Hopefully a safe New Year!

Okay. Let me greet everyone a very Happy New Year! It is a new year indeed, as we say goodbye to 2011, learn from it, and hopefully have a much better 2012 ahead. But while recovering form the festivities of the past nights, a certain headline kind of struck me as a dire warning of things to come. According to many, we will see more severe weather come our way, as the world’s climate continues to change dramatically. And that the floods that we have experienced in the last remaining weeks of 2011 would continue, if not get worse. That warning is not to be taken lightly.

 The events of the great flooding of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan should be a wake-up call to us, most especially to the local people directly affected by the calamity. People should not build homes on sandbars, no matter how long they seem to be standing. They should heed the warnings of experts, and act responsibly. The local officials should also listen to the experts, and not think of elections all the time. It is as simple as that. We have yet to see who should be held liable for the many deaths that Sendong has caused.

 We have seen what the floods of Bangkok have done to ruin much of its business and tourism. We do not want to see that happen to us, in any city. Since there is nothing we can do about whatever severe weather is coming our way, we should not allow ourselves to placed in situations where we are complacent and exposed to maximum damage. Many of us have learned, sadly the hard way, from Ondoy and Sendong. Then learn we must. I for one believe that disasters can usually be minimized or even prevented with simple common sense, something some official and politicians just cannot have.

 So much has been written and said about 2012. The movie, the predictions, the stupid and irresponsible text messages. If indeed there is more severe weather in store for us this year, then we have no reason not to be prepared for it. I for one am not a prophet of doom, but I will heed these warning about severe weather. As a new year’s resolution, I encourage everyone to do the same. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. Otherwise, there really is no one to blame. No one at all.