How did typhoon Yolanda affect you?

Typhoon Yolanda didn’t come and go without valuable lessons for us to learn. For me, typhoon Yolanda is a reminder of how much we should value our relationships and be grateful for all our blessings. It is a wakeup call that we can lose all our material possessions and most important we should always strive to do God’s will in every moment of our lives so that at anytime the unexpected may come we are ready.

These past few days and the coming months will not be easy for those affected. The enormous task of not only rebuilding the towns that were washed away but healing the trauma that this tragedy has caused is great.  The eyes of the world are on us now. We should as a nation bond together and show the world that together we will be able to rise and rebuild a better Philippines!

Mary Anne Alcordo Solomon, president, Outdoor Advertising Association of Cebu Chapter

Typhoon Yolanda changed my perspective on life—that life is too short, that you have to live each day as if it was your last, and resilience. The description of a Filipino leadership—that one has to be in control. Giving—that it is never enough, that you give until it hurts. Humanity—in calamities like Yolanda, people of all races and religion are one in reaching out. Service—as per the Rotary’s motto, you live up to or even going beyond doing “Service Above Self.”

I think that Yolanda happening on the heels of the PDAF scam has served as a very loud wake-up call for us Filipinos. It has exposed our government’s incompetence—not just to Filipinos who live here but also to people from abroad. Seeing first hand people from all walks of life doing what they can to help those affected by Yolanda has strengthened my belief in the Filipino’s can-do spirit, and I’m glad to see that the bayanihan spirit is still alive. And if there is one thing we should learn from Yolanda, it is that there is still solidarity among Filipinos. And we should use this solidarity to effect change in governance.

Nikki Gil, VJ/TV host/actress/singer

It hasn’t changed my life, but it did make me realize that no matter how technologically advanced we are, we’re still at the mercy of Mother Nature. And when she unleashes her fury, everything can be gone in the wink of an eye. Makes us realize how such things as wealth, success or fame can be so fleeting.

Rep. Em Aglipay, Diwa partylist

Although I was also mourning the loss of thousands of lives due to Yolanda, I dropped everything and found ways to help. My schedule for the next week or so then changed in order to concentrate on providing relief to the victims of Yolanda and to aid in the recovery of the towns affected. The destruction caused by Yolanda also made me realize that I am not prepared for a natural disaster of that magnitude. I decided to be serious about preparations for extreme calamities by making the structures that I live in stronger and ensuring that I always have supplies of non-perishable food items for at least a month, first aid supplies, water purification tablets, aluminum foil, blankets, waterproof matches, etc.  

Jack de Mesa, model, businessman

This week, as the images of Yolanda’s devastation came across the news, I was totally struck by how powerful the force of nature is. It made me realize that we, citizens of earth, should really take good care of our environment. It also made me realize that we are “one” regardless of race. We are there to help each other in times of need. I have a stronger faith in humanity.

Denise Laurel, actress

 It’s simply so heartwarming to know how people from all over the world, regardless of creed, color or persuasion, have all offered their support and prayers for us Filipinos. It’s a bright ray of light amid the squalor and desolation.

Grace Lee, newscaster

The Yolanda tragedy makes for a good case study in disaster management. We can only sit back and watch the unfolding drama as the government lives up to its claims and contradicts Anderson Cooper’s factual and non-biased report. There’s a lesson to be learned here. Action definitely speaks louder than words.

Weena Lim, Atlanta Olympian, badminton

Yolanda has made me appreciate and be more thankful for the smallest blessing like the water we drink, shelter, food on the table or even a sunny day — things we usually take for granted. My spirit of bayanihan is now even stronger because of all these tragedies.

Debbie Co, fashion designer

This tragedy made me realize more that the most important things in life are not things but people and relationships. To value life more, to live with a purpose and joy in the present.

Koleen Davila Palaganas, Asia Pacific Partnership development manager, Habitat for Humanity

The saying that we are our brother’s keeper has become more real to me. It made me appreciate life more and it showed me that there is so much good in every person. We can see the love and concern that everyone is extending and it is inspiring. It is also a reminder that we truly do not own our lives, and in just one instant, we can easily lose it. I am more committed to making each day count, devoting more of myself to what truly matters.