The intensity and magnitude of the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong in Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City showed us the rage of nature. I associate it with “Rage of an Angel”, the bestselling suspense novel by Sydney Sheldon. Synonymous terms as anger, wrath or rage mean the same but the magnitude or the severity of the disaster vary. The Golden Rule is designed for a harmonious relationship between human beings. It is likewise applicable between man and nature as we recently experienced.
Last December 16, 2011 at about 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, we were all set to join Kuya Cipring/Ate Mary Lauron in Liloan, Cebu on our way to Panalipan, Catmon, Cebu to express our empathy to the Manalili Family for the death of Ate Vangie‘s mother, Mana Gorgonia Cole (with 3 years more to become a centenarian). The BCBP Consolacion group consisted of Ate Norma Caminade, Ate Erma Sangco, Kuya Gad/Ate Carmen Macasero, and my wife, Judy with me driving. Along the way still in Tayud, Consolacion (the alternate road for a lighter traffic), we encountered the heavy downpour of rain with a very low visibility that I had to drive at 20 – 30 km/hr following the car ahead with the same speed with full lights on. Judy led the group in prayer and we contemplated on the Sorrowful Mysteries. Instantly, I recalled the BCBP Mactan Mission Team for Ormoc City being caught in a typhoon at the beach house in Albuera, Leyte owned by the family of Ate Carmen L. Sto. Domingo. Like sus (the local term for the fresh water, black, spirally elongated shells approximately 4-5 cm long distinctly characterized to be grouping together in clusters), we recited the Holy Rosary led by Ate Litz Tan. In those similar situations, our prayers were answered. The latest encounter was quite scary and life threatening. In Compostela, I sensed the explosion of lightning and thunder as if we were hit head-on so that in a quick response, I had to step heavily on the brakes unexpectedly hard-pushing my passengers forward. But, it did not deter us from praying that we eventually reached our destination safe and sound with the food for us waiting prepared by Ate Vangie and Kuya Maning. The sumptuous dinner relieved us from fear recharging ourselves to celebrate and continue living our respective lives.
During the Holy Mass and Novena for the dead thereafter, I pondered on the opportunity to die naturally at a ripe old age leaving behind a legacy of good deeds. The 116 years old Japanese, Shigechiyo Izumi advises, “… the best way to lead a long life is simply, ‘not to worry’ (Mike Parker. The World’s Most Fantastic Freaks. p. 136)”. But, how can we be worry-free looking at the most recent effects of an endangered and angry nature? The joy of the Christmas Season this year is coupled with sadness especially to those directly affected.
Some may have abstract ideas of what is going on with the world. Bob Hope claims, “It’s a wonderful world. It may destroy itself, but you’ll be able to watch it on TV.” (In: Charles Swindoll’s Favorite Stories and Illustrations. p. 622). We saw the destruction of tsunami in Japan last March 2011 through the television. The TV and video footages of the actual events of Typhoon Sendong surely touched all of us. Personally striking was the footage of the 24 minutes rising water in Cagayan de Oro City showing evacuees moving-in to a safer house. That time span submerged the gate and house that ended the documentation. It brought me to a similar incident many years back.
Some may have abstract ideas of what is going on with the world. Bob Hope claims, “It’s a wonderful world. It may destroy itself, but you’ll be able to watch it on TV.” (In: Charles Swindoll’s Favorite Stories and Illustrations. p. 622). We saw the destruction of tsunami in Japan last March 2011 through the television. The TV and video footages of the actual events of Typhoon Sendong surely touched all of us. Personally striking was the footage of the 24 minutes rising water in Cagayan de Oro City showing evacuees moving-in to a safer house. That time span submerged the gate and house that ended the documentation. It brought me to a similar incident many years back.
Forty (40) years ago (December 1971), I experienced the same scenario. As a graduating and working student in high school, I lived nearby the campus of the Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception (FCIC), Baybay, Leyte. During that heavily raining afternoon, we observed that water was flowing and rising. The house where I lived was located at the southern side of Dungcaan Bridge. Accordingly, the overflowing river resulted from the clogging of the bridge by a high volume of debris that consisted of logs, timber, lumber and possibly a number of animals and human beings flushed from the mountain. (That extremely large volume of materials were later seen deposited in the beaches covering at least 5-6 kilometers from the town towards the north excluding the southern side.) We vacated our place when water rose from knee-high to hip-deep. I held and guided 2 children of the household towards higher grounds at the Convent of the Franciscan Sisters. Fortunately, the bridge broke astonishingly wiping the flood water that allowed us to return safe and secured.
After 4 decades, we continue to experience the rage of an endangered nature because of our irresponsible environmental management. In addition, there is global warming, climatic change and more. In our own small ways, as a family, we seriously consider the ethics of permaculture. In April 2011, Judy and I met a septuagenarian green-thumbed woman who shared with us several planting materials. I gained from her the insight to plant, plant and plant regardless of the distance and method of planting. She owns and operates a nature’s park and mountain resort overlooking Cebu City.
Lately, before 2011 ended, I joined “Love or Above” through the world-wide web. I attempted to attend the online event but due to technical inability and the very slow flow, I discontinued in the meantime. This is the first time I encountered the term webinar which means a seminar in the web or internet. For me, the www or the 3w is not just info dissemination but strengthening of the "web of life".
Appealing and strongly attractive is the invitation of its founder, “… to become a force for planetary shift….. turn on your spiritual gifts fully to make your inner light brighter ….. a life filled to the brim with love, abundance, joy, pleasure and fun.”
For 2012, I go the extra mile to attain financial abundance and freedom and attract all good things, keeping in mind my personal mission statement ("Holistic being and living" posted Jan 25, 2011 in my website). With me in my pilgrimage and life's journey are life coaches, Christie Marie Sheldon and her “Love or Above Team” and the "Life Optimizing and Strategic Business Coaches": Dr. Rubino, Ms. Henson and Ms. Mulac, www.support@cprsuccess.com.
I invite you to open or visit www.loveorabove.com/special to raise our individual vibrations and increase our respective energetic frequencies. nmg
For 2012, I go the extra mile to attain financial abundance and freedom and attract all good things, keeping in mind my personal mission statement ("Holistic being and living" posted Jan 25, 2011 in my website). With me in my pilgrimage and life's journey are life coaches, Christie Marie Sheldon and her “Love or Above Team” and the "Life Optimizing and Strategic Business Coaches": Dr. Rubino, Ms. Henson and Ms. Mulac, www.support@cprsuccess.com.
I invite you to open or visit www.loveorabove.com/special to raise our individual vibrations and increase our respective energetic frequencies. nmg
[1] A reflection of the CDO, Iligan and Negros natural disasters caused by Typhoon Sendong (Dec. 16-17, 2011).
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