Her Awakening

The 2009 Tropical Storm Ondoy ultimately caused 241 fatalities, 394 injuries,

and damaged 65,521 structures, affecting a total of 872,097 people. Rina Garcia Chua,

the editor of Sustaining the Archipelago: An Anthology of Philippine Ecopoetry, was one

of those victims, and she revealed her experience in the poem, "As She Pleases." This

poem indicates the author’s “ifs” about her decisions on the day of the storm. It

expresses her doubts, worry, and regret of her surroundings. The eco-poetry “As She

Pleases” depicts parallels between Rina Garcia Chua's life struggle during Typhoon

Ondoy in 2009 and the sorrow, fear, and pain of the victims and herself in their search

for safety. It provides the audience with a sense of awareness, comfort, and faith in the

face of adversity.

According to an audio podcast titled Eco-literature in the Time of Crisis, the

author shared and vividly described her life struggle during the evening of the typhoon

inundating the entire metro within hours of returning home safely. Rina, a university

student, had an unforgettable experience when she had to run and swim for five hours

through dark floodwaters, cold and swollen. Exhausted and running on adrenaline, she

reflected on what else she could do or salvage with her life after the typhoon while

staring at an airport’s blue traffic lights, saying, “If only I did not stare at the flashing blue

traffic lights that screamed end of the world.” Terrified and perplexed, “if only they did

not shout, “repent, repent, repent!” while navigating atop broken concrete barriers”, as
people believed that the Lord was coming for their sins and prayed for their lives and

His forgiveness.

Throughout the poem, the author displayed raw sorrow, fear, and pain as she

recalled the moments of seeking safety. As a university student vying for a scholarship,

the thought of all her works and projects wading in the flood screamed the end of the

world, with all her dreams and desires in deep ruins. “If only no one died; if only

everyone died.”, she thought, feeling remorse and pain as others cried and mourned

over their losses while she survived without the ability to help. “Maybe there’s never

been a way out of the flood; maybe you do not see a way out of the flood.” Miserable

and hopeless, as she allowed the shadows to control and taint the present and future.

Guessing about what might have happened if she had played the cards differently.

Finally, she realized that the world had turned its back against her.

Tropical Storm Ondoy (internationally known as Ketsana) affected millions of

people across Asia. The inspiring eco-poetry "As She Pleases” studies the extremes

and despair of Rina Chua, psychologically and physically. The author’s choice of

structure for the poem, as well as the use of literary devices, significantly improved its

mood and rhythm. It allows the author to gracefully communicate her message with

vulnerability and great emotion. The poem exemplifies a person’s growth and

perseverance from their worst. The piece teaches us the importance of not giving up on

ourselves and awakening the light source of the shadow. “When the world turns its back

on you, you turn your back on the world.” — Timon, The Lion King
References:

Canivel, O., & Mariano, B. (Hosts). (2021, February 26). Eco-literature in the Time of

Crisis [Audio podcast].

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qz8qOZWPYHt7ZCEJO1SIa?si=j-8jG4ahSOaiVGmD

GDrmaA&dl_branch=1

Dawoodbhoy, Z. (2009, October 1). Ondoy's onslaught: PHILIPPINES battered By

typhoon. The Asia Foundation.

https://asiafoundation.org/2009/09/30/ondoys-onslaught/.