Do we still have reason to SMILE after Typhoon Sendong’s Wrath?

On December 17, my hometown, Iligan City suffered from the wrath of Typhoon Sendong. Bagyong Sendong leaves 1079 casualties and around 1,000 plus still missing. The estimated billion worth of agriculture and infrastructure damages also showed the footprint of Typhoon Sendong. In fact, I have 3 relatives who have been affected and knowing what they have gone through made me sad.

After a week of the tragic situation, I looked back and reminisce on what Typhoon Sendong did to the community. Through the social media site, Facebook, the situation has spread out to us who are on the other part of the country and even on the different parts of the world. Facebook, served as the information channel of what’s currently happening in Iligan. We had the opportunity to monitor our immediate families and relatives.

You could see Iliganons, shared about pictures of the situation, stories of survivors and their emotions of what had just happened. The community took initiatives on how they can help out the fellow Iliganons. Though there are still some individuals who make fun out of the situation and even created a buzz by making a bad comment to the victims.

There are different stories that I heard but the following stood from the rest:

1. There are 8 survivors rescued alive and one of which is a 2 years old kid at Iligan Bay after one and half day in water. Among the survivors, there is only 1 person who knows how to swim.

2. A family who survived by jumping from one roof to another roof that is 4 meters apart.Where the wife had to jump first, husband throws their baby and the wife would have to catch him.

Personally, typhoon Sendong has created a different feeling in my heart. When something tragic incident happened in our country, yes, I sympathize with the victims but that’s it. But with this incident, I took some time to share a little money. I appealed to the Church- Victory Imus and to my former bosses from my former Company - Sun Cellular for some donations. I spend some time to travel, pick up and process donations coming from these groups. It so heart-warming that they responded immediately and extended their assistance to the victims.

Another thing, I was touched by my father’s attitude of reaching to our affected relatives. He does not have enough money to give but he makes use of of his last money of Php500.00. He used the money to buy foods, cooked some food and delivered to our relatives.

Nothing in life happens by accident. It always happen for a reason. Because of Typhoon Sendong, there is UNITY. People from different walks of life; Muslims and Christians were united to be “One for Iligan”. Most importantly, God revealed more of himself to me. Indeed,

1. The Lord is our refuge and strength.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble .Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3

2. Nothing is impossible with God.

For nothing is impossible with GOD. Luke 1: 37

3. When you give it will come back to you and will even multiply.

The Php500.00 that my father used to buy the food is intended for their noche
Buena celebration. Just in time, he received a blessing of Php1, 000.00 on
December 24th of the morning.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure
you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

4. Serve Others

It is a reminder for me to have compassion with action; be of service to
people not only in times of calamity but in my everyday walk of life.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

On this Christmas day, amidst this tragic event, yes certainly, there is a reason to SMILE. Because this is all about GOD, it is about is his great LOVE for us when he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for our Sins. All it takes is for us to receive this eternal gift.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6: 23

For my kababayan in Iligan, let’s leave behind typhoon Sendong and let us look forward for Y2012 for a deeper and intimate relationship of our Lord and Savior and be an obedient sons and daughters of GOD.

Merry Christmas to everyone and Let us all Have a Fresh Start for Y2012!