TYPHOONS IN DAILY LIVES

________________________________________________________________ IN THIS PART of the world, we only have two seasons: DRY and WET seasons. And these days, we have to contend with the typhoons that come into our lives, whether it is natural or man-made. THE NATURAL ones are unstoppable [or is it?] Some sectors vow that GLOBAL WARMING is the root cause. But since time immemorial, we have had typhoons, rains and storms in cycles. This is one natural happening we have to be prepared for. After all, we can't stop the rains and winds, can we? THE RECENT Katrina catastrophe showed us that even the wealthiest nation in the world cannot cope nor handle their own in the face of disaster. Seven days and counting...and yet relief operations has just started. Most of the battered areas are still submerged in water, and worse, stinking with dirt, sewage and death. The worst is still to come, some experts say. EVERY YEAR, we, too are faced with rains of all sorts: from typhoons brewing in the Pacific. These typhoons usually follow the same path. Most go and visit the Philippines then move on North towards Taiwan, or worse, Japan. Seldom does it veer towards Mainland China and/or No/SoKorea. These phenomenon MUST make us aware and be ready for any consequences. DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER-PREVENTION must be on the high-list of all if we are to survive the disasters that come our way. It is sad to note that America, the superpower and the richest country in the whole-wide-world has responded unexpectedly-slow...too slow in fact, to the exigencies of the moment. I sincerely hope we have that PROGRAM to respond in case of extreme emergencies in INANG BAYAN. Let us learn from other people;s mistakes. JAPAN HAS long been doing these exercise. Everytime local folks are asked to evacuate, the evacuation centers are always ready to feed and administer to the needs of the citizens. I wonder why America has failed to provide such basic services to their people. SANITATION ALSO pose some grave problems among the evacuees. While food is necessary, sanitary toilets and health concerns are also important. IS INANG BAYAN ready for such emergencies? I wonder.....IF THE OFFICIALS who are accused of massive cheating from the top official down to the lowest level CANNOT DO ANYTHING to save their soul, how do we, ordinary citizens, expect them to implement BASIC SERVICES? Most of the country's coffers must have been spent in paying the TUTAs in Congress and 'garci'. ......THEN WE ARE FACED WITH ENDLESS STORMS AND TYPHOONS IF WE ARE TO REMAIN COMPLACENT IN THE FACE OF EMERGENCIES, NATURAL OR OTHERWISE. TIME TO MOVE. THE TIME IS NOW. GO!