Aklan and Typhoon Frank, Part II

The week after my I posted my blog

 

I underestimated the power of a blog.

 

In less than one week, the blog became

1) a newspaper,

2) a diary of events,

3) a ‘panawagan’ – hakita mo si so-and-so?

4) a target of criticism –  grammar nazi my ass

5) a remittance center – paki-tao nimo kay daya ro raya

6) collector of pictures, videos and links, and

7) pautwasan it maeain it buot

 

It was so weird seeing my blog averages 2000 hits per day. I also received over 100 emails, mostly kind words thanking me for ‘bringing’ the news.  Someone jokingly said I was faster than the ABS-CBN, the Inquirer and GMA-7, my blog reaching London, Dubai, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South America, Canada, Sweden, Germany and Hongkong in record time. As of today, I had over 80 comments. That was the good thing.

 

The bad part was receiving a few emails, before news broke, accusing me of exaggerating and fabricating the events. Further, a large bunch of internet surfers also looked at my other posts, including my ridiculous rants about my hair. It was also scary people start scrutinizing my family, credibility and personal integrity.

 

It was too much for me. Why am I getting all of this, when I am not being paid? And I don’t even have one single relative living in Aklan?

 

I was about to delete this blog. ‘Bahala kayo sa buhay nyo’ I mustered. But as good friend Charlotte Dianco, who had media background said, Che, you are like Spiderman — Great (blog) power comes with great responsibility.

 

Then I was informed that my site became one of the Best of Cyber Pinoy site for the month of June at filipinolinks.com.  My effort, they said, “is one of the first efforts (if not THE effort) that made people aware of what’s going on in Aklan. The blog has been circulated widely and has circumnavigated the world many times over”

 

Awww.

 

I did a lot of thinking lately. Sometimes we do forget simple things in life. I have my husband and my children right here with me. We enjoy our warm beds, hot meals, and clean clothes. I drive my car to work, enjoying the smooth roads of I-5. My refrigerator and pantry are well-stocked. Our emergency kit (flashlight, water, batteries, radio, cash, candles, canned goods, clothing & blankets) is still complete. Kenneth has full supply of milk while Khayla has her extra month’s supply medicine.

 

I also realized what while I have mixed emotions, nothing can compare to what all Aklanons are going thru. We have to always remember the victims who are hungry, cold, shocked, scared and uncertain. I can only imagine overseas-based Akeanons worrying about their parents. Let us not forget the children who are living this tragedy and are silently traumatized. I have to applaud Joanne Tupaz and her group for doing the leg work since Day 1, organizing relief efforts and the C130 flights. 

 

I have no right to complain.

 

And so my blog lives. The Aklanon spirit lives.

 

Viva Aklan!

 

P.S. Please check this blog weekly: I am back blogging.