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Ordeal

In my whole life, I've only gone through 2 major catastrophies here in the Philippines. One is the Mt. Pinatubo Explosion, the other is Super Typhoon Rosing. The first catastrophy led to the death and loss of thousands, the next the devastation of even more. I experienced having to take in the fact that ash had fallen in Laguna, easily 400 kilometers away from the volcano and seeing the trees sway real hard due to the insane rain and winds of Rosing.

I felt how hard it was in the provinces, because basically everything was under the mercy of the elements there -- not too many big buildings to get into, the houses were all small and looked flimsy. Even if our ancestral house there was commendable for being sturdy, everything else around seemed at the mercy of mother nature.

Now however, the latest Super Typhoon to hit the Philippines hit hard while I'm safe and under the protection of a huge building. Sure, electricity service went out, but I didn't feel as vulnerable as I felt back then in the provinces. Now, I just wonder how it was back in the province.

Living in a condo building has its perks, now the only ordeal I had to deal with was the boredom of having to do something while the electricity was out. I couldn't get online, I couldn't read a book decently, and I sure as hell couldn't go out to watch a movie or get away from all it. Somehow, living in the metropolis has its perks, though I feel I might get desensitized from the devastation that this latest natural phenomenon has brought to the country.

Somehow, the elevators not working right because the generators are failing sounds almost like an unbearable ordeal but like my cousin put it "you think we have it bad, think of everyone else who's houses have their roofs blown off and their furniture drenched in the water"... Somehow, I lost touch of how bad others had it. Good thing he reminded me.

So now, I'm preparing myself to help out in the relief efforts in my native province of Laguna, and maybe even help out in the missions that will be going to different parts of the countries. I think that's the least I can do for those that need help.

CHill...

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