destruction to their fellowmen. Find ways to make those who are accountable pay for what they have caused. If those illegal activities continue, we are all doomed! It must be stopped!
Humans have the capacity to create solutions against everything that puts life in danger. When will we ever be tough enough to demand responsibility and accountability?
And when will we ever take part of the blame for having contributed to this age-old problem everytime there is a storm in the country? Have we made an effort to help avoid the causes of flood and landslide, all the things we could keep away from happening?
INTEGRITY IN WORSE TIMES
It seems like we haven’t seen the worst to learn our lessons. There’s Ondoy, there’s Yolanda. What more are we waiting for? Enough praising resilience during typhoons, waiting for ayuda of noodles and sardines.
Let us show integrity by refusing to be subjects for minimal tokens for popularity. Level up the choice of government officials.
Why do most people keep electing those who do nothing to improve our lives as Filipinos?
A big WHY?
DON’T BLAME NATURE
Puyog is a Tagalog term that means basang-basa or drenched.
Let us be careful not to get wet but stay dry to see the problem clearly. Be part of the solution in our very own households and neighborhood, not to mention managing everyday garbage.
Typhoons have inherent risks, but humans can do something to improve the outcome.
Never blame nature, but those who put our lives in danger and those who do nothing. Let us not sit still!
(Gem Suguitan is a journalist, a contemporary artist, and a cultural worker. She is a lecturer on various topics on local culture and the arts. She can be reached at kulturatsining1857@gmail.com)