the stories, the snootiness

"Because you're poor, when calamity strikes, you're rendered incapacitated and at the peril of tragedy."

That is what actually the West utters about the Philippines Typhoon Haiyan experience. I can feel the derision on the Tube. It wouldn't happen to the Empire, they have the sturdier, listed structures (yeah). Planning permissions are needed for construction of any kind. My husband doesn't need to elucidate his thoughts. As I was back reading the news alerts, PAG -ASA or even Joint Typhoon Weather Center in Hawaii didn't illustrate clearly the definite storm surge that was going to hit land, specifically in Tacloban. They only said signal number one in the Visayas days before, upgrade to signal number four on the day itself (when the wind speed and the surge are on their deadliest) and Manila would experience residual rains. We were used to typhoons of the past (trees are usually uprooted) but they were not strong enough to topple every wooden property and blow away roofs made of dainty, cheap materials or 35 feet or more of water surge and wind speed so quick and strong. It was The Three Little Pigs in real time with a huge flood. Even if you had a very modern house, if it was not very high, chances of drowning was huge. If the warnings and paths were issued accurately, every resident of those affected areas should have boarded the C130 days before.

Houses and buildings made of concrete are more expensive to construct than the Bahay Kubo. Majority don't even have the plot of land to build a humble abode, the word is informal settler. Counting all the factors involved, lessons are learned but tell that to the victims who lost entire families. How do you appease hunger and a broken soul? How would you ever recover?

The politicians even played politics in the aftermath, just because they can, the nerve. If there was immediate response to the disaster, a descent into lawlessness would never happen. The government with their helicopters and satellite phone should have moved quickly.

Yet, the international community have been really helpful. A colleague from Africa even commented on the amount of aid  extended to the Philippines. Well, RP always thinks the US of A as kindred spirit, so the US Marines are really helpful with logistics.

This calamity hurts, makes one humble. Other countries can only give aid and stare at our plight and they continue with their very commercialised Christmas traditions. We take stock and reflect of those people who are experiencing nightmares, my fellow Visayans, and we should help in whatever ways to our Kababayans.