CENTRAL and Eastern Visayas, specifically the Province of Cebu, have been hit with a second whammy in less than a month.
Yes, after the deadly and devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake that steamrollered Northern Cebu towns, a Signal 4 typhoon leveled whatever was left standing after the earthquake. Tropical Storm Tino brought floods and submerged houses, and the resulting deluge swept vehicles and appliances away.
Typhoon Tino affected not only the two Visayan regions but also the entire Negros Island and some provinces within the Mimaropa cluster, as well as portions of the Caraga Region in Mindanao.
Unluckily for the areas, some provinces and cities suffered additional and even more destructive calamity— continuous rain that resulted in ravaging floods that were rooftop-deep.
The devastation is so widespread and the affected population is in millions of people that we cannot imagine how the government will respond to their needs to help them get back on their feet again.
And we have no doubt some politicians will blame the government for the perdition the people suffered, even if the calamity is an act of nature.
The same political personalities will again find an opportunity to show they are the better leaders by competing with other officials in terms of the speed with which they come to offer assistance to the victims.
How happy would the victims of the typhoons be if, for once, and for even a limited period, they set aside their fighting just to come together and make a united effort to help the affected?
But we are certain such show of unity, even in plastic only, will not likely happen.
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Of late, the modern and more sophisticated battle grounds among quarreling politicians in the country – the various platforms of social media – appear to be dominated by the anti-administration vloggers and trolls.
The number of posts, all provided with graphics or video presentations, mostly came from the anti-administration groups. The vloggers find every available material they could use to chastise the Marcos, government.
They watch with keenness all of the President’s body language and capture it on video or still documentation, and provide captions based on how they would want the public to interpret the same.
They even manipulate crowd of religious procession goers into appearing like it is a throng of people on their way to Malacanang to storm the seat of power and drive the Palace tenant.
Then there are vloggers who are openly encouraging the members of the country’s armed services to abandon the duly constituted authorities and join the people in ousting the President and protect them instead.
All their importuning are in the guise of saving the country from a corrupt regime. But will driving away the incumbent President be a surefire guarantee that a corruption-free administration will take over from the present government?
That was exactly the thunderous assurance when the supposed people power drove away to exile the incumbent President’s father.
But what happened during the administration of the one who assumed the Presidency when Marcos Sr. was kicked out? How were the succeeding governments after Cory Aquino characterized?
It was no secret that some of those who shouted the loudest to oust the alleged corrupt dictator were also those who made fortunes during the old Marcos’ time.
They just did a short lull when the elder Aquino administration took over. But they came back with vengeance not too long after. There are even some of them – or their younger kin – who are still in the present government.
A number of them may even be the source of funds for the operation of both the anti-administration and pro-administration vloggers and trolls.
Should we then be surprised why the social media political battles are getting nastier as election time gets nearer and potential aspirants overtly manifest their intention?
