By Victor C. Pagayunan
Typhoon Frank brought 354 millimeters (1.4 ft.) of rain resulting to a century deep flood in Aklan, an average of 8 inches to 1 ft. deep mud in Poblacion, Kalibo and wind which lashed 140 to 170 kms. per hour. It resulted to 53 deaths, thousands of persons made homeless, livestock and poultry killed, agricultural crops damaged and rendered all materials and equipments in the first floors of buildings useless. Shown above is Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz, PP Aklan Medical Society in rubber boots gamely poses on all kinds of muddy documents at XIX Martyrs St., Kalibo, Aklan.
The wrath of Mother Nature is beyond man’s imagination. Typhoon Frank lashed mercilessly against Aklan that fateful day of June 21, 2008. Just picture the havoc wrought to the province. Hundreds of dwellings, countless loss of livestock and the like, millions worth of infrastructures destroyed and above all lives were lost on that unforgettable day!
The fast growing province lost its grandeur. The “Manggad it Kalibo”, like the Bakhawan Eco-Park, the renovated Museo it Aklan and the century old edifice cathedral, the fertile soil of Libacao considered the next tourist destination of Aklan, the town of Madalag known to be the land of the sweetest lanzones, the agricultural land of Malinao, Bugna it Tangalan, the social capital of Aklan, Banga the Beautiful, the town of Numancia known for its sumptuous and luscious cuisine, the Ibajay beaches are towns few to mention were greatly adversely affected.
Many questions beseech my mind. Is this lamentable calamity one of the dreaded prophecies? Or was it the greed of money and power as the world progresses? Or was it Mother Nature’s retaliation to man’s abusive utilization of her mountains and rivers which are vital bountiful blessings to mankind so as to survive in this world? Or caused by illegal loggings of our once verdant forests and the quarry business of our crystal clear river water? Or is it just a simple test of our faith? Or we just took for granted the reminders of those concerned and earth-friendly people? The answers are for each one of us to ponder upon.
As I contemplate on these queries. I was reminded by the book of Genesis that tells us about the creation of the universe, the origin of mankind wherein God looked at everything He had made and He was pleased, which made me discern also about the early history of the human race, the accounts of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babylon.
My nephew, a grade four pupil commented out of his innocent mind and said, “Sometimes Jesus is bad. He gives us strong wind and rain.” I can’t blame his belief but rather asked myself, why this has to happen? He might be true or not at all.
When I took a jeepney ride after that horrible day, the talk of the town was nothing but what had happened as a result of the typhoon. An old woman lamented, “Makasasaea eon gid man ro tawo.” (People have become hardened sinners). I couldn’t help but pray that we will be forgiven and can recover from this tragic event in our lives.
The howling of the terrible wind, the raging lashes of the once calm waters of the wide and narrow creeks and rivers were nerve shattering to the ears. No wonder then that both the victims and the survivors had the common instinct to turn only to God as they supplicated to be spared from Mother Nature’s wrath!
Imagine yourself amidst the pitiful haggard looking evacuees who lost everything they owned swept away by the strong angry current of flood waters. Look at them trembling from the trauma of near death as the overflowing rivers lambasted their dwellings and forced them out in the treacherous water to be carried away or be devoured instantly by the raging water in just a wink of an eye. They were hungry not only for food but for the attention and concern of the lucky one like us, who didn’t experience the tragedy they encountered. Can we just stare at them and say thank God I’m not one of them? Woe to these victims! I just hope immediate assistance from the government, philanthropists and other concerned NGO’s will relieve them of their pain for the moment and rescue them from eminent danger.
The tragic episode they experienced was not their own making anyway! What an irony of fate to feel and see the consequences of abusing our natural resources! Many, many years ago, when the century old proud trees were untouchable guards against the unpredictable attack of floods, our rivers were not overflowed to claim lives of humans and animals alike. But they were gone. Who dug sand and gravel which hastened soil erosion, river siltation and flood? They are here wallowing in wealth. Can you identify them?
We, the survivors of the typhoon Frank must be jubilant that we are very much alive, to thank God that we can go back to work and do our responsibilities bestowed to us. But let’s not forget that our Mother Earth is just there for us. It is not only the environmentalists, who must propagate, protect and preserve our Mother Earth, but we who are the survivors and even the victims who have the indomitable spirits to survive the agony and the misfortune of the said tragedy. Let us take it as another challenge to have an optimistic approach in dealing with trials such as this to make us more determined to achieve success despite the labyrinth’s jigsaw puzzles in the arena of life. Let those environmental destroyers vanish.
Nature’s wrath will come anytime if our natural resources are not conserved and preserved. Like humans, they need extra care and concern so they can be the constant source of help to man’s needs for existence in this planet called earth. God designed it to be so. Thus, let’s join hands and save Mother Earth.
Let us go down into the deep well of oblivion with the pains, heartaches, sorrows of yesterday caused by Frank, the menacing typhoon. Let us overcome all adversities and defy all the odds. Let us face the future with positive outlook and determination. Be guided with the words of William Jennings Bryan which is worth pondering, “Destiny is not a Matter of Chance, It’s a Matter of Choice.” Above all God invites us, “Come to me all of you who are weary and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Every difficulty is an invitation to bend our knees and say a prayer. Keep our faith in Him and He will rescue us from all evil. /MP
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