Justine Maye C.

Lope Editorial English The Junction Unshakable spirits Giving up will never be an option for Juan dela Cruz. Indeed, it is innate for us Filipinos to possess the will to survive and rise above the adversities we continuously encounter each day whether it is economic recession, natural calamities or terrorist attacks. A deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippine islands of Bohol and Cebu and other nearby VisMin provinces. Reports say that death toll caused by the said earthquake has already reached 190. Almost 50,000 houses were destroyed leaving millions of residents homeless. Major bridges, highways and heritage churches which were built centuries ago were also crumbled and turned into rubble. However, it is such an amazing feeling seeing Filipinos sweet smiles amidst all the saddening aftermaths of the Bohol earthquake. This is the Filipino spirit during crucial times the resilience which will always be our armor in the middle of all seemingly challenging circumstances. The quake may have brought the bridges and houses down but the Filipino spirit will remain unshakable through the test of time. Religion may have something to do with Filipino resilience. Our determination and will to survive are deeply anchored to our unwavering faith in our Almighty God. As Deuteronomy 31:6 says, Be strong and courageous . . . for the Lord your God goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. After the earthquake, all of us have witnessed how God moves miraculously. The whole structure of century-aged churches may have been ruined but the religious figures of saints and Mama Mary were preserved. It seems like a promise of hope from heaven. Second, Filipinos are known as the happiest people on earth. We can still throw a joke to our neighbor even though we are still unsure if we have something to put on our dining table the next morning. We have this special ability to transform a disaster into something funny and light. Looking back to the days when Ondoy hit the country, the whole world was fascinated seeing the cheerfulness among Filipino evacuees affected by the massive flood in Metro Manila. During that time, Filipinos may be homeless but not hopeless. This positive outlook could have been another driving force that pushes every Filipino to bounce back and continue to live each day.

Lastly, the feeling that the whole nation cares for the victims may have pushed them to live amidst the unexpected calamity. We must commend all the efforts of government agencies and private organizations to assist all the evacuees by providing their basic necessities such as drinkable water, ready-to-eat food and temporary shelter. The relief effort is a visible testimony of unity for the purpose of saving peoples lives. The bayanihan spirit has been showcased to the whole world again. Darkness may have already fallen but the burning flare of Filipino spirit remains to glow brightly. A famous quotation says, a person may stumble once or twice in his life but it is how he gets up that counts. The 7.2-magnitude earthquake may have killed many lives and left millions homeless but the Filipino spirit will remain unshakable. Through faith in God, bayanihan, and sense of humor, we shall recover again; we shall rebuild new dreams for ourselves, for our country. Filipinos are resilient. And we shall be.