Column: Green Light

Manila Standard Today

Dr. Emiliano T Hudtohan

November 25, 2013

 I make use of William Faulkner’s stream of consciousness from his book, The Sound and the Fury in narrating my reflection on the super howler Yolanda.  Here, a stream of musical notes and data from print and digital sources are presented to make sense out of our experience of chaos.

Sound and sight of fury

In the 1960s, De La Salle scholastics:  Br. Rolando Dizon, FSC, Br. Joseph Corrales, FSC, Br. Ricardo Pijuan, FSC, Br. Robert Rillo, FSC, and Br. Leonardo Sicat, FSC sang Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind at a televised show, An Evening with Pilita Corrales.  Half a century later, Yolanda unleased a most powerful wind ever experienced and leveled Tacloban, the symbolic disaster city, to the ground.  I heard lamentations that reminded me of Jimmy Belita’s book, God was not in the Wind.  Then, I equated the PDAP and DAP billions with the rehabilitation needs of the victims of Yolanda.  To those who ask the why of Yolanda, I say with Bob Dylan, “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.” But as we emerge from the ruins of Yolanda, the Supreme Court ruled PDAF as illegal.  The answer of lawyer-theologian Miriam Defensor is clearer, “There is a God after all.”

At this time, it would be inappropriate to watch Julie Andrews in Sound of Music.  The hills are dead; the city and rural structures collapsed. In the 70’s, Br. Edgardo Gomez, FSC, PhD in marine biology and TOYM awardee, called my attention to a book, Collapse, a scientific glimpse to an impending world disaster.  I stand one of the accused by Don McLean’s 1971 Starry, Starry Night, “They would not listen they did not know how; perhaps they’ll listen now [after Yolanda, Habagat, Sendong, Ondoy].” With The Monkees, I became a convert “[W]hen I saw her face [Yolanda], now I’m a believer; not a trace of doubt in my mind [climate change is real].”

Now, I understand Simon and Garfunkel’s indictment in Sounds of Silence: “People talking without speaking; people hearing without listening.”  These we see and hear on how government and media responded to the crisis.  Politics in crisis management as in Aquino/Roxas-Romualdez tiff. and protracted and contrived truth of media as in Anderson-Sanchez reporting.

Quantum politics

Our political system must change.  James Allen Dator of the Institute for the Future says, “There is a close relationship between dominant cosmology, the dominant technologies, of the time and the social institutions and social values of the group. What happened in the 20th century is that a new cosmology called quantum physics – and the new technologies of the electronic information and communication revolution – became out of sync with many social institutions and practices, specifically with government systems, which are still very much locked into technologies of 299 years ago.”

Half a century ago, urban troubadours were already calling for change.  In 1964, Simon and Garfunkel said, “Hello, darkness my friend; I’ve come to talk to you again…the signs are written on the subway walls and tenement halls.” Bob Dylan made the challenge, “Come senators, congressmen; please heed the call…And admit that the waters around you have grown” for The Times They Are A-Changing.

I used Richard Barrett’s reflection process to get my De La Salle CSRGOVE K32 class to prepare for dooms day scenario. Team Mikey Onglao with Bea Minana, Denise Carlos, Richard Sargan,  Kath Cruz, John Te, Rupert Laurel and Janika Laxamana  needed basic supplies, information of whereabouts, and home fortification; Team Alyssa Ong with Gabby Guiao, Mikky Guiao, Audrey Ng, Madison Pineda, Nicole Chng, Caitlin Tan, Kristelle Ang, Jaica Opinion, Cheska Lozano and Dennis Alindogan needed first aid kits, canned goods and prayers for survival; Josh Co Team with Iggy de Vera, Haydee Kua, Bea Labad, Jean Manalo, Emuel Olimpo, Noreen Or, Young Park, Joana Perillo, Anna Phillipneris, Diana Ramirez and Willam Gao needed a Swiss army knife, evacuation plan, and supply of drinking water; and Tammie Atienza Team with Alysa de Jesus, Nicole Combenido, Christian Guillen, Arjae Co, Mari Gimenez, Donna Abdul Aal, Chelsey Singson, Andy Hernandez, Kyle Lloren, Javi Vitug, Ian Comandante, and Jeff Berin needed food supply, first aid and CPR skills, and predetermined evacuation centers

To demonstrate the enormous leadership task in a crisis situation. I used a drum circle exercise conducted by Francis Gaspar, where 16 people took time to listen, observe and take risk in beating the drum as a community.  CSRGOVE K31 Beatriz Matti concluded that, initially in the case of Tacloban disaster, the man in the middle was missing to orchestrate rescue and rehabilitation operation. Her group with Bea Dayrit, Pat Hechanova, Sara de Ocampo, Bea Matti, and Miguel Macatulad updated the class on climate change, showing Ven Vendetta200 video on Meltdown: A Global Warming Journey.  CSRGOVE K 31 Ramon Campos persuaded the class to concentrate on our lives today and, for a while, retreat from disastrous discussion, so typical of the millennials.

But the challenge today is to change the course of our lives and that of our planet. James Redfield believes in critical mass; Gregg Braden in square root of one percent of a committed few; and Jeffrey Sachs in the power of one. Margaret Mead reminds us of power: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Congratulations

To the DLSU community for assisting DSWD and being designated as drop-off center. At the De La Salle University South Conservation volunteers gather and repack donated commodities.

To Dr. Nenita Cura, dean emeritus, and Anita Leyson, social work professor, Philippine Women’s University School for their outstanding academic performance, constantly upgrading the profession and practice of social work and social development as cited by PWU president Francisco Benitez.

To the Department of Foreign Affairs experience its excellent, world-class facilities and services.  The security guards at the front gate and all the way to the passport renewal counter gave accurate direction.  All in all, our passport transaction lasted for 50 minutes that took place at the second floor with minimal physical movements.

To Resto Manager Marian Credo, Marketing Mgr. Joan Cordovan, Mgr. Lorah Alzahrani, Mgr. Ayla Hernando, Mgr. Cel Nuyda, Mgr. Manny Oliver and Mgr. Marlon Cavestany and staff on the occasion  of the 26^th anniversary of Jollibee Vito Cruz. At mass, Fr. Mario Dimapilis [De La Salle University MA in psychology] mirrored Jollibee’s biblical prosperity: For whom much is given, much more will it receive.

To the MMDA for their presence at the corner of Vito Cruz and Taft Avenue, a most welcome sight at an otherwise congested intersection caused by waiting jeepneys and buses jamming the stretch to St. Scholastica and De La Salle College of St. Benilde.

To the PNP at Camp Simeon Ola, Legaspi, Albay for hastening the transport and delivery of relief goods to the ravaged Eastern Samar.  This is one shining example of a positive social response from PNP.

As panelist of the Napolcom Police Executive Service Eligibility, I was made aware through Service Chief Dir. Myrna Medina and Chief Intelligence Vert T. Chavez of the PNP transformative program that is translated to a personal balanced score card. The transformation of PNP targets 2030 as the summit of their learning curve.  The National Police Commission has embraced possibilities.  With this, Dewitt Jones assures us that we will only see the possibilities when we believe in them and “If we hold a vision that fills us with energy, [the vision] takes us to our own edge and gives us the courage to soar.,, allows us to Celebrate What’s Right with the World .