Prayers for typhoon Pablo victims

Typhoon Pablo casualties

For all those fortunate to have been spared from the wrath of typhoon Pablo, international name Bopha, that devastated Mindanao, yet again in December (note that typhoon Sendong, international name Washi, wrecked havoc in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City in Mindanao also in December of 2011), specifically in the hinterlands of Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley this time, but can’t do much in extending any form of help, I can only urge that we invoke the mercy of God, through our incessant prayers, for the victims.

What you see on TV speak volumes of pathetic stories and heartrending scenes that wells up your eyes with tears and makes one feeling stupefied.

Almost always the poorest of the poor with more children than you can imagine are the ones who suffer the most.

To all those Good Samaritans, who are always in the forefront of extending help and assistance any which way they can every time disasters of this magnitude occurs, your benevolence will always be appreciated.

There is no doubt that other countries’ aid will be forthcoming and I just hope that it reaches all the hands that need it in the most equitable manner without fear that in the process it will be filch by some unscrupulous people. If in kind, the goods should get to the unfortunate victims as it is intended to be and not replaced with something else, as many corrupt individuals are wont to do.

But, donating food, water, medicines, clothing, sleeping gears, and what have you should not stop there in alleviating the victim’s needs and pains.

What is importantly needed is for the national government to take immediate and drastic action that the same catastrophe will not happen again in the same place or any where in the region for that matter.

The similarity in the aftermath of typhoons Sendong in 2011 and Pablo in 2012 is very glaring. Most of the death were caused by flash floods and landslides brought about by hours of torrential rains.

But, what have we seen in both the Sendong and Pablo episodes that caused the landslides and flash floods?

Haven’t we seen footages of the devastation caused by denuded forest from illegal logging?  What can one say about the countless logs of all forms and sizes coming down the rivers and slopes during flash floods destroying every thing that comes across its way? What can we say about the photographs of tree stumps left on top of the hills from whence the logs cascaded with the heavy downpour?

It maybe painful for the victims to hear it, but, perhaps, it is a blessing in disguise that this awful tragedy has to happen so government can now look into the lives of people living in the backcountries and ensure that there livelihood, safety and well-being will not be threatened by illegal logging in any way, shape and form.

Needless to say that government should investigate whether or not local government officials, military officials or even some members of congress are in cahoots with illegal loggers, always deemed to be untouchables, and are benefiting from these atrocious acts.

Having said all of the above, now it makes me wonder what the rich and powerful Catholic Church are doing or saying? Their silence is deafening. Are they donating or are they just going to pray?

Either ways, thank you.