In early October 2009, mild-mannered typhoon Ondoy limped onto Philippine soil, only to unload the largest rainfall in the shortest time ever in these here lands. Two weeks later, the Direct Marketing Association of New York awards the Silver International ECHO to Wikreate (my agency in the US) for our 2008 Celebrate the Crisis party, seen here.
The message of the party was "All-hands-brace-for-economic-impact" cum "Just-keep-swimming." One year, and half a world away, the message of finding the positive, constructive, and divine in the most punishing of acts of God still holds true. Typhoon Ondoy brought snakes, rats, and crocs out of hiding and among the Philippine people, and that's just politicians handing relief goods for the cameras. In the end, Filipinos found more than one reason to celebrate. Closer to 93 million, actually.
The effort to save each other with cooperation showed the best in us. Donations poured in and assembly lines and relief brigades spread the wealth with breathless passion. Bloggers quarterbacked the efforts in some instances, blowing the whistle at government ignorant of underserved areas, warehouses that were brimming with untouched goods, and feeding the spectating netizens with SMS reports from the ground.
For a while--and for a reason--you could track the ebb and tide of the Filipinos' blood, undulating uniformly across thousands of square kilometers of world. Some were wet. Some were dry. Some were celebrating the triumph of man.
I know I was.
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