Assess, assist, arise

These are certainly “times that try men’s souls,” if I may revert to an oft-quoted  lamentation when “things go wrong,” or actually, might it not be us who went wrong? And forgive me for repeating the warning in  US Vice President Al Gore’s book  The Inconvenient Truth of global warming pooh-poohed  years ago by many, especially those from first world nations.
Environment lawyer and Cebu Daily News fellow columnist Gloria Estenzo Ramos, in last Monday’s issue wrote, “The 1994 (that far back!) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted by governments from 190 countries to ‘stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations (from coal and gas, especially) in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.’” And now, that truth is “coming home to roost” in what the world is going through, and most recently, in our part of the world in indeterminate temperatures of extreme heat and cold, flooding and storms, and supertyphoons like Yolanda/Haiyan.
And now, particularly in the Philippines, we continue to assess the incredible loss of lives, property and hopes, even as we have also been overwhelmed by aid in relief, food supplies, and finances not only from our own countrymen, including even fellow victims, but also from countries worldwide, including those whose friendship we least expected. May God forgive us and God bless them!
As our heroic people rise from the ruins, through the God-blest efforts, of the government, and the continuing help of countless civic and community, charity, religious and so many more groups and organizations, let us “arise from the ruins,” help our countless, unfortunate, homeless, hungry, bereaved and grieving countrymen with whatever means we are still blessed with, and with our prayers, above all.
“In these times of suffering, never tire of asking God why,” was the message of Pope Francis to the Filipino community as he blessed the mosaic of San Pedro Calungsod enthroned inside St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome last Friday. This is “because you will attract the tenderness of the Father and His attention… In these times of suffering, prayer is of even more help.” During the ceremony, Pope Francis also hugged our very own Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
In yesterday’s daily Mass broadcast on EWTN station, the officiating priest also mentioned prayer intentions for the Philippines.
Last Sunday, the Archdiocese of Cebu launched preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress to  be held in Cebu City on Jan. 23 to 31, 2016. The launching coincided with the Feast of Christ the King and the culmination of the Year of Faith. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma officiated at the Mass at Fuente Osmeña. More on these preparations in my report next week.
Now, for the Women’s Kapihan, which I host monthly and which we held Saturday before last at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on radio station dyLA. In the long wake after Yolanda, and in this time of climatic and environmental disasters, our subject for discussion was “Disaster Preparedness and Republic Act 10121 (Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act of 2010).” The main panel guest  of Cebu Women’s Network office, board and members was lawyer Noemi Abarientos of the Children’s Legal Bureau. We also had Len Manriquez of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network, and Sigrid Schellberg of the German Misereor that has been involved in community work in the country.
After defining what a disaster is, disaster preparedness, prevention, response, risk and risk reduction and management, the panel discussed its its causes in the country, particularly, and our vulnerability to them, and how we coped, and should do in the future. After disasters struck major parts of Luzon and Mindanao, we were thankful. Until Yolanda hit us.  Then we realized that while we are not typhoon-prone, we did have a number of serious and destructive typhoons in the past.
Then the panel  evaluated the government and community response to Yolanda, and what the government and we ourselves are doing after this and in preparation for expected and predicted future calamities.  And what we have all done to alleviate the results of this latest Yolanda disaster.
As the program’s host, I think that this was one of our most lively and most positively engaged  panel discussion of late for its relevance.
Yesterday was  American Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving  being universal, we now give thanks for how our people coped, and continue to cope with disaster, and for the countless generous outpouring of aid and concern in this disaster.
Thanks and congratulations to Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who like a supertyphoon, heralded  his comeback with a unanimously decided victory in 12 rounds with Brandon Rios last Sunday!
Until next week, then, with even more to share with you, may God continue to  bless us, one and all!