Learning to live again

Tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, tornadoes, plagues, revolutions, etc. do not spare any nation from the Polar Regions, the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. Weather patterns are changing dramatically. The ocean currents are changing as the Earth’s magnetic fields shift about. These occurrences have a historical and scientific basis in the continuing evolution of the planet so things are bound to change.

A deep-seated feeling of helplessness

Rita Hayworth’s cousin-in-law, the former High Commissioner Khan of the United Nations Refugee Program, was running for the position of Director General of UNESCO in 1987 when I was in the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris. Having handled the refugee problems for almost 20 years, he shared with me several books he wrote on the plight of various refugees all over the world. According to him, the world population has undergone a tremendous change because of the movement of refugees, not just those fleeing from war, but people deprived of their economic freedom and victims of natural calamities as well. They have one thing in common, the deep-seated feeling of helplessness for having lost their loved ones, their homes and livelihood. Efforts to make them “whole again” generally consisted of helping them reintegrate in their new communities.

The Bataan Refugee Center is a sample United Nations settlement. Driven away from their own countries by a war that lasted almost 20 years, Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians were evacuated here by the United Nations. However, the major activities here were focused on the literacy program. The main lesson was “how to live again”, and the secondary lesson was to learn the customs and speak the language of the land where they would be repatriated. The Philippines was successful in providing these refugees a second language competency (ESL) to help them survive in their place of resettlement. But it was in Hong Kong that they learned the basic skills necessary to be able to start living again. Hong Kong Christian Aid to Refugees (HKCAR), a local organization funded by the United Nations then, was responsible for the vocational and technical training of the refugees.

Depression in 61 barangays, 16 evacuation centers and 4 resettlement sites

Dr. Patricia Licuanan and her research staff from the Ateneo Human Resource Center have assessed the morale depression of 61 barangays, 16 evacuation centers and four resettlement sites in the four lahar devastated provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan (including one resettlement site in Nueva Ecija). Funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), this extensive report concludes that the Mt Pinatubo settlers are suffering from a deep-seated neurosis of “learned helplessness.”

“Learned helplessness” is a state in which a person feels that his/her actions have no influence on outcomes. It is caused by uncontrollable events and is associated with depressions and passivity. “Learned helplessness” is widespread in evacuation centers. It is a psychological trauma that hits all refugees, most of whom happen to be poor.

It is what drives one to return to their “homes” despite the great danger. When events in one’s life are arbitrary and are not within one’s control, one’s actions make no difference. There is a feeling that whatever one does has no effect on outcomes, that one has no control over his/her life. So why venture off to some unknown evacuation or resettlement area? Home, despite this is still the best option.

The antidote to “learned helplessness” is helping the people help themselves. To sense once more the control of their lives, they must be helped to remove the following nightmares.

Erratic food supply

This is manifested in erratic supply and even in over supply of goods.

1) Once the eruption and lahar flow have stopped, the refugees perceived a decreased assistance from government and the relative increase in assistance from non-government groups (NGOs). Local government and church were not perceived as playing a substantial role in emergency operations. Food and clothing were the main sources of assistance. 2) They wish that this time, they could be helped economically with loans, farmland, housing materials and the like.

Congested evacuation centers

Of the projected P25 billion proposed by NEDA, only P13.5 billion was raised by the government during former President Corazon Aquino’s administration. President Ramos’ Mt. Pinatubo Rehabilitation Task Force should use the balance more appropriately together with the experiences accumulated during Lahar I.

3) Evacuation centers should immediately be decongested to prevent spread of diseases, where the majority of the victims are infants and children. While immediate decongestion is not possible, more garbage disposal, toilets and water supply systems should be worked out in proportion to the population. 4) Local radio and 5) regular health assemblies should be actively involved in disseminating proper hygiene and health practices. Due to the lack of government health personnel, periodic training of paramedical personnel among community members could be worked out.

Unsuccessful outcomes of livelihood programs

Due to 6) intermittent supervision and guidance in livelihood training, besides a) inadequate capital and b) lack of appropriate marketing systems, c) indigenous raw materials available in large supply in the affected areas should be properly inventoried.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) should speedily conclude their experiments on making hollow blocks from lahar, organizing rattan and bamboo crafts which Aetas are used to, and intensifying backyard vegetable gardening. Noodles and sardines need the nutritional complements of squash, sponge, gourd (patola) and various beans which easily grow on sandy soil. Wild bananas grow easily on these mountainous regions. Their soft trunks (saha), “kulasiman” grass and ipil-ipil leaves can provide food for piggeries. Corn too, can easily grow and provide rice substitute for people and chickens (poultry). Ciba-Geigy Philippines Foundation’s farmers support their program in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) and the Department of Agriculture has just discovered a variety of rice that grows well on lahar soil.

Dr. Licuanan’s group further recommends that technically and socio-culturally appropriate technologies must be developed, those which utilize locally available raw materials and employ local labor skills. Likewise, the formation of cooperatives, extension of credit, marketing assistance to ensure sustainability of projects and their growth over the long term should be encouraged.

Lack of strong barangay organization

Regarding resettlement and housing, it was found out that order and discipline are missing since proper barangay elections have not been held. In one resettlement area, a barangay captain was appointed by the local government during the emergency lahar situation. His leadership was observed as weak, playing favorites and using his power for self-interest. This is specially manifested during arrival of donations. As a result, the community is now clamoring for a formal election of leaders. Now that the situation is starting to normalize, the people must choose their own leader, a leader who is recognized by his constituents. He should be mature enough in making decisions; literate, preferably a high school graduate if not in the college level; somebody who is dedicated and committed to serving his people. 7) A strong barangay leadership will facilitate a more relevant and effective provision of the people’s basic needs, whether these are temporary or permanent fulfillment of their needs. There will be a system and respected authority in the community.

We must not forget that there are actually two victims in this calamity — the skilled workers of the two US military bases, Subic and Clark; and the unskilled farmers who live around Mt. Pinatubo.

‘Nasa Diyos ang awa nasa tao ang gawa’

God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble... But the Filipino saying “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa” (While God sheds His mercy, mankind must work to revitalize one’s life), reiterates people’s need to help themselves.

This article cites seven errors in our experiences as we recover from calamities. Wisdom can help us overcome these oversights so we can prepare for our own “apocalypse” in the near future.