Balita

NATURE’S PAYBACK TIME

In our October 2011 column of this newspaper titled “ Watch out

for Sendong and Tisoy “, we warned that typhoon “Pedring and

Quiel “ may not be the last of the worst weather disturbances that

will hit the Philippines.

Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not invoking an “I told you

so attitude “nor claiming to be a weather expert. It doesn’t

take a rocket scientist to observe today’s climate changes that

continuously defies norms and standards.

Usually, after an estimated 20 cyclones/typhoons (the yearly

average to hit the country) storm-weary Filipinos do not expect a

tail-end December weather disturbance to ruin their Christmas

celebration. And yet it happened.

Why do think we have a snow-less December 2011 here in

Toronto? (although we had a few centimeters late in December

27). Instead we have rainfalls. Think La Nina.

For instance, typhoon “Sendong “ was not as powerful as

2009’s “Ondoy “ but it left at least 500,000 homeless in Cagayan

De Oro, Iligan city and Dumaguete and parts of Misamis Oriental

in its wake. Unlike Ondoy, Sendong’s rampaging flash floods

killed at least 1,200 people with a thousand more still unaccounted

for.

Sendong was bound to happen. The topography of the affected

areas made it so. There was also according to reports, rampant

illegal logging as shown by news photos of thousands of logs that

were carried down the mountains .No trees were able to hold down

a month’s rainfall that fell down on these areas.

The affected areas have been predicted to be flood prone as it

was basically “ a catch basin “where water cascading from the

mountainsides and the high tides from bay would inundate those

places.

As in the cases of the Marikina river where Ondoy caused the

damage, the rivers in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan swelled to

great proportions that swept everything on its path.

Global warming, weather aberrations like El Nino and La Nina

are changing the world’s climate. In the Philippines,

rains, much more storms in December are a rarity some 10 years or

so ago.

Even climatologists agree that Sendong is not the last. More will

occur. Mindanao is an example. The sheer number of fatalities in

Cagayan de Oro and Iligan was a result of complacency among the

populace who had clung to the notion that the region is generally

not visited by typhoons which are of course a fact..until the flash

floods came past midnight.

We can blame global warming. But let’s blame ourselves.

Logging,

October

building subdivisions in agricultural areas, resorts in forest areas,

Boracay-like beaches in virgin and protected areas..they are anti-

environment. They create imbalance with tragic consequences.

Filipino climatologists agree that the Philippines “is in a sort of

environmental turmoil and politicians should now address the

situation “.

We are now paying the price.

******

WHERE TO DONATE? If you want to help and pitch in to

the Sendong victims. You can contact the Philippine Consulate

General at Eglinton Avenue at Tel. no. 416-922-7181. They are

coordinating the fund-raising efforts for the community through

Consul General Pedro Chan.

*******

MILESTONES/TRANSITIONS: Ging Hernandez met her creator

before Christmas. The community mourned and paid paeans and

tributes to her character and achievements. But what she really

left as a lasting imprint (which we hope community leaders should

seriously take note) is one of a leader and community worker who

shuns the limelight, preferred to be faceless. No frills, no publicity

seeking..just plain hard and dedicated work. In short low key.

I wonder who could fill in her shoes.

*****

THE MEL AND FLOR SHOW: Mel and Joey, the defunct TV

show of GMA 7 is no more, But we have in Toronto the Mel and

Flor show. A success story of grit and determination of a couple

who swayed from dance floor to the baking oven to a food empire

that is FV foods now. They observed Christmas by sharing their

blessings with some 300 employees and families.)pls. read separate

story on this Balita issue).

My greetings to December 2011 and January 2012 celebrants:

Jocelyn S. De La Cruz, my sister (Dec.29), Ira A. Soriano (Dec.30)

Jesse Budoy “ De La Cruz (Dec.25), bayaw and Myrna O. Soriano,

Mom to my children and partner for life. Congratulations !

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