A call for prayers (Landslide at Saint Bernard)
I wrote this article a year ago, on 17 February 2006, the day when the mountain overlooking Guinsaugon, St. Bernard, gave way and buried an entire barangay. With the anniversary of this heartbreaking event just around the corner, allow me to re-post this article here. The generous pouring of help and support from all over the world was, and still is, heartwarming. The same call for prayers still applies.
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I’m not really sure if we are supposed to write only about the happy stuff here. But please bear with me.
When you listen to this evening’s news or read tomorrow’s papers, you will learn about how a barangay was buried, just this morning, under tons of mud that cascaded down the mountain. You will learn that the place is called Guinsaugon, the third largest barangay (in terms of population) of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte. You will learn that it is no longer the third largest barangay, as hundreds of people are now dead.
But unlike any tragedy, this one is different as far as I’m concerned. I know there were little children in school this morning, learning their ABCs in the hope of attaining a better future. I know there were women, a doctor and other health personnel, who were celebrating the opening of a women’s center. I know there were farmers, caring for their crops that have been battered by days of non-stop rain. They are my people. The relief I felt upon knowing that my family is safe can never match the sorrow of losing one’s people.
They are your people, too; the same Filipino blood runs through your veins.
I will not discuss blame here; the tragedies of the past had been drowned by the chorus of voices looking for the scapegoat. No, we don’t need that now.
Right now, we need your prayers.
I felt the same way bout that incident counsel and it just astounds me that in this modern world, such grievous things still happens. Maybe it’s time to revisit how our government protect our forest and its enforcement of law against logging. There was the Ormoc deluge and St. Bernard last year. We won’t have to bear another similar incident.
By the way, thanks for featuring me on your “Pick of The Week” section. I am truly honored.
Hopefully, no more similar incident…but I doubt it.
You’re welcome, Major Tom.
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