Storms are Brewing

Did I mention that I like to huddle myself in bed in the cold and barrage of sound of heavy rain? There’s just something comforting about it. I feel the cushion around my body; and the sound of the storm raging outside sets me on a sense of solace. I’m not sure if that makes sense.

So, I’m enjoying this serenity that probably only I understand. Then, it occurs to me that the rain seems to be going on for the good part of the Saturday and goes on through Sunday. Wait a minute. This feels a bit familiar. Rain goes on throughout the day, and even through the night, carrying over to the next day. It starts to feel like the preliminary stages of unexpected disaster. This feels like something we went through more than a month ago. Suddenly, that calmness turns to concern. Did I secure my stuff in my workplace? Did I leave some important documents or equipment in my drawers and cabinet? For all I know, while I lay on bed flood water could already be starting to creep up in downtown streets. I started to feel uneasy. Suddenly, this weather which used to comfort me got me praying for it to stop. I began to watch for how long it would last.

Kristine made paranoid panic manics out of us. Yes, there is prudence in precaution. But after October 22, 2024, at the slightest sign of rain, we would want to secure every important item in waterproof polyethylene bags. Barangay residents now prematurely volunteer to settle in evacuation centers. Employees would want to take their office laptops and printers home. Many people have become subscribers to online weather reports.

Maybe, the concerns are far from unfounded. There was no typhoon. There was not even a low pressure area. They said that the continuous rains were caused by a shear line (whatever that is). But, after a while, social media popped with posts with rising flood water in some towns in Camarines Sur, up to the knees in Lagonoy and near the hips in Tinambac. We badly need a long-term, large-scale flood prevention or redirection project. I heard of talks of infrastructure projects that would collect rain water and redirect it away from residential areas. (I’m not an engineer. I don’t really know how it works.) Whatever it is, I think, an agency or task force should immediately come together to concretize that idea or some other solutions. Some issues may start small, but are actually creeping up to be more troublesome disasters.

As light rains fall down in seemingly small amounts, so did this drama with the Vice President. I think, early this year or late last year, buzz started among national legislators of a rift between Marcos and Duterte camps. Wait, are not they the Uniteam that brought down the Pinklawan last election? What are they now? Are they now the Diviteam? How do personalities who allied themselves with both camps divide their bodies? Take for example DOJ Secretary who clearly on Duterte’s side in the previous administration. Where would he stand now? Sen. Robinhood Padilla who passionately defends the Marcos issued Martial Law back in 1972 and is also close with former President Duterte. Who does he defend now? How about media personalities like Anthony Taberna who championed the North and also sided with the South? Who are they with now? At least, Senators Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go would not have that sort of problem. They clearly know where they stand.

That drizzle of a buzz of a rift came to a head as does heavy rainfall when the VP quit from all her positions with the administration. Remember that she didn’t even give a reason. What’s with that? Then, the downpour intensified with her denials on their friendship. Then came her strong criticisms against the President’s manner of governance. (By that time, I was thinking, “What’s her problem?”.) Storm really came when she made threats of exhuming the body of former President Marcos Sr. and tossing it on the West Philippine Sea. How and why is she going to do that? We all know of political opponents, but that one is utterly disrespectful. Then warning signals further increased with indirect threats to life. Assassination may not have been directly stated, but that’s what the statements meant. If the resignation and disclaimer of friendship got me scratching my head, her recent declarations got me shaking my head with open mouth. She has become successful in overshadowing Alice Guo, Quibuloy, Kristine and Pepito. If her claim of harassment from the Marcos camp bears some truth, the President’s people have successfully played it with subtlety. But, any assertion that it all has been a conspiracy can by now, only be counted as speculation.

Now, this calamity of an impeachment has been filed. Like I said, we have to have a serious flood control project.

““You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down….” Isaiah 45:8