Don’t curse the darkness

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The incoming head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has issued a very reasonable and practical message to all Filipinos who are reacting to the effects of the terrible calamity that had hit our country with the coming of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas is urging the people to stop name-calling, finger-pointing, and blame-passing as the country tries to cope with the devastation that the typhoon and its accompanying storm surges had wrought on several parts of the Visayas.

We already know that what had hit us was one of the most, if not the most deadly of all other disasters that have been suffered by humankind. We know how much it had cost us, both in loss of lives and in property, with some towns, cities and even barangays virtually wiped out, and, as of yesterday, a death toll of almost 4,000 had already been confirmed.

Sadly, some of our own people have been reacting as if the anger they have expressed, and the blame they have laid on both national and local officials are part of the efforts to help. We hear from everywhere, especially on social media, tirades against our government and our officials, which are, of course, just counterproductive, because, relying as we do now on the help and generosity of other countries, such criticism and bashing could even deflect the willingness of such friends from supporting us.

We know we have suffered so much, even we who have been mercifully spared from the full fury of Yolanda. But let us, rather, expend our energies and will in thinking of ways to help, and in praying for the recovery of the survivors, and for the souls of those who lost their lives.

Let us now focus our thoughts and efforts towards rehabilitation and recovery, and do our bit in attaining these. Let us remember the old saying that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.*