Tragic ending

The year 2011 is ending in an atmosphere of great tragedy, vicious infighting among top officials of the land and an ugly demonstration of vengeance.

We have forgotten we are in a season of peace and goodwill and joy barely days before Christmas day.

No wonder the wrath of God has befallen us and as usual, it is the poor and the disadvantaged that is affected most.

Let us hope that our leaders will now adopt New Year’s resolutions to forgive, to understand and to love.

Let us ask the Lord for forgiveness for our sins, our vindictiveness and our selfishness. Lord, have mercy.

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TRAGIC AND TURBULENT. . . That’s one way to characterize 2011, the first full calendar year of the Aquino Administration.

Typhoons Pedring, Reming and Sendong caused heavy casualties and damage to property from Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Bicol and now Visayas and Mindanao.   

There have been 2,000 riding in tandem murders. Kidnappings remain unabated in Mindanao. Robberies, holdups and thefts are at record levels. The NPAs are in a rampage all over the country.

Four months of the 2nd half of the year have been devoted to attacks and accusations against former President Gloria M. Arroyo. Before that, the target was Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Today, it is Chief Justice Renato Corona who is being personally attacked by no less than President Aquino himself. Yes, President Aquino is in a target shooting mode. The latest target, Mrs. Cristina Corona, wife of the Chief Justice.

Yes, it’s been a deadly year of disasters, vindictiveness and frontal attacks on GMA and CJ Corona, overshadowing all other programs and intitiatives of the Presidency.

Let’s hope and pray things will change in 2012.

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UNPREPARED. . . Once again, we are witness to the inadequacy of our disaster preparedness program as residents of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and other Mindanao and Visayan cities totalling to over 700 dead and rising with 800 missing. Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano predicts casualties in his city will reach 500. Iligan City has 220 casualties so far. Negros Oriental reports 30 dead.

Mayor Emano and Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan said that Pagasa or NDRRMC did not give them warning of the strong rains that typhoon Sendong carried and everyone was caught by surprise.

 Once again, there is an urgent need to review the government’s disaster management plan.

Even the DSWD was caught flatfooted as the tens of thousands in 16 evacuation centers could not be served food for almost two days.

Typhoon Sendong hit the area on Friday. The first Airforce C-130 carrying relief goods arrived 2 days later on Sunday at 3 p.m.

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FIRST TO HELP. . . The first national government official to help Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City typhoon victims was Vice President Jojo Binay.

He distributed two truckloads of relief goods containing 3,000 bags for victims at Macasandig Central Elementary School and West City Elementary School.

He pledged to send 15,000 more packages of relief goods to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. He also visited funeral homes and gave cash assistance to families of victims. He reminded local officials to relocate residents on the banks of rivers and coastal areas. 

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DANGER ZONES . . . Typhoon Sendong has sent a strong message that no part of the country is safe from typhoons and flash floods. It hit as far south as Compostela Valley and Surigao and as far northeastern Visayas hitting Leyte and Negros.

 The flash floods brought by typhoon Sendong are worst than those inflicted in Central Luzon by typhoons Pedring and Reming.

 There is a need to train local government officials more on how to deal with disasters, especially floods. They need to conduct drills to educate the residents.

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SC SIDE . . . Justice Midas Marquez, speaking in our program “Mr. Expose” Sunday over Station DZRJ-AM said the SC resolution declaring SALN of Justices confidential was approved in 1991 during the time of Chief Justice Andres Narvasa and nobody has questioned it until now.

Marquez said they will come out with a list of cases where Chief Justice Corona voted against the interest of President Gloria M. Arroyo.

He said the 8 Justices appointed by GMA except Antonio Carpio may issue a statement defending themselves. He expressed confidence that Chief Justice Corona would be acquitted.

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BABANG LUKSA. . . Revered Tita Midz Siguion Reyna threw a party at Lolo Dad’s restaurant in Makati to celebrate the 1st death anniversary of husband, Atty. Leonardo Siguion Reyna. Heading the guests were Vice President and Mrs. Jojo Binay, President and Mrs. Estrada, Ambassador and Mrs. Felimon Cuevas, Congresswoman Lucy Gomez and husband Richard, Don Conrado Escudero, Ninez Cacho Olivares, Gigi Reyes, Marichu Maceda, Mother Lily Monteverde, Dawn Zulueta Lagdameo, Robert Arevalo and wife Barbara, Eddie and Lilibeth Garcia and Jessie Ejercito. Taking charge was Bibeth Orteza-Siguion Reyna.

Racquel Gerodias, Cris Villongco, Bayang Barrios and the Aawitan Kita singers provided the entertainment.

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TIDBITS. . . Cong. Neil Tupas Jr. pledged in a DZRJ interview last Sunday that there will be no walkout of prosecutors this time. He also said that they will respect the judgment of the Senate including an acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Batangas RTC Judge Marjorie Uyengco-Nolasco said that Batangas Court personnel voluntarily went to Manila to express support for CJ Corona.

Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones has filed a bill that would require all government buildings to have rain harvesting facilities.That’s an excellent idea.

Merry Christmas greetings to our avid readers Pishu Mirpuri, Lahki Chugani, Don Ado Escudero, Danny Dolor, Boy Nakpil, Justice Midas Marquez, Grace Poe, Barangay Chairman Jessie Santiago of Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, Henry Antonio, Lion Carmelo Navarro, Sec. & Mrs. Titoy Pardo and MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.