There are things in this life bigger than all of us– bigger than our daily personal struggles, bigger than our economic woes and even bigger than the upcoming 2010 presidential elections. My friends, it is the universal desire for the well-being and safety of our brothers and sisters around the world. Yes, that much-ridiculed and overly-used, Ms. Universe-like wish of “world peace”. Along with that is our ardent prayer that people be safe from harm.

Sometimes, in the rush and chaos of everyday existence and occupations, we forget that whatever differences, goals and priorities we have, there is one thing common to all of us — a shared appreciation to the one thread woven in all of humankind — that kind of strength to which any other strength — be it economic or military pales in comparison — it is the fortitude of the human heart — the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Photo by lille abe

The world, as I write this watch in shock at what now appears to be a patch of hell on earth as Haiti grieves for their dead — with the death toll feared to go as high as 500,000. Millions of people are needing help, most of the survivors decided to live on the streets for fear of aftershocks. What happened to Haiti last  Tuesday, January 12, 2010 must shake us up out of complacency. If it can happen to them, it can happen to us.

There are two (2) things we share with Haiti — poverty and corruption. These two always go together — one resulting to the other, in an endless cycle of misery.

Haiti was unprepared for that 7.0 magnitude earthquake that is to come for a whole lot of reasons similar to us — corruption which resulted to structurally-flawed and unsafe buildings, poor delivery of basic services, poor disaster-preparedness and more.

We, like Haitians, are no strangers to disasters — political, economic and natural. And given our similarities with their current state, we can only cower in fear and pray earnestly that we do not suffer the same fate as theirs. most specially because compared to Haiti whose last experience with an earthquake was 200 years ago, the Philippines’ most devastating earthquake experience is still fresh in our minds some 20 years ago in 1990. We were unprepared then and I sure as hell can bet that two decades after, we remain unprepared.

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti who lost what little they have. To bear witness to such a tragedy, to be able to walk among the dead seem like a curse far worse than subsistence. While it can’t be argued that this 7.0 magnitude earthquake is a natural calamity, the number of casualties may have been limited if not totally avoided had there been early warning of an impending disaster which should have facilitated swift and orderly security of the residents. But then, maybe there’s no stopping nature. There is a reason for everything.

Whatever it is, only God knows.

If you have money to spare, please donate. No amount is so small to not make a difference, and no amount is too big for our Haitian brothers and sisters.

The easiest way to donate to Haiti online (through credit card) to the American Red Cross is through this Google checkout link on the Youtube video, right side. For the technophobes out there, don’t worry, it’s safe, tried it myself.

You can also opt to donate through the American Red Cross website or to Doctors Without Borders.

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On Pat Robertson’s Haiti “pact with the devil” blunder

For the record, I would like to express disappointment over what longtime TV evangelist Pat Robertson of the 700 Club said on air claiming that the Haitians made a “pact with the devil” hundreds of years ago, hence the curse and the earthquake. He further claims that Haitians did this to gain their freedom from the French. I think such a statement is not characteristic of an evangelist. This statement spits at the honor of Haitians who hold the distinction as the only country in the Western Hemisphere to undergo a successful slave revolution. If there was such a “pact”, who can attest to its authenticity? Who can judge? Such a statement only adds insult to injury. It is clearly judgmental and uncalled for.

The visit is done. The souvenirs scattered all over. Most people lost a lot, some everything. Some, everyone they love.

When you’ve lost practically everything, how do you begin?

How you start over when the very reasons for your existence and perseverance are all gone?

When your future has  now become littered with uncertainties, what is there to look forward to?

As the devastation wrought by typhoon Ondoy lay before us, we find ourselves faced with the tedious task of rebuilding — shoveling mountainous  mud, scavenging through debris and an overwhelming pile of unrecognizable items, of what used to be known as kitchen wares, electronic appliances, books, toys and shoes.

Parallel with ongoing relief, rescue and retrieval operations, calls for disaster preparedness seminars, doing Ondoy post-mortem analysis and suggestions for preventive measures and active participation in climate change awareness is the need to rebuild communities.

We have to rebuild –in the backdrop of a gloomy atmosphere, in the absence of inspiration, in a state of shock and disbelief, under time pressure and the fear of another imminent danger.

We have to rebuild. Knowing that our lives will never be the same again, aware of the fact that this may not be the last ordeal lined up for us in this lifetime — we have to rebuild.

Even as we feel help is too little or too late, even as we think we may have been forgotten — we all know, we still have to rebuild.

We rebuild not because we want to. We rebuild not because we are prodded. We rebuild because we know that regardless of how hardly hit we were, regardless of how bruised and battered we may have become and regardless of how much suffering we may have endured, we know the world doesn’t stop for our grief. We know that life inevitably and naturally “goes on”.

So we rebuild –not because we want to, but because we have to. Because in reality, we don’t really have much of a choice.

The entire citizenry, public or private, rich or poor, pessimist or optimist– we will all have to rebuild. We will rebuild homes, roads, schools, institutions — yes, even fractured lives.

The typhoon has left. Its winds may have taken our roofs, but not our hearts. Its raging flood waters may have swept our hard-earned belongings, but not our courage. Its wrath may have robbed us of those we love, but not of our resilience. It may have submerged entire cities, but it has not dampened our spirits.

So now, armed with faith even as small as a mustard seed, carrying flickering hope in our hearts, huddled together in this cold, ghostly towns of utter desperation, we add up each other’s “mustard-seed-sized” faith and aspire to move mountains, we rekindle each other’s flickering sparks of hope and aim to keep it burning, we stay close to give warmth to each other.

We are Filipinos — descendants of heroes. Heroism — what others can only aspire to runs through our veins.

We do not falter, we alter. We know not wane, we win. We do not retreat, we defeat.

My dear fellowmen, the challenge of rebuilding is now before us. When do we begin? What about now?

Today, I am featuring another heartbreaking video from Glenn Omanio, this time, with a new set of photos and Asin’s classic song “Masdan Mo (ang Kapaligiran)” (Look Around You) playing in the background. Definitely a must-see. Also see, the first video here.

This video hits two birds with one stone — that of disaster-preparedness and environmental responsibility. We’ve heard about the long and boring discussions about global warming and climate change and yet, no picture or technical explanation can get any clearer than this. This is reality. It is not God’s punishment. It is the law of interaction laid out in our face. Every action solicits a reaction. It is a punishment we may have brought upon ourselves.

But all is not lost. We — the ones who are left, must now do the long and boring process of rebuilding and re-educating ourselves in disaster preparedness and environmental accountability. Had we heeded that call and listened to it then, this may not have happened.

The long and boring is inevitable. We can delay but we will ultimately pay.

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Find out the many ways you can help typhoon Ondoy victims.

If your in the Philippines, here’s a list of verified relief centers / drop off centers for donations.

You can also donate online to Philippine National Red Cross.

The Day My Country Stood Still (Aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy) from Glenn Omanio on Vimeo.

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Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran (Asin)
Wala ka bang napapansin sa iyong mga kapaligiran?
Kay dumi na ng hangin, pati na ang mga ilog natin.

Refrain 1:

Hindi na masama ang pag-unlad at malayu-layo na rin ang ating narating

Ngunit masdan mo ang tubig sa dagat dati’y kulay asul ngayo’y naging itim

Ang mga duming ating ikinalat sa hangin sa langit huwag na nating paabutin

Upang kung tayo’y pumanaw man, sariwang hangin sa langit natin matitikman

Refrain 2:

Mayron lang akong hinihiling sa aking pagpanaw sana ay tag-ulan

Gitara ko ay aking dadalhin upang sa ulap na lang tayo magkantahan

Ang mga batang ngayon lang isinilang may hangin pa kayang matitikman?

May mga puno pa kaya silang aakyatin may mga ilog pa kayang lalanguyan?

Refrain 3:

Bakit di natin pagisipan ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran

Hindi na masama ang pag-unlad kung hindi nakakasira ng kalikasan

Darating ang panahon mga ibong gala ay wala nang madadapuan

Masdan mo ang mga punong dati ay kay tatag ngayo’y namamatay dahil sa ‘ting kalokohan

Refrain 4:

Lahat ng bagay na narito sa lupa biyayang galing sa Diyos kahit nong ika’y wala pa Ingatan natin at ‘wag nang sirain pa pagkat pag kanyang binawi, tayo’y mawawala na

Repeat refrain 2: