Braving Life's Tragedies

The time is 7 PM. It is Thursday, December 16, 2021, on the island of Cebu, Philippines. Super typhoon Rai (international name) locally known as Odette is reported to have already penetrated the eastern border of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) carrying wind speeds of 121 - 170 Kilometers Per Hour (KPH) according to predictions by the local weather stations. Signal no. 3 is hoisted over the province of Cebu including the neighboring provinces of Surigao, Leyte, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros, a group of islands in the geographical section of the country

I am having dinner with family members. And while the first few spoonfuls of hot food enter our mouths, we also listen to the battery-operated radio for news coverage and updates on the typhoon's whereabouts. The house interior is dark, but not as gloomy as the outdoors due to the illumination of candles and electrically charged LED torches within. Above us, the mighty winds are repeatedly whistling, producing screeching sounds that are enough to raise the numerous hairs on our skin.

However, there is one sound that is not present - the dreaded thing we hope not to hear.

For it is this particular audio vibration that signals that the storm is shifting for the worst. "This event will pass quickly and will be over soon, just like the storms in the past," is the assumption lingering in my thoughts. I did not care much about natural disasters back then. Perhaps because my parents were responsibly handling the emergencies, tucking me under their assured protection. Only faint flashbacks of trees uprooted, electrical utility posts dismantled from their locations, and flying roofing sheets crossed

The Storm is Only Part of the Battle

Tragedies are real, are they not? Yet some people find it difficult to face these challenges as if they do not want to accept the painful truth of adversity. As long as we exist as human beings, we could not escape this harsh reality. Does society even have a choice? Ever since our ancestors set foot on this planet, they have experienced 2 types of disasters depending on their main causes: natural and artificial (man-made). Let’s dissect deeper into its anatomy.

Leading psychologists and social scientists define tragedy as a single happening, or a series of occurrences that may be experienced by one person or a group of individuals that have direct physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual consequences on one's condition.

Which of these 2 events do you think is more excruciating to confront? Depending on the severity of its outcomes, that would entirely depend on the person's coping mechanism, attitude, and inner strength. Thus, for a natural disaster like a super typhoon like Rai (Odette), how should we react, or should we not? How much of the stressful trauma can we embrace further without losing our minds? Is it possible to quickly stand up after suddenly falling down?

It is now 10 AM the next day, Friday, December 17, 2021. There is an uncomfortable silence everywhere. Everyone at home is sleep-deprived and exhausted, not being able to rest well due to the extremely tiresome night before. Neighbors are also overwhelmed by the tragic event.

_{Disaster at Cebu Ports | Photo Credit}

Life was drastically frozen both on land and sea. No one was exempted, as every person became casualties of the storm.

These included the local government departments, healthcare facilities like hospitals and clinics, plus public and private institutions tasked for rescue activities all suffered a terrible blow and were obviously also victims of the catastrophe

_{Destruction of Food Market in Cebu IT Park | Photo Credit}

Food prices skyrocketed a few days after the super typhoon. Bottled potable water was scarce and became ridiculously expensive. People had to queue for several hours simply to avail of service water for washing, cleaning, and bathing. Even the cost of ordinary candles, plus gas-powered lamps used for brownouts at night spiked.

Unfortunately, this mundane paraphernalia was also the root culprit of 27 community fires in the metropolis of Cebu as reported, happening from December 17, 2021, until the year's end.

Citizens were certainly suffering everywhere and were in dire need of medical, physiological, and financial assistance.

There were plenty of houses that lost their ceilings and roofs due to the storm's destructive winds. A few skyscrapers, commercial malls, tall buildings, and other pertinent infrastructure lost their glass facades and window panels due to the storm's thundering impact. Most business establishments were closed for operations.

In fact, crime rates also escalated because individuals had no choice but to survive, thus resorting to heinous activities. Police enforcement and operations were completely disabled as well as they were also directly affected. Imagine the continuous inconvenience we had to face during these tragic scenarios.

Death or Transformation?

Communication channels were out of reach as telephone company towers and cell sites were destroyed and nonfunctional. Hence we could not connect with loved ones, family members, and vital contacts that could help. Later on, we likewise learned that sea vessels and other marine transportations on the ports were tossed like toys. I could not believe with my own eyes the moment I witnessed photos of these poor aquatic vehicles in their damaged states.

_{Free Electric Charging Stations for Victims | Photo Credit}

_{People Lining Up for Water Supplies | Photo Credit}

However, there were even more difficult challenges ahead. The tremendous calamities caused by the aftermath of super typhoon Rai (Odette) were not the only major dilemma we were encountering. The poor health conditions of citizens were of utmost priority due to the proliferation of filthy trash recklessly dumped on residential neighborhoods, public roads, and crowded vicinities.

And before this natural disaster even happened, the current Covid pandemic was already a public threat of global proportions. With the current infectious spread of the Omicron variant, public and private healthcare have never been more significant than today. For anyone who has not

Instead of allowing gruesome events to ruin your positive outlook, you take them as crucial lessons that teach you suitable solutions to counteract upcoming challenges.

When Hope is Not Enough

While the promise of a better future is not guaranteed, there is nothing wrong with gaining assurance for a smoother journey ahead. The road you traverse may be filled with bumps, potholes, as well as detours,

Hope is definitely not sufficient to shield you from further adversities. Being assertive, courageous, and transparent simply helps in the combat against the resulting depression from mishaps, whether natural or intentional.

By becoming vulnerable, you unlock the doors for authentic healing and regeneration.

One way is to openly share your personal story with individuals you trust. They could be your closest friends, siblings, parents, or peers you could count on. By revealing the pains, realities, and agonies of your terrible experiences, you allow empathy to flourish in the relationships. Being secretive, closed-minded, and emotionally hardened would only do you more harm than good. Face failure with confidence. Learn to thrive in adversity. Rest assured, you will be on the road to recovery.

Rising From The Ashes

In my homeland, the war against hardships is not over, not yet. Nowadays, we are currently striving to rebuild everything that we have lost. Super typhoon Rai (Odette) was the worst natural disaster I have ever experienced in my lifetime. I am not saying that this would be the last tragedy to occur in the region.