Tragedy Has a Silver Lining Too

Back in the Philippines a few years ago...
My sister and I were not speaking to each other for over a year. In an instant, we made peace with each other as if nothing happened after we lost everything – the house, furnitures, clothes, gadgets, etc. A part of the building we lived in collapsed last year. Though we were all well and unhurt, it was still so depressing that in just a few seconds we lost all we have. Whats more depressing was that the people who were close to us were the people who didn’t even bother to check on us or showed even a bit of compassion. Maybe our situation was not bad enough to even show some pity upon. Fortunately, we have acquaintances and friends from the past that learned about the incident and gave everything we need (and more) so we could start our life back. And we did. We have our lives back. We even got our old furnitures, clothes and gadgets, etc. back. We just never expected to get help from them.

Because of that incident and a-no-reaction-from-my-friends, I sort of had felt angry at them. I just never called them back or greet them on special occasions. That wasn’t like me at all. Revenge err?! I sort of sworn that I’ll never talk to them again. But yesterday, typhoon ondoy struck so hard that all of Metro Manila was flooded. Most badly hit were the areas where my friends I have never talked to in a while live. I had to put my anger aside and genuinely check on them if they were alright. Tragedies just bring people closer together I guess. I tried calling, emailing and putting search messages on my FB status. One was out of the country but her family’s house in Marikina was almost flooded. One didn’t reply to my messages though it seems he’s alright as per his status post on fb. The others, I don’t have any idea yet.

I know very well how upsetting it is to lose a house (or anything for that matter) and feel so alone and find comfort from (close to) strangers. I never want to feel that again. Never. And I don’t want anyone to feel anything close to what I felt… even if they are the same people who made me feel really bad.

I hope everything is fine with you guys. And to all the other victims... help is on the way. Hang on!

With the limited resources we have, my sisters and I gave used (but definitely wearable) clothes to Radyo Veritas, noodles and biscuits to our local parish and monetary donation to RedCross. Please do your share.