A monster aptly named

Trust the American media to think up such descriptive names for their disasters as “Frankenstorm”. Since they were expecting a monster of a storm after a hurricane with the colorless name of “Sandy” hits, what better nomenclature could fit the coming one as that borrowed from the famous monster of literature, Frankenstein? Our own weather experts should also be more innovative, if not inventive, and stop using names like “Ondoy” or “Sendong” that are so ordinary. By the way, why do our weathermen insist on giving our typhoons and tropical storms different names from those used internationally? They do confuse people, especially travelers, you know.

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Speaking of calamities and disasters, the country was shocked to hear about that accident in Toledo City, Cebu, where seven persons were killed and, as the latest reports said, about 40 were injured. This happened when a bus slammed into a concrete wall, reports said. What caused goose pimples to some observers was the recollection that, two years ago, at about the same time, a bus had also slammed into a concrete wall and 15 were killed. What was eerie is that both accidents happened in the same city, Toledo.

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The arraignment of former president Gloria Arroyo did take place yesterday, but the court was a bit disturbed because she would neither plead guilty or not guilty. Her lawyer said that is because they do not believe there is cause to charge her for that plunder case involving the alleged misuse of funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Her garrulous lawyer was also shown bragging that they have already scored victories with the dropping of previous charges against their client, and are therefore hopeful that this one will also not prosper. Meanwhile, the judge himself entered a “Not guilty” plea for the accused, which, I think, means that they will have to support it.

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In the meantime, the Philippine Embassy in the United States has announced that it is ready to help Filipinos who may be affected by the coming of Frankenstorm. That is comforting, because we know our own officials have more experience in coping with typhoons and storms, monstrous or not. So far, though, it is good to hear that the areas where there are more Filipinos do not seem to be in the path of the monster. Let us pray for their safety, as they probably do whenever we here back home are facing similar dangers.

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There is cause to worry over our kin and friends who are living in New York, though. Even if it has been declared to be at risk for the coming of the Monster storm, most of the residents refuse to leave their homes, and some even take further risks by going to the beach to take pictures. So there are “Uzis” there, too. Remember that term “Uzi” coined from the Filipino word “usisero” or curiosity seeker. Both the governor of New York State and the mayor of New York City are virtually pleading with their people to be careful, to no avail. They do not seem to care, and are taking chances with their lives.

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The mayor has called them “selfish” because they would be risking the lives of rescuers who will have to save them if worse come to worst. In the meantime, the two major tunnels there, I think they are the Lincoln Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel, have been ordered closed. The times I have passed through them, I had always wondered what would happen in case a flood occurs there. The latest reports also say that even the Empire State Building, schools, and other tourist spots have been closed, and few stores as still open because they have already ran out of batteries, lamps, bread and water and other necessities.

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But one city, I think, that cannot bothered by threats of storms of hurricanes, is San Francisco, whose baseball team, the Gians, has just captured the World Series championship, with a smashing victory over the Detroit Tigers. This was the second time in three years that the Giants have snatched the championship and, naturally, they and their fans are delirious. But they can still celebrate, because, their city is not in the path of the storm, or so I hear.

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Until now, it has not been determined with finality where the new Philippine saint, Pedro Calungsod, really came from. More and more, we hear stories about his having been born in Iloilo Province, with such areas as Molo, Leon, Oton and Tigbauan towns being mentioned. Me, I hope that if it turns out to be Iloilo, it will be Tigbauan, where my paternal grandparents both come from. Maybe then, my relatives and I could dig for some evidence that we are also his kin. Wouldn’t that he wonderful?*

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