As I write this piece for this week’s column, the prices of petroleum products in the Southern part of the Philippines have gone up to more than one hundred pesos per liter. People in the transport sector in Metro Manila gathered on the streets to shout out their dissent and discontent, obviously not knowing that our country is not alone in dealing with the current economic crisis. Fuel shortage as reported in major news outlets is a global problem apparently brought by the war between Ukraine and Russia.
If the war between these two countries will not end soon, I’m afraid our resiliency, strength and courage as a people will be put to a serious test. Lack of fuel may result in wide brownouts affecting factories, offices, hospitals, institutions and our very homes. If the rise in the prices of prime commodities cannot be controlled, there would surely be social unrest, famine and chaos and I doubt very much if we are ready for these. I know the government can tolerate rallies and mass actions with maximum tolerance but definitely not anarchy and disorder. So, what will happen? You and I can simply guess and speculate!
The above foreseen scenario is scary but we ought to prepare for it in the best way we could. With the current global economic crisis and the rumors of war escalating worldwide, we need to be equipped with at least knowledge of basic survival – use of medicinal plants for fever and common colds, eating edible grass and fruits of wild shrubs, drinking rainwater from springs, etc. In short, we need to familiarize ourselves, especially the younger generation about the primitive way of life experienced by our ancestors and national heroes.
The Gen Z (Generation Z) is ages apart from the so-called Baby Boomer generation to which I belong and I wonder if the former can easily adapt to the unwanted exigencies of the future. I asked my 17-year granddaughter and her friend of the same age If they are willing to let go of their gadgets and eat unfamiliar food in case there will be food shortage; if they are willing to live without A/C or fan because there is no electricity; if they are prepared to till the soil and plant short-term crops and drink water from deep well. Their answer was: “It’s difficult and scary because we are used to easy living but we can adapt.”
I think that answer is good enough for me. Their willingness to adapt to whatever future situation we might be in is a simple assurance that they can survive the tests of time. I just don’t know if other youngsters of today have the same feeling and understanding of what could be a possibility of war and chaos in the future. Anyway, as the song written by the legendary team of Livingston and Evans goes, “que sera, sera” whatever will be, will be. We cannot change the course of events on this planet but surely, we can adapt and acclimatize to any given situation as a people. Just have faith and pray that all of these are just figments of my wild imagination
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
