A wake up call for the sheltered

Typhoon season is officially back.

 

For someone who studied in a private high school in the South, the sound of suspension announcements seemed like pure bliss back then. Students would usually check live tweets whether or not the weather is bad enough for DepEd to make us all go home. No questions asked, just happy faces that we finally get to leave the snooze fest we call school.

 

Fast-forward 4 years. As a graduating college student in de La Salle University, my perspective has changed a lot since those pampered days. Once the weather goes bad in high school, my siblings and I would just wait for our cars and drivers while we played with our friends. Back then, we were so protected within the four walls of our school as if it was a crime for us to get wet.

 

In college, I would have to brave the roads of Taft Avenue no matter how flooded it was just to commute home. And that’s only because CHED thinks that college students are waterproof. Kidding aside, I think there’s more to this season than debating whether or not college students should be treated as fishes.

 

Compassion

 

Typhoon Glenda is crossing Metro Manila as I write this.

 

I am on my dry cozy bed, with my pajamas and socks on, with three soft pillows, a warm blanket, my fully charged phone, and my laptop. Oh yeah, and my small dog who wakes up every 5 minutes because the windows are banging due to the wind. Poor me, right?

 

In my attempt to put myself back to sleep, I read all kinds of tweets from my friends. Some are scared, some pray, some are helpless, some rant, and then there’s the occasional tweet about Kim Kardashian’s new game.

 

As I scroll down through my Twitter feed, I thought of how hard it must be for those who are living outside. Those we see everyday begging on the street or those who live under the bridge. What happens to those who live in make shift shelters but who end up abandoning it since it is not strong enough? I think those are the ones who we are suppose to be thinking of as of the moment. I bet they’re a lot more scared than us. I think they’re the one’s who we’re suppose to be praying for. I think they’re the ones who are in need of the most help. And most importantly, we remember that they’re the ones who don’t rant at all.

 

The other day, I saw a homeless guy lying down on the street in the middle of two concrete poles. He was trying to attach his umbrella to one of them to keep him dry, to no avail. He ended up sleeping drenched in the rain.

 

It’s easy to forget about them especially when we’re too busy with our lives. I wonder how they’re doing right now with the amount of rain and the intensity of the wind that is sweeping Metro Manila. Don’t you ever wonder where they stay in times like this? Does the government include them in their pre- and post- typhoon effort? I wonder how they get through the cold weather with zero to none. So many things go through my mind as I worry about those who are most often forgotten. (Get the latest information on #GlendaPH on Project Agos)

 

#ReliefPH

 

After Typhoon Glenda leaves Metro Manila today, let’s not forget about the forgotten ones.

 

It’s time for us to make our move.

 

We can donate some clothes, food, water, and medicine. We can make victims feel our sincerity by visiting evacuation centers to know their current condition. We can entertain the children and check up on the adults. We can participate in medical and feeding operations led by your city government, schools, NGOs, or even your local village.

 

It’s time to put all of our words into action. Let’s start by separating old clothes that you don’t need anymore. Those old intramural jerseys, basketball shorts, track pants, slippers, anything that you think would be of help for someone else. Avoid including those flowery blouses and gowns in the pile please.

 

Next, gather a few canned goods, a bit of rice, and bottled water. Meet up with your friends and have a small packaging party; then donate them to the nearest evacuation center. 

 

Find the nearest evacuation center in Project Agos’ #ReliefPH list.

 

Whatever it is you do, put your heart into it because anything is worth doing with passion. I’m very much impressed with the preparations that the Philippine government had before the storm came. Now it’s time for recovery and rehabilitation. And lastly, don’t forget to pray. It may sound cliché, but you wont lose anything by whispering a little message to the big guy up there.

 

Stay safe, everyone. Come what may, I believe the Philippines will stand as a nation again, as always. – Rappler.com

 

Isay Yason is a 19-year old political science graduating student from DLSU. She has a passion for anything that involves the betterment of society. 

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