In Washi's Wake

Typhoon Washi hit Mindanao Friday night. Some people were having their respective Christmas parties and were commenting on how it sounded like a washing machine outside, what with the strong winds and heavy rain.
By 2am, Saturday morning, some of these people were to be washed away by a flash flood.

Two days later, the death toll reaches 600+, and it continues to rise - almost as fast as the waters did on that fateful night. Thousands of families are now staying at evacuation centers, their houses and belongings lost to the flood.

They have run out of coffins, so the dead are being placed in plastic bags. A mass burial had to be performed today to prevent the spread of disease coming from the decomposing bodies, which they could not treat as they have run out of formaline. Can you imagine just what these people are going through?

The photos are horrifically reminiscent of the 1991 Ormoc tragedy, with both incidents being blamed on flash floods and landslides due to rampant illegal logging.
The citizens of Ormoc lost 5,000+ lives in 1991; how can the very same incident occur in our country again, 20 years later? Was Ormoc not warning enough? How many lives does it take for us to learn our lesson?

Last weekend, I was feeling a bit sad that I won't be spending Christmas with HardWood again this year. Now I feel shallow and stupid. How can I be sad about that, when there are others out there who are facing the fact that they will never see their loved ones, ever again?

My heart and prayers go out to the poor victims of Typhoon Washi. I have no idea how, but may you find peace and love in the midst of this tragedy.