Landslides, mudslides or floods? Those seem to be the calamities that have been hitting some countries lately. Of course people have no choice as to which they would prefer to hit them, but I think we should all try to learn what are the steps to take in case one of them hits our community. And these have been reported as having occurred in some countries, even in some parts of ours, so we should try to learn the ways we must adopt if we want to survive them.
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Of course we should never stop praying that none of them ever hit us, but the Boy Scouts motto of “Be Prepared” should always serve us well. Especially those days when Mother Nature seems to be getting into tantrums quite often. I had just been feeling safe that such calamities as floods, landslides, collapsing buildings have not been reported in our vicinity when news about a military plane crash flashed on TV, reporting the demise of 19 people, military officers at that!
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And then also came the news that Taal Volcano is on the verge of staging a tantrum, and people residing in its vicinity are being ordered to get away from the area. That was another fearful possibility, and I wonder where the residents have evacuated to. Landslides, mudslides and floods – if you have a choice, which would you consider the least dangerous and likely to cost lives? If you know how to swim, you would opt for floods, maybe, but landslides and mudslides could bury you alive, if you are not prepared!
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Ah, let us stop noting those calamities that we cannot avoid, and just continue praying for deliverance from them. The Department of Health has reportedly noted that the Philippines is among the low-risk countries for this pandemic and we should all thankful for that. But reports yesterday predicted a surge in the pandemic in the next few days, because yesterday was July 4, probably the most popular holiday in the United States, and not even the threats of COVID may be able to stop the natives there from going out and celebrating. Let’s hope they will not be “celebrating infections next”! But let’s wish them a happy and healthy holiday, as well as independence from COVID, too!
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Ah, but Japan is said to be preparing for the holding of the Olympic in their capital city, Tokyo, because it is their turn to host the international competitions now. Will it push through? How many countries are ready and willing to go there and compete with the world’s best in athletics? I bet, though, that most, or even all of those athletes, referees and other officials, are raring to go there, and must have gone through vaccinations already. But let us see how many countries will go there, with the COVID still unconquered.
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By the way, the Olympic Games are supposed to start on July 23, and that is only about three weeks from now. Is our country also ready to compete, and have our athletes been fully vaccinated? Ahem, if they invite me, I could go and watch, granting some philanthropist will offer the funding, of course, because I can assure them that I have been fully vaccinated months ago. But that is wishful thinking, of course, as it is not just Japan I want to see, having been there twice already, but of course, the Olympic competitions which I have yet to see in person!
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I always wondered why my late grandmother always made the sign of the cross whenever we mentioned something that might cause tragedies or death, but I think I know why now. I recall that last week, I noted that I had been watching CNN practically every day recently, but never saw or heard news about the Philippines. Then yesterday came a report that a Philippine Army plane had crashed near Taal in Batangas, and it did get reported on CNN! I hope and wish whatever reports it may have about our country soon will be good news only, and I will pray for that constantly.
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Why is it that calamities and tragedies sometimes bring out what is known as “man’s inhumanity to man”? I heard a news item about 100,000 schools in Mexico burglarized, and not only movable objects were stolen, but even the woodwork, furniture and equipment! The thieves must be uneducated rascals who never went to school and had no respect for learning institutions. Now, how can the children in those areas start school immediately after this pandemic is conquered?*
