Strong family, resilient community

I haven't written for my column in quite some time. I am glad for the experience and numerous lessons that the typhoon has brought to us, not for the devastation it has wrought. I'm also glad to be back in circulation to share what we've learned, as this has been a tough and one-of-a-kind contact with darkness and nothingness.

I have the impression that I have a lot to say, and I'm putting it off till I get to it. Because of the difficulties posed by typhoon Odette, my communication through my column was put on hold for the past few weeks. We celebrated two big holidays in the dark, Christmas and New Year, which was a marked departure from previous celebrations. However, I can't complain more than others who have been affected by the typhoon, as the power, water, and internet connections have all been completely restored in our place significantly during the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, indeed the gift of the Magi last January 2.

On one hand, the storm teaches us important lessons about environmental awareness that we normally overlook on a daily basis due to the abundance of resources we have. We learned, for instance, how to get to know our neighbors better. We learn to beg for their assistance while simultaneously providing them with what we have left. We feel a sense of obligation to meet their needs, and we also want them to fill in the gaps that we don't have. After a grueling and gloomy day, we bond with them at night and appreciate the beauty and wonders it provides—the quiet, coolness, and tranquility, this after looking after what we drink and eat.

The suffering we feel on a daily basis is putting us to the test of being able to bear less than our brothers and sisters who have less in life. However, we know that this agony will disappear soon, but for them, it will last a longer time or even for a lifetime. This is the perfect time to appreciate what we have and what they do in our lives, and to appreciate what we have. The minor discomforts are simply a test of our ability to withstand the nothingness of others. At one point, both the haves and those who do not had reached a point where they were nothing more than equal mortals queuing for goods and water.

We reflect on our stronger manifestation or lack of it in God as the cloud clears after the storm. Why He permitted it to happen to us is one thing, and hanging on to His will and mercy is another.

Although it may appear impossible to be cheerful in the face of the suffering of the many, since this is my first write-up for this year, I would want to use this time to thank you for a meaningful 2021 and look forward to a more kinder 2022. Despite the fact that the previous year ended so bleakly and we began a new year on a difficult note, let us use this chance to relieve the thirst and brighten the darkness of those who have less in life.

Filipinos are known for their resilience. And resiliency is accompanied with an unlimited amount of optimism, which is derived from one another. Even if we don't receive quick and considerable aid from large associations, groups, or even government agencies, our resiliency, particularly among Cebuanos, comes into play when we want to stand together as a family or community after the storm has passed. We'll stand together as a strong family and a resilient community!