Flooded

On Friday I'm going home to the Philippines. I am of course excited to be going home but at the same time saddened by the fact that a lot of my fellow Ilonggos are still suffering the effects of the dreadful typhoon Frank and the deadly flood it brought with it. As I scan the many pictures of 'Waterworld', I somehow felt disconnected. It's as if I'm so far away. Am I coping by denying that I am not part of it? This is a new feeling for me. I know I should feel something strong about it but being away for only 6 months have transformed me into somebody who's alienated from the place where I come from. I must admit it was hard for me to relate to all the drama at first since I know my family were safe. It's very easy for me not to care. Looking back I did care since I helped a friend locate his mom, calling all our friends in Iloilo to make sure that she is safe (She was found on the rooftop of a 3-storey building. The 2 storey house of my friend got flooded up to the 2nd floor). It's just that I can't feel that I really cared. There's that feeling of hopelessness in my heart. How can I help, anyway? What can I do? Even the ones who are in the thick of the scene during the havoc of Frank couldn't muster a word but only to weep as they witnessed the strong current capsizing a house with 3 people on the roof going down with it. I guess the only way to cope is to go numb.

Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' makes so much more sense than ever.