The recent floods that submerged parts of Cebu have left many drawing stark comparisons to the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. While the scale may differ, the scenes of submerged homes, displaced families, and widespread despair have evoked painful memories of that catastrophic event.

The immediate aftermath of the floods has been marked by stories of heroism and resilience. Communities have come together to rescue stranded neighbors, provide food and shelter, and clear debris. However, the sheer scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local resources, highlighting the need for greater support from national government agencies and international organizations. The provision of clean water, food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter is paramount in the short term.

Beyond the immediate relief efforts, it is crucial to address the underlying factors that contributed to the severity of the floods. Unplanned urbanization, inadequate drainage systems, and the destruction of natural flood barriers have all exacerbated the impact of heavy rainfall. The rapid development of urban areas without proper consideration for environmental safeguards has increased the risk of flooding and other natural disasters.
The floods also underscore the importance of investing in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. As global temperatures rise, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. The Philippines, as an archipelago nation, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable land use practices, and investing in resilient infrastructure are essential to protect communities from future disasters.

The experience of Yolanda taught the Philippines valuable lessons about disaster preparedness and response. Early warning systems have been improved, evacuation protocols have been strengthened, and community-based disaster risk reduction programs have been implemented. However, the recent floods in Cebu demonstrate that there is still much work to be done.

Effective disaster risk reduction requires a holistic approach that involves all stakeholders, from government agencies to local communities. It also requires a long-term commitment to investing in resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable development, and empowering communities to prepare for and respond to disasters.

The floods in Cebu should serve as a wake-up call for the entire nation. It is a reminder that the Philippines must prioritize disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to protect its people and its future. By learning from the past, investing in the present, and planning for the future, the Philippines can build a more resilient and sustainable society.
Let us not allow the suffering of those affected by the floods in Cebu to be in vain. Let us honor their resilience by working together to create a safer and more prosperous future for all Filipinos.

THAT gospel parable where Christ talked about a certain man who invited many persons to a great supper (cfr. Lk 14,15-24) can lead us to ask the question of how to balance the forcefulness of love and our freedom.

As the parable narrates, all those invited refused to come with all sorts of excuses. That was when the man was forced to tell his servants to “go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Lk 14,23)

It’s clear that the parable wants to teach us that God is all eager to bring us back to be with him. He created us in his image and likeness. We are supposed to share in his very nature and life.

The parable highlights the truth of our faith that God is willing to use some forcefulness to bring us back to him. But obviously, this forcefulness does not compromise our freedom which God also respects.

This only means that the forcefulness we may have to use in our apostolic dealings with others should not do away with delicacy, gentleness and compassion, especially with those who are not quite ready yet to receive Christ, or who may even be hostile to our apostolic action.

This is simply because we have to respect the freedom of everyone, even if that freedom is not exercised properly. In that case, we have to go to the process of explaining things slowly and delicately, accompanying it with prayers and sacrifices.

We have no right to impose ourselves on others, and to trample on their freedom. Even if we manage to force others to comply with our commands to be with God, if they do it not freely, nothing is actually achieved. In fact, a worse scenario may even be created.

We have to be wary of our tendency to control people’s lives and freedom. That is not the way Christ dealt with everyone. Yes, he proclaimed the truth in different ways, some in a soft way and others in a rather strong way, but in the end, he did not force anyone to follow him.

He practically begged to be believed and followed, and this he did all the way to offering his very own life. As Christ put it, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (Jn 12,32)

This is because we are not the owners of anyone’s conscience. God is the only owner. We are at best stewards, tasked to help others in the name of God. And given the complexity of this business of apostolate which is something eminently spiritual and supernatural, we need to practice a lot of restraint and moderation, thoughtfulness and patience, since we will be involved in some mysteries which we cannot fully fathom.

Thus, we have to avoid appearing as if we know everything, even if we are aware that we know a lot of things. We cannot be too sure if we are hitting the mark when we make our apostolic moves. The best that we can do is to be delicate and gentle in our dealings, never acting like a bully or being too pushy.

More importantly, we need to pray a lot and offer a lot of sacrifices, always appealing to God’s mercy and wisdom. God is the only one who can make the impossible possible. We have to allow others to grow and mature spiritually in a way that is done in freedom and love.

In a bid to protect Filipino farmers from what is seemingly a persistent problem on low farmgate prices of palay (unmilled rice), and to ensure a fair return on their production costs, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 25, 2025, has signed Executive Order No. 100, establishing a floor price, and introducing trigger mechanisms for its implementation.

Frankly, I had a mixed feelings- both positive and negative – when I learned about this, considering the fact that this issue on low buying price of palay has been going on for too long a time,dating back to many previous administrations.

As one among the frontline development workers affiliated with DA, I am fully aware that this has long been the clamor of our rice producers. Hence, I feel so sorry that nothing like this has ever been done in the past despite the fact that the low price of palay has been there and long been endured by our so called “food heroes.”

Now that such an Executive Order was issued, I can’t help but silently praise
PBBM’s deepest understanding and empathy when every sitting president before could have done the same, but refused to lift a finger to alleviate the unbearable difficulties facing our farmers – especially in getting a fair and just price for their fresh farm produce.

However, watching and reading the reactions of some farmers organizations, both in the broadcast and social media, I also feel sad that many have reacted negatively to this landmark action taken by our president.

As I observed this unfolding of events, I can categorically say that we, Filipinos, are severely divided and nothing can ever satisfy everyone. As If every action of our leaders is always marred with doubt and suspicion.

Instead of rallying behind and supporting the enforcement of such executive order, die hard critics and self-proclaimed defenders of Filipino farmers non-chalantly oppose and attack the chief executive for various nonlogical reasons.

Let’s take a look at the following comments which I have selectedly grabbed from the social media:

1.) Hanggang papel lang yan ang katotohanan konti nlang nagtatanim ng palay kulang na sa Food Security. Ang presyo hindi parepareho sa mga regions at kontrolado sa nag papautang o namimili.”

2.) Palabas nlang yang EO 100 na yan ng Gobyerno eh wala namang Pangil, bungi at walang ngipin.”

3.) Paliko liko parin ang contents ng Executive order na yan walang malinaw na presyo na nabangit o pagbaba man lang sa mga ginagamit na fertilizer o abono.”

4.) Yung mga private traders na bumibili ng hanggang 95% ng inaani ng mga magsasaka, hindi sila sakop ng mandato ng floor price, so may kakayanan parin silang bumili sa mas mababang presyo.”

These are just a few of many negative comments that cropped up online. I wonder how they arrived these sweeping statements or speculations, when in the first place, before the crafting of this order there has been a series of multisectoral consultations made.

No less than Senator Francis Pangilinan, the Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture has stated that he had worked with Malacañang and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in drafting the executive order on farm initiatives. And that he had meet with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), seeking the issuance of two executive orders (EO) on the government purchases of wet and dry palay with a minimum floor price.

With the above statements of Senator Pangilinan, that working draft have been carefully studied and presented to selected governors and farmers groups along with (our DA) Secretary Kiko Laurel.

So that readers of this humble column may know, the issuance of such Executive Order is aimed at defending our local farmers and farmers’ organizations that raised concerns over the farmgate prices of palay which remain stubbornly low. They have persistently urged the government to implement a P5-per-kilo support price and to revert tariffs on imported rice.
The groups noted the import ban has so far failed to lift farmgate prices, which remain between P10 and P12 per kilo in most areas and have dropped to as low as P8 in others.

I remember, we, at the DA RFO 8, has long been reporting about these persistent low palay price. Since, we have a daily price monitoring team, our deployed personnel conducted their own validation. And indeed, we found out that in some areas, the price of palay per kilo has unpredictably dived or retrogressed to as low as P11.00 a kilo.

We have reported said price trend as requested by Central Office, and pretty sure, our reports formed part of the collective basis why, the agency rightfully acted on this cry for help by our farmers.

Affected farmers all over the land was truly in unison asking for decisive action from our government.

Fast forward today, the perceived solution of such problem, which is the floor price, is still being questioned or doubted.

What is clear to me now is that we, Filipinos, are truly hard to please. In local Tagalog language, “sala sa init at sala sa lamig.” A Filipino idiom that means someone is never satisfied or pleased, regardless of the circumstances.

If you gonna ask me what is my personal stand or opinion on this, I would definitely answer you that such an EO is a kind of fresh air and a typical proof that the current administration is aptly listening to the cries of our farmers.

In case you don’t know it yet, the best-known example of a price floor is the minimum wage, which is based on the normative view that someone working full time ought to be able to afford a basic standard of living. Another good example of a price floor is the rent controls on apartments in major cities.

As we all know, the fixing of the floor price for minimum wage and apartment rentals could vary from one region to another after considering some parameters or criteria prevailing in the specific region or area. As such, the floor price for palay can never be the same or true to all accross regions.

That is the very reason why there is a steering committee that must oversee in every particular region. It definitely has a semblance to the existing regional wage boards that are pivotal in establishing and adjusting the minimum wage in different parts of the Philippines.

These bodies are composed of representatives from the government, employers, and workers’ organizations, tasked with conducting regular wage review hearings and consultations.

Therefore, it is outrightly unfair to prematurely judge the said EO as just for show or has no teeth at all. I have a gut feeling the steering committee will be institutionalize soon enough in preparation for the full-swing implementation of EO No. 100 or the floor price order.

I’m pretty sure this will gonna happen. Wanna bet?

Tino is coming in and Haiyan is on its 12th year , both scenarios are feared.

Their development in the same region is significant, as the warm waters of the Philippine Sea often fuel rapid intensification of storms. Additionally, both typhoons emerged in early November, a period notorious for producing some of the most violent cyclones in Philippine history.

Typhoon Haiyan is feared for its sheer destruction: over 6,000 lives lost, thousands injured, and billions in damages. Its storm surge obliterated coastal communities, and its winds flattened entire towns. Typhoon Tino, though not as powerful, was feared due to its timing and trajectory—raising concerns of flash floods and landslides in areas still recovering from past disasters.

The path of Typhoon Tino is analogous to the same trajectory of Haiyan or Yolanda. The fear stems not only from physical damage but also from the psychological toll. November storms often catch communities off guard, as the tail end of the year brings a false sense of calm. The memory of Haiyan’s devastation amplifies anxiety whenever a November storm forms.

Nakaka hinumdum kita han kakusog! ( We remember the fury Yolanda!)

November storms had been strong and historically destructive , I remember Rosing in 1995, it was one hell of a storm, as a student council officer we were giving relief goods from our fellow students because of the brute force it carried left its boarding houses on its knees.

Typhoon Tino and Typhoon Haiyan serve as stark reminders of nature’s fury, especially during November. Their similarities in origin, timing, and threat level highlight the need for vigilance, preparedness, and respect for the forces that shape our climate. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns.

Pagbantay ngan pag andam kita!