SEA COUNTRY

I woke up on September 27, 2009, a day after the rains hit MetroManila and went out to our terrace. Instead of seeing trees and the road I saw the rushing waters from the river as high as our terrace going south, carrying all the debris from the communities where it had passed. No, I did not lose much compared to other people I know. Willie Nepomuceno lost his precious videos and photos built starting from the time he entered showbiz till the present. He lives in Marikina. A friend in my Biblical studies group lives in Pasig and till last Tuesday, October 6th, her house was still above knee deep in water. Two friends of mine living in Commonwealth told me that they were lucky that the dam gates were not opened by their side (they live by La Mesa Dam), but their neighbors were not so lucky. So, Carlita Doran, one of the two, said that she had had to work till late evenings packing goods donated by friends and by her to alleviating the sufferings of their neighbor-flood victims.

So, we could have ended this year with a nice outlook had this tragedy not struck. We could have been so proud to say, "hey, the economic recession never got into our shores. Our OFWS are our heroes and heroines, sacrificing their emotional health just to be able to earn enough for their relatives back home." But no, that won't be anymore. We now belong to the paupers of the world, living off on donations, would you believe even lifeboats to save our people from drowning? What, we don't have enough lifeboats, and yet our country is surrounded by water?

I think what I heard on radio is right. Our country should be seriously considered as 7,100 islands, a sea country, meaning we are literally surrounded by water. Therefore, development plans should consider that very well. We cannot ape the way some foreign cities have been constructed, with high towering buildings, and miles and miles of concrete roads.

Rather, we need to revise our concept of landscaping, especially the way our streets and houses have been constructed. We probably could approximate the way Venice has set up its land -- a city connected by bridges and transport is via boats. That is the reality especially of Manila which is lying below sea level. And if typhoons visit us now and then, our rooftops have to be domed, in order to avoid the strong wind from destroying our homes.

But then, it is nice to spread our imagination now while everyone is agog as to what to do with that word, "GOVERNANCE." It does not seem to ring truth over here, Folks. When will it be, in 2010? Abangan!