FIRE ON THE EARTH

 

FIRE ON THE EARTH

It was December 14, 1973. All of Poblacion Makati, and the surrounding posh villages were awakened by a loud explosion. Rockwell Power Plant was on fire immediately after the first explosion, followed hours after by another bigger explosion that sent huge fireballs over the sky that turned orange with the searing flames. I was safe and sound sixty-five kilometers away in Laguna, but my folks lived in Poblacion. There was utter panic and pandemonium after the second explosion. Roads to and from Makati were blocked by vehicles and pedestrians all trying to run away from Rockwell for dear life.

Although I was not personally there to see it all, I could see the gigantic plumes of smoke and orange skies from our perch in Canlubang. It was, to use a biblical term, apocalyptic. The flame balls were not something to observe with awe like one would do at the sight of an aurora borealis.

No! It was a call to a decision. It was a rousing jolt to move into action and get into gear. Even my octogenarian grandmother, carrying what little possessions she could, joined the massive trek toward safer grounds, which meant the old International School grounds.

There was nothing but urgency as their lives were at stake. It was a case of interpreting the signs of the times, and there was no time to lose by debating with each other what to bring and where to go. It was an emergency situation if ever there was one, and everyone had to make quick choices and decisions.

The times we live in are full of imaginable types of disruption. Digital disruption has occasioned chaos and confusion even in the family. Whole families do not talk to each other anymore, but they are all connected to each other digitally, being online 24/7. Connected, but not necessarily meaningfully related to one another, is more like it.

Fires are raging—fires of hate, rash judgment, and cyberbullying in social media. The onslaught of fake news has exploded everywhere. These times call us to discern and do accordingly. What do you do? Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

How do you discern the trials and difficulties that come into your life?

You have a reason for every trial and difficulty that we experience. May I discern the lessons You want me to learn. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________