I never thought of losing friends when the super typhoon Haiyan devastated the Visayas region more than a decade ago, I prayed so hard that all of my loved ones family, relatives and friends were all safe and protected. But after days and weeks, I heard of bad news that those friends of mine who did not evacuate and lived nearby the shoreline were missing and nowhere to be found. It was so painful and unimaginable that their lives and houses were taken away.
The damages were great, the strength of the signal number 4 super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan made this cargo ship moved to the land from the seawater. The horrors of the past was repeated when I saw familiar scenes of the devastated region in Visayas. It was terrible and horrifying, it brings back the nightmare that everyone felt during those times of uncertainty and now Visayans are suffering again and again the same fate that they already survived before.
Visayans are known as resilient people that despite the tragedies they experienced in this life they continued to rebuild their lives and think optimistic for the future. This is the day to remember the lives lost during those dreadful days and the lives lost this week all are precious, all are irreplaceable. Many lessons have been learned in the past and should be applied in the present. Preparedness is all that matters. It might be a physical preparation such as 72-hours kit, emergency bag or the spiritual preparation to meet the maker on the other side of the veil.
This monument reminds us both the survivors and the preppers to be prepared not just physically or temporally but most of all be prepared to meet the face of the creator of us all, the Most High. As they said "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" so prepare every needful thing for your body and spirit.
Photos are mine.
