No fun

That was a week to remember.
Two typhoons in less than five days, a trail of destruction highlighting a sense of unpreparedness and impotence against the mighty power of nature, and the apathy of those in command.
There is conjecture in town about the reasons as to why Typhoon Hato struck the city so harshly.
Nature does operate within a degree of unpredictability for humans to foresee. But technological devices are in place to help mitigate unnecessary harm.
Whereas they cannot guarantee the saving of all lives or avoiding some degree of material damage, they enable the triggering of preventive measures. But those, in turn, still require decision-making.
Deficient information, a lack of a sense of urgency, and a slow response on the part of public bodies after Hato devastated the city, do not make for a flattering image.
It also shows how poor co-ordination and the absence of a proper contingency plan have high costs, human and material.
People are distressed. Disease may spread soon, if it has not started already.
Exposure to natural catastrophes and disasters affects people on the ground regardless of colour, passport, or creed. But some people may be more protected than others due to favourable socio-economic conditions.
No wonder that the Inner Harbour and Coloane village were in tatters.
If it were not for the civic action which formed on social media platforms, mostly through WeChat, residents of the area – where they also usually run small businesses – would still be much behind in their efforts of recovery after the violent tropical storm.
As volunteers teamed up to help those most in need, solidarity brought some light to a scenario of loss and desolation.
On Saturday, dozens of people could be seen hands on the job in the wrecked, dirty, and reeking streets of the low areas of the Inner Harbour, packaged with garbage and debris until that evening, when Pakhar, another typhoon, was already making its way to town.
The Police, IACM, and the Red Cross were also there.
This is a cruel, sharp contrast considering all the hype befalling the international city of entertainment and leisure.
Nobody is having fun now.