CHRISTMAS AFTER THE STORM

CHRISTMAS AFTER THE STORM

Months after the storm lies a different setting before the yuletide. Like those of being risen from the ruins after a long siege, people are desperately took long lines for bread and clothes while staying in a temporary shelter-especially in a public school or in a covered court. These people somehow tried to express happiness, but still their faces remained too emotional, especially from taking long lines to carrying relief goods and being checked-up medically by the volunteers coming from different sectors of the society. Perhaps, this would be an early Christmas treat to the less fortunate; due to the devastating effects of typhoons "Ondoy", "Pepeng", and other succeeding typhoons entered in this "land of the morning."

In fact,
I simply remember how I donate some of my used clothes not just because to provide space in my closet nor being called by my conscience to give them what I have, but as a way to serve them faithfully-to serve the 90 per cent of the entire Filipino society who experienced a traumatic effect after the storm. Somehow, nature tried to test us how endure are we, or are we apathetic regarding our society, and after these we returned back in being apathetic and thinking "Christmas" as a means to spend money a lot-instead of celebrating it through ceaseless service; as what the Benedictine motto said: "Ora et Labora"-Prayer and work, and thus it includes serving them as they serve us.

In this coming yuletide, why not just feel and think how they are as of now not just spending money for the sake of something possessive? Especially in the "most Christian country in Asia?" Well... if we take being Christian seriously, especially in this season, Being a devout Christian means nothing to have-for the people have everything, especially to the victims after the storm.

Serving in the middle of the Kali Yuga

Serving in the middle of the Kali Yuga

Widespread calamities, financial breakdowns, rice riots, anything disastrous around the society. These are the current negative trends we are experiencing up now in this planet called Earth. However, these trends somehow are more of a start, start that may shook the world badly due to the acts that destroys social sanity and of forcing people to join the flow that leads to nothing.

In short,
We are now likely to be in the stage of Kali Yuga in this global society. Age of Kali or in other meaning as the Age of vice, Kali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle described in the Hindu scriptures. And that stage somehow shows that human civilization degenerates spiritually, or in a Marxian phrase that it changes due to the condition, especially in the stages of society from primitive communal phase to the stage of capitalism. Somehow if I sum this together, both Hindu and Marxian ideas, as progress continue to lead within the society, the society also degenerates spiritually due to the problems around it, like calamities, financial problems, etc.

But then,
Many people are trying to endure and at the same time resist the flow, of trying to solve every problem in this age of vice, not just spiritual as what the Hindus think of, but also of temporal-of trying to deal with the society like the ones being experienced today.

Let's take the typhoon "Ondoy" in the Philippines perhaps, that typhoon somehow was a part of that Kali Yuga age, and that ravaging wind and rain concoction ravages homes in and surrounding Metro Manila and parts of the country, leaving it flooded, in mud, in dirt while the people, rich and poor are greatly suffered. For sure out of these incident lies a temporary unity and a cease fire from an everyday battle, and instead more and more relief operations laced with corporate social responsibilities, of showbusiness and political aspirations mushroomed through it in order to gain popular support ...or use them.



This example somehow shows that even showbiz personalities also engaged in this short term program to give the affected a handout. Perhaps they may just trying to get serious, or truly, really serious acts to do these things just like Angel Locsin! Perhaps her example seemed different from her previous "Darna" (a Filipino Superheroine) days as a savior of the Filipino masa (the masses, mostly consists of the working classes), but this time without any power just herself as a person or maybe a person excluding her artist appeal perhaps.

But still,
Despite these short term services, more and more will come in this Kali Yuga. Will the people expect this quotation indicating the end?:
"When flowers will be begot within flowers, and fruits within fruits, then will the Yuga come to an end. And the clouds will pour rain unseasonably when the end of the Yuga approaches."
But this time, in this modern age, people may call this crazy or a fairy tale kind of thing; but they didn't notice that in that age also includes ourselves, and thus the only way is not just to pray, but also to change the society hard, especially that life and history in general is more of a struggles both as an individual and as a class, as possible of breaking off the rotten old tree of society and destroy its roots and branches in it, and to build a society which is new one; this time peaceful, just and prosperous that can benefit humankind temporally and spiritually.

The "Self Criticism" of Bayani Fernando and the gimmicks of politicians in the middle of Ondoy

The "Self Criticism" of Bayani Fernando
and the gimmicks of politicians in the middle of Ondoy

At first, he is famous for developing Marikina from a mere town one of the first class cities in Metro Manila in the Philippines. Also famous for his Machiavellian and semi-Draconian example through his forceful eviction of sidewalk vendors and U-turn schemes, Bayani Fernando today seemed met his failure-for his Metro Manila Development Authority didn't handle much regarding the recent floods in Metro Manila, that even includes his bulwark last September 26 until now.

In fact, that man seemed wasting his time at that time in his political ambition as a president-wannabe (although he end up defeated in the nomination by Defense's Teodoro) and at the same time in his long-term vison being a Chairman of MMDA. However, not noticing that a typhoon named "Ondoy" was approaching that it can affect Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon. And just like any other traditional politician, perhaps through his self criticism and confession regarding flood control responsibilities, he's just trying to save his face.

Well...
In an event where many people are greatly suffered from a calamity, some politicians, including Fernando, are also grabbing this opportunity in preparation for the upcoming elections in 2010, while others perhaps are seriously doing so despite having a government position. Richard Gordon for example, he's a Red Cross member and at the same time a senator, he's just doing his job as a humanitarian, unlike others who are grabbing a calamity as an asset than a liability, especially from buying life boats to utilizing the military like Teodoro did.

But as these politicians are doing these kind of things, Mikey Arroyo, a member of the presidential family seemed doing something different. In the middle of the tragedies happened, he's buying liquor in a stall somewhere in Katipunan! According to Facebook, it says that:
Author’s Note: The person who posted the picture has asked me to take down the pic because she and her family are worried for their safety and security. She has already removed the picture from her Facebook account. I’ve already advised her that if at any point someone harasses her or her family she should give me a call and I can refer them to people who can help.
Unfortunately, the picture was deleted due to confidential reasons upon doing this remarkable act. But then, Mikey Arroyo, whatever reason he has, still he's doing it in a middle of a tragedy, especially that he's also recognized as a politician and his province was also affected by the typhoon!

These tragic events perhaps, shows how politicians are trying hard to save their faces for 2010, using a tragedy as an opportunity, they are still thinking of ballot boxes as part of it. Except other politicians who are really serving the people with or without these tragedies happened like Ondoy.