THE RIVER THAT GOES WILD

LONG BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, I DECIDED TO SPEND MY NEW YEAR IN CAGAYAN DE ORO THE SO-CALLED "GOLDEN CITY OF FRIENDSHIP" AND TO SEE THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO'S FAMOUS RIVER AND TO PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE THE ONCE IN A LIFE TIME ADVENTURE AND THE THRILLS OF "THE WHITE RIVER RAFTING."

I RUSHED TO AIR PHILIPPINES TICKETING OFFICE IN CUBAO, QUEZON CITY TO AVAIL OF THEIR PROMOS AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE DATE OF DECEMBER 28, 2011 AS MY DEPARTURE DATE FROM MANILA TO CAGAYAN DE ORO.

BUT TROPICAL STORM "SENDONG" WAS WAY WAY AHEAD OF ME DESTROYING THE CITY'S INHABITANTS LIVING NEAR THE RIVER BANKS. THE ENTIRE CITY MOURNS FOR LOSING PRECIOUS LIVES AND PROPERTIES AND MY SYMPATHY GOES WITH THEM ESPECIALLY TO THE FAMILY WHO LOST THEIR LOVE ONES.

THESE WERE SOME OF THE SCENARIOS AFTER THE RIVER GOES WILD. THE HOUSES WERE WASHED OUT, THOUSAND WERE DEAD STILL OTHERS WERE MISSING AND PRESUMED TO BE DEAD.

SURVIVING FAMILIES AND FRIENDS FROM NEARBY BARANGAYS AND THOSE FROM OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES TRIED TO RECOLLECT WHERE EXACTLY THE HOUSES OF THEIR RELATIVES WERE BUILT BECAUSE NO TRACE OF THEM WERE FOUND. THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS TO OFFER PRAYERS FOR THEIR LOVE ONES AND FRIENDS.

Comments

STATUE OF DIVINE MERCY

THIS GIGANTIC STATUE OF THE DIVINE MERCY MEASURED 50 FEET HIGH PERHAPS THE MOST REMARKABLE MONUMENT IN MINDANAO. IT IS SITUATED IN EL SALVADOR CITY, AND IT WAS NAMED AFTER THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST. THE STAIRWAY IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT OF MRT. THOSE WHO HAVE HEALTH CONDITION ARE ADVISED TO STAY ON THE GROUND. TOURISTS AND OTHER VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVED PROPER DECORUM SINCE THE ENTIRE PLACE IS SACRED. THOUGH I AM A REFORMED CATHOLIC, VISITING THE PLACE IS A RARE EXPERIENCE AND I WAS AMAZED TO SEE HOW PEOPLE STRIVE TO CREATE ENORMOUS STATUE LIKE THIS. PILGRIMS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF ARCHIPELAGO FLOCKED TOGETHER TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL PLACE. I AM A STRONG BELIEVER THAT PEOPLE'S FAITH CREATED THIS PLACE. THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WORKS WONDER FOR THEM RECEIVING POSITIVE ANSWERS TO WHAT THEY WISH FOR.

SAVE YOUR SPEECHES FOR THE BEST

THE POLITICAL ARENA IS VERY COLORFUL. WHETHER YOU ARE PARTY MATES OR YOU BELONG TO THE OPPOSING PARTIES, AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST TO OUT-DO AND OUT-WIT ONE ANOTHER FOR ONLY ONE REASON, TO ENSURE VICTORY AND REMAIN ON TOP. LOOK AT THEIR SLOGANS OR WHAT THEY ARE CLAIMING DURING POLITICAL RALLIES AND CAUCUSES. SOME CLAIM THAT THEIR ONLY VICE IS SERVICE (ANG TANGING BISYO NILA AY SERBISYO). SOME SAYS, "BAYAN ANG NO.1, KAMPEON NG PALUPA, TAGAPAGTANGGOL NG KABABAIHAN, KAMPEON NG EDUKASYON, GUSTO KO HAPPY KA, TAPANG AT MALASAKIT, LAYLAYAN NG LIPUNAN, ITULOY ANG DAANG MATUWID AND A LOT MORE. THEIR SPEECHES ARE WELL ORGANIZED AND CRAFTED. THEY WERE EVEN SUPERB IN THE DELIVERY OF THEIR MASTER PIECE. TO BE HONEST AND FAIR, THERE ARE CERTAIN TRUTH TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND CLAIMING BUT MOST OF IT LACED WITH FLOWERY AND SOMETIMES EVEN POISONOUS. SELLING YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE IS NOT AN EASY JOB. THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW HOW SINCERE YOU ARE AS PUBLIC SE...

Urban Reforestation

FOR QUIET SOMETIME, THE WANDERING BLOGGER SEEMS INACTIVE IN WRITING FOR ONE REASON, NOT BECAUSE HE RUNS OUT OF IDEAS BUT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THIS STRANGE FEELING THAT I DO NOT WANT TO WRITE AT ALL. I NEED TO MOTIVATE MYSELF TO FIGHT THIS STRANGE FEELING WITHIN ME AND CONVINCE MYSELF THAT I NEED TO WRITE AGAIN. I BELIEVE MY READERS ARE VERY EAGER ANTICIPATING MY NEXT ARTICLE.. CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BY-WORD NOW AND ECO-WARRIORS WAS BORN TO RESTORE THE FAST DETERIORATING PLANET EARTH. DURING MY CHILDHOOD, MY FATHER AND I AS WELL AS THE OTHER SIBLINGS ARE ARMED WITH BOLOS CUTTING SMALL TREES, CLEARING THE WEEDS AND LATER ON BURNED THE SITE IN PREPARATION FOR PLANTING SEASON WERE CROPS LIKE PALAY AND CORN WERE PLANTED. THIS SYSTEM IS CALLED THE "KAINGIN SYSTEM" AND WERE CALLED THE "KAINGENEROS". WE WERE NEVER INFORMED DURING THAT TIME THIS SYSTEM OR PRACTICE IS ILLEGAL AND HARMFUL TO ECOLOGICAL BALANCE. NOT ONLY DESTROYING THE NATURAL HABITAT OF SMALL AN...

Wandering Blogger

Search This Blog