Today is the feast of Immacuate Conception but a day that will always be remembered as a day of infamy because it was on this day in 1941 that the Japanese Imperial Army attacked Pearl Harbor and killed thousands of US and some Filipino soldiers in the service of the US Army, Navy and Air Force. The treacherous attack also destroyed US frigates, war ships, assault planes, and helicopters. Today, we always face the possibility of attack by China in its greed to grab our oil-rich shoals and islands in the West Philippine Seas.
What gives us constant threats however is the fact that our country is located in the Pacific typhoon belt and the Asian Ring of Fire. The onslaught of Yolanda (Haiyan) last year left no less than 7,000 dead and still 3,000 missing and unaccounted to date. It was no doubt the worst. And today, Ruby threatens to repeat Yolanda's performance. The next in terms of ferocity was Typhoon Uring (Thelma) on November 1991 with 5,956 dead and hundreds missing. These are only the lives lost, not to mention the millions, even billions worth of crops, infrastructures and homes, and other properties lost.
On December 4, 2012, Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) killed 1,901. Typhoon Winnie on November 29, 2004 left 1,651 dead. Typhoon Titang (Kate) killed 1,551 on October 13, 1970. Typhoon Sendong (Warren) on December 15, 2011 killed 1,439. On September 1, 1984, Typhoon Nitang (Ike) left 1,422 dead. On November 30, 2006, Reming (Durian) killed 1,399. Next were Sisang (September 4, 1995), Pepang (September 29, 2009), Ruping (November 12, 1990), Pedring (September 24, 2011), Frank (June 21, 2008) and Juan (October 18, 2010).
The earthquake in Mindanao on August 17, 1976 left no less than 6,000 dead. The Luzon earthquake on July 16, 1990 killed 2,412. The floods in Ormoc killed thousands and destroyed the whole city. The Pinatubo eruption on June 15, 1991 did not kill many people but it devastated farms and settlements, destroyed economic and trade firms and polluted the whole country for many weeks. Added to all these are sea and air disasters and road accidents and crime incidence that may terrify tourists and business investors.
And yet, despite all these, it is still more fun in the Philippines. The beautiful sights, the merry festivals, the hospitable and smiling people, and all the delicious foods and fruits and all the other good things that await tourists and investors still attract foreigners to our country. Typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, we as a people have grown used to all of them. These natural calamities have helped make our character strong and resilient. We have higher tolerance for pain and adversities. All these have even made our nation stronger and our people better prepared for more disasters to come, hell, storms, or high water.