Storm is not over

I know, I wrote that we shouldn’t be complaining, but wait for the linemen to clear the cables for the power stations to turn on the power. But why did it take so long? In cases of many areas, why is it taking so long? What’s all the delay? In many places, there are very few to no severed electric cables or toppled posts. Then, why couldn’t they turn their lights on yet? Why are we still in post-typhoon heat and darkness. What puzzles me even more is that despite many areas still not having electricity, the schedule for day-long power outages in selected areas pushes through. How do you pull out the plug on what’s already unplugged, or without power in the first place? Are the schedules, just for schedules’ sake?

Why do the water pumping stations not have their own generator sets? When power stops, water also stops. People get hit twice. It’s like getting insult after injury. Then, these guys managing the water services would tell us that they can’t do anything. They have to wait for regular power supply, which seems to be long in coming. Has no one from them thought of allocating budget for generator sets and gas to keep the pumping stations running? Don’t tell me the gen sets would not be cost efficient. We regularly have typhoons that cause power outages. Within CASURECO districts, it has become normal to have day-long power outages once or twice a month. (By the way, this should not be normal. These regular, rotating day-long power outages have to stop.)

Why are they in a rush to resume classes for school children? In many classrooms, the chairs are still wet from recently subsided flood, floors are murky with mud and leaves, and as mentioned, power is still out. Do they want the children to come to class or do they want them to clean the campus? Why do teachers require students a pile of projects to submit by the immediate Friday after the typhoon. Yes, some schools have their power back to normal. Rooms are all clean. Lights turn on and electric fan blades are spinning. But many students would go to their homes without lights, no power to charge their devices with, and no wi-fi signal and a spotty mobile data signal. How do these teachers expect the children do their works and tasks? Are they expected to go to malls to charge laptops or phones, connect to wi-fi, and have documents printed? Should this be a sign of a studious and diligent student? Come on. Employees get the opportunity to loan because of the calamity. Families are given relief packs. Don’t students get a little bit of relief and consideration?

Yeah, typhoons and their aftermath are part of Filipino culture and tradition; but, I think, there are some things we could do. Expedite restoration of power. Always have generator sets on standby in water pumping stations. Extend the period of recovery for affected people.

Now, while we’re waiting for the lights to turn on, so we could turn on the electric fans, the storm is still raging in Manila as it has been for the past months. It’s good that our fellow Bicolano, Zaldy Co has decided to testify (although online), and has not made himself unreachable. His statements shook the nation like an earthquake that it stirred off some Malacanang officials to resignation, and sent throngs of members of Iglesia ni Cristo to the open area of Luneta for three days. Why is the demonstration coming from one distinct sect? Maybe, that’s not so odd. In 1986, the People Power Revolution was prominently supported by the Roman Catholic Church with Jaime Cardinal Sin at the forefront, and nuns with rosaries participating very visibly. On the other hand, they’re Catholics. In a room of ten Filipinos, eight of them would probably be Catholic. I’m not so sure how much INC would account for in demographic statistics. Yes, sure; there are a lot of them; but certainly not as massive as Catholics (No offense meant to INC.)

BBM being allegedly implicated behind the corrupt flood-control projects got me scratching my head. Remember that President Bongbong Marcos was the actual spark that instigated the investigations when he called out the corrupt projects as response to the widespread flooding in July, in his SONA. Persons behind corrupt activities keep mum and stay quiet about anything even remotely related to the crime that they could be implicated with. Why would he call out the anomalous flood-control projects if he has been getting money from it. This thing has just gotten even more rotten that it already has been. This is one storm with an unpredictable end.

Acts 27:15: “and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along.”