Several weeks ago, a pretty seven year old girl lost her life in an accident. She was hit by a car crossing the street. The Toronto Community grieved and probably, even those from farther places who had heard of the sad news. The child apparently came from a prominent family. I did not know her neither did I know the parents but I could feel how their hearts broke. It happened in a split second, in this peaceful city; not in Nigeria or Syria, or the Gaza Strip. I could imagine my own five-year old grand niece doing just what this little girl did- rush out from the grip of my hand, into the busy, busy street.
Recently, a prominent member of the Filipino Community, Sir Emiliano Silverio, well-known as Ka Miling passed away. He was a co-founder of the Knights of Rizal. He was a well-loved member of the Filipino Community, an adviser, a peacemaker, a leader that held his members together. We sadly miss him. We look back to the days when he was active and was in our midst to share his thoughts on issues, his jokes and his dreams on making the Filipinos an asset to the Canadian Community. But like all of us, age had overcome him. He slowly withdraw from active enterprises and was seldom heard from during his last days. We miss him. He peacefully returned to his Maker with our prayers.
Just 2 days ago a brilliant lawyer, in the prime of his life, a law professor in Tallahassee was killed with a bullet in the head in his home in Florida. He was formerly a Canadian resident and his parents are still in this country. They are making arrangements to have him buried here. The investigations are not yet complete and it was not yet clear how a highly respected, well-liked professor ended his life tragically.
And then, a bombshell! A passenger airline with 298 people in it, exploded on air somewhere in Eastern Ukraine almost at the Russian border. Nobody survived in this tragic, horrific event. And it appears it was not an accident. The plane exploded from missiles shot intentionally. There is a growing suspicion that those explosives came from pro-Russian rebels in that part of Eastern Ukraine. The Russian leader is being held responsible in the tragedy by some European and North American nations. The investigation is just beginning, which, it was being charged, to be hindered by members of the pro-Russian rebels. It has been accused that there was tampering of evidences and apparent lack of dignity in dealing with the remains of the crash as they were being gathered from the scene of the devastation.
Of the 289 adults, seniors, children and babies who perished in this tragedy, about 98 were scientists who were on their way to a conference dealing with the latest findings on the cure for HIV. What a great loss to humankind! The researches of these dedicated men and women had gone to waste with their demise.
The headlines on the airline explosion have been eclipsed by the fighting between the Israelites and the Arabs in the Gaza City. As of late, about 500 men, women and children have already perished, innocent residents who had no personal interest in the debacle. Efforts for ceasefire by the United States and the U.N. have failed.
Technology has wrought miracles in science and medicine, improving health and the way of life. Due to this immense progress, life span has lengthened. We now find more people in their eighties and nineties and even a hundred among us. Polio has almost been wiped out from the face of the earth. Tuberculosis and malaria which used to be pandemic diseases are now under control.
I wonder??? Has the world death rate decreased? Or has the number being saved from diseases and lengthened by healthful living being overcome by violence and accidents created by speed in technology? In spite of the frequent mass murders through guns in the United States, the powerful in society have refused to control the firearms. Powerful countries in the world all have stacks of dangerous weapons for mass destruction.
Even nature lately has not been very kind. Typhoons and earthquakes of unprecedented magnitude, often accompanied by tsunami had wrecked homes and business. Wild fires had wiped out acres of forest lands and homes.
Where do we stand? How can we protect ourselves? Or shall we just leave everything to our Maker to decide when our time is to go?
When you step out of your door every morning you do not really know if you will be able to come back. That is why we often hear this advice: Live every day of your life as if it were your last.
Datapuwa’t sino ang makatatalos kaya
Sa mahal mong lihim
Diyos na dakila
Walang mangyayari sa balat ng lupa
Na di may kabutihan Siyang ninanasa!
