Composure through chaos
We were shocked into reality with that incredible 6.9-magnitude earthquake last Monday. I was awaiting a noontime news program on TV when the sizeable sofa on which I was seated suddenly started shaking sideways and I shouted in panic. Power went off and frightened voices from house help and neighbors filled the the void. I am one who gets upset at the slightest sign of physical instability, as when my seat is accidentally hit by someone passing behind me, or the plane I am taking passes through an area of turbulence, or the ship I am in encounters rough seas in bad weather. So when both media practitioners and users vented their own fears as on this occasion, I felt assured that I was not alone.
But the unrestrained panic that ensued soon after, not unlike that in horror or disaster movies, after someone ran and shouted “Tsunami!” (“Wolf, wolf!” in the classic tale?), unless premediated or out of ignorance, cannot be blamed entirely on the crier, can it? Fear knows no bounds or reason. But perhaps in the activation of post-disaster prepared-for-disasters (like the classic fire drills) activities and the clarification and explanation of warnings like the tsunami alert 2 that triggered the fear are necessary. They do this with typhoon signals, don’t they?
There is continuing stress on science and education in mass media, but particularly from grade schools up as our education officials keep emphasizing, as in the new K-12 educational program beginning to be implemented.
The earthquake tragedy in Negros Oriental has been of personal concern to me, considering that one of my sisters-in-law is from La Libertad, and the in-laws of a son and a daughter, as well as of my helpers’ family are from Guihulngan City, localities badly hit by the 6.9-magnitude quake.
While this latest disaster still continues to make the news reports and the search continues for survivors in the disastrous landslides in both towns, the Corona impeachment trial went into its 15th day yesterday. Charges and counter-charges were supposed to be presented by the defense, particularly on the further presentation by the prosecution of documents and other witnesses, and the plot thickens, as they say it in whodunit stories. So we shall wait for further developments. Abangan ang susunod.
Meanwhile other current events continue to be reported by media: the political tiffs and preelection posturing locally and nationally in this pre-election year; incredible still-frequent fires in the city (in spite of the rains?), the more recent in San Roque, Talisay and in Lahug; tiffs and rifts within some prominent families, like that recent surfacing in the wake of the death of Iggy Arroyo, the former president’s brother-in-law; murders and ambushes like the ambush-shooting of Talisay lawyer Sesbreño’s wife apparently in the wake of the demolition of houses on Sesbreños’ property and the still-unsolved loss of the Sinulog Foundation’s fund in their office.
But for happier news for a breathing change: Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s was honored as he celebrated his 81st birthday last Monday, Feb. 6th, we pray that God may grant him many more fruitful years to continue with his Godly influence and inspiration for us in Cebu; and we wish the best, too, for PresidentBenigno Aquino III on his 52nd birthday, also last Feb. 8th.
Feb. 8th, if I rightly remember from years back, the Philippines used to observe as Constitution Day in honor of Claro M. Recto, the Father of the Philippine Constitution, who was born on that day in 1890. He was president of the 1934 Constitutional Convention that drafted the 1935 Philippine Constitution. Recto died on Oct. 2, 1960. The former Calle Azcarraga in Manila was later named as Claro M. Recto in his honor.
Then yesterday, Feb. 9th, marked the 128th birth anniversary of Concepcion Felix Rodriguez, one of the country’s earliest feminists, who was awarded the Presidential Medal Award in 1966 for her work on women’s rights.
This leads me to our weekly Women’s Kapihan which I host tomorrow at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on dyLA Radio. Our theme: “The Law on the Annulment of Marriage: Rules of Disengagement,” with guest resource person lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu. Do listen in on this timely discussion in the wake of Kris Aquino’s reported annulment of her marriage!
So much has happened in this memorable week with all the earthshakin’ and current political and judicial events that I must hold for next week. What I had planned to take up this week: the results of our latest elections in the organizations I belong to, the new Cebu Girl Scout Council and Cebu United Radio and TV Artists Inc. (Curta) board members, among others.
And as the country rejoices in Nonito Donaire Jr.’s winning of his fourth world title, the World Boxing Organization’s Super Bantam Weight Championship, versus Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Varquez Jr., we also grieve with the family of flyweight boxer Karlo Maquinto, who after his latest fight that ended in a draw, collapsed from a head injury and slipped into a coma from which he died days later.
To remind you, tomorrow the Church observes the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Until next week, then, as usual, may God continue to bless us, one and all!
