20/08/2026
๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ ๐ก | ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: ๐ฅ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
Time and time again, the government fails Filipinos when it comes to disaster prevention. Without fail, the masses suffer and are angered, yet change never comes. Every time a disaster has struck, resiliency has been posed as the answer rather than improvement. The people no longer trust the government to improve our situation. In a country where tragedy is valued, praised, and repeated, where does change fit in?
It is a horrifying reality to sleep not knowing whether your home will still stand tomorrow. That is the life of many citizens every Monsoon season, constant helplessness celebrated as Filipino resiliency. Suffering in the Philippines has become so normalized that citizens who drag their belongings out of the flood are painted as heroes ready to rise again rather than the victims they truly are. It is saddening that as we are busy struggling for survival, the system made to help us increases our hardships.
Furthermore, politicians seem to forget their status as public servants and behave more like influencers. While Filipinos drown in green floodwater, our politicians stay afloat in luxury and green cash. It is truly in seasons such as these that our out-of-touch officials are highlighted. As they flaunt their safety within homes built on dirty money and post on social media for Filipinos to โstay strongโ, the masses traverse rising levels of water. Additionally, they regularly forget that disaster response is no place for humour or delay. Why are these elected officials so satisfied with staying within the safety of their homes while the country they serve sinks? It calls into question their priorities and understanding of their duties.
We, Filipinos, have adapted to drowning rather than to disasters. Every year, the Philippines endures storms and typhoons, and with these disasters come casualties and wreckage. Despite this, no proper solution has been implemented. The flood control issue is a haunting reminder of plans created to prevent these situations, yet were halted and misused by corrupt individuals.
Romanticizing life is a popular phrase meant to remind us to enjoy our lives. However, helplessness should not be romanticized; it must be recognized as the tragedy it is. Recognition is the first step to development. Therefore, the government must be held accountable for its failings to improve the lives of Filipinos, for change is the answer to repeated suffering, not resiliency.
Column by: Kate Lumbes
Illustration by: Gieve Dupal
Layout by: Darlene Espineli
