A New Beginning

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by UnwrittenMemory

by UnwrittenMemory

6th in Division Contest (Journalism Editorial)

A New Beginning

Calamity is the state of miseries caused by major misfortune. This is one of the challenges that we are facing right now and this challenge tests how strong we are.

The Philippines is one of the countries most prone to natural disasters. Last October 15, 2013, a 7.2 magnitude shook Bohol, Cebu and other parts of the Visayas Region. There were more than 100 fatalities, 291 people were injured and more than 20 people were missing. As people start a new beginning, there comes another catastrophe.

Supertyphoon, Yolanda, slammed the Central Philippines last November 8, 2013. The most affected areas are Tacloban and Samar. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), there are almost 4,000 fatalities and more than 1,000 people are reported missing. Yolanda affected 3.9 million people and damaged a great number of houses, business establishments, tourist destinations, and government infrastructures like, the city halls, major roads, cemeteries, and airports. Total damage to agriculture was pegged at P9 billion. Everywhere, destruction and death paint a heartbreaking picture. Yet, our brothers in Tacloban and Samar didn’t lose their hope, instead they become stronger and tougher.

Even if we have experienced a lot of tragedies, we are still alive. We never stop hoping that after a heavy rain there is a rainbow. We know that it will take a lot of time before we can stand up and recover, but faith indeed is stronger than any huge calamities.

In our little way, we can do something to help our brothers and sisters in the affected areas specifically in Tacloban City which suffered the most during the typhoon. We can help by sharing what we have, like used clothes and relief goods or we can donate our savings in our piggybanks like what a Japanese kid did. We can also go to the DSWD, Red Cross, ABS-CBN, GMA Network, and Tv5 Offices to volunteer in repacking relief goods for the victims. Just be reminded that God will never give us obstacles that we can’t surpass.

Let us all unite, show our love to our neighbors and believe that everything will turn out right. No catastrophe would make the Filipino people surrender.

By: Edmayelle V. Alforja of Rizal Elementary School (Batch 2013-14)