My friend and I slept at about 5am before Ondoy strikes. We challenged ourselves with the games in fb over wee hours. So then we woke up at about lunch. Not the two of us knew that it was raining outside, raining really really hard. Never had the idea when the rain started, never knew there was a typhoon coming. Clueless and all that, but not really surprised when we see the water outside our place AGAIN. It’s really never surprising to see flood in our area since we live just few blocks with flood-spot area, the Espańa. I’ve experienced floods here for about three times ever since I transferred, that was about 30th of July? In a little span of it, that’s why. I even had the best experience ever since I came in the city the first time I have encountered it. There was no typhoon coming then, just plain rain. Half day of rain.
So when Ondoy came, none of us was surprised. There was no feeling of anything. Not until everyone is calling us. Asking what is going on us, saying, “our area is flooded, do you need anything for help?” as if they are expecting that if they had their area flooded, much more to ours. That’s why I realized this is not an ordinary rain, the rain is coming in. but to no worry for us because we are in the second floor. We worried to the people outside, those with our relatives who have been flooded with, and the people just outside our building stacked with their vehicles. But just it, we never did anything, since we can’t do much about it. We knew our relatives can take care of their selves; hence they called for their help. And we knew there are volunteers from the barangay that is giving all the attention to the people outside.
We stayed the whole day home, opened our sites, harvested plants from Farmville, plow and plant again, as if there is nothing to worry about. And then twitter came. Twitter rushed us to go online news, even opened TV just to be sure how terrible the typhoon is going on. But to no avail on TV, we didn’t find any news earlier. Some areas in Marikina already covered with flood, QC, Makati, Manila. It was like almost areas are drowned. Some parts have been detached with the electricity and then a minute later ours, too. All information was cut. No TV news, no online news, and everything. Phones were down, no radio feeding us news. Feed up with infos like, while online before electricity was cut, dam was opened? In showbiz Christine Reyes, was on their roof top calling out for help.
The rest of the day was nothing. Waiting petulantly for electricity to come back, played cards until sundown, went asleep with flood never going down.
Today, later in the afternoon just after the flood went down, I went out for grocery. I have nothing in my cabinet except few instant noodles, so I felt I have to. I used to have it at Puregold in E. Rod, a ride from our place. Went there, but to no avail. It was close. I never asked I just had in mind after I saw the lines from the wall; it’s like a man deep, huh. Who would have opened a store when all over their surroundings was a mess.
Then decided for SM manila, got a jeep going. Never thought there is still flood along Espańa, near UST just few blocks from our place. I never thought because I have seen jeepneys coming. But they were just taking their route to lacson, shaw - I thought of just going to Lianas in shaw, but it was close too, with lots of people in line hoping the store to open even the store has big sign outside, “CLOSE: No store today.” Then the jeep kept going, to legarda and then recto. We crossed the Quiapo underpass. I saw many people outside looking out the bridge then a second, ‘there is a pool!’ I saw mostly likely a huge huge pool in a mud color, even seen people diving, and children swimming at the edge. Awts.
Got off at isetann, curious to seeing the bridge with many people seeing too, I got my grocery there. It took me 4 to 5 hours in queue! Even my phone’s battery got down for waiting and updating friends and families from all over. I even have talked to the ladies next to me, just not to get bored, with the lines almost not moving, one says, “pano kaya yung mga damitan sa baba ng bridge, ano?” I just said, maybe they’ve took it. I think they won’t allow it like that lang naman. I know how those people from under the bridge live. I don’t think they will allow their living to be buried like that. They will do so much to save it, I know! I have a friend there, an old gay from Aklan. I used to converse with him every time we went there for a patahi or paputol ng patalon. He used to chat with us every time, his life and their lives under the bridge. I know it. I got curious then, “Where do lolo came then?” After that I know he can save his self, I know.
Goes home, went online again (only with smartbro kit! no connection from the wired yet!), opened TV, saw news, and got upset of how many people and homes was devastated by the floods caused by Ondoy!
I wish I can do something to some. But I know I can’t. I’m sharing my prayer to you tonight! That’s the biggest thing I can do.
typed on September 27. posted late
