In our October 2011 column of this newspaper titled “ Watch out
for Sendong and Tisoy “, we warned that typhoon “Pedring and
Quiel “ may not be the last of the worst weather disturbances that
will hit the Philippines.
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not invoking an “I told you
so attitude “nor claiming to be a weather expert. It doesn’t
take a rocket scientist to observe today’s climate changes that
continuously defies norms and standards.
Usually, after an estimated 20 cyclones/typhoons (the yearly
average to hit the country) storm-weary Filipinos do not expect a
tail-end December weather disturbance to ruin their Christmas
celebration. And yet it happened.
Why do think we have a snow-less December 2011 here in
Toronto? (although we had a few centimeters late in December
27). Instead we have rainfalls. Think La Nina.
For instance, typhoon “Sendong “ was not as powerful as
2009’s “Ondoy “ but it left at least 500,000 homeless in Cagayan
De Oro, Iligan city and Dumaguete and parts of Misamis Oriental
in its wake. Unlike Ondoy, Sendong’s rampaging flash floods
killed at least 1,200 people with a thousand more still unaccounted
for.
Sendong was bound to happen. The topography of the affected
areas made it so. There was also according to reports, rampant
illegal logging as shown by news photos of thousands of logs that
were carried down the mountains .No trees were able to hold down
a month’s rainfall that fell down on these areas.
The affected areas have been predicted to be flood prone as it
was basically “ a catch basin “where water cascading from the
mountainsides and the high tides from bay would inundate those
places.
As in the cases of the Marikina river where Ondoy caused the
damage, the rivers in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan swelled to
great proportions that swept everything on its path.
Global warming, weather aberrations like El Nino and La Nina
are changing the world’s climate. In the Philippines,
rains, much more storms in December are a rarity some 10 years or
so ago.
Even climatologists agree that Sendong is not the last. More will
occur. Mindanao is an example. The sheer number of fatalities in
Cagayan de Oro and Iligan was a result of complacency among the
populace who had clung to the notion that the region is generally
not visited by typhoons which are of course a fact..until the flash
floods came past midnight.
We can blame global warming. But let’s blame ourselves.
Logging,
October
building subdivisions in agricultural areas, resorts in forest areas,
Boracay-like beaches in virgin and protected areas..they are anti-
environment. They create imbalance with tragic consequences.
Filipino climatologists agree that the Philippines “is in a sort of
environmental turmoil and politicians should now address the
situation “.
We are now paying the price.
******
WHERE TO DONATE? If you want to help and pitch in to
the Sendong victims. You can contact the Philippine Consulate
General at Eglinton Avenue at Tel. no. 416-922-7181. They are
coordinating the fund-raising efforts for the community through
Consul General Pedro Chan.
*******
MILESTONES/TRANSITIONS: Ging Hernandez met her creator
before Christmas. The community mourned and paid paeans and
tributes to her character and achievements. But what she really
left as a lasting imprint (which we hope community leaders should
seriously take note) is one of a leader and community worker who
shuns the limelight, preferred to be faceless. No frills, no publicity
seeking..just plain hard and dedicated work. In short low key.
I wonder who could fill in her shoes.
*****
THE MEL AND FLOR SHOW: Mel and Joey, the defunct TV
show of GMA 7 is no more, But we have in Toronto the Mel and
Flor show. A success story of grit and determination of a couple
who swayed from dance floor to the baking oven to a food empire
that is FV foods now. They observed Christmas by sharing their
blessings with some 300 employees and families.)pls. read separate
story on this Balita issue).
My greetings to December 2011 and January 2012 celebrants:
Jocelyn S. De La Cruz, my sister (Dec.29), Ira A. Soriano (Dec.30)
Jesse Budoy “ De La Cruz (Dec.25), bayaw and Myrna O. Soriano,
Mom to my children and partner for life. Congratulations !