damaged homes
I’m supposed to write a technical document. I even set aside the material that I’m about to read. But with what happened last month, as well as the “after effects” still experienced on this current month, I decided to voice out my observations and the injustices that people tend to take for granted. I know that many reports, blogs and articles are written about it but somehow I wish to unclog myself with repressed emotions through writing an article/blog about it.
It all started when my home province was hit by a strong typhoon named Frank. It hit us last June 21, 2008, though it’s been a month and 7 days after that incident, the scars of the typhoon are very noticeable. Apart from the wreck, garbage, dusts and hardened mud can be seen. My home is even dusty at the end of the day, that’s why rain is most welcome. The victims are confused and lost, they don’t know how to pick up their lives, and they don’t know how to start again since there’s NOTHING, no house, no lot, no clothing, NADA!
All is not lost though. Because many kind-hearted people, organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and Church organizations extend a helping hand through relief goods, feeding programs, medical mission, etc. The victims are truly thankful for it.
All is well. Not so. There’s a much sadder story behind what’s reported on TV and the news. Some victims are not able to receive the aid that they need because they can’t be found. It’s so because they are temporarily living amongst their relatives (in some cases the victims are considered an added burden and another mouth to feed by their relatives) or because they can’t be contacted. Some victims are not able to receive the aid that they need because they are not listed as victims by their local officials for the simple reason that they belong to the opposition (political) party.
The worst part is that there are some relief goods that are secretly and discreetly stashed away to undisclosed places by high ranking local officials. No documents, no proof of receipt of those goods, thus, it is easy for them officials to deny the very existence of those goods. Why? Why are they doing it? For the simple reason of making a profit out of it (don’t even wonder why those relief goods are seen in the market or carnivals as saleable items in the form of “ukay-ukay”, “factory reject clothing apparel”, or as imported goods at half the price) or to give as gifts to their party supporters. While those that are more deserving of those goods – victims of typhoon Frank – are reduced to settling in mediocre relief goods. I have a personal encounter with a typhoon victim who complained that he can no longer bear to look at the sardines and noodles served right in front of him because they’re turning his urine brownish – he considers it as manifestation of the chemicals from the instant noodles that are considered toxic to the body and worse can even cause infections i.e. UTI. Possibly to other countries instant noodles are nutritious, but in my country Philippines, instant noodles are not safe to eat. I had a classmate and an officemate who suffered UTI (urinary tract infection) for it. Did you know that noodles have wax and requires three days for it to be totally washed out from the body?
An American mission anchored in the coast of my home town Tigbauan. It came into their knowledge about the unfortunate plight of the entire Panay Island consisting of my home province Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Aklan. There are damages but it varies depending on the location. The primary aim of the American mission is to distribute relief goods to proper town recipients with typhoon damages; of course, my home town Tigbauan is one of the receiving parties. The relief goods from the American mission was deemed of excellent quality, thus, they are secretly and discreetly stashed away to hidden places. No documents, no proof of receipt of those goods, that’s why it is easy for them officials to deny the very existence of those goods. Why? As what I have written in my previous paragraph above, to make profit or to give as gifts to political party supporters.
A typhoon victim from another town, talked to my father about the unfortunate plight and damages in his home and community. It was extreme he claimed. Apart from which, he claimed receiving relief goods from the American mission. He described it as very nutritious, heavy on the stomach, above all, deliciouso.
If that victim, as well as his neighbors, received goods from the Americans, then there’s a huge possibility that my home town Tigbauan, also received goods from them. After all, my town was listed as amongst those partially damaged and high in typhoon casualties/deaths (overall town report and casualties). It is also in my town where an entire family of eight was killed due to flood drowning.
Then, where are the goods? Many claim seeing the relief goods unloaded to the municipal hall. But as fast as it arrived, it left suddenly, not to the proper recipients but somewhere. There is even a man from my town who claimed that he received relief goods from the Americans though he is not a victim. Why? For the simple reason, that the man is an avid political follower of the current local high ranking official.
What could I do? What can anybody do under these circumstances where proof is nowhere in sight? Where eyewitnesses remain silent due to fear? Where “hocus pocus” is so extreme that a solid matter and fact disappear to oblivion? Sad to say, I can’t voice out these unfortunate happenings to the right personages. It’s either they’ll “silence” me, threaten me, bribe me to shut up or insist in seeing eyewitness and facts. Another mystery that will never be answered and will fade to oblivion. Sigh
The only thing that I can do is to pray for those political leaders to see the light and to have the wisdom to determine right from wrong. To pray for typhoon victims to stand up, move on with their lives, and accept what happened as nature and God’s way of getting our attention to what’s happening around us. Sigh.
(Photo source: www.iloilo.gov.ph)
