Still

I just received an email-You Tube video exhorting viewers to watch, act, donate or at least pray for the two million Filipinos hardest hit by typhoon Ondoy.

The visuals were undoubtedly powerful. One in particular was a photo of a man covered in mud, visibly dead tired and in tears, overwhelmed by his loss and his helplessness. 

Most of us feel a part of that helplessness directly and indirectly. But I found some encouragement in the video because of the imbedded music entitled “Still” written and performed by Reuben Morgan of Hillsong. If you have a chance please listen to it on the internet or get a copy because it certainly uplifted my spirit and encouraged me to go out once again today and help out even if sometimes it may seem almost insignificant:

STILL

Hide me now under your wings,

And cover me within your mighty hand.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar,

I will soar above the storm.

Father, you are King over the flood

 And I will be still and know you’re God.

Find rest my soul in Christ alone,

And know his power in quietness and trust.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar above the storm.

Father you are King over the flood,

And I will be still and know you’re God.

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Days after the storm, I was saddened to hear that my fellow Tuesday Club member Elmer Mercado was one of thousands of Filipinos whose house was “swamped” by rain and mud. Through it all he has, like many, come out of it thankful that his family is intact and alive.

Despite his material loss, Elmer still managed to send me an SMS story worth retelling to inspire all of us. This is the full text of Elmer’s SMS:

For the first time ever, our subdivision Loyola Grand Villas in Marikina, got inundated with floodwaters coming from the Tumana River. A part of the village was submerged under 10 ft of water. Parents were panicking and trying to find ways to move their children to higher ground.

According to the residents of Finland and Monaco streets, our neighbors, actor Jericho Rosales and Raymart Santiago turned up and, using their surfboards, started rescuing children . . . to the distressed parents’ relief. They didn’t mind swimming in the cold and very muddy waters. These heroic acts of our two very unassuming star/actor neighbors have gone unnoticed but we bring it to your attention, in behalf of the families they have helped here in LGV.

This despite the fact that Raymart’s house located along the Tumana Riverbanks was also heavily damaged and was flooded up to the second floor. Thank you Echo and Raymart and to all the other neighbors who helped in the silent rescue Ops that transpired here. — From Elmer Mercado.

*      *      *

When I tried to call Raymart, his ring tone sang . . . Lord I offer my life to you . . . everything I can I do . . . let me use it for your glory!!! Talk about being consistent.

*      *      *

Please be advised that the Philippine National Red Cross will spearhead a major concert for flood victims on Oct. 3. Venue will soon be announced. John Lesaca, along with Area One, Zoo, and Mulato will be doing a concert on Oct. 10, all proceeds will also go to typhoon victims. Venue will be at Music Museum.

Freddie Aguilar, Joey Ayala, Watawat band, Marc Velasco, Ko Jones, Jonan & Jeriko Aguilar with Anak the band, Aurora, Brownstone etc will be staging a similar concert where they invite people to drop off relief goods as well at the Ka Freddie’s Music bar & restaurant on October 14 Wednesday, 8 p.m. up.

*    *    *

For today’s unsolicited advise:

May I suggest to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DND Secretary Gilbert Teodoro or even to the mayors of affected areas to consider evacuating or decongesting the makeshift centers by spreading the families to temporary facilities such as all the available basketball courts all over Metro Manila that have toilets and lights as well as parking space that can be used to put up temporary tents and soup kitchens.

We have spent millions upon millions of pesos on multi purpose gyms, covered courts and sports arenas that are now vital in easing the disaster relief operations. But most of them are being used for “mass”, group exercise, or being rented out for activities.

In the meantime, we waste so much time, fuel, money and labor collecting relief goods, and delivering them to areas that have not been cleared or secured.

By prioritizing the sick and the totally displaced, residents of villages and barangays can accommodate or “adopt” a set number of children, women and elderly who can be cared for and fed properly without having to go through the inefficiency of our present relief operations.

I realize that the present system is intended to be temporary. However, this disaster is too big and too wide to be considered temporary. While everyone is thinking relief, the victims are thinking desperation and may become a social time bomb where people start marauding or operating in bands for food or anything that can be used or sold for money.

Two days ago, church members delivered truckloads of food to the Pinagbuhatan area in Pasig. Some people along the highway, believing the relief goods were government deliveries, attempted to intercept the goods out of resentment because they were merely being by-passed and were far from the evacuation centers.

We can take care of our Kababayans if we share the burden. God bless all of you.