If you’re reading this all the way from Bicol, chances are you’ve seen the torrential rains and strong winds that hit the region for the past years and heard about how Bicolanos were able to withstand these natural disasters. Sure, the region is known for dealing with a great number of storms over the years, but more importantly, its people became known for having a methodical approach to disaster resiliency.
Such methodical approach sprouted into values that shine in every phase of disaster preparations, to which we’ve summed up below:
Before: Preparedness
Try visiting supermarkets a day or two before a storm arrives and you’ll see long lines of people whose carts are full of canned goods, rice, bottled water, toiletries, and other essentials one might need for a couple of days. (This isn’t even only applicable before storms, as we’ve also seen people, not only Bicolanos, stock up their supplies before national lockdowns happened.)
Outside, construction noises will make you think twice about how strong your house is – so you might even try repairing your house yourself. You might see houses made from light materials put sandbags and tires over their roofs to make sure that they won’t fly away with strong winds. Roofs are also rechecked of leaks. Glass windows are covered in plywood, and you’ll see that even commercial establishments are doing it too.
That’s when you’ll know things are getting serious.
During: Innovative
Most of us may be staying in our homes throughout the storm, but the average Bicolano surely has a lot on his mind.
Is the roof leaking? Will floodwater reach the house? Were telephone and cellphone signals cut off? These are only some of the worries that you’ll encounter while facing a storm.
However, Bicolanos turn these worries into quick-witted responses that match what’s needed at the moment.
Is the roof leaking? If it’s still not too dangerous out, they might go out and try to fix the leaks. Otherwise, they would resort to the ever-trustworthy trapal – or just whatever tarpaulin they could find.
Will floodwater reach the house? Time to move the appliances and other important documents upstairs. If the house is one-storey, you can always count on your next-door neighbor to temporarily store your stuff – bringing out the bayanihan spirit even in the most challenging situations.
Were telephone and cellphone signals cut off? You can always rely on 24/7 radio broadcasts to keep you updated on the latest movements of the storm. Midway, you might even come across religious songs played on the radio, showing the religious foundation of the Bicolanos dating back centuries ago.
After: Resiliency
It doesn’t even matter what time – immediately after the storm passes the region, you can already see flocks of people cleaning and scavenging the streets for organic debris, dismantled building materials, as well as fallen electric and telecommunication lines that could get in the way of passing vehicles.
The streets are so clean the morning after the storm. You might even wonder if it really happened, and the fact that this isn’t an exaggeration makes it even more intriguing.
This is a common example of the Bicolano resiliency, a value so innate that it almost became an instinct after every storm. After hours (or even days) of heavy rains, the Bicolano immediately rises even before the sun shows itself.
Moreover, the spirit of bayanihan remains after the storm. Donation drives aimed to help the less fortunate who suffered great property damages kickstart. People sharing public electric outlets in hopes of getting their phone and flashlight batteries recharged is a common sight after the first few weeks. In the face of calamities, the Bicolanos remain rational yet warm in their own unique ways.
Do you have these qualities yourself?
If yes, we are proud of you. If you don’t have any of these qualities, do not fret because it doesn’t mean that you’re not a true Bicolano if you don’t seem to have these qualities.
We’re also not gatekeeping these qualities on Bicolanos per se, instead, celebrating these values that helped every Bicolano get back up not only on the face of the toughest storms but just about any life obstacle he encounters.
Bangon, Oragon!
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