It's almost 2am!

It hurts when it's closer to home.

Boxing day, 2004. Everyone awoke to horrible images of people being swept away by one of the most tragic events in world history, hitting Thailand, India and Indonesia the hardest. TV networks all around the world broadcast videos sent in by civilians who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The tsunami is believed to have caused the loss of more the 230,000 lives.




I was grief-stricken. 230,000 is almost the population of a small country. To be honest, I wanted to help so bad, but I did not know how to. I guess it's human nature to want, but when it actually comes down to doing, there are lots of things that stop us from doing so. I thought that my contribution will be too small, or that my help would not matter. Now that I'm more mature, I should have thought otherwise.

Boxing day, 2006. I was in Amsterdam for the vacation of a lifetime. I was looking for cool shoes to wear when I arrive in Paris for the New Year celebrations. It would be such a happy time for me since I get to celebrate New Year in a different city. PARIS BABY! Good thing it's sale season here, so I can look for really good bargains.

Boxing day, 2008. Jamie Monk writes in his blog:

"I think this will be the last time I try to write anything about the tsunami. People keep asking about it. Today I have told the same story to customers several times. I don't want to be rude, but OK, it was 4 years ago now. Yes I was here. No I was not directly affected. We saw nothing really nasty. I did for a while feel guilty about being so close to it all, and yet not losing anything or anyone myself. Time now to get on with life."
http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

Now Manila.



It may not be as dramatic as the tsunami of 2004 but somehow it feels more intense. I do not see any bodies on the streets, unfortunate enough to be caught in the deadly waters. I do not find buildings TOTALLY destroyed by the flood, well maybe shanties.

But it hurts. It hurts more than I hurt for the victims of the 2004 tsunami.

And the sad part is, people will move on. Except for those who have been there and experienced the horror of it all. So to those affected, I'm deeply sorry. But this time, I WILL help.

posted by Rom / Rub according to the barista @ 3:49 PM