A Jeepney reader shares his thoughts on the recent tragedy that struck the country …

The recent events brought about by the rains here in the Philippines have been grave enough to make even those with the strongest faith question it. In the span of just a few hours, hundreds lost their lives; thousands lost their homes and everything they ever strove for. Floods wiped out villages, and even days after the waters had receded, knee-deep mud that left a painful reminder of the ordeal that thousands had suffered and indeed are still suffering from.

I was spared from the brunt of the storm. Tucked away safely in my 21st floor apartment I was so comfortable that I only realized the extent of the damage much later. In fact, I think it would be a falsehood for me to claim that I now realize the extent of the damage as each day newspapers are filled with harrowing reports of the sheer destruction. And though my safety was certainly a blessing that I am dearly grateful for, I could not help but feel guilty for being safe while thousands of others were not.

This semester, I’ve taken Philosophy of Religion classes and even taught a church Sunday school class for three weeks about why a God we call all-good and all-powerful would allow such things to happen. And all the rational, clean-cut answers that at the time seemed so comforting to me paled instantly and became ever so unsatisfying in light of this recent tragedy.

This blog is not about how I’ve figured out why God would let Typhoon (actually tropical storm Ondoy) occur. Though there are theories and such that theists propose in the wake of events such as these, the fact of the matter is that I will never truly know (at least on this side of eternity). However, I do have some words of encouragement that I would like to share with any others struggling with a similar dilemma.

In the past weeks, we have asked ourselves why God would let us go through so much pain and not do anything to stop it. Perhaps this analogy can help.

Picture a young child being led to the dentist by her loving mother. It‘s time for a painful dental procedure, one that will last hours and cause excruciating pain. As the child goes through the pain, she cries not only because of the dentist’s drill but also because of the fact that it was her own mother that brought her to see this man. As she sits strapped to the dentist’s chair, she thinks to her, “surely, Mummy can make this man stop this.” As time goes on, she begins to hate her mother. Feeling betrayed she bellows in pain, “I’ll never speak to you ever again.”

But as time went by, the young girl, though still in terrible pain and though still untrusting of her mother, realizes that her hands are grasped tightly in her mothers. She clings on tight as ever and this helps ease her pain. The child remembers the mother’s goodness all throughout her life and how she’s always provided everything that she needed. The child looks up and through her tears, sees tears streaking down from the mother’s eyes. And though the child still doesn’t understand why what is going on is happening, she holds on to her mother even tighter.

We are the little girl, Ondoy was our dentist appointment, and God is the mother.

We all know exactly how the trip to the dentist, as painful as it was, was meant by the mother for the child’s good. With God and Ondoy, we are not as wise; however, through faith, we still cling to God with all we have.

In this time of pain we must humble ourselves and draw near to the one that holds all things together. We must remember His goodness and grace to us in the past and trust in all His promises for our present and our future. And as we look up to the heavens even in the midst of all this pain, perhaps we would see God shedding tears for us as well.

Itunu Olusegun Kuku

About the Author:

Itunuoluwa means comfort of God in his native language Yoruba in Nigeria.

He chose to use the nickname “K” after arriving in the Philippines in 2003. According to his Multiply site, he wrote; “When you move to a new country where no one knows a thing about you, you’ll realize you can introduce yourself to people as John Smith or whatever suits your fancy.”

K is a 20-year old student in Ateneo majoring in Development Studies, initially to follow his father’s footsteps as a diplomat. He is also a member of the school’s track and field team and is also a high jumper. He plays the guitar for a band called AKROSS, an acronym for A King Risen Over Sin and Suffering.

In the article titled “What Does the World Food Program do in Mindanao?” (Jeepney Magazine, issue “Tired of War”, p25), the caption states “The World Food Programme in partnership with the International Red Cross, provides rice to evacuees in Mamasapano, Maguindanao,” with a photograph depicting some ICRC staff preparing supplies for distribution.

The article title should be “What Does the World Food Programme Do in Mindanao?”

While the WFP coordinates with ICRC as well as with other humanitarian organizations for food distribution, in truth, WFP is in partnership with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and the Philippine Government regarding food distribution.

We apologize for these errors.

Tired of War is Jeepney’s latest issue, released this week. In this issue, Jeepney captured the stories of those affected by the conflict in Mindanao.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) recorded a total of 693,158 Internally Displaced People (IDP) from August 2008 to May 2009 alone, a number continually increasing as the armed conflict between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and government forces escalates, with an estimate of 240,000 civilians still displaced in 127 evacuation centers over 8 provinces in Mindanao.

Our vendor, Emily Reyes, is featured as our vendor partner for this issue. She is the vendor who returned a lost wallet in Eastwood last week. (Click here to read the story)

Spaces for Peace is featured in the Who’s Helping section. Launched by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate’s Inter-religious Dialogue, the GiNaPaLadTaKa Spaces for Peace is a community driven project to establish zones of peace in 7 barangays in North Cotabato, both recognized by government forces and MILF.

Jeepney also featured the UN World Food Programme and its participation to address food security in Mindanao through different programs such as free food distribution, food for work and food for training.

Jeepney also added a new section called Inspirations. In this issue, Jeepney had Jessie Lichauco, 97, relive her memories of the Japanese occupation.

On July 4, 2009, fire swept through the Agham Road Settlement in Quezon City. The Jeepney has been following the developments going on after the fire specifically looking at the Pegar family’s struggle to build and start again.

Other stories in the magazine include Normalcy of Fear, a story of refugee from Zamboanga Del Sur, and on the lighter side, the Last Laugh, a hilarious account of a missionary in the Philippines.

Click here to find out where to buy the magazine.

We had our biggest one-day sale ever for two people. Last Saturday, at Eastwood Mall, Emily sold 64 magazines while Dante sold 32. Emily’s sixty-four magazines, P3200, garnered her eight times the minimum wage.

The Jeepney, a member of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), is sold for P100 and our vendors keep half of the proceeds.

The Eastwood locale is full of young professionals that are between 20 to 35 years old. They are the market that supports Jeepney. It may be the most encouraging sign I have seen in the Philippines, not just for us for we are a small piece, but for the country.

The youth of the Philippines are socially interested and socially responsible. That may not be unusual. But the fact that this segment of the population will be the voting majority in 2010, is unusual. It means the Philippines have young, educated, social caring people who are also the majority. The future is in their hands.

The only thing keeping us from employing more street and homeless people is safe and legal places for them to sell, places like Eastwood. We have the support of the majority. Help us use that support and provide jobs that move people into homes, provide education, and change their lives for the better.

—W.Shaw

I think what Emily did was unusual. Three times in the past year I have returned to establishments to look for sunglasses. I have a problem with leaving my sunglasses on coffee tables. Three times my sunglasses have disappeared and no one has a clue.

Monday morning our social worker brought up a story that took place over the weekend. Emily was selling the Jeepney at Eastwood Mall and she found a wallet. Someone had dropped it. There was no picture ID or identification, but there was money and of course there was the leather wallet.

“Don’t turn it in.” Someone said. “If you do, they will just keep it.”

But Emily waited, thinking the person may come back. And sure enough an hour later she spotted someone looking around as if they had lost something.

Long story short, the wallet was returned. The woman wanted to give Emily a reward, but Emily said, “No, you need the money and I need the money. How about if you just buy a magazine?”

The lady bought three.

The guard, who has been stationed there, has been a bit concerned about our vendors, who in the recent past were homeless street people. Emily’s honesty has won him over.

— W.Shaw