Drifting & Drafting

A tragedy hit Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City on December 17, 2011. Thyphoon Washi or "Sendong" brought flash floods that consumed and ravaged the city--including our own house.

The intensity of this tragedy is something that is more than its statistics. I do not wish to dwell on the deaths and the number of devastated homes. Instead I wish to celebrate life and the spirit of love and compassion that has been radiating in so many people ever since Day 1.

The power of the social media has hastened the process of giving help to where it is most needed. The entire nation has been tirelessly organizing efforts to help address the calamity. There are so many wonderful people who have shared their time and resources to mobilize relief operations. Despite the immense suffering, a downpour of blessings help soothe the pain.

My personal thanks goes out to my good friend Thyssen who has opened his shop to kind souls in UP and nearby areas in QC for relief drop offs. Ever since our first tweets to advertise the project, thousands of clothing/food/water and medicine items have been flooding the doors of Moonleaf Tea Shop---and more still come by the minute.

Hand-Written Sign at the Shop :)

The response is overwhelming. Mostly because the positive actions are miraculous in nature. Needs are addressed in seconds and hands to help grow in great numbers.

However today I have learned that the lack of response from some key people in our society is just as overwhelming. There are those who still choose to turn a blind eye to pleas and those who opt to prioritize themselves even in times of struggle.

I pray for those who do not feel the same urgency. I pray that they learn that to be human--compassion is compulsory.

Uno--One/Start. Unos--typhoon.

12.19.11

They say endings are perfect beginnings. I planned to write a 365 day chronicle to celebrate my birthday--to celebrate life and the wonders of the world. As a writer I have been on a hiatus for the longest time. My old blog (written throughout my college years) was a treasure trove of anecdotes and quirky insights about the world and of the adventures of a Bisaya teenager's insatiable thirst for new discoveries.

The blog called "The Adventures of Fifi The Fly" had to end. Fifi seem to have lost her way in a dark forest of post-academic depression and the unexpected severing of ties with certain familiarities.

The end began with a rebirth aptly called Regeneration--a collection of tidbits pertaining to life, art, and simple joys. However these were still vague and many thoughts withheld.

As a result of inspiration from young bloggers who I have read about and even met in the past months, I have decided to go back to what I have always been passionate about--writing.

The end that is meant in my beginning is the end of my hiatus. I know my mood is not as bubbly as my blog title sounds. I chose it days ago to represent the things that I love raving about--the little things, the simple things that make life more colorful.

Unfortunately an unforeseen tragedy has ravaged my home town and my own home as well. At this moment I apologize for not being able to enthuse about this new venture as much as I would've wanted to.

Today's my birthday. The challenge has begun.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Launching this blog in a couple of days. Still having a bit of difficulty ironing out the kinks.

Step 1: Choose blog url.
Step 2: Choose a good blog layout.
Step 3: Conjure up a good post.
Step 4: ......

Taken with  Instagram

....See? Still stuck. Haha.