Proud
Let me begin by sending my prayers to fellow Filipinos who were affected by typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon. According to the initial report by government agencies, 21 people from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon died while more than 200,000 people, 24 cities and municipalities have disrupted power lines, roads and bridges as well as schools, damaged.
The rains were seemingly unending causing massive flooding in the streets of Metro Manila, the low elevation of which combined with sheer overpopulation make it prone to what seems like a deluge of biblical proportions.
I commend rescuers and first responders who rushed to save those in distress despite the dangers they themselves faced. It is amazing to think how heroic these public servants and volunteers are and how they fulfill their duties in the face of adversities. Kudos also to local officials who did a spectacular job responding to the disaster in their communities.
I hope agencies of government provide the necessary aid to those affected allowing them to recover as they start rebuilding their shelter and livelihood. While search, rescue and the immediate aftermath of any disaster are undoubtedly crucial, it is in the rebuilding phase that we really should spend our resources on. Our kababayans need all the help they can get so they can build back their lives.
What happened with the typhoon Carina and the enhanced monsoon demonstrated the fact that we already know—Metro Manila is so overcrowded. While that is not the sole reason for the flooding, overpopulation makes it especially difficult to deal with urban problems. And the answer, I think, cannot simply be relocation. Forcing families to leave their homes and relocating them to unfamiliar location has produced it own problems for the host city or municipality.
What needs to be done is what experts have been saying a long, long time ago. It is something that I have been advocating for so long—decentralize development to prevent overburdening urban centers by enticing families to take up residence in areas outside the NCR. I have been trying to do that in my capacity as a private person and an entrepreneur: providing integrated property developments in various cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila. I know other property developers have been focusing their sites on other city centers outside NCR.
If we do not do this—decentralize—then we can only expect these disasters and tragedies to occur. And while preparedness for disaster is something we should aim for, I would rather focus on prevention. Let us make sure it will not happen again.
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In another development, Filipino athletes are currently in Paris for the Olympics and we could not be more proud of these 22 athletes who will be competing in nine sports. According to reports, this is the biggest Philippine delegation to the Olympics since 1992.
Our athletes, I believe, represent that value that all Filipinos possess—perseverance. Our athletes endure a lot of obstacles—the politicking, the lack of support, the lack of funds, Somehow, in spite of all these, they endure. And just for that they deserve gold medals from a grateful nation they represent proudly.
This is true also for many Filipinos who struggle every day of their lives just so they can provide for their family. Our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are also the epitome of perseverance. They are not athletes but they go through the same hardships—lack of employment, lack of opportunities, rapacious scammers, unfamiliar host nations, discrimination, at times, cruelty at the hands of employers. But they persevere. They save up money just to be able to buy their loved ones a home, send their kids to good schools, and build better lives.
This has been the story of our nation. The lead actor is not government but its people, rising up amidst challenges and tragedies, and overcoming unimaginable adversities to make their families proud, to make their country proud. We are.
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