Thinking about Filipinos in Lebanon

While reading today about how foreign governments have been working round the clock to find ways and means to evacuate their citizens from war-torn Lebanon, I couldn't help but feel sorry for many Filipinos still left in panic in the area.

For while Britons, Americans, French people, Russians, Greeks and Australians are waiting their turn to board the luxury cruise liners, or helicopters or coach buses that their governments have rustled up to ferry them to safety, my poor countryman have largely been left to fend for themselves.

Philippine officials have been quoted as conceding that they are unable to evacuate thousands of people on their own and have asked foreign governments for help.

Gloria Arroyo herself has asked that 30,000 Filipinos trapped in that land be spared. Yeah. Like Israel can programme their bombs or the Hizbollah their rockets so that these stay clear of those with Maharlika blood!

Trust them to remind us always how perfectly inutile they are. In every crisis it confronts, it seems that all the government can do is just wring its hands and say, 'Somebody help! We can't take care of our own. Help!'

How utterly pathetic.

In the meantime, let's all say a small prayer for Pinoys still in Lebanon at this time. I hope they all safely find their way home soon.