‘Marcos should probably not hold briefings shortly after any natural calamitous occurrence to allow officials to fully focus on their emergency work.’
PRESIDENT Bongbong Marcos should not expect much from public officials at the height of the massive flooding and heavy rains caused by typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.
He could not hide his disappointment over the series of presentations at Camp Crame last Wednesday afternoon, including one that compared the deaths and devastation caused by Ondoy with those of Carina, which was quite irrelevant.
Obtaining information from affected provinces and regions was no easy task, with immediate rescue operations the order of the day.
The President was certainly aware that the lack of ample information reaching him during that critical period did not diminish the actual earnest, determined and courageous efforts of government and private rescuers and relief personnel.
Marcos should probably not hold briefings shortly after any natural calamitous occurrence to allow officials to fully focus on their emergency work.
Metro Manila was obviously caught unawares by the massive flooding that left Marikina, Manila, Quezon City and Paranaque inundated.
PAGASA and the National Disaster Council (NDRRMC) failed anew to issue timely alerts against the approaching climate tumult. Even if the regular weather forecast on their websites last July 22 showed an unusually high level of rainfall, there was no warning of an impending onslaught of widespread flooding and continuous heavy rains for eight hours that came two days later.
Even the news media virtually ignored the government’s complacency and negligence from the threat of an incoming deadly storm and its accompanying and unforgiving southwest monsoon, and instead were locked in intense preparations for the comprehensive coverage of the President’s SONA the day before the deluge.
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Please allow me to correct myself on what I wrote two weeks ago regarding the “exorbitant” rental cost the Puregold Mall in Barangay Marikina Heights was charging blind masseurs. The NGO Aim Pinoy, which manages the merchants’ stalls at the building, explained that the group pays only P25,000 and not P50,000 a month. The latter amount represents the overdue account of the masseurs for two months, and they have been given liberal terms to settle it, as assured by the head of Aim Pinoy, Leni Rose Rodriguez.
She said the current rental fee charged to the masseurs is lower than the fee for their previous stall at the other mall next to Puregold.
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The wealthy and powerful sector in our country should learn a thing or two from John D. Rockefeller, the world’s first billionaire. At 33 years old, he became the first millionaire in America. At 43, he owned the largest company in the world, Standard Oil Co., and at 53 he became the first billionaire, ruling over the world’s mighty oil empire. But at age 53, he was diagnosed with a very rare disease that caused intense pain and virtually paralyzed his body. Rockefeller could buy the tastiest and most expensive food on the planet but he could only take crackers and milk.
The doctors informed him that he had only one year to live. Some in the media wrote his obituary. He heard his Pastor say, “God will give money to you if he can get it through you.”
While praying one night, God gave Rockefeller a vision, telling him, “All the money in the world will do no good in heaven or hell. Your job and responsibility are to give it away to bless others.” He lost no time in forming the John D. Rockefeller Foundation. His philanthropy changed the world and set the gold standard for other philanthropists.
Because of Rockefeller’s abundant and selfless giving, many diseases were wiped out in the early part of the century. His wealth increased and living until 97 years old, he spent his many remaining years giving it away. Rockefeller had discovered his true calling in life, and God gave him peace of mind and inner healing that opened the door for God to provide him with physical healing as well.
