A Tragedy that Awakened us All
(Written by Jose Angelo Lorenzo S. Gomos)
On the night of December in the year 2011, a strong and destructive storm hit our city as people were not expecting for it to happen. The storm brought tremendous grief and despair to the people affected by it when their homes were destroyed, when their loved ones perished, when their courage was diminished, and when their faith was in doubt. The aftermath of the storm left many people saddened by the tragedy but as their grievances continued, hope was rekindled in the hearts of the faithful. After the devastating calamity that smote the city, there were people who willingly and compassionately volunteered with what they are capable of doing in order to help the ones who were massively affected by the devastating and despicable tragedy. Ever since the storm hit our beloved city and blanketed it with the fear and sadness of all the people, our city once again deliberately rose back towards its glorious magnificence which was taken by the tragic event as the citizens became vigilant and ever more compassionate towards one another. As of today, a year has passed since the ultimate tragedy that hit our home, the city is beginning to recover and reclaim the stability and the glory it once had. In spite of the saddening tragedy, the city was, is, and will always be the city of radiating bloom, kaleidoscopic blossom, and joyful boom.
Questions and Answers from the Documentary Film, Backwash
1.) How significant is documentary filmmaking during this time in our history?
Documentary filmmaking is significant and important during this time in our history because it gives vigilance to the people who did not experience the tragedy that they may learn from what happened and would eventually think of numerous ways on what they can do within their personal capabilities to contribute anything to the victims of the flood. Documentary filmmaking shows what reality is and it does not fabricate nor hide the truth from its viewers. Documentary filmmaking helps people understand of what happened during a cataclysmic event and would guide them to generate more ideas and insights based on what they saw. Documentary filmmaking is immensely different from motion picture films released in huge theaters because it requires no make-up, no creative props and design nor special effects to deceive the viewers, and no official script that would direct the actor or actress in the film on what to say and what character to internalize. In a typical documentary, the people act things out spontaneously, depending on what they usually do to show the viewers what the truth and reality is. It is simple yet very meaningful because it is as entertaining and fascinating as well as it is educational and informative.
I salute the crew and the staff behind the making of the film because they showed the importance and the necessity of what happened in the truth when the storm hit our city. The storm brought a destructive effect. Eventually, the effect moved us all and changed our lives. The documentary film of Backwash featured the lives of those who were broken and destroyed by the storm and how it devastated their lives with the tragedy that it brought to them. I was emotional when I was watching it because I learned the characters’ desperation to survive when the storm happened and infiltrated their lives with grief. I also learned and realized about the characters’ resiliency – on how they were able to cope up with their lives during the aftermath of the storm; on how they were able to keep their forbearance during the difficult and tragic time; and on how they were able to move on despite the challenge and the adversity they had to face. The purpose of the documentary film is to move the audience and to help them realize that whatever happens in our lives, we must take the courage to stand and grab our hope to move on and traverse continuously in our paths in life despite anything that comes in our way. We must be able to love and support each other at all cost and that we must become more compassionate to our fellow brethren and become resilient in whatever negative circumstance life offers us.
2.) As a citizen, what will you contribute now that will have a great impact in the future?
As a young citizen in this city, I am capable of joining in a voluntary activity. I can contribute my time and effort and help rebuild other people’s lives in the way that they will become more comfortable and safe from what happened to them. I can join any volunteer works that would help change the victims’ lives for the better. Last week, on December 16 2012, I was privileged to participate in the fun run called, “Dagan Kagay-an.” It is a voluntary activity involving a race and a marathon in commemoration and remembrance of the victims of the flood. The proceeds of the fun run will benefit those who were tremendously hit and devastated by the typhoon. I decided to volunteer in the activity because I know that it would help rebuild the lives of those who were affected by the tragic storm. It is my responsibility as a citizen to contribute anything for the betterment and the well-being of the people in our city.
Besides joining in any voluntary activity, I can use my skills to communicate with other people in order to inspire and encourage them to help our city for its development and for its ultimate recovery. As a student of Development Communication, I highly believe that communication is the best solution to help other people and to bring comfort and stability in their lives. When we communicate well with each other in accordance to our personal understanding, we can encourage one another and inform them that it is incredibly necessary to participate in activities that would benefit all the lives of the citizens in our city and the well-being of our city as well. When we can communicate well with each other, then there is a high possibility that we can unite altogether for the future of our city.
3.) Having experienced a disaster like Sendong, how would you like to remember the past so that the future will learn from us?
A disastrous calamity that had stricken our city is a lesson for all of us. It is a lesson to help us realize that we ought to become more vigilant and observant of the safety of our families, our homes, and of ourselves. Remembering what happened in the past would indeed traumatize and lead us into anxiety but we can never deny the fact that it had already happened. All we can do now is to cherish the present and to live on with our lives towards the future that awaits us all. It is futile to forget what happened during the past because it is impossible to erase in our memory a disastrous tragedy and a tragic event such as what the typhoon brought. No matter what grievous circumstance we encounter in our lives, we must learn to accept them. Accepting what happened can help us prepare for the future on what is to come and will make us ever more knowledgeable and wise upon the things that we might experience soon enough. By learning from the past, we must learn to become more aware of our surroundings and all that is happening in our lives. What had happened in the past brings a tremendous and insightful lesson we all have to remember and keep in mind.
Indeed it may strike us emotionally, with all that had happened, even when the disaster shook and struck our city into its mere devastation, we all became resilient. What I would like to remember in the past is not how devastating, revolting, and terrifying the tragedy had hugely overwhelmed us, but by the unity and the cooperation of the people within our city. Numerous homes were destroyed, thousands of lives were taken, many citizens were left traumatized in terror and grief; but overall, we were able to stand our ground and attained resiliency in our hopes and in our faith with each other and of the Divine. With all of our compassion and devotion combined together, we were able to rebuild homes, comfort each other, renew our faith and rekindle our hope, and increase our determination to live life to its fullest in spite of the tragic event that had stricken us. Because of the tragedy, we were able to realize how worthy our lives are and increase our love and care for our families, for our friends, and for the significant people in our lives. Upon this matter, we have become fully aware of the present and ultimately prepared for the future that is to come.
A year has passed since the storm came devastatingly into our city. It has ravaged not only those who were straightforwardly and literally victimized by it but it brought a memory to those who have heard about it from around the world. We must not forget that help came to us from all the people in most places of the world. We must always remember the compassion the people gave us when they helped us regain our stability. A year has passed yet our city has still survived – it is a symbolical hope for the people which leaves us with an insightful lesson: no matter how grievous and despairing a circumstance may come into our lives, we must all be prepared for the triumph that will eventually come with it if we stand our ground and hold onto the courage that we all innately bear.
Angelo's Compositions 