Just Some Thoughts on Manila Flood

The recent “scandalous” flood brought about by the monsoon rain from August 7 to 9, 2012 ravaged sizeable area of Mega Manila and other parts of the country. Classes and business operations were suspended, even as vehicular flow was jammed. The situation led me to some questions, answers, and more questions.

1. Let’s put things in perspective. It’s NOT the rain that caused the flooding. It’s the MISSING WATERWAYS. You know, our land has natural waterways such as creeks and rivers, so that rain waters could flow here. Kaso tinambakan na nang tinambakan, pinatayuan ng mga bahay, gusali, planta at kung anu-ano pa. Bukod pa dito, ang mga natitirang waterways ay barado ng mga basura.

2. While I was having breakfast in a fast food resto on the following Monday (Aug. 13), I thought: “Paano kaya nila (fast food chain) tinatapon ang mga disposable cups, plates, spoons and forks nila? Sa kakakain ko dito, tapos disposables pa ang ginagamit ko, di kaya nakakadagdag ako sa dami ng basura?”

3. I saw Manila’s garbage contractor across from the fast food resto where I was having a breakfast. I thought, “Sulit kaya ang binabayad ng mga Manileño sa kanila? Bakit malaki pa rin ang problema sa basura? May sinusunod bang waste management system ang siyudad ng Maynila? Bakit sa city hall mismo, ang sentro ng kapangyarihan ng kapital ng bansa, laging hanggang bewang ang baha? Matagal nang problema iyan, bakit di pa rin nasosolusyonan? Sintomas ba ito ng isang ‘nalulunod’ na lipunan?”

4. Sikat na sikat si Mang Tani, o Nathaniel Cruz na weather forecaster/broadcaster ng GMA, noong nakaraang kalamidad. Nakakatuwa ring makitang nagi-improve na siya. Dati kasi madalas siyang mag-buckle. Minsan nakakalimutan pa niya ang mga lines niya. Pero cool na cool na siya ngayon.

5. May nag-comment sa paraan ng pagbabalita ni Mike Enriquez: “Ano ba iyan siya parang nakakataranta.” Oo nga naman, Mang Mike, bakit para kang nagpa-“panic” tuwing nagbabalita ka? Labis na ang pag-aalala na nadarama ng mga viewers, kaya wag mo nang dagdagan. Kalma ka lang, gaya ni Mang Tani. Gets naman naming urgent ang ibinabalita mo.

6. People who had access to social media became “citizen journalists,” reporting to the country & the world their situation during the calamity. Plus, through the social media, these citizen journalists were empowered to bring attention where attention is due, and to double-check the news reports of mainstream news media.

7. Pwede palang i-report sa DOLE ang mga employers na pinipilit ang kanilang mga employees na pumasok sa kabila ng suspensiyon. Ayon sa isang ulat, pwede raw mag-report sa tel. no. 527-8000. Pero ano ang lakas ng mga simpleng manggagawa laban sa mga kapitalistang maaaring may kapit rin sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno? Basta, mag-report kayo.

8. Many of us are hard-headed. Despite over a hundred storms we experience in the Philippines yearly, many of us still fail to prepare, constantly ending up as victims to flood. Marami pa rin sa ating hihintayin munang tumaas ang tubig-baha bago lumikas. O kaya naman yung mga hindi naghahanda ng survival kit.

9. Many of us are ignorant. Naaalala ko pa noong sinita ko ang isang kaibigang nagtapon candy wrapper sa kalsada imbes na sa “tamang” basurahan. Ang sagot niya sa akin: “Iisang piraso lang naman ito eh, hindi naman ito nakakabara ng kanal.” Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Imagine the horror that threatens the country when the million-strong Filipinos have the same mind set.

10. Many of us spread hopelessness. I abhor this statement that I heard from a stranger while he was smoking cigarette: “Kahit naman tumigil ako ng paninigarilyo, madumi pa rin ang hangin. Wala rin namang magbabago. Kaya maninigarilyo na lang ako.” Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! OMG! The sound of hopelessness, epidemic. You know, if these hopeless people “infect” other people, we will never thrash out the problem. The solution lies heavily on the cooperation among the people.

11. On the other hand, waste and flood problems could be resolved more effectively if each of us takes responsibility over his/her action. Believe that with the simple things you you are making a big difference already. Also, you encourage other people to do the same. Great things come from simple beginnings. Solution requires collective action.

12. Naisip ko noong di pa gaanong sumisikat si haring araw: “Filipino ingenuity and modern-day bayanihan now shining more brightly than the sun.” Nakakatuwang makitang sa gitna ng kalamidad, nakukuha pa rin nating maging creative, maging masaya, magpatawa… at siyempre, tumulong sa kapwang nangangailangan. Iyan ang mga Pilipinong ipinagmamalaki ko.

(Please view my related video on my YouTube channel).