December 17 Thought: Lessons Learned

           On a taciturn midnight of December 17, 2011 where everyone was peacefully sleeping, hoping to regain one’s strength after the day’s arduous work. A tough and robust typhoon struck the City of Golden Friendship leaving every Kagay-anon devastated because of a loved one’s death and loss of properties. Who would have thought of Typhoon Sendong flutter into the City very unexpectedly?

A bird's eye view of Cagayan de Oro City after being hit by Typhoon Sendong.

            Cagayan de Oro which was a blooming, blossoming and booming City, has now turned into a nightmare. Most of its barangays have been badly hit and affected by Sendong. This catastrophe was too much of a cost to many Kagay-anons as it curtailed many lives and enormously damaged properties. But have we ever thought of it as a consequence of what we have toiled against nature? It was perhaps, nature’s own way of showing its wrath to us.

            On the account of Cagayan de Oro City’s history, it was on the year 1916 that a heavy rain poured out the City, but just enough not to spill into every Kagay-anon’s property line. Over many periods, Cagayan de Oro River showed its furious torrents on downcast days, but never cruel enough to engulf the community. Subsequently, another heavy rain showered last January 2009 but that did not surpass what happened on 1916. Every Kagay-anon stood still, remained calm taking it very easy until such time that Typhoon Sendong finally walloped the City.

            Isn’t this too much familiarity?

            Palpably, this is what every Kagay-anon should realize “TOO MUCH FAMILIARITY BREEDS IGNORANCE”.  We have been warned not just once but twice that the nature is going to take its revenge against us. But we become so complacent paying no heed of her warnings. And now, we’re pointing fingers. We were blaming people, finding faults to our government officials for being unmindful of what may have not happened. We all are responsible for what had transpired. Thus, we should not have put all the pressures to people.

            It is but timely to remind us all that in times of calamities, we should not be pointing fingers but instead, help one another to uplift our situations. And be sure that next time, we should be vigilant enough and be expectant of whatever nature may instigate us.

            The City is now recovering. And what had happened last December 17 should be lessons learned for every Kagay-anon and the rest of the Filipinos.