Wandergirl Speaks

Archive for the ‘Current Events’ Category

Indeed, nature has its way of teaching its people. And when it does, it is sometimes harder than one can expect.

During the weekend, typhoon Ondoy displaces hundreds of families and flooded most areas of Metro Manila, making it the worst case of flooding seen in recent years.

vehicles afloat everywhere

Honestly, it was a scary experience to everyone. And because it was on a Saturday when the massive rainfall started, many have been stranded in their workplace, while others in their homes and eventually on their rooftop.

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Between that time, I was in my parents’ residence in Sampaloc, Manila along España. It was already slightly raining on a Friday, but it turned worst on a Saturday morning, starting 10 am. And in the short span of 2 hours, water started getting inside our house.

At first, we thought it’s going to be just one of those previous cases of flood we’ve gone through. After all, living in España for years has somehow prepared us already with what to do in cases like that. But Ondoy is really strong. Not to mention scary, after it left us with a chest-high water. So far, the highest we’ve experienced.

When typhoon Milenyo directly hit Metro Manila in 2006, it was deemed the strongest in 11 years. But no one really prepared everyone with typhoon Ondoy’s strength as it turned some parts of Metro Manila, specifically Marikina into a virtual lake.

And speaking of these two typhoons, is it just a coincidence that they both happened on the month of September? Milenyo in 2006, while Ondoy three years after?

Both also resulted to a Luzon-wide blackout, flooding and landslides in some parts of the Philippines directly affected by it, thousands of stranded individuals, and overturned countless vehicles. And both also recorded more than a dozen of fatalities.

I’ve been seeing this ad almost nearly a dozen times in a day. And mind you, I don’t even spend all day in front of the TV.

If I am apathetic and unaffected I’d rather blog about my day at work, perhaps, it’s even more interesting. But just a minute ago I came across this Mar Roxas’ “Padyak II” ad for the nth time and to be honest it’s becoming a sore in my viewing time.

In the first few seconds of this ad, a woman approaches the politician by saying “Mar, tignan mo nman ang binili ko anim ang kakain nito pero pang-dalawa lang ang budget.” Then there’s this teen boy telling him “Gusto ko po sanang tapusin ang aking pag-aaral.”

Wow, what a big responsibility, isn’t it?!

While it is forgivable seeing politicians so hellbent in winning everyone’s vote by simultaneously broadcasting their platforms anywhere and everywhere what irritates me is when they start giving the public the wrong message that we can be highly dependent to the government.

Now here’s my take, if a President is elected it is not her obligation to put food in every household’s table. But I would agree that it is her duty to make sure our economy is at stable condition and that we have sufficient livelihood opportunities to improve our living. If a President or an entire body of politician is elected to office it is not their responsibility to send our children to school and pay for all the expenses. After all, we do not live in a charity world and that’s reality. But I would agree that it is their duty to ensure that the people is well and properly protected by the laws they pass and that they are applied fairly to all.

To be honest, this type of ad disillusions a lot of people. Because when the so-called “masa” start casting their votes they automatically think that they are voting for these people because they will give them heaven and riches.

And finally, can I just say: stop sugarcoating for crying out loud!