Playing with Fire
Grim reminder
By Gonzalo Duque
THE tragedy that crushed Metro Manila is a grim reminder about our temporary existence.
Imagine two friends were earlier enjoying themselves in a Jollibee joint only to find themselves clinging to dear life minutes later due to the sudden rise of rampaging waters somewhere in Cainta, Rizal.
And there’s the very sad report about a national sport official (Tony Chua) who moments earlier was negotiating the road back to his home also in Rizal when an unusually strong current and rising flood waters forced him and his two companions to step out of the car and decide to just walk towards home, where his family was anxiously waiting.
You, who have been reading the papers and watching television, must have known what happened to Tony and his companion. Desperately trying to save themselves from the threatening flood, Tony started to climb a tree nearby to avoid being engulfed by the angry waters, but unfortunately got hit by an onrushing truck whose driver must have missed him because of the blinding rain. Tony died moments later.
This much talked-about global climate change is very frightening indeed as shown by the Metro Manila tragedy last week. The portrait of havoc, dirt, anger, hate, neglect, helplessness, and all that colossal reversal of what must have been should be a clear warning to all especially those with pretension for invincibility. We soon realize how vulnerable we all are!
Is God angry? Mother Nature, for sure, is. But are not God and Mother Nature one and the same? Of course, we have only ourselves to blame. We have abused Mother Nature, we have dumped our wastes everywhere, we have cut down trees, we have been violating all laws against, yes, Mother Nature. There are no more watersheds. Our trees, where have they gone? Nothing would hold the rainwater anymore. You all saw what happened to Ormoc. What happened last week to Metro Manila was Ormoc Part 2. More, God forbid, would happen similarly.
Hindi tayo nagiingat. Kaya ang daming namamatay!
Yong di dapat mangyari, nangyayari, kasi there was something wrong somewhere.
Lucky we are in Pangasinan, at least, for the moment, we were spared, thank God really. We can only commiserate with the families of the unlucky 240 or more victims who died at the height of Typhoon Ondoy. As we said these are times that try men’s souls.
It behooves upon all of us, therefore, to listen to the little voice in our hearts. Yes, our conscience. Have we been fair with Our Maker? Have we done our part? Or have we been taking God for granted? We are inclined to believe the latter. The scientists have given it a palatable but fearful name “global climate change.” In our view it’s nothing but Mother Nature’s wrath. Because we didn’t know how to take care of her.
Just like in the familiar warning, “beware of a woman scorned.” Galit na si Mama Mary. Galit ang Mother Nature. Galit ang God. They all mean the same. We have destroyed our environment. And now it is getting back at us. Okay, sabi nila, magdasal tayo. Yan ang hirap, magdadasal lang tayo kung naaawa na tayo sa ating sarili.
Well, just the same, let us pray because God in his all-knowing wisdom might still pity us. Just be sure you won’t backslide to the old ways of hurting the environment. It’s your very life that will pay the grave cost of disobedience.
We want to do our share to help mitigate the sufferings of those who were severely affected by Typhoon Ondoy. We have asked Ging Cardinoza, manager of Aksyon Radyo, to enlist our school, Lyceum Northwestern U and the Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan to start Project Compassion to receive donations in money or in kind which we shall send to the typhoon victims. Two Rotary presidents — Ashok Vasandani of Central Pangasinan and Jun Velasco of Metro Cubao — have ok’d their participation in this endeavour. How about you, people? Get in touch.
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Congratulations to Dr. Lucy Honrado, president of the Pangasinan Dental Society, for winning “the best chapter president” in the recent national dental association convention. Lucy also got another award. Her chapter also was the best nationwide. When she was president of the Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan she was also outstanding president and led an outstanding club. Hmmm, man blowout ka la sirin, Lucy!
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