What the Rains Wash Away
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(Photo by C.G.on Unsplash/medium.com)
I looked out my window and saw two women huddled under one umbrella, water to their shins.
There were kids in drenched public school uniforms making their way home, clutching textbooks under their shirts in a vain attempt to keep them dry.
A tricycle driver stalled in the middle of the road, hopped out and with the help of passersby, moved his vehicle to the curb.
I remember staring out the window and wondering, “Why do people put up with this?”
Today, I rolled out of bed, glanced at my phone and was overwhelmed by news stories, photos, videos, and advisories shared across Viber groups and social media pertaining to Typhoon Carina.
Flooded streets in Metro Manila (Photos courtesy of Philippine International Aid)
Flooded streets. Overflowing creeks.
Flights canceled. Airports in shambles.
Barges colliding. A bridge that may or may not hold.
A dam inches away from spill level.
Schools turned into evacuation centers.
Hospital personnel armed with buckets and a tin can, scrambling to keep the water out.
A housekeeper trying to save her employer’s golf set from the deluge.
We’ve seen these images before, over decades, with storms and super typhoons bearing different names. We’ll see more of them, with increased frequency and intensity, as a result of climate change and a shameful disregard for our planet.
These super typhoons wash away crops, livelihoods, and food security. They damage property, critical infrastructure and our economy.
Super typhoons put pressure on already taxed education and health care systems. More alarmingly, lives are lost. People are displaced. Again, I ask, why do we put up with this?
Filipinos are some of the most resilient people I know. When I think of Filipino resilience, images come to mind from the aftermath of other super typhoons in the not too distant past.
Displaced families sheltered in a church (Photo courtesy of Philippine International Aid)
Kids swimming and splashing in flooded streets. A newly married couple sharing a kiss under an umbrella, water to their knees.
Community “fashion shows” featuring the absurdity of donated clothing, ranging from pre-loved girl scout uniforms to ball gowns and cocktail dresses.
A “mermaid” clad in a bra and trash bag-turned-fins, smiling as she sits on top of debris in a street filled with murky water.
I remember staring out the window and wondering, “Why do people put up with this?”
We’ve all seen these photos and videos. We laugh. We talk about Filipinos’ sense of humor and perseverance despite adversity.
But the problem with Filipino resilience is that all too often, it provides governments, businesses and the financial elite with a free pass from holding themselves accountable for the state of our nation and its people.
The rains have not, as of yet, washed away Filipino ingenuity, humor, grit or determination. But they do point to an erosion of values on the part of those who are tasked to lead whether through private enterprise or public service:
Integrity.
Excellence, efficiency, and accountability.
A sincere commitment to serve all Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable.
The ability to sacrifice short term gain (and political capital) for a better and more sustainable future.
The problems we face today have existed for decades, but their consequences are now more pronounced and alarming.
If the rain should wash away anything, let it be our (well-meaning) ability to endure suffering with a smile.
The Philippines’ greatest asset is, in fact, its people. But as a country, how can we ever hope to get ahead when too many of us are just struggling to get by?
Originally published in: https://medium.com/@rosannaisabellopez/what-the-rains-wash-away-5c58e8f9c327
Rosanna Lopez: Designer, educator, global citizen
