The arrival and aftermath of storms, rains and flooding are an annual reality, our geographical location and topography being what they are, climate change notwithstanding. Granted. Good day, Philippines: Its memes and slogans season. After all, the Filipino is always lauded by the world for displaying proactive social responsibility at these times. Every year, the usual suspects: schools and universities, well-meaning businesses, religious groups, NGOs, media companies do all they can to gather and distribute relief. Local governments and the military relocate families, clear the debris, calculate the damage... And then after the storm, the sun shines anew, life goes on and its more fun in the Philippines once again, just like that, and we go on masquerading in front of the world as if all we were made of are white sandy beaches that owe millions in royalties to the estate of Bob Marley and whoever thought it was necessary to put tiny umbrellas on watered-down welcome drinks. Because apparently, our spirit is waterproof, and where we come from, everyones a hero, right? Is there anything wrong with this picture? Is it really enough to just inspire each other and the world with our efforts, year in, year out? Some years ago, during that wave of Habagat-caused flooding, my family and I brought friends from Malaysia to the banks of the swollen Marikina river, and then to the relief center at the Ateneo, and they were very touched at how we can so willingly organize to help anonymous communities in their hour of need. They were so inspired by what they saw that when Yolanda struck, they themselves organized their own drive with some Filipino friends there and sent help over via the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Many others like them pour in annually with their sincere support and we thank them profusely; Ive personally received aid in cash and kind from caring friends and their communities from neighboring Bangkok, Thailand to as far out as Donegal, Ireland. And wed gladly return the favor should they ever be in need--except the way things are going, we may always need their help and they may never need ours... Anything wrong with this picture? At some point, they will need to notice--as we ourselves should--that there is little annual improvement in how we deal with what should be the already predictable maladies of the rainy season. Forces of nature cant be stopped, anyone will tell you that. And the benevolent force of human goodness will create its benevolent response, thank goodness. But beyond all this, what else can be done? I cannot accept rainy season in the Philippines as-is-where-is as an annual way of life; I believe none of us should. Evacuation centers, rubber boats and relief goods stand little chance of undoing the incapacitating long-term effects of deforestation, inadequate drainage, zero urban AND rural planning, and lets face it, a government brimming with corruption while lacking in political will. We have to begin to believe that we deserve better than this. We have to begin to believe that our streets, our living rooms, our freaking second-floor bedrooms should not flood. We have to begin to believe that science, engineering and design, when driven by human imagination, creativity and urgency can create lasting solutions for absorbing the toll these storms bring. Because look, the storms are here now; go look outside your window. Turn on the TV. Refresh your feed. They come, they go. Theyll be back next year. And the year after that. Quite possibly in perpetuity. With climate change, theyll intensify and become even more damaging. When will this nation finally act, instead of react? If we were better off as a country in all aspects, in the truest sense of the word country, wed be better at dealing with the goddam weather. I think its high time the Filipino people demanded long-term solutions to weather-related problems from its government. #MarioPH
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 04:03:38 +0000