by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan
The heartbreak of losing family, livelihood, and home in an instant is an experience no one should endure.
Yet, this was the harsh reality for Reynaldo Dejucos, a resident of Talisay, Batangas, who lost his wife and five children when their home was swallowed by a landslide as Typhoon Kristine ravaged the Philippines in late October.
His story, one among countless others, embodies the suffering of Filipinos who, year after year, lose everything to violent storms, relentless flooding, and landslides across the nation.
This typhoon hit close to home, striking the region where my parents grew up: Bicol. As a child, I spent summer days there, surrounded by family, climbing fruit trees, and gazing at Mount Mayon.
Now, seeing the streets I once played in turned into rivers of devastation, I felt a profound ache. The typhoon, which began with the deluge of Bicol, spread its fury across Luzon and Visayas, leaving a trail of destruction and desperation.
The flooding was merciless, and entire communities were stranded, their only refuge a roof, clinging to it as their final shelter from the torrents below.
Sleeping in the comfort of a dry bed, I was humbled, haunted by the thought of my kababayans shivering through the night, hungry, terrified, and waiting for rescue.
Watching the news coverage brought back memories of the typhoons that marked my childhood, the relentless cycle of preparing for one storm after another.
But this time, all I could do was pray—for the rain to stop, for the floodwaters to recede, for lives to be spared.
But with each moment of helplessness came a swelling anger. The disaster response, or lack thereof, left me frustrated and disillusioned. Typhoon after typhoon, year after year, we face the same devastation, but where is the change?
Each time, government officials offer relief operations, but these are band-aid solutions. Where is the prevention? Billions of pesos are allocated to flood control and infrastructure projects, yet all we see are broken promises and substandard work.
Politicians show up when cameras roll, hoping to capture a “moment of compassion,” yet disappear when the real work begins.
How much more devastation must we endure before our leaders act responsibly?
The negligence, the inaction, the performative empathy—each fuels the cycle of suffering that my country endures.
Compassion, however, tempers my frustration. I ache for my kababayans who deserve so much more than the resilience they’re forced to display.
Yes, the geography of the Philippines means we will inevitably face natural disasters, but resilience should not be our only defense.
Filipinos deserve leaders who will fight for them, will invest in long-term solutions and not just band-aids that last until the next news cycle.
Each flood, each typhoon leaves behind not only debris but fragments of people’s lives, and we need leadership that understands the gravity of that loss.
This fight isn’t just about survival; it’s about transforming a nation’s future.
First, we need to educate people to vote wisely—to elect leaders who value accountability, and who won’t exploit tragedy for personal gain.
We need leaders who offer not just empty promises but action, who won’t buy loyalty with quick fixes and gestures, but who will build a sustainable future for those they serve.
Agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways need to be held accountable, ensuring that public funds create an infrastructure that stands the test of time and tempests.
Climate change only worsens these disasters, and we cannot ignore its role in escalating this crisis. Each of us must recognize our part in this issue and take actions, small and large, that contribute to a healthier planet.
The path to resilience lies in accountability and in acknowledging that the Earth’s health is inseparably linked to our people’s survival.
Despite everything, the Filipino spirit endures. The storms may bring darkness, yet we choose to rise again and again. When the sun breaks through after each storm, hope returns with it.
Even in the face of overwhelming adversity, our determination remains unbroken.
For Reynaldo, who has lost the irreplaceable, I grieve deeply. May he find the strength, in time, to rebuild from unimaginable loss.
And for my beloved Philippines, I pray for healing, for change, and for the resilience not just to survive—but to truly thrive, protected and respected by leaders who honor the people they serve.
Lord, have mercy on the Philippines. Please, come and heal our land.
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