SRP (Sunset Ride with Papa) Part II

Once again, I found myself just situated behind my dad who's driving the motorcycle.  It's a bit uncomfortable since I got a couple of bags sitting on my lap.  But, nonetheless, nothing can stop me from appreciating the beauty of sunset.

The street is a bit busy today.  It's filled with the rumbling noise coming from the different rides around us.  It's jam packed with travelers eagerly heading to each of their humble abode.  But then again, all of these has no sense to me when I've got my eye on the relaxing view of the horizon.

I never get tired of nature appreciation.  It doesn't bore me.  Even if I would just sit on the mountain top all day, watching the sun from the time it rises until the time it sets down, for me it would be a soothing thing to do.

SRP (Sunset Ride with Papa)

A sunset ride.

As we entered the vicinity yesterday afternoon, a picture of a beautiful sunset was revealed.  The horizon was painted with flaming red.  The ocean calmly awaits for the day to end.  The street lights brighten the road for the travelers.  And as we speed up, I can feel the strong blow of the wind.

Vehicles may be rumbling down the road, racing their hearts out towards their destination.  But I can still hear the children laughing, playing, running around the street side.  Their little happy voice calms me within.  Giving me a moment to reminisce my childhood days.

As we go along the way, I can see the people getting ready for the night.  I see them out of their houses also await for the sun to set, for the day to end.  Some are attending to their front yard.  Some are preparing for supper.  Some are mingling with their neighbors.

With this ride, I have realized that life is as simple as that.  At the start of the day, people start to work on their daily routine until the end of the day.  As the sun finally rests, it would only mean one thing.  Another day to live life as simple as it can be.

The Wrath of Ondoy

"OH...CRAP...!!! Ang laking damage. GRABE!!! Lalim ng tubig. Mga kotse nagpapatungpatong. Ang daming bahay na natabunan ng baha. Nakakaawa naman. Mga bata't matatanda, nilalamig at nagugutom. Grabe talaga si Ondoy!!!" This is how I reacted when I saw the news the other night.

A heartbreaking tragedy that brought destruction to many. An unruly calamity that made a lot to suffer. A vicious disaster that took away so many lives. A wicked nightmare that will forever haunt the casualties.

It was during the night and the people were asleep when Ondoy chose to strike its madness. The noise of the heavy rain brought by the said typhoon might have awaken some of the residents. But it was the flood that was building up at a fast pace alarmed the entire neighborhood. Panicked, people tried to save their families, their stuffs, their home. Many were so blessed to have survive the entire night of sudden misfortune. But some were unfortunate to make it to the next sunrise.

But for those who were fated to live, their sufferance was not over yet. They may have made it through but the absence of the necessary commodities started to become a burden. And what adds up to it is that families are missing lives. Lives that got apart. Lives that, until now, has no surety if they would turn up freezing but breathing or they would end up in the morgue as cold stiff corpses.

Ondoy did not just took so many from the people but also left a mark. A mark of agony, pain and suffering. A mark that, like a scar, would forever be a reminder to the victims that they once fought against nature's wrath for their sake to live.

Ondoy may have been unkind to the human realm but it also showed one thing to the people. The occurence of such tragic happening is a clear visual that we can never be assured of our security here on earth. May we be rich or poor, an icon or just a commoner. When nature strikes its wrath, money is of no value. When nature moves, we are all equal beings.

So, for us who are so blessed to be spared by the onslaught, we should all bring out the "bayanihan" trait that Filipinos are known for. We should all be united in giving out a huge helping hand to those in need. May it be in monetary, in kind or in prayer. Whatever we do to reach out to these victims, however we do it, it would be a great help for these lives to stand up and start anew.