Yolanda

It's been a month since Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda crashed through our country and that's been two weeks of me just glued to the news and on Facebook checking for updates, reading stories of survival and loss, forming half-baked opinions on shoulda coulda woulda's. I've been pretty useless as a result. My blogging duties forgotten (sorry, sponsors!) and it's only now that I'm working again.

These two weeks, the word "resilient" is being used a lot. Some hate it, some love it. However we feel about it, it's just a word that really does describe us Filipinos. I'd like to think, faced with the same circumstances, I'd be resilient, too. But the thought of losing my kids... Oh, I can't even face it. I don't know what I'd do should that happen as it happened to thousands of our kababayans. I'd like to think I'd be strong enough to move on but we'll never know until it happens and I pray to God that it never happens because I don't think I can take it.

There's been lots of "the survivors should do this" and "they should at least do that" or "I would never do that." I also thought that. "At least clear the roads! I'd never ever steal!" But quick on the heels of those thoughts are the whispers, "What if your kids are hungry? What if they are cold and sick? What if they had died?"

I like to think I'd be the type of person who rises up to the occasion. I've always been the person who stepped in when someone needed help, needed to be defended, needed money. I'm very calm and sensible. That's why I think that in the face of calamity, I'm not going to lose my head. But when my first born died suddenly five years ago, I was too much in shock to function. I was in shock for three whole days. My family were the ones who thought of entertaining the visitors at the wake, it was my friend who fixed the financial matters with the funeral home, my aunts and cousins who fed everybody. I didn't do anything except cry.

So I pass no judgment on anyone. No one knows how they'll react to any situation until they're in that situation. No judgment! Well, except maybe on the government. But that's a whole new issue and I really don't want to go there.

And that's it! We all know how to help. There are dozens of fundraisers, charities, NGOs, volunteer work happening everywhere right now. How generous the Filipino spirit! God bless us all!

Finding Hope This Christmas

You've probably noticed a dearth of blog posts this past month.  Life has been going at full warp speed and I'm finding it hard to keep up and squeeze in much needed time to write.

The recent typhoon has made it doubly difficult for me to write.  When so many people have lost so much, I'm finding it difficult to write about life - my life, when there are just so much more important things to write about.  I wish I could be out there at ground zero helping out, but I can't.  Instead, I try to help out in my own small way.  Yet, it never feels like it's enough.

Quite honestly, I'm finding it even difficult to think about Christmas.  Yes - me, my mother's anointed "Christmas elf."  Growing up, I was the one who eagerly put up the Christmas tree every year.  To date, our tree is not up and there are no Christmas decorations in our home.  Same time last year, I already had names ticked off my Christmas list.  But now, I haven't even had the time to update nor print out my Christmas list.

No - I'm not turning into Scrooge, but, given all these tragedies, my heart is heavy.

However, I was uplifted by something an old high school friend posted on FB.  She's literally out in the trenches helping survivors get through all this.  She said (I'm para-phrasing here), "Please continue posting pictures of happy moments in your life - it's what keeps us going here." 

So, I think it's about time I dust off my Christmas tree and light it up for the world to see.  Maybe, just maybe, it'll bring a smile to someone else's face and help them carry on.    

My little Christmas tree before the tragedy happened

Promise in Vain

...saw this poster i was tagged with at my facebook account. a sorry reminder of a promise made that had been broken. fortunately im not in a sorry state anymore.

...so, Punta Malabrigo...see you again :) 

...don't worry, no issues about you. your charm had been tested to be more than a promise went in vain