Selfless and heroic acts

At least 20 typhoons or tropical storms pass by our country each year, but up to now every typhoon that hits this land, strong or weak, still catches the government unprepared and unable to act promptly. Tropical storm “Ondoy” just underscored this point even more. It has superlatively shown that our government lacks any concrete plan of action but merely reacts to meet any contingencies arising from such occurrences. Imagine the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) still in a closed door meeting as the raging storm wreaks havoc on lives and properties of millions of Filipinos? This is the real disaster.

What is expected of the NDCC and its regional and local counterparts is to just have some sort of disaster preparedness — to quickly mobilize equipment for rescue operations and to immediately provide relief for disaster victims. But in this latest disaster considered the worst in 40 years the equipment were few and far between and the reliefs too little and too late. In fact up to now, some victims remain stranded and living under precarious and inhuman conditions, while others have not been provided any relief at all.

It may really be humanly impossible to prevent the occurrence of natural disasters. Short of divine intervention through man’s supplication, they are bound to happen. But man’s prayers will only be effective if man himself has done his part by taking good care of nature so as not to incur its ire. With this latest manifestation of nature’s wrath and fury which appears to have increased in intensity, it is obvious that our prayers are not that effective anymore since we have not done our part for them to be answered.

It is undeniable that climate change is the cause of storm Ondoy. And climate change on the other hand is likewise undeniably due to years of unchecked illegal logging, indiscriminate and unrestricted mining of our natural resources, denudation of our forests, lack of pollution control, clogging of waterways by factories and informal settlers and their garbage and other chemical waste, undisciplined disposal of trash and the like. Obviously our government agencies have been remiss in adopting measures and enforcing rules and regulations to stop all these destructive acts. Ondoy is therefore a simple warning that if these assaults on nature and environment continue, its wrath is even more destructive the next time soon.

On the positive side, Ondoy has shown that Filipinos can cope with emergencies much better when they do not rely too much or simply do not rely at all on the government. People in the private sector once more displayed that rare spirit of voluntarism and unity amidst adversity with the media on the lead virtually taking over the government’s function. Various media outfits immediately set up their own rescue and relief operations that became effective vehicles for people to pool and share their efforts and resources in helping fellow Filipinos affected by the devastating storm. Their workers and volunteers were first on the disaster sites distributing relief goods and providing the vital information for rescue work and actually preventing further loss of lives and properties.

The sight and the experience were awe-inspiring indeed. When the typhoon unleashed its worst, the Filipinos gave out their best. An 18-year-old boy, Muelmar Magallanes braved the raging currents to save the lives of 30 people including his family and neighbors. He was already worn down by exhaustion and should have rested but he still gave his last ounce of strength to save a six-year-old child until he himself was swept away by currents. The same was true of Army Pfc. Venancio Ancheta who was able to save 20 lives of residents in Famy Laguna until he was swept away by raging flood waters. Other army men who died in the midst of rescue operation were Cpl. Adriano Regua, Joel Hernalin, Erineo Olaguer, Florencio Dequino and Pedro Falcon.

Even NGOs and their members have shown selfless acts of humanitarianism and heroism. In our village in Ayala Heights, the village association and residents led by Moppet Gonzales, Maricar Castillo and Nina Puyat organized themselves and distributed relief goods in Pasig.

Notable among the NGOs for their consistency in quickly extending help to the victims are the Rotary Clubs. In Quezon City, the 92 Rotary Clubs of District 3780 with their ”hands on” Presidents under Governor Dulce Coyukiat immediately mobilized their members and resources to extend assistance to the residents of the hardest hit Barangay Bagong Silangan last September 30, 2009. Rotarians in the PNP, Gen. Sammy Pagdilao and Col Johnny Yu directed the relief operations while Assistant Governor Joel Guillermo and Club Presidents Ed Zuluaga, Boon Onchoco, Bit Froilan and Butch Madarang took charge of soliciting, checking, packing and distributing the relief goods. As early as Sunday, September 27, 2009, the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights led by District Governor Elect Jess Cifra, already undertook relief and rescue operations somewhere in Cainta. The same with the Rotary Club of Cubao West spearheaded by Past Presidents Tito Yuquimpo and Jojo Bernardo and Director Max Tan who collected and distributed relief goods to victims in various disaster areas. 

Rotary’s involvement is not however confined to extending rescue and relief after a disaster. It has also embarked on a project that will eventually prevent the occurrence of disasters of such magnitude by helping government in environmental awareness and protection, and in the sustainable management and development of the country’s natural resources. This is the RotaTREE Planting Project. Past District Governor Lyne A. Abanilla explained that the project will help mitigate, in a modest way, global warming and climate change. The Philippine Rotary will actively help in greening of the country by systematic replacement of fallen trees and restoration of planted trees. The DENR will designate the suitable areas for tree planting and provide the seedlings while Rotary will assist in implementation of the project.

And so yesterday, October 1, 2009, the ten Philippine District Governors Ding San Diego, Dulce Coyukiat, Oyan Villanueva, Rudy San Felipe, Connie Beltran, Chit Lijauco, Sid Garcia, Ed Sy, Tony Veneracion and Bing Juarez signed the MOA with the DENR and had a ceremonial tree planting at the Protected Areas and Wildlife in QC.

With these selfless and heroic acts of Filipinos, our country’s future therefore still looks bright despite our politics and politicians. 

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