Because, She Too, Can

I usually pass over the Marikina Bridge on my way to work. This morning was no different.

Or so I thought...

As of last Sunday morning, the Marikina Riverbank was host to the annual Christmas tiangge (bazaar). This year's tiangge saw the longest row of stalls ever set up for the event. This year also is marked by the highest rental rate for a space in the bazaar.

What I saw this morning, however, gave me goose bumps.

After a little over 24 hours of non-stop, heavy rain, the expected did happen...

The Marikina river overflowed. Bringing along with its strong currents, the dingy stalls of the bazaar with all the merchandise.

It was sad knowing that the damage could never be undone. All the goods have been washed away. They could never even be used by those people downstream who may be able to get hold of them. A total loss of investment.

I was actually contemplating about what I learned over the weekend. It struck me to realize that, as we do the things we do because we can, so can Mother Nature do the things she does because she could!

It was awesome to see the river, which is usually still and stagnant, move about and swirl with the strong currents. I was dumb struck at how feeble we really are before Mother Nature.

No, I wouldn't consider it an act of anger by Mother Nature. And environmentalists can shout 'til their voices are hoarse that what happened was due to improper garbage disposal and illegal logging, but, hey, i'm in the environmental field myself, and there's no reason to point at garbage and fallen trees everytime something like this happens.

I still consider this a reminder of Mother Nature's heretofore unacknowledged power. She can do this because she too can.