A matter of time

Ben Contreras .

COMING from a national paper known for its being anti-Duterte, it breathes new life to see a reader’s reaction to an issue admonishing “to work together.” Let me quote Integrated Development Studies Institute’s statement in part: China has waived the $100 million loan for the canceled North Rail Project and donated over $100 million for bridges to decongest Manila, but these received hardly any media headline.

Of course, we can’t stop people from saying what they choose to say or media outlets from what they want to publish. After all, media is still basically about business and money matters the most.

Media shapes public opinion. They can give justice to that saying, “a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth.”

But like I once said, Duterte will be judged by history, not his critics, by his accomplishments not his foul mouth and not by any Church but by the God he believes in.

Ending his second year in office, some people would opt to be full time critic, choose to see only Duterte’s mistake or waiting for him to commit a mistake and feast on it. But that too will come to pass when these very same critical people will directly become beneficiaries of Duterte’s good accomplishments.

It’s just a matter of time.

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Japan is running against time in saving missing persons as a result of the worst flood disaster since 30 years ago. Nations who have the manpower to help should. China comes to mind. China has always been proud of doing things via massive manpower. Would China come to the rescue? I hope so, if only to show goodwill.

We are a nation that benefitted a lot from other countries when calamities struck. In our humble capacity, we should reciprocate by sending people to help the flood victims in Japan.

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Another item in this national paper is about alleged “Fake news about super typhoon.” As far as weather forecasting is concerned, there can be no such thing as fake news, only inaccurate news or forecasting.

Our Pagasa has been subjected to harsh criticisms for its wrong forecasts. In one forum about environment which included weather forecasting, Pagasa was criticized for its old weather forecasting instruments.

Let us hope that Pagasa has finally bought new and more modern instruments to forecast accurately.

Just this morning, when people talked of fake news about the weather, a sudden heavy rain poured, flooding many areas in the city. RER Subdivision as usual, has not been spared. And of, the traffic it caused.

Out there in front of Limketkai center, a large tarpaulin fell on the ground and in the middle of Recto Avenue. It must have been quite a strong wind that blew it down.

Weather today is so unpredictable that sunshine in the morning does not mean a sunny day. Hence, if you have nothing important to do outside, better stay home.

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Sometimes, an accident can wipe out a whole family in just a blink of an eye. It happened to a relative some decades ago. It happened again lately to a family in the US.

When you drive, do it carefully. You may cause the death of your loved ones or other people.