THE GREATEST MAGICIANS have something to learn from Mr. Mistoffelees’ Conjuring Turn – PRESTO! CALOR! CALOR! CALOR! Candidly, this column is a challenging piece to deliver—no thanks to the roaring heat with a clamor that goes on forever! CALOR! CALOR! CALOR!
Ay, Mamá, the summer’s hottest day. Paciencia y fe, paciencia y fe. I wasn’t informed that the Holy Week was seemingly extended, seeing how our patience and faith are constantly being tested, to the highest degree, by this merciless sun without a gleam for humanity!
“…ultimately change, then again, the already perplexed and now ‘roasted’ pearl…of the Orient Seas.”
El Niño is a phenomenon familiar to us all, defined by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA, 2024) as a “periodic weather event characterized by a warming of the ocean surface or above-average sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific.” While the effect straddles on an international scope, Asian countries are more susceptible to his naturally misplaced fervor. Take the Philippines, for example.
As days go by, the looming effect of El Niño becomes more and more apparent in the country, evidenced by drought, that has brought upon more challenges relative to water, not to mention the continual suspension of classes in specified areas throughout the archipelago where the temperature would exceed the 42 degrees Celsius range—thereby classifying them as “dangerous,” according to the heat index of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
El Niño has progressed its range, touching upon crucial establishments—like shutting down Philippine power plants at the risk of overheating—to ultimately change, then again, the already perplexed and now “roasted” pearl…of the Orient Seas.
The economic side of the country isn’t any better, with inflation concurrently increasing with the temperatures on hand. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) disclosed, as of March 2024, that the overall inflation rate of the country is at 3.7 percent. While this may seemingly be lower than last year’s 7.6 percent rate, the PSA also reported that there is a 4.6 percent inflation rate for the bottom 30 percent of income households in the country. Additionally, it doesn’t help the fact that, according to a discussion paper by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), every one-degree Celsius increase in temperature is equivalent to a 0.37 percent decrease in economic growth.
Such unfortunate conditions are further heightened as we reflect upon San Beda University’s (SBU) efforts to shade its students away from the heat. While relaxed garments, cancellation of outdoor activities, and shifts to online means were some of her undertakings, but for a University dubbing itself with values of Laudato Si’, we cannot help but question why there persists issues concerning the accessibility of some drinking fountains, lack of water dispensers, and the prevalence of single-use plastics which have contributed to this heated issue.
Essentially, Filipinos are suffering; more so that the fervor of El Niño is presumably directing its rage towards us. However, such an argument is on a case-by-case basis, for, in fact, those that have reveled at the serenity of an air-conditioned room could not possibly exhaustively comprehend the lives of those living in the scorching heat. After all, walls have this tendency to obstruct reality, obscuring clarity. Similarly, the unparalleled sacrifices of those who have made their way through driving jeepneys is a testament proving a service that is unflinching even when up against the pride of today’s sun.
Needless to say, that a lot of issues still continually pervades and diminishes the good name of the country—and it doesn’t help that problems in relation to El Niño are now slowly contributing to the Philippines’ myriad of issues that are yet to be resolved. Please, Filipinos are already suffering. But instead of adding fuel to the fire, I implore the government, institutions, and other establishments to have a sense of leniency and empathy before the people. Then again, in these crucial times where patience and faith are tested, I enjoin you to be firm and be the patient one under the raging heat of the moment. CALOR! CALOR! CALOR!
Oh! Well, I never! Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees
Email me at thebedan_associateeditor@sanbeda.edu.ph