We Survived Bagyong Ondoy

My Sunday Experience with Bagyong Ondoy

I wrote my Saturday experience with bagyong Ondoy here (http://www.bikelog.co.cc/2009/09/my-first-week-of-bike-commuting.html#bagyongOndoy). I wrote it in the night of Saturday fueled by frustration that I couldn't make it to my wife when she needed me most. I was already there in the Floodway bridge but couldn't cross the flood that blocked my way to our house. In my desperate effort to communicate with my wife, I thought of going back to our office to where I left my phone. But when I got hold of my phone, I couldn't contact my wife. I was terribly sorry that I felt like I would go crazy for leaving my wife all alone in the most dangerous situation. All my pain I put into writing.

In the morning, I left the office right away very hopeful to see my wife and see what had happen in our house. It was no longer raining. All along, I thought the flood is gone and I could already pedal all my way going home. Boy, I was wrong!

When I arrived at the Rosario bridge, I could see a lot of people walking opposite to the direction I was heading to. Most of them are soaked with mud and oils. I sensed that something must be wrong. Not too far away, I could see deadlock traffic ahead. What are these vehicles doing here on a Sunday?

I squeezed myself through people walking opposite of me and through trucks and cars not moving. The flooded area in between Manggahan intersection and GSIS road that was flooded the day before was already dry and there was not even a trace of flooding except for a foul odor.

But when I arrived at the foot of the Floodway bridge, I could see some motorcycle riders resting. It looked like they are the same motorcyclists who were fixing their spark plugs the day before during the typhoon Ondoy. I get down from my bike and walked beside it since the traffic is not moving at all and there were lots of people in between cars and trucks and buses. I could feel something must be wrong.

As I was approaching the opposite end of the bridge, I recall those are the same RRCG and G Liner buses that got stranded there during the flood. Those are similarly cars, jeepneys, commuters' weary faces that I've seen the day before. On the opposite lane, I could see that cars were cleared up to give way to military trucks, GMA7's OB van, rubber boats on trailers, one amphibian truck, ambulances, and many more. I could see rescue divers on their uniform still soaked with mud and oil. There were police, MMDA officers, and military on full-gear. Almost all the civilians walking and sitting by the roadside, I'd easily noticed their haggard faces. Not too far away, I could see that the flood the day before was still there and did not recede yet.

I spoke with one guy on a motorcycle. He said he was right there since yesterday. He was supposed to fetch her wife who is working in Ever Gotesco. He already worried so much especially that her phone was already drained of battery power. He also worried what her wife was eating at that time.

The feeling of frustration is unbearable. But I didn't lost hope. I was asking other locals who were swimming through the flood (some as they said, are still coming from Antipolo) if it is possible for me to cross the water. They said that it is still dangerous and they're telling me of a story like men infront of them lost grip of the rope that guided them in the flooded road and were swept away by strong current and were nowhere to be seen. Nakakatakot naman. But I knew I needed to be strong for my wife whom I didn't know the status as of that time.

An officer on megaphone kept on announcing that people should stay away from flood as they are even rescuing residents who are trapped in the flood. Some people who were just like me who wanted to go home to check their family, tried to wade through the flood but had to return because it is still very deep. Some people who probably are good swimmers, had to swim and used that guide rope to go to the other end which I think is still so deep. While rescue workers didn't allow people to cross the flood, still they couldn't do anything to keep those people away from the flood. Every now and then, I could see people being carried away through stretchers. Some are flood survivors from Antipolo who had walked all their way to higher grounds and collapsed as soon they arrived to Floodway bridge. Some are actually individuals who were trying to cross the flood in front of us and got drowned.

I was there for like a few hours already and the sun shone very hot. I noticed that the rescue process was very slow. Stranded cars, trucks, and jeepneys had to be moved and backed off one by one to give way to rubber boats being towed by military trucks. Somehow, I felt relieved that a rescue mission is already ongoing. But I was wondering what time would be my wife be rescued and how would we see each other when we didn't have communication. I had with me my two phones. Much as I would want to take photos of what's happening at that time, I didn't have the pleasure of doing it since my thinking was all centered to my wife whom I didn't know the status yet. I felt like crying at that time.

Another factor that slowed down the rescue process are the locals who attempted to climb to the military amphibian truck when it was launched to drive through the flood. Those locals are just like me, wanted to cross the flood to see what had happened to their family on the other end. Military personnel drove them away but there are too many of them who were already aboard the truck. I overheard one military personnel saying, "Walang sasakay papasok! Nagri-rescue nga ng tao papalabas eh. Walang sasakay!" But nobody would like to get down. I believe those people are not naturally-born stubborn but were only driven by the desire to see their family's situation in the flood. The amphibian truck didn't move until people climbed down from it. After the last person get off from the truck, the amphibian truck drove through the flood right away. A blue dump truck drove through the flood, too. I didn't know if it was part of the rescue mission. People chased for it and climb on its bed. The driver slowed down the truck, in effect loading a lot of people on its back. The truck then proceded going to the direction I also supposed to go. While rescue workers are bringing people to dry lands, more and more people are getting in to the flooded areas.

I was almost tempted to be doing the same thing - hitch ride rescue trucks entering our place. But I refrained myself from doing it. I still believe that order is needed so the rescue mission could even be more speeded up. I talked to one rescue personnel, asking how long would it take to rescue the populace trapped in the flood, and what place were considered to be in priority. He answered everybody would be rescued but somehow it would take much time. Based on my own assessment, if there would be no additional rescue equipment, and people behave so uncivilly, my wife, if she is still alive, would be rescued the following day or even more than that. I was very much confused of what to do at that time. Looking around, I saw that all the people are confused-looking too. I was not alone.

It was already 11 in the morning. I was there already for six hours not sure of what to do so I could meet up my wife. I was already very hungry and thirsty. I haven't had eaten anything since last night. There were also food being sold by some street-vendors but I didn't have money in my pocket. I saw that very few people are getting rescued every time. The rubber boats used are very small. But I could see more boats are arriving and there are bigger ones. A lifeboat also arrived and was unloaded from a military truck. The lifeboat is exactly similar to a lifeboat carried on a ship for use if the ship has to be abandoned. I think the lifeboat that had arrived is owned by Philippine Navy.

At 12 noon, I saw MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando arrived. He was there to oversee the situation by himself. I was hopeful that his presence could influence the rescue procedure to be hasten up. While I stayed up there since the early morning, I already had doubts whether my wife could be rescued on that very day. They would be rescuing not only hundreds but thousands of people in so many villages that were affected by the flood.

One o'clock in the afternoon, I gave up waiting. No, I didn't gave up on my wife. It was just that I was very very hungry at that time and I already dehydrated. I thought of visiting some friends who can feed up my hungry stomach. I needed to stay alive for my wife. I was already very weak I could hardly pedal my bike on my way back. The sun did no longer shone hot at that time. Dark clouds started to show up in the sky.

On my way back, I texted my boss telling him that I wasn't able to make it going to my wife since the road that leads there is still flooded. He replied that my wife Jovy sent her a message in the morning asking about me. She was using a different phone number but suddenly became unavailable when he tried to call that number. Bigla akong nabuhayan ng loob. I pedaled my bike as much as I could so I'd arrive to our office right away where my boss is waiting for me.

My boss let me read the message stored in his phone. It was indeed a message from my wife asking him about me. The only difference is that she was using a different number instead of her own. I understood she didn't have any network signal in her area. My boss gave me a few peso bill for my food. I went to Tropical Hut in the corners of Shaw Blvd. and Pioneer. I already had the reason to eat knowing my wife is alive and safe.

At past 3 o'clock in the afternoon, my boss was able to contact the number. It is own by Mai-mai, Junjet's sister-in-law. Finally, I was able to talked to my wife after the typhoon and the flood separated us. We both cried. She said she's okay and they're not getting hungry despite of the flood. She told me that I could possibly come home already by riding a boat and take the de Ramos route. She said that Nenet, Junjet's wife came home through that way. She also asked me to buy some candles.

I had to leave my bike in the office since it would be cumbersome for me to be carrying it while riding on a boat. Besides, I wouldn't want to soaked it into the flood. It already had enough of the flood since the day before. I walked to a convenience store to buy candles but they already ran out of stocks. It's good that I was able to find some in a small sari-sari store inside San Antonio Village. I decided to just walk my way going home. Definitely, there was no public transportation available going home because of the flood. It was drizzling but I didn't mind it all. What is more important to me at that time is to make it home and see my wife.

When I reached in Julia Vargas, my phone rang. I wasn't able to pick the call on time as my phone was wrapped inside a plastic bag. It was my friend Mae Ann in Singapore. Later she texted me asking me and my wife's situation. I stopped under a shade of tree so I could type my reply without my phone getting drench in the rain.

After an hour of walking, I reached the Floodway bridge. Rescue activity was ongoing but it seemed to me that water had already receded a bit. I asked a few locals the way going to de Ramos. They pointed me to a street down the bridge. Local residents installed a rope by the side of the bridge to be used by anybody who would like to climb up to the bridge or go down to the houses below. It means I had to rappel my way down into that street.

This is the street I had to take to as my alternate route going home. This is being photographed on top of the bridge before I had to climb down by the side of the bridge the mountaineer's way.

There were no boats available when I set foot under the bridge. Instead there were pedicabs modified so the passengers would have to stand on its seat instead of sitting down while the vehicle is in motion. Four person would drive the pedicab by just pushing it through the flood. I decided that instead of riding the pedicab, I would just walk and follow the cab. After all, the flood in this street is not so deep and so many people were just walking through the flood. The water is knee-level and sometimes waist-level. I just follow with other people walking.

A few locals gave me the direction how to reach my place. People were so friendly and courteous despite of the calamity. I thought I'll never get lost as there are always locals I can ask direction every steps of the way. So, it was not hard navigating going to my place after all.

When I reached the market in our place, the water is already very shallow. I was amazed to see that business is usual in the market. While rescue was ongoing in the highway and stranded locals were fidgeting to see their loved ones trapped in the flood, people could still do business here and manage to smile. Amazing!

The flood going to our house is still very deep I had to wade up to breast level. I could smell gasoline in the water. Children were playing in the flood. The water is so murky. I could feel plastic strips touched my thighs. There were floating cockroaches and a dead dog. I was wondering how I might be able to sanitize myself after all of these. I had to continue walking.

After two hours of walking, I finally arrived home. I went straight to Junjet's house and true to what my wife told me over the phone, she is alive! We couldn't help but embrace each other. She cried so much. I also felt like crying but held back my tears because Junjet's members of the family and some neighbors were looking at us. Real men don't cry.

There was no more water in the house. The water at that time is only in the road level. What's left inside the house and everything there are brown, soft earthy matters that probably may have come down from the nearest mountain.

Since the two families are already complete, we called up for a celebration. Nenet's food was brought outside. It's an early dinner since there was no electricity yet so we had to utilize the available daylight.

Nenet's food. Sliced and recooked roasted pig roasted chicken. A celebration indeed!

In the night time, I couldn't washed off as water supply was very low. There was no electricity to power up the water pump and neighbors were probably using tap water to start cleaning up the flood's mess. With grimes and dirt and oil and foul odor over me, I still was able to sleep peacefully while my wife hugged me tightly unmindful of how I terribly smell. I could only prayed so much thanking God that nothing had happened to me and my wife.

Some photos related to bagyong Ondoy

The flood in Shaw Blvd., in front of our office at the height of bagyong Ondoy.

A jeepney splashes some floodwater to a young lady in her umbrella.

Practicing panning using a mobile phone camera.

Heavy downpour caused so much flood.

The water current is very strong.

A bike commuter walking in the flood.

Calamity victims and kibitzers at the Floodway bridge.

Flood victims confused where to go.

Military trucks on stand by.

The Monday Clean Up

As soon as we wake up in the morning, we decided not to report to work. There was still water in the street. The area didn't have any network signal yet. My wife and I decided that we would just start cleaning up while we cannot report to work yet. We went to our house which is just adjacent from Junjet's house where we slept for the night. I found my computer chair outside the house full of mud and dirt. It was carried away by the water current during the Saturday flood. See the photo below.

In the photo below, that's the sandbags used supposedly to block the water from entering the house. The red line in the photo indicated the depth of water which is up to waist level that enter the house.

Whitey, my wife's king size bed, is covered with mud and soil. Very pitiful. See the photo below.

In the photo below, my wife is seen cleaning up Whitey (the bed). When we started our clean up drive, the first part in the house we cleaned is the toilet so we may be able to use it when needed be.

In the afternoon, network signal was already restored. The first text message that I received came from Rob in Canada. It was actually a delayed message since the message was sent to me during the time my phone didn't have any signal yet. After that, more messages were coming in. My phone was flooded with hundreds of messages - all from friends who worried so much about me and my wife. A few are flood victims too but are already safe and sound. It was glad to hear that nobody in my circle of friends is being claimed by the flood.

In the night time, the neighborhood threw away things that were destroyed by the flood. A huge mound of garbage was formed by the corner. Dead animals were also being thrown there. See the photo below.

The following day, Tuesday, as I bike to work (since I really need to report to work), I could see garbage everywhere, not to mention so many cars parked beside the road that were obviously damaged by the flood as well. See two photos below.

Super Typhoon Pepeng

Just as we are still in the state of calamity after the flood brought by bagyong Ondoy had devastated our house and properties, another typhoon is being reported to hit the country. It's codenamed Pepeng and a super-typhoon.

My wife and I created our own version of preemptive evacuation just in case our area will be flooded again. Jovy's elder cousin invited us to stay in their house in Valenzuela as soon as typhoon Pepeng would hit the country. Valenzuela is also a flood-prone city but the house of Jovy's elder cousin is located in an elevated area that while the neighboord is submerged in water, they still could keep their compound dry.

On Friday night, October 2, my wife and I had to go to Valenzuela after work. She had to take a commuter bus going there while I ride my bike to go to Valenzuela from my workplace in Shaw Blvd. - Pasig, even when it's already raining (another story). During that night, bagyong Pepeng struck Northern Luzon as a super-typhoon. It's strength can also be felt in Metro Manila that a storm signal number 1 was being raised. We felt safe in the house we were in. We watched the news live related to typhoon broadcasted in the television.

On Saturday, my wife and I did no longer report to work of which our boss okayed. Sunday was a little bit okay even when it was still raining in the morning. Monday morning, I had to ride again from Valenzuela to my workplace in Shaw Blvd. - Pasig.

I already go home to our house in Floodway while my wife still goes to Valenzuela as of this writing. The reason I had to go home is so that I can sort out things. Our house is stil in a mess after more than a week of the Ondoy misadventure.

Recovered clothings

My wife and I were able to salvaged a few clothings out of bagyong Ondoy. We hanged it up to dry so we could wash it later. But until another typhoon came - bagyong Pepeng, we were not able to put these clothes to laundry yet. We just don't have time since my wife and I already reported to work. We couldn't wash it in the evening as water supply in our area is being shut off by nine o'clock. In the morning, we would be very busy preparing ourselves to work.

As of this writing, half of these clothes were still hanging for laundry. Half of it, I already washed yesterday morning.

Our electric fan and my laptop's cooling pad also worked when tested.