A Nation Sinking

by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

Growing up in the Philippines, I experienced several class cancellations during typhoon seasons because of landslides in Baguio.

In college, I walked along the flooded streets of Marikina and had to stay indoors because of falling trees in UP Diliman. But during those times, things were different.

Typhoon Signal No. 1 did not automatically mean classes were suspended for elementary and college students, and rains caused by the “habagat” or a low-pressure area, did not necessarily lead to school cancellations.

But times have changed, and things have gotten worse. Rains have become heavier. Floods have gotten higher and receded more slowly.

From knee-deep floods, we now see waters reaching above the head. Places that had never experienced flooding before are now submerged, with waters threatening to destroy properties and take lives.

While we were out and about, it rained really hard for more than 30 minutes. It was during that time that my children, Callie and Yohan, experienced and witnessed firsthand the flooding in Metro Manila, specifically along P. Tuazon in Cubao.

I saw the amazement in their eyes, but at the same time, I saw their worry for the people walking through knee- to waist-deep water while we were inside a minibus on our way to Ali Mall. From then on, they began praying for the people affected by the floods.

Now that we are in the Philippines, it has been a blessing that we live on the 34th floor. We can sleep peacefully, without worrying about whether the floodwaters will enter our home. But our hearts are troubled because there are many places surrounding us that are flooded. While we rest, many lose sleep. While we are dry, many are wet. While we are safe, many are in danger.

Even as I write this, my husband and I anxiously wait for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to clear and for the floodwaters to recede, so that travelers can safely and swiftly make their way home. We hope that very soon, we can travel to our home in Pampanga and visit our families in Baguio and Nueva Vizcaya.

For now, we wait and pray – for safe travels, for the waters to subside, and most of all, for the safety of the many families whose lives have been disrupted by these floods.

Climate change is real. Global warming is real.

Typhoons, floods, and all kinds of disasters have long been common in the Philippines. But because of torrential rains and extreme flooding, homes are being destroyed, livelihoods are being affected, countless lives are being lost, and communities are being displaced.

This is why the Philippine government has allocated billions and billions of pesos for flood-control projects. Apparently, and unfortunately, the worsening floods in many regions of the country expose the possibility that funds meant to mitigate these problems are not being spent properly or wisely. Corruption has become clearer than ever.

Many Filipinos are angry. Seeing the suffering of so many of our fellow Filipinos is truly infuriating. In the 40 years of my life, it seems that nothing has changed. In fact, things have only gotten worse.

When will we see change? Will we ever see change? With the effects of climate change confronting us inevitably, will we simply depend on ourselves, or will the government we vote for fight for us? Will the taxes we pay with our hard-earned money be put to good use?

We plead with our elected leaders: Please serve with honor, integrity, and compassion. We plead with the Filipino electorate: Vote wisely and choose better leaders. We definitely deserve better.

But if we continue to choose politicians who entice us with “ayuda” and empty promises, perhaps we are experiencing the consequences of our own decisions.

We pray for God to have mercy upon our nation and heal our land.

Now, we are a nation sinking. But just like the sun shines after the rain, our nation will heal and rise again.

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