Last Saturday was probably one of the worst days every Filipino could have ever had. Who knew that typhoon Ondoy could leave that much damage to so many people? When I left the house for school, I was thinking twice of whether to continue my way or to go back home. These past days, the rain usually poured in the mornings or in the evenings and almost always stopped in the afternoon. I assumed it would be the same for Saturday, but I was wrong. When we were inside the Little Theater, we could barely hear what’s happening outside. It was only when I went out to the comfort room did I realize that the situation outside was really bad. We couldn’t even step outside LT because it was already flooded! The janitors had to move the benches to create a makeshift bridge to the stairs leading to GAB.
As I looked around the LT, I saw faces of worried students. All of us were already considering of staying in because there was no way we can all go home. I immediately called my parents to ask if they could pick me up, but unfortunately, our whole village was already flooded, making it impassable to cars. Then I called my brother who was in the office. Even he can’t go out because Pasong Tamo was flooded until the waist! “We’re stranded,” I thought. And worse, because when I went to the cafeteria, the food available were being consumed fast! When I got back to the LT, my classmates were already rolling up their pants, frantically pissed off because they’d have to cross the flood with their leather shoes on. After they have cancelled the conference’s afternoon session, so many students hoarded around the lobby, deciding whether to stay in school or go to Rob. And because we were hungry, we courageously dipped our feet in muddy water just to get out of school. It was so gross. REALLY GROSS. (We even took pictures to document the horror we had to go through!)
It was such a relief when we got to Rob because we knew we’d all be safer there. Those who walked in shoes immediately looked for a slipper stall to replace their soaked leathers, and some of us went ahead to KFC to order lunch, and to disinfect (I finished a whole small bottle of alcohol just for my feet!). After eating lunch, we decided to stay in until the rain stops.. but it didn’t! It even got worse because the winds were already blowing like crazy! To ease the stress, we went to Gbox to sing (oo, nagawa pa namin magvideoke!). At around 4PM, my cousin who lives near called me to say that she was going to pick me up. ALLELUIA! She was going to do all she could to cross the flooded streets of Manila because it was getting late and my mom was already frantic and hysterical. I left Rob praying that my blockmates were going to be alright.
When we got to the house, everyone was glued to the television and in shock to see images and videos flashed before us. I immediately called my mom to check up on them and to let her know that I was safe. Wow. SIGH. I cried when I saw so many people stranded on their roofs, and some struggling to get to a safer place. It was such a pity especially to those with little children! I wanted to do something but I knew I couldn’t at that moment.
Rich and poor–everyone was intensely affected by the typhoon. I tuned in to the news the whole day and checked my Facebook for updates. So many pictures and videos have surfaced in the internet depicting the damages brought by Ondoy. Cars floating, Refrigerators in electricity cables, dead bodies shoved in mud… Sigh…
This is the time for teamwork, for cooperation, for initiative, not merely for sympathy and pity. Let’s try do all we can to help out. Watch the news, stay updated on the latest news on the Internet, and check on ways to lend a hand.
*Donations are received and repacked in most schools like UP Manila and Assumption College San Lorenzo. You can also give donations to major TV networks like ABSCBN and GMA. Check their websites for more details.
Chika here, chika there, chika everywhere! 