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Journey of Hope

5 October 2009 489 views 568 Comments

I closed my eyes and slowly took a deep breath. I could hear the weeping of a 40-year-old woman. It was deep, mournful and unrelenting. Images of her desperately holding on to her lifeless baby in the mud remained suspended on my mind. Then my heart pounded frantically as I remember the families struggling against the strong currents of the swollen creek, trying to reach for anything solid to keep them from being washed away. Some were hanging on to the rusty lamp post. Some were clinging on to the old and dilapidated signage. As for the less fortunate, they passed out floating gracefully along with the current. The awful, terrifying wailing came again and this time it was from all directions. All of a sudden, a ray of light shone upon my face. It was the warmth that brought me back to my consciousness.

People on train

The glare of the sun broke down into rays behind the window panes and one of it glowed directly on me. Slowly I gazed out from the moving train. The world is indeed beautiful. The light wakes up the world and reminds human beings that it is time to start the day with renewed strength and enthusiasm, to set simple to lofty ambitions, and to fulfill dreams. I can see school children walking in a straight line under the menacing eyes of teachers, uni students taking slow steps in the busy streets while endlessly revising their notes, and businessmen racing briskly to work while cutting through human crowd. Unknown to these people, miles away from the city of possibilities lies an entirely different world which is bleak, terrifying and unpredictable.

More than 1000 miles away, there lies a city sinking into abysmal depths of fear, sorrow, and hopelessness. The Typhoon Ketsana had called a month’s worth rainfall to wash Metro Manila in a single day. Later on its course it whipped neighboring countries of Vietnam and Cambodia. Changing direction to SouthWestern, a huge earthquake churned up a giant tsunami that devastated the Samoa islands causing buildings to topple and killing at least 53 people. Another powerful earthquake struck off the city of Padang on Sumatra Island trapping thousands under rubble. Mother nature took away 75 lives. Going through the circle of disasters, the focus returned to Manila where another super typhoon is predicted to be strong enough to tear apart homes.

The world has lost its charms in the eyes of these people. The unforgiving catastrophes stole away their happiness, their loved ones, their home, and their lovely planned future. Life can be as glittering as a diamond and as gloomy as the fog the next day. The hope and plans might turn to dust in a split second.

It was a singular emotion that no words can describe. It began as an aching, miserable feeling in the pit of my stomach, gradually bubbling into my chest, filling me with chill and sadness. The world has once again been enveloped into sheer darkness as the train passed into the tunnel.

The train came to a halt as it reached its destination. I lazily stood up and walked out with a heavy heart . I am back to the world of material comfort where unsatisfied and ungrateful people complain endlessly over minor inconveniences.

As the cerulean sky and fresh air greeted me as i stepped out of the MRT station, I’ve once again realized how fortunate I am to live in peace, in comfort, and in touch with my aspirations and goals. Until when all these will last? Only the future can tell.

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