That thing we do

It’s the eve of Typhoon Ruby and my sister calls to check up on us. Are we ready? Have we fixed the leak in the kitchen roof? Do we have enough food in stock? “Get Palang in from the garden, okay?” That’s one of the dogs.

“I hear you,” Ma says. “It’s the goat I’m worried about.”

“Wha—? We have a goat now?”

She is referring to the decorative reindeer on the roof. We have been debating whether we should take it down. Can Rudolph handle Ruby? “Do you really want to find out?” I say. Down he goes.

It’s hard to believe a storm is barreling our way. Except for the empty streets, it looks like any other gloomy night. You should have been here the evening before Yolanda struck. It was picture-perfect. The moon was suspended on a cloudless sky and the sea sat like oil. “Here’s to PAGASA,” I had toasted. It was nearing four in the morning with nary a drop of rain or a wisp of wind. “Long may it err on the side of caution.” And then she swooped in, all at once, as if out of nowhere.

That was a year ago, too short a time for people to forget. Radyo baktas (“foot radio” AKA word on the street) has it that many residents have hied off to higher ground even as early as three days ago, loaded undoubtedly with their stash of rice, noodles, and canned food. That’s despite the forecast that this typhoon will more or less take the path that Yolanda took, north of where we are. What’s the harm in being prepared?

We survived Yolanda unscathed. It took us two days to receive news of the damage in Samar, Tacloban, and Ormoc (just 50 kilometers away as the crow flies). In case you don’t know, a giant statue of the Virgin Mary stands on top of a hill overlooking our city, like the Cristo Redentor in Rio. That’s fact. It’s there for all to see. Since it was installed, our place has not been visited by a major catastrophe. Prior to that, in the early ’80s, we were hit by a string of particularly nasty typhoons, plus a series of fires. That’s also fact.

People are as people do. It was inevitable that someone should tie those facts together with the duct tape of superstition. Our Lady did it. She protects us (maybe not from the politicos who live downhill from where she keeps vigil, but that would be too much to ask). But what does that make of the victims of Yolanda (and other disasters besides)? Were they somehow unworthy of divine protection? That so, so many lost their lives is fact, too.

We were spared the wrath of Yolanda due to the fortunate but simple accident of geography. We will be spared the brunt of Ruby for the same reason. Let the bells ring out in all the parishes. Join as many Facebook prayer brigades as you want (heck, start your own). But let us not flatter ourselves. Ruby will come when she comes, and God (or Allah) help those unlucky souls who live where this one eventually decides to land. In the meantime, we are all on our own. Get your goat to safety, and good luck.