The Philippine Online Chronicles

Acts of heroism in extraordinary times. That was what our country and the rest of the world witnessed in the aftermath of tropical storm ‘Ondoy,’ the once-in-a-lifetime deluge that caught the country by surprise. Even as the storm raged on that fateful Saturday afternoon, several Filipinos did not hesitate to help others, sacrificing their own safety and sometimes even their own lives.

Muelmar Magallanes became the name that symbolized such bravery, rescuing thirty of his neighbors in Brgy. Silangan, Quezon City, before succumbing to the floods himself. Even now, money and relief goods are continuing to flow through various organizations.

But as we slowly try to regain some of the normalcy in our lives which ‘Ondoy’ took from us, the gravity of the problems before us demands that we do not forget our own bravery. Our empathy with our fellow human beings should not disappear with the subsidence of the floodwaters. The worst of the trauma brought by the floods may be over, but the scars will take far longer to heal. This is not the time for a return to the status quo.

Recently, looting has been reported around the area of Provident Homes, Marikina. The same people who experienced some of the worst tragedies during ‘Ondoy’ are once again victimized, this time by fellow countrymen who are trying to profit from their pain. Reports of overpricing have also surfaced, despite the prize freeze imposed by the government. Mountains of garbage still lie by the roadsides, endangering the health of the people.

Clearly, the job is far from finished.

We should all accept personal responsibility everyday. Start by being aware of the environment and how our thoughtless, wasteful ways have contributed to tragedy. Recycling is one of the most personal, and yes, most heroic ways for individual citizens to help with the growing problem of waste. Furthermore, we should demand of our future leaders that they exhibit vigilance and political will to ensure that lapses in policy and response will never happen again. What we need is a day-to-day commitment, despite the hardships, that the lessons from 'Ondoy' will not be forgotten.

Acts of heroism in ordinary times. That is what we need more than ever.