The Storm That Said: "Wake Up!"

author: Jinn Guerrero

It was a cold and murderous day as I awoke to the sound of the shrieking winds and thunderous rattling of roofs. What a day it
was! Classes were cancelled, streets flooded, and everything was thrown into chaos. The storm was strong, in fact, strong enough to
easily uproot large population of trees and tear-open houses. It was such a terrible sight. I was left at home to watch how nature took
back everything she gave. After a few hours of chaotic rampage made by the storm, everything went still and quiet. The environment calmed
down as the storm's eye made its way stealthily across the wasted flora and fauna. Everyone in our neighborhood started to clean up the
mess the storm made. I was shocked as the winds once again stirred and blew, stronger than the first. This time, roofs did fly high;
trees were once again being taken down like dirt. The wind was relentless as it took down anything that stood its way. Our house
provided shelter as the storm pounded on the roof. Another more hours passed and the storm subsided, leaving only a trail of broken trees
and roofless houses.

 Though the storm itself was over, the crisis was not. Electricity was out, the water supply was also out, and everyone was
left with their own resourcefulness. Indeed, no television, no computer, no nothing was very boring, it practically withered me
away. However, hope was remaining in my heart as my neighbors started calling out each other to help one another. I felt rather strong and
energy somewhat flowed through me once again as I started to work my way to the water supply or what I personally call poso, and filled
the water drum at our house. As for the night, I went out to buy candles so that at least, my family and I would not have to endure a
dark and silent night. This went on for three days. Last Sunday, electricity was restored, and everything was almost back to normal,
except that our neighborhood and the rest of the Southern tagalong region's tree population was lessened, structures needed repairs, and
human lives that were lost and will never be returned.

 The storm itself was quite destructive and meaningless. However, it did something good to us Filipinos. It somehow awoke most
of us, if not all. It somehow said "wake up!" in a discreet manner. Especially for me, I saw how the storm somehow managed to awaken the
unity and perseverance among us in my neighborhood. To me, it literally woke me up on its onset. However, it awoken me in a deeper
sense that I saw how unity and perseverance pays off. I experienced what most of us needs to experience, especially the government.
Today, the Filipino people need unity and perseverance to overcome our trials. The storm was a wake-up call for us to start taking steps
to unify ourselves and stop our selfish desires.

 The storm was strong and everyone would agree to that. However, because it brought destruction among our nation, and brought
hardships, we were able to once again unite to help one another. We once again saw that we cannot live alone, and that we belong to a
larger group of people who needs each other to survive. This is especially true to the people involved in the government. Instead of
trying to oust each other, they must unite to help save the people of this nation. Instead of trying to make useless things, they must
impose laws concerning billboards and electrical posts to avoid anymore accidents. The storm merely was an instrument to open this
nation's eyes to the reality that we must be united, that in unity, we can easily overcome any problems.

 The storm, Milenyo, somehow said wake up to each and every one of us. I bet that if this storm hadn't occurred, these ignorant
politicians and law makers would never knew how much damage billboards can cause, how fatal it is to build electrical lines near
trees, and how important it is for them to stop bickering at each other and start helping one another. Had this storm not come,
Filipino people would never have known the importance of unity and camaraderie among us. Milenyo is destructive, however it paved a road
for us to improve ourselves and remember the importance of one another, especially during these hard times. Nature somehow did its
part. Now, it all depends on how we will act as a nation. –Jinn-