Storm Bound

author: Jefrey Valencia

Imagine yourself in a house hold engulfed in chaos. The plants that decorated its surroundings being torn limb from limb. The animals under its care are being drenched by the soaking rain. The sound of its occupants screaming at the top of their lungs while being overpowered by the howling wind is all you can hear.
Now imagine yourself as a boy, who is both deaf and blind to his surroundings. A boy whose only concern is winning a war waged in a fantasy world. Sitting in a comfortable chair while in front of his sister’s laptop, totally oblivious to anything except the battery life of the device he is currently using and the sound of his mobile phone.
That was what my life was like at the time the storm of the millennium was raging. Coincidentally a lot of people shared the same experience. As most of them were also stormbound and unable to leave their houses but at the same time completely helpless against the forces of nature. Instead they read, wrote, and even some of them played in the rain to alleviate the boredom they felt. So it seems everyone felt the same way that day, helpless and bored all at the same time.

Well! For me it shows how really small we are in this world we live in. From this experience I saw how far we are from the technologically savvy race we believe we are. That from all the knowledge we claim to have we still fall victim to the power of nature. Come to think of it this experience shows our mortality as well. That with one misstep or freak accident our life could end. How life is so short and how we take it for granted. Have you ever wondered what were the last thoughts of those fell that day were? Were they happy or sad that day? If they were given another chance would they want to know how they will be taken from this world? These are the thoughts spinning at my mind right now.

Well! This will be the final time I would take any storm for granted. This is because I would really hate it if I would be ever caught unprepared for such a calamity ever again. From now on I will stock up on necessities like batteries, candles, water, food, and if my budget would allow it I would buy myself a generator. Though I am not a professional engineer, in my opinion, billboards should remove from our streets and residential areas as they have proven to be a health hazard. Finally life is short and fickle, so keep safe and enjoy life to the fullest.

[the photo below is satellite shot of the typhoon Milenyo as it hit the Philippine area last Nov. 28,, 2006. Milenyo hit NCR and neighboring provinces with the velocity of 130kph.--dianne s.)