Life in battered Visayas slowly going back to normal

It’s been two weeks since Yolanda hit Visayas. And life is going back to normal. By normal, we’re bickering again, talking scams, crime and tsismis. 

We hear stories of the national government not coordinating with the local government units... Epal-ness in the handling of relief efforts... government officials fighting over who should be handling what... 

“Hinga!” Breathe. 

Indeed, life is returning to normal for many of us. And perhaps in no time at all, we will be busy with our own affairs, back to our #selfie mode. Just last week #unselfie was trending on Twitter.
Also last week, CNN interviewed our president. Christiane Amanpour said that the handling of the disaster in the Visayas could define PNoy’s administration. That much I believe is true. 
It is undeniable that there is politics. Obviously, we were ill-prepared. 

There was breakdown in peace and order. 

There was looting and despair.

We see different modus operandi left and right. 

These are facts. 

But while leaders had differences, they were also able to resolve their differences. We have our government, but we didn’t merely rely on the government. We did our share! 

Lives were lost, but everywhere people are trying to pick up the pieces and extend a helping hand.

There was looting, but there are stories of selflessness. Survivors still giving something to strangers and foreigners despite their loss. We saw hope. 

There are those who are taking advantage of this crisis to make money, but more people gave and some even sacrificed their pension for Yolanda survivors. 

We were tested by Yolanda and it is a defining moment for our nation, and the Filipino spirit. This crisis brought out our true character. Now, more than ever, I’m proud to say I am a Filipino. 

In the news, I listened to the plea of one survivor in Leyte: “Please do not forget about us.” Their life will never become normal once again. They would have to find a new meaning to the term normal — without a home, losing a loved one, and finding the means to live. 

But more important is for our country to remember who we are, and hold on to that bayanihan spirit inherent in all of us that shone through during Yolanda. Filipinos the world over became affected and suffered, and we’re trying our best to pick up the pieces. 

We are a country, one with the world.

This is our defining moment.

Let us not forget, for the sake of those who need our help, we have to help see them through until they can make it on their own. That will take years. 

More importantly, let us not forget all the goodness and selflessness that we witnessed these past two weeks. 

“Sugod” to volunteer their time repacking, “sugod” sorting through your stuff at home on what we can donate.

“Sugod “ to drive refugees to their families from Villamor Airbase. “Sugod” to help! 

That is Filipino. It took a super typhoon to remind us what a great nation we are. May we never ever forget our true nature, especially during adversities. 

Sugod mga kababayan, Sugod! Much still has to be done.

(E-mail me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @bernadette_ABS.)