with almost half the country still shell-shocked from the storm this past week, another one is fast approaching with the same threat that it might pass over metro manila. and with repairs and restoration still ongoing, one might wonder if we can withstand another lashing of one of nature's most violent creations.

yet that's a different story. it is often said that when man is pressed against difficult and challenging times, it brings out the best in him. or something like that. it is also said (well, at least what i have heard) is that filipinos are the most resilient people in the world. that we can adapt to any situation we're given. true to the fact that when hard times fall upon us, we can still smile and see the light at the end of the tunnel and even make jokes about how to get there.

that being said, i guess i'm feeling a bit shocked (though i think appalled is the best term to use) at two things i have seen at the aftermath of the storm. i know i'll be getting some heat with what i am about to say, but this is based on what i understand and what i have been through. of course also taking into consideration what the general public might (and i emphasize on the word might) be also seeing and what they're actually going through. again, feel free to share your views; there are no restrictions, and see what you have to say about these two things:

first, the sudden increase in hotel bookings (to the point that these establishments start to turn clients away due to no more available rooms) by people wanting to continue their "normal" way of life. it just saddens me that people are so accustomed to having a life of leisure and comfort that when a power outage of such a magnitude like this past weekend happens, they would readily spend thousands of pesos to go check into a hotel. and for what? just to take showers and sleep? heck, i took a shower with a candle on and slept with just the windows open and i had no problem with it whatsoever! i remember the power crisis back in the early 90s and nothing like this happened. people adjusted their way of life around the daily blackouts that occurred. why can't they do that now? some of my colleagues actually invited me to join them last friday in doing the same so that we can share the expenses. i literally said, "what?!" that idea never crossed my mind. so what if the power is out for a couple of days? deal with it! sacrifice a little! this doesn't include people who have generators in their homes. if it's been there all along, that's fine, use them. but for those who only thought about getting a proper (read: normal) shower and slept without sweating by checking into hotels, i really don't understand the need to do that. i just don't. you may say that i'm damn lucky because we're one of the first ones to have electricity restored, but here's the truth: if we were one of the last ones, i would've just stayed home, waited it out and say that life is like that. these things happen and we should just roll with the punches. plain and simple.

secondly, the billboard fiasco. no, i'm not agreeing with what bayani fernando is saying that billboards should be banned along edsa and that owners of fallen billboards should be charged in court. what the hell is he thinking?!?! i mean, if ALL the billboards fell, maybe i would somehow, in the very least agree with him. but the fact is, there are still billboards left standing and unscathed. heck, i even saw billboards on top of buildings which were taller than most giant billboards, and they were still standing! whether or not strong materials were used, or the billboards that were left standing were constructed in a different way, the thing is, a storm brought them down. on a normal day, if these giant billboards were made from "sub-standard" material, they would've fallen on their own, wouldn't it? it's just nature wrecking havoc on the city. and of course, there will be damage. one good thing i heard is that the family of the person who got killed when a billboard fell into the truck he was driving decided not to press charges against the billboard owner(s). and rightfully so. this reminds me of the stampede on a noontime show that happened early this year and that the families of those who were killed pressed charges against the organizers for "negligence." i wrote an entry saying that it was an accident, so therefore, no charges should be filed. same goes with what happened here. the family members of the truck driver have more rational thinking combined than that of the chairman of the metro manila development authority and the senators who filed a resolution banning the construction of billboards along major thoroughfares. they claim that it's an eyesore, a road hazard?? how can it be one when it's used for marketing purposes? it serves it's purpose by being visible. now, if the number of accidents are rising due to drivers taking time looking at these billboards while driving, shouldn't the driver himself or herself be the one who should be disciplined and not punish marketing people for doing their jobs? i don't get it, i just really don't get it.

thankfully i got those out of my chest. makes me feel a whole lot better. going back to the new storm approaching, i have learned that there's a 50-50 chance of it passing through the capital later this week. let's just hope for the best, yet expect the worst. right now, i'm quite excited with the responses of people reading this and see what they think. there goes my rant for the week. i rarely do this, so please bear with me. =)