The recent onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy that caused unimaginable destruction in many parts of Metro Manila and its surrounding Regions brought out the best in the Filipino. Many had been written about the flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy as the Great Equalizer. Rich and poor alike were not spared from its fury. Perhaps the HAVE-NOTS suffered the most - almost all of their properties damaged and lost may really have been their ONLY treasures in life. But the HAVES may have lost only a fraction of what they really have in life. But just the same, all suffered. My own family was not spared, too.
But as soon as the Ondoy flood was yet about to recede in most areas that it affected, stories of real-life heroes began to emerge. A trial court judge saved more than a hundred people from their dangerous roof-top refuge which only time could tell whether they would also be washed away by the raging floodwaters or not. A man salvaged many people from drowning by risking his own life braving the unpredictable water currents amidst the darkness. This same man saved even the family whom he had odds with. And who could ever forget the ala-fiction dramatic rescue of showbiz star Cristine Reyes by Richard Gutierrez. Cristine had been on the roof of their house which was submerged under water. For over 12 hours, she had been begging for help and rescue but no one arrived until her leading man in their movie Patient X came to the rescue via a borrowed speed boat.
Other prominent stories also flooded the news - couple Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos plucked Gladys Reyes and her kids from her fast submerging house.
These are just a few of the hundreds of stories of heroes that Ondoy gave birth.
When local radio and television stations began to describe and show the images of the onslaught, people from all walks of life, affected or not, began pouring in relief goods and cash donations. Moved by the unimaginable sights of people wading in the floodwaters, floating and submerged vehicles being carried away by the strong currents, walls and houses falling apart, people hanging on to dear life by clutching the last twig or rope or electric line as the last defining straw for survival, more and more voluntary donations came in like a flood. The government acted swiftly by deploying all available government assets to help in the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of the thousands affected. A nationwide state of calamity was declared so that the local governments can act immediately on the 3Rs.
Typhoon Ondoy will definitely be unforgettable.
As if Ondoy was not enough. Super Typhoon Pepeng packing gustiness of over 200 kph threatened the country a week after Ondoy punished Metro Manila and the nearby Regions. Pepeng's fury was received by Northern Luzon especially the Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos Regions. Tuguegarao City turned black and blue. Cagayan gasped for breath. Ilocos Norte suffered the same fate.
Not even relieving the pain caused by Pepeng, Typhoon Quedan passed by going towards the direction of Japan causing Pepeng to return back to Northern Luzon. The Fujiwara effect caused more rains and floodwaters in the area. As if really punishing to the hilt, Pepeng ravaged again the same places as it did the first time around. Another low pressure area could blow Pepeng back to its original course which may be a record-breaking three hits in a row of the same typhoon on the same places in a week's time!
However one may look at it, calamities like these, though unwanted, always bring the best Filipino spirit in us. Bayanihan is alive. As pliant as the bamboo but as strong as the molave, the Filipino weathers all kinds of weather.
