The nation has another calamity under its belt. In as much as I wanted to be proud that the Filipinos are hanging on and doing what they can in these trying times, it saddens me to know that we have to physically suffer again, as an individual, as a family, as a nation, in order for us to extend our hands to each other; in order for us to stand up.

As if having trapos in our current government isn’t some sort of a calamity already.

I arrived home from school a couple of nights ago and I heard the newscaster saying something within these lines: if politicians who are planning to run the elections next year are using the situation to put their names upfront in order to gain votes, do we really have to be angry? Do we even have the energy to feel disappointed?

The Filipino People have every right to be angry at all sorts of reasons, not just this storm. We lost a lot of things: our loved ones, our properties and assets, our time, our hope, our environment, our country. Using this for campaign is just stooping down low. But then again, what do I expect from majority of our Filipino politicians?

I cannot say that we solely have to blame the government (i.e. the lack of contingency plan just irks me like hell), but Ondoy took a lot from us, but I certainly hope this has brought something too. Something to reflect on. Something to ponder about. I sincerely hope that whatever lesson this experience has brought forth to us, I hope it is something that is not fleeting and temporary.

They say that we do not have anyone else to rely on but ourselves. Bayanihan at work. Yes. Then again, it is disheartening to know that Bayanihan only surfaces when things like these happen, when I strongly believe that we should practice it everyday.

Let’s do what we can to help. And to the oportunistas who are trying to use this tragedy to their benefit, may you end up getting buried alive under the thick, flood-brought mud.

No, I don’t think I was being harsh when I said that.