THE last tropical depression that visited the country left substantial damage both to life and property.
While TD Egay did not make landfall, still it wrecked and devastated a lot of properties in the country. Latest count tallied 14 deaths, more than 21,000 displaced individuals and scored big in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
Unsa na kaha og nag-landfall pa.
* * *
Why so many deaths when there was no dearth of information about TD Egay long before it struck the country?
While we can readily say that LGUs have been monitoring the disaster-prone areas and urging immediate evacuation of the areas to be hit, it’s always a big problem to physically remove some people from their residences.
Bisag unsaon og announce nga mo-bakwet na, gahi gyod og ulo ang ubang mga tawo ug di gyod mohawa sa ilang balay.
Anha na sila mohawa kon mobaha na unya lawom na ang tubig sa ilang bay o kaha, nagusbat na ang ilang balay tungod sa hangin ug ulan. By this time, it would be too late because rescue and recovery is impossible.
* * *
I recalled that instance when super typhoon Odette hit Cebu and I was there in Mandaue, right inside the DA-7 regional office.
Long before Odette struck, there were already identified areas that were prone to heavy flooding so the people in the affected areas were advised to evacuate to higher and safer grounds.
One area identified was an area where there was a wide estero.
While we were horribly watching the terrifying effect of the super strong wind, I got a phone call from an employee that asked for help because the water in their house was already chest-deep.
The employee was crying and hysterical, as if death was really imminent.
When I asked which area, he answered that particular place with a wide estero somewhere in Cebu City, and explained that because of the strong rain that lasted for several hours, miawas na gyod ang sapa.
I assured him that I would try to look for help but inquired why he went to the area when there was already an advisory for evacuation.
Dunay nag-birthday nga paryente man god Sir unya diha silay giandam nga ginagmay, was the answer.
Susmariosep.
Di gyod pwede og i-cancel ang kahakog tungod sa bagyo, I silently muttered.
When I called up the Cebu City authorities, I was told that rescue efforts had to wait because it was too dangerous to venture out of the street when strong winds and rain could topple anytime the trees or electric posts along the way.
And somebody told me, naa baya pod mga pamilya nang mo-rescue Sir, unahon gyod na nila og atiman.
Very true.
* * *
That story illustrates an instance where lives could be lost despite the early warning from local authorities.
Daghang tawo ang mahilig lang gyod magpa-badlong bisan kon nasayod na sila sa kakuyaw sa ilang gibuhat.
* * *
The legal war between Makati and Taguig is now resolved.
The most modern urban setting in the country more popularly known as Bonifacio Global, formerly known as Fort Bonifacio, has been adjudged by the Supreme Court to belong to Taguig, not Makati.
This translates to a possible abolition of a congressional district in Makati because of the “transfer” of some 300,000 residents from being Makati residents to Taguig residents.
Dili na makaabot sa minimum requirement sa Local Government Code nga 250,000 in population.
Pagka-pait sa kongressman sa maong distrito kon mao gyod ang mahitabo. Dili siya kabawi sa iyang gasto ug mawad-an pa siya og gahom.
* * *
The SONA is really one interesting spectacle.
The intelligent ones would closely monitor the pronouncements of the President. They are quick to make observations, quick to make comparisons and super-quick to notice discrepancies, especially in the figures.
The less intelligent ones are not really interested in the verbal spar. Instead, they are more interested in the colourful spectacle during the SONA.
And these are the following.
Kay naanad na ang mga tawo nga mamantay, those who parade themselves during the SONA are into pabonggahay sa suot, apil na ang mga alahas.
Some are elegant, others are also outrageous. Adunay hilabihan ka gwapa, aduna sab misamot ka dili gwapa ug lisod na mailhan tungod sa kabaga sa make-up, apil na ang plastic surgery sa lain-laing parte sa nawong ug lawas.
Some people also noticed the symbolism-mode of some politicians. Dunay miangay, duna sab wala gyod bisan gamay. Dunay nindot, duna sab dili.
Other people also try to interpret gestures of key politicians.
One source said he noticed something unusual during the SONA.
Duna kuno duha ka top national officials nga wala gyod mag-shake hands bisan kon naandan na nila kini buhaton.
Matod pa, walay mi-offer sa kamot, wala sab mi dawat sa wala gi-offer, like kanang morag nahilaw bitaw.
It’s as if naglikay sila sa usag-usa nga magkadug-ol when they used to be very chummy, very close and very friendly to each other. But during the SONA, kebs ra silang duha.
Ngano kaha?
* * *
Then, there’s a former beauty queen vlogging her reactions against the sartorial set-up of a politician.
The politician in question is no other than Senator Imee Marcos. She dropped the “Manotoc” following their break-up many years ago. And the beauty queen is no other Aurora Pijuan.
What do they have in common?
They have a common husband – Tommy Manotoc with Pijuan first and Marcos being the second.
During the SONA, Senator Imee was seen wearing the traditional handwoven garment of the Ifugao people, and said that her outfit was her tribute to the Cordillera region. Her outfit consisted of a tight-fitting multi-colored tribal tube dress, accented with Henna body tattoos.
So how did the beauty queen react?
On her vlog in her Twitter page, she said it can’t be her, and things like, bisan pa seguro og maligsan niya si Senator Imee, di gyod niya mailhan.”
And she also reacted to the tattoo on Senator Imee’s shoulder that was shaped like a crocodile.
“Is that a crocodile on her arm? She’s not putting us on notice, is she?” she wrote.
Susmariosep.
Crocodile is buaya, go figure.
Unsa kaha pod ang bawos ni Senator Imee ani?
