Manila, Philippines - Habagat Flood - August 7, 2012

"O' MY GOD,  PLEASE SAVE YOUR PEOPLE"

These words were all I can utter when I watched from the television what happened during the monsoon heavy rains that causes massive floodings in Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces last August 7, 2012, and I think much worst than what had happened during typhoon Ondoy last September 2009 because almost 90% of the whole Metro Manila and nearest provinces were affected. 

Marikina-Photo By HANDOUT/REUTERS Wed, Aug 8, 2012

 It brought me into tears seeing these people and every families on top of their houses shouting for help, others were fighting for their lives in high waters, others were trapped inside their homes desperately waiting for help, houses and furnitures were swift away by the flood, so many families lost their homes, but the most tragic of all, seeing a lifeless body drowned into waters and some were electrocuted.  It is very hard to imagine these things happening in our country.

Marikina City

And it was so painful, my heart was broken watching these people in this very difficult situation, I could do nothing but pray, that's all I can help during that very moment, get my rosary and pray intended for all the flood victims around the Philippines, crying over my prayers that the rain would stop ASAP so that the flood in every areas will subside, no more lives will be lost and no more additional homeless people to evacuate in different centers, and to ease the pain and sufferings of every Filipinos who have undergone this very painful experience caused by these natural calamities.

The death toll right this day rose to 60 and the evacuees almost reach a million in different centers but the damage is not so very large compared from Ondoy, yet the life of the victims were very miserable and desperately needing our prayers, help and support in cash and in kind.

Marikina-Photo By CHERYL RAVELO/Reuters Wed, Aug 8, 2012

HATS OFF TO ALL OUR HEROES

 

 

With a grateful heart, I salute all the rescue teams who had given all their strengths selflessly just to save other people's lives, I believed, they didn't do it for salary but for bigger responsibility assigned to them that has been part of their daily lives.  

Their willingness and submission to this task is amazingly extraordinary, always thinking of saving other people's lives risking their own.   

 
I still remember one rescuer before at the height of typhoon Ondoy, he was so busy saving other people in another place while his own family was at risk in their own home.  

A sad story indeed, but service to mankind is always their priority.  They must be given credits and standing ovation by our government, how they did their job well in a situation like this.

Not only giving credits to our mighty rescuers but also to those brave ordinary men and women who have always a ready heart to help save the life of their neighbors and nearest people in their areas, not even thinking of the danger they are facing but a helping hand they could extend to another within reach.  
I really salute to these kind of people helping others not expecting anything in return. 

HELPFUL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

Giving credits and salutations also to different organizations and individuals who speedily extended their help and donations in cash and in kind to all the victims of these disasters, and always have a ready heart and pocket to spend for the needs of these victims.  

If only all that are able enough to help these people will just come out and give all their best to help and support these less fortunate ones, perhaps our country will be the happiest place on earth to live. 

REMEMBERING TYPHOONS ONDOY AND SENDONG

 

 

It was still so fresh in my mind what had happened during Typhoon Ondoy that also caused massive floodings in the whole Metro Manila and the nearest provinces, almost 80 people lost their lives, around 250,000 people had evacuated and thousands of families lost their homes but the damage of Ondoy was more severe compared to the damage caused by Habagat or monsoon heavy rains last August 7, 2012 according to Philippine Inquiry Newspaper.

While Typhoon Sendong had striken more in Mindanao and the Visayan province, but the damage was so big losing almost 500 lives and thousands lost their homes.   I was not still in the country when these typhoons occurred, but I was weeping in front of my computer almost everyday reading and watching the news  praying for our country's protection from these natural calamities.

A SIMPLE REMINDER 

 

Just reminding everyone that this is not the right time to point fingers and put the blame to anybody for what had happened to our country.  Instead of blaming our government and all those concerned individuals, why not just do something extraordinary to be of little help to those most affected people within your area?  At least, you can help ease their pains and lessen their worries, or even fill their simple needs.  
You can do good deed to others most in need with just your comforting words, instead of just hanging around with others and being sarcastic with your words in blaming others.  Or you can just stay quiet in prayer, and pray for all those who are affected that they may recovered fast and will see hope again and have the strength to start their lives over again.  

Let's just help regain each others hopes and strengths, help build each others homes and dreams again, encourage and inspire everyone that a beautiful future still awaits us.  Be an inspiration to others instead of desperation, let's do something and try to make a difference in this world, even little things mean so much to others.

Please join us in prayer, that our country will be back again in its normal stage very very soon, and hope will shine again in every hearts of these victims, and may total acceptance and surrender to the most Powerful One will exist in every families' hearts mostly those who've lost their loved ones during this tragedy.  

May these painful experiences had taught us how to take care of God's creation, be responsible enough to take care of the most important creations God has given us - our family, our homes, our livelihood, our lives, our environment - are one big place called Mother Earth.  We can do our best to take care of everything but neglect that they're all in one place, and regret later to see that they can all be wiped out in just a blink of an eye.  But all is not lost.  Hope springs eternal.  Yet, we need to act fast on that hope.

May this will also be a wake up call to every body and will served as a very important reminder to each one of us that we have just one temporary life here on earth.  And our permanent home will be in His Kingdom in Heaven.  Everything that was happening here on earth is in accordance to His plan and purpose and it is always His Will be done for us.

My prayers to all the Filipino people.  God bless our country Philippines!

FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD  

 

Only faith and trust in our Savior can make us stronger everyday in every storms that we are facing.  We cannot feel any fear if we are in a deeper relationship with God.  Whatever disasters and calamities that come in our lives, we always know what to do, and be prepared for whatever will happen to us.  Prayers will always be our weapon in all trials and challenges in our lives.  

We have nothing to be feared or scared of because there's always one Savior in our midst ready to protect us from all evils.  Be always ready, pray everyday, reconcile to God and surrender your life to Him.  Trust that in every storm He is always there ready to pull us in the waters of misery.

Let me end this with my favorite night prayer, full of trust and hope for His protection and loving mercy.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  - Psalm 23

Remember, "God is always working in ways we cannot see."

Be blessed,

 Nonie f.