Rainbows and tomorrows

The day after typhoon Yolanda's fury, the Filipinos and the rest of the world witnessed yet again so much pain and loss.

Northern Cebu had 70-80 percent of houses destroyed, with a number of deaths reported, as well. Tacloban, Leyte was literally flattened by the storm surge that claimed so many lives, thousands dead on the streets and thousands more missing and unaccounted for.

Communication lines were down and so the desperate call for help among those who wanted to know the situation of their loved ones clogged conventional and social media. Days after Yolanda left, many are still searching for their loved ones and are still sending out distress requests for anyone to please please help them reach their loved ones sooner. So many responded and helped however they could, wherever they were.

Some of those who were finally able to connect had happy news about their loved ones who survived. Many others, however, broke down and were devastated to learn about the loss of family members.

The pain and loss are so deeply heartbreaking and will take so much time to heal, if at all. In silence and with prayers, we can only lamely offer tight hugs and embrace to all those who lost their loved ones as well as to those left homeless, hungry, and hopeless. Everyone wants to offer more, but at the same time, many are also feeling they should be doing much more and reach out soonest to those calling out for immediate, urgent help.

There are many who have cried out to God and have asked Him why He has allowed so much pain and loss for Eastern Visayas, for Bohol, for Cebu. Wasn't the killer earthquake enough to remind all to return to Him? Davao Mayor Duterte even stated that God was nowhere when Yolanda hammered her fury through Samar, Tacloban, Cebu, Capiz, Antique, Bohol and more.

There were others, however, who found God in the storm. Tulfo testified that truly there is a God when he and his crew were saved from the monster strength of Yolanda. So did others who survived Yolanda. Testimonies and questions will continue to be heard and shared. For sure, typhoon Yolanda will be one disaster that will be long remembered not only by Filipinos but the rest of the world.

A rainbow was caught in a photo posted on Facebook the day after the typhoon. The rainbow could only be spotted and noticed once the viewer stopped focusing on the debris, the dead bodies, the massive destruction that were prominently highlighted in the photo. In the background, amidst so much pain and loss, a rainbow appeared inconspicuously and silently reassuring everyone that today' dark and desperate moments can be bridged and be brightened by so much colors of the rainbow.

Today, we cry. Today, we grieve. Yet like the rainbow that appeared after the storm, today will give way to tomorrow and yes, there will be more tomorrows and by then, hopefully, we will be stronger, we will have overcome today's grief and tears.

Rainbows come after the rains and storms. Today will always give way to more tomorrows. With everyone's overwhelming outpouring of care and support and prayers, our people shall overcome.

Dear God, please please heal our people and our land, now na and please hurry.

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