We find it unfortunate that some parties should trigger a “debate” on whether or not the revered Sierra Madre mountain range provides vital protection for Luzon when typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean and heading west strike the country. The recent “debate” started when a famous American “storm chaser” posted his “expert” view that the mountain range “does not protect the eastern coast of Luzon from direct impact”.

We were baffled by the subsequent statement supposedly from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which noted that the Sierra Madre “cannot fully shield Luzon from a typhoon’s impact.” The statement was based on a study of 45 typhoons, the department said.

We do not question the “expertise” of the American storm chaser. We also do not wish to cast doubt on the wisdom of our science authorities. After all, their views are shaped by data and backed by their tireless efforts at gathering and collating information from which they draw their conclusions.

What we do not understand is the timing of their respective statements. The apparent need on their part to “quash” what others referred to as the “myth” surrounding Sierra Madre was, in our view, ill-timed.

It will be recalled that social media burst with the usual flood (pardon the term) of tribute to the mountain range before the recent howler “Uwan” made landfall and right before it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility last week. Expressions of gratitude to the Creator of the Universe for giving us this wonder of nature were multiplied swiftly across digital platforms. Many referred to Sierra Madre as the God-given “backbone” of Luzon, which serves as the island’s powerful “shield” against destructive typhoons.

This was the tribute that the experts may have felt was based on “myth” and which they may have felt needed to be “quashed,” and they did so immediately.

The timing of the “quashing” of the Sierra Madre “myth” appears to be both harsh and cruel.

The science experts should have waited for better timing.

They should have understood that when howlers the size and might of “Uwan” hit the Philippines, our people feel our collective helplessness. We cannot stop or redirect typhoons. We wait for them to hit, endure the impact, and – as the expression goes – we wait for the “storm to pass.” We can only hope that the human structures we have built will withstand the powerful winds and that the waters they bring will not inundate our communities.

Typhoons make us realize how “tiny” we are and that there are forces of nature over which we have no control. During these times, we open our “eyes of faith” and turn to a Being more powerful than us. Then, we look for the physical representation of that Being. In this particular situation, we hang on to our faith that the Sierra Madre is one of them. We interpret its presence as a sign that an Almighty Being cares for us and has given us something to hold on to during the moments when we are at our most helpless.

We also interpret its presence as an Almighty Being fighting for and defending us. We recall that there was a moment of silent “celebration” when images of the moment when “Uwan” hit Aurora were posted by our national science agencies. At that particular moment, the image showed how the “eye” of “Uwan” was “crushed” after it collided with what we believe is the “impenetrable” wall of the mighty Sierra Madre.

Then, we all joined the chorus of “Bagyo ka lang” (you are just a typhoon), “may Sierra Madre kami” (we have the mountain range to defend us).

Now, some science experts and a storm chaser from America have felt the need to “debunk” the myth of Sierra Madre. We may have been overimagining the power of the mountain range and exaggerating the protection that it gives to Luzon, they assert. It is time we are made to realize that we may have been holding on to a lie. “Misinformation” is how it was labelled by the experts.

The science experts were quick to point out that all that the Sierra Madre can do is to reduce the strength of typhoon winds from one percent to 13 percent. We must respect the expert findings. Facts are facts. On the other hand, our experts must appreciate the fact that we can live with that. We are grateful for that. When the Sierra Madre weakens a typhoon by one to 13 percent that for us still represents “might” and the kindness of God. Nothing that science has produced so far could weaken a typhoon by even half a percent. Human wisdom cannot do what the Sierra Madre can.

In times like this, prudence is a must. Caution must be exercised. So, when experts hastily move to “debunk” the “myth” of Sierra Madre, they must be sensitive to the possibility that our people may feel that the last anchor of hope is being taken away from them.

We agree that we must listen to the men of science. Facts are vital to the decisions we make, and ignorance has been and will always be a dangerous thing. We commend our science authorities for the attempt at “correcting” what they felt was a misimpression about the Sierra Madre. We recommend a better time. The gratitude and reverence many of our countrymen feel for the mountain range at the moment is part of our way of coping and living with our shared vulnerability in the face of the forces of nature.

Let the debate on the might of the Sierra Madre happen when the skies are clear and there are no weather disturbances threatening to enter our area of responsibility.