Simpleng Pinoy lang si Jarold

Today is the deadline for the registration of new voters, as well as the vote transfer and reactivation. Hopefully, many eligible voters will register and have registered so that the rightful electorates will win through representative votes.

I, myself, endured the chaotic registration process after seven years of being a passive voter; so I can cast my vores on next year's national election. The coming decade suggests a very intricate period to all of us Filipinos, taking into account all the catastrophes which hit not just our nation but the world as well. Hence, everyone of us must exercise our right to suffrage and get involve with every important issues and endeavors that my directly or indirectly affect each one of us.

Who you vote shall define how our town/city, province and country will become in the next six years. Therefore, spend an ample time of digging the necessary facts about the running candidates. You have six months and two weeks of decision-making. So VOTE WISELY!

Imagine yourself attending the burial of the departed President Cory Aquino. That's the kind of chaos I'd experienced when I registered to vote today in Talisay City Hall.

Talisay City COMELEC runs a very inorderly system for the process of the registration of votes. There were no priority numbers, no proper lines and baffling set up and delegation of tasks from the distribution of forms to the verification, precinct assignment and photo capturing. Everything were just too unorganized. Not to mention the arrogant disposition the officers were displaying which government employees are infamously noted for.

While I understand and knew beforehand that the last week of voters registration is extremely crowded, I forcefully believe that there is always a proper system for crowd control. And, that should have been planned prior to the last week of registration. I had visited the COMELEC office in Cebu City and the registrants were propery managed. If Cebu City was able to manage the registrants well, why can't Talisay City?

Talisay City COMELEC must come up with a systematic process of voters registration for the next elections because what I had experienced was really discouraging and it diminishes one's patience. They have to remember that they are the ones who need our votes. A lost vote is their lost.

We see them act on movies and TV screens; but this time around, we see how they act and respond in real life drama. Celebrities may be seen in all glitz and glamour everyday of their lives; yet, they prove unafraid of being tainted with mud and flood.

Tropical storm Ondoy (Parma) did not spare some of the celebrities. Among them who became victims of the storm were Christine Reyes, Jean Garcia, Chocolate, K Brosas and Gladys Reyes.

The first to be sensationally reported of being terrorized by Ondoy was Christine Reyes and her family who were stranded on their roof as early as 1PM on saturday. Christine cried for help but were not rescued immediately even after several phone calls and TV announcements due to the many barriers blocking the ways to Provident Village in Marikina. A good samaritan in the person of Richard Gutierrez borrowed a boat from a friend to come to Christine and her family's rescue.
Other celebrities who were trapped on their rooftops and whose houses not spared were Jean Garcia and daughter Jennica Garcia in Commonwealth, Quezon City, Chocolate in Cainta Rizal, K Brosas in Vermont Village, Antipolo, Rizal, talent coordinator Tita Angge and Gladys Reyes in Vista Verde, Cainta, Rizal, Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi in Pasig City, Sylvia Sanchez in Ortigas Extension, Pasig City, and Ogie Diaz in Pampanga. These are just among the ones I have heard of.

Jayson Gainza, on the other hand, had to sleep beside an ATM machine in Marikina realizing that there was no way he could reach his home due to the raging water current and devouring flood. His house was not spared by the flood but was very thankful that his family were all safe.

There were also celebrities like Derek Ramsey who were not affected bu their loved ones were among the victims. Derek had to make a phone to ABS-CBN's telethon to ask rescue for his ill grandmother trapped in ther house in Pasig.

Still other stars were blessed to have been only slightly affected such as Claudine Barreto whose house was only slightly damaged and Kim Chiu whose car was fully submerged into the flood water but was still lucky to have it functioning and running.

And when there are victims, there also are heroes. True to their action star image, a few male celebrities proved that they're not action stars only in front of the cameras; but they are real life action heroes. Richard Gutierrez was already first to be mentioned.

Gerald Anderson and his brother Kenneth swam in the murky flood water as it rose up to an alarming height to rescue neighbors who were extremely devastated by the vicious flood. Working hand-in-hand without noticing were Cesar Montano and Bayani Agbayani who lives in the neighboring place.



Jericho Rosales and Raymart Santiago were also reported and caught on cameras using their skills in surfing to rescue neighbors using their surf boards.

Ryan Agoncillo was also reported to have bravely crossed the shoulder-high flood to bring food and milk to Gladys Reyes and her baby who were also trapped in the second floor of their house. It was proven true when Gladys was interviewed on TV.

Angel Locsin also braved the floodwaters in the riverside of Marikina using her Hummer truck to save flood victims. A fine example of a person who is true to her commitment when she joined Gabriela and Ako Mismo organizations.

Clearly, nature knows no celebrity or person. Everyone's a possible target.

Paghumagupit na ang parusa ng Diyos, walang mayaman o mahirap, sikat o simple, bata o matanda, malusog o may sakit, lahat ay pantay-pantay (When God's punishment strikes, there is no rich or poor, famous or ordinary, young or old, healthy or sick, everyone is equal)

God's punishment these days are different. There are no longer prophets like Moses, Noah or Jeremiah who would warn us of the impeding disaster. God strikes His hands of omnipotent power to punish us anytime He decides to.

I went home last saturday evening hoping to relax and enjoy the saturday night TV. ABS-CBN was airing Maalaala Mo Kaya with a replayed episode when I got home. So I opted to switch to GMA's Bitoy's Funniest Videos. It was when Michael V's show ended that I realized what horrifying event was happening in Metro Manila. Jessica Soho's special edition on tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana) made me glued to the television every hour and minute of the day. Man, I didn't even know there was a storm.

Learning the catastrophe alarmed me overwhelmingly that I had to load up all my sim cards (smart, globe and sun) to be able to contact my relatives and friends in Metro Manila, Rizal and Bulacan. I didn't even have money that time so I had to borrow money from my grahm.

I have been monitoring the updates about the wreaking havoc on TV and the internet. I just can't help but hate the people who are blaming other people on why this grim occurrence happened. There may be people to blame but we've got to think that no single person was really prepared of it. Blaming is no longer the right attitude to show in these times. Reaching out and working hand-in-hand are the only right things to do.



This tragedy brought lessons to each and everyone of us. A lesson to the rich, the students, the business owners, the government, other provinces and places in the world, and every single individuals.

Let it be a lesson to the rich and affluents that they must share what they have and return to the needy what this world has endowed them. Material things may perish in a blink of an eye and may not be brought along in the after life.
Let it be a lesson to the students that they must put into practice the good values and proper etiquette they learned from school and instill them to others.
Let it be a lesson to businessmen that their decisions will not only affect the others but it may get back to them in a catastrophic retaliation. Nature has numerous ways in enacting their vengeance.
Let it be a lesson to the government that using taxpayer's money for frivolous spending and their own selfish desires will always get back to them. They too are not excluded from nature's wrath. And the blame will always be pointed unto them -however they move. Let it be an evocation for them to begin a better governance.
Let it be a lesson to other provinces of the Philippines and places in the world that no matter how powerful and progressive a place is, God knows exactly where their weaknesses are.
And let it be a lesson to every single individual that we have a duty and responsibility to our nature and fellowmen. We are called the STEWARDS of nature but are we living up to the name? We call each other fellowmen but are we being a fine example of a fellow?

Let this unfateful event be a reminder to all of us that God wants us to live up to our life's purpose. That is to do good and to remain doing good until we return our Almighty Father's abode.