Don’t worry, just pray

The country was all fired up over the results of the highly popular Superbowl, but Filipinos in the United States, especially those with relatives in Negros and Cebu, immediately switched to calling or texting their kin in this area as soon as the news flashed on TV that a strong earthquake had hit this part of the country.

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Several other friends also said that they got concerned calls from relatives from various parts of the world asking worriedly how the quake had affected them. I was happy to tell my callers that Bacolod and Negros Occidental were quite lucky to have been spared the worst, but we sympathize with our fellow Negrenses on the other side of the island who were badly affected. As of this writing it is believed that more than 30 people have perished.

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The fatalities were not killed by the earthquake itself, despite the fact that several houses and buildings were destroyed or damaged, but mostly because of a landslide that was triggered by the movement of the earth, and buried the people on its way. One of the worst-hit was the city of Guihulngan, where many were buried alive in the soil that rushed down on them. Those trapped under the debris of buildings have better chances of being rescued, since they could breathe through, but not those covered with several feet of sticky earth.

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Yesterday the quake was the topic everywhere you went in Bacolod City, especially because it was so unexpected. Like many others I know, I also thought I had only gotten dizzy because I was bending over a box when it struck. But when I heard creaking sounds, I rushed to the bathroom where my sister was locked in and called out to her to open the door lest it got stuck. I then went to the other bathroom where my nephew E.J. was taking a bath, but he had the door wide open and didn’t look bothered by it all.

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Late yesterday I heard the news that there had been about 200 after-shocks reported since the near noon-day shake, but they were hardly felt here. But at almost 6 p.m., another one hit while we were in the office, and rattled the staff. People again rushed out to the streets, but then things calmed down. However, up to late last night, everybody seemed to be on guard, with some worriers fretting about what would happen if another one struck while they were asleep. All I can say to those is, “Oh ye of little faith!” Surely they remember to say their evening prayers every night? The best, until now, is the one we learned as little kids: “Now I lay me down to sleep/ I pray the Lord my soul to keep/ If I should die before I wake/ I pray the Lord my soul to take. AMEN”. After praying that, why worry?

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Aside from the earthquake, another subject that continues to hog the conversation wherever people gather is the question of the repatriation of the remains of Fifth District Congressman Iggy Arroyo. It now looks as if Rep. Iggy must have believed he was really getting better, so he never thought of leaving instructions as to what his family should do in case he doesn’t make it. Up to this writing, it was not yet clear as to when his remains could be brought home.

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I have really avoided watching the impeachment trial on TV and just wait for the news report later. But if you believe many of the opinion writers, the prosecution is just laying eggs and getting trampled by the antics of the smart and seasoned defense lawyers, who always cite some technicality everytime a particularly damning evidence is presented. I am therefore now resigned to any outcome, even an acquittal – on technicalities and legalities. But what is important is that the people now know the truth, no matter how many layers of legalistic covers are placed over it.

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Meanwhile, in the international scene, the United Nations Security Council is gravely disappointed at Russia and China for vetoing the proposed effort of the UN to put a stop to the violence in Syria where citizens are being killed by the hundreds by soldiers of their own country, for protesting against the oppressive government of Basher Assad. The moves of Russia and China will surely assure Assad that he will not go the way of Saddam Hussein, and Moamar Gadhafi. But the Syrian people are determined, and appear to be ready to give up lives to be free.*

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