October 29, 2022 a date to remember, a date not to forget.

A strong typhoon hit the Philippines

specially our very own city of Zamboanga. “Paeng” left a path of destruction this past weekend – a time
many had expected to be the kind of “long weekend” one can enjoy with family as they leisurely
prepared for the observance of All Saints’ Day.

Luckily our family is not affected by this but or co-zamboanguenos are. And by that we started a
donation drive to help the victims of this flood. We had a donation drive 5 straight days just to provide
for the people staying in the evacuation areas.

As usual, local governments, in tandem with national government agencies, did their best to prepare for
the aftermath of another major weather disturbance. “Paeng” taught us that no matter how well we are
prepared, we will have to face the fact that nature’s wrath is unpredictable. We will have to embrace
the uncertainties that come with them. We will have to learn the lessons they continue to teach us.

And, yes, we will have to “normalize” resiliency.

After all, “resiliency” is what the tribulations brought about by natural calamities aim to teach.

What do we do when we hear there’s a storm coming?

Here’s what we learned – three things we must do: first, prepare; second, wait it out; third, get back on
our feet and rebuild.

We learned we cannot escape life’s storms. We cannot even predict their path – “Paeng” taught us that
“tracking” a storm’s path is never an exact science. We cannot even run away from them. We can only
take shelter and wait for the storm to pass us by.

Perhaps, storms are meant to remind us that we are “never in total control” of our situation; that there
are times when we will have to admit that we are vulnerable and are subject to the whims of nature.

“Don’t let fear replace your faith,” spiritual writers add. They encourage us to look at storms – both the
physical and the spiritual types – as opportunities to “draw closer to God.” Storms are moments which
teach us to pray from the heart. We will be doing that as we lead the effort to rebuild our communities
which “Paeng” left in his wake.