PAG-ASA

Marikina is said to be the cleanest city in the country but a few hours of raining made it like this.

no, this isn't a dump site, this is an ordinary street in Marikina 

What I saw in Marikina yesterday was heartbreaking but at the same time seeing how our kababayans can help each other and still smile amidst everything reaffirmed my faith in the Filipino spirit.

man trying to clean the mud off passers by who just came from Provident Villages

A few days after the storm, I heard a lot of stories of survival. Some from people I know, some from total strangers.

All sharing a common bond,the indomitable human spirit survives the strongest storms. And if they don't, their passing leaves an inspiration to emulate  like that  teenager  saving several people including a  baby, before drowning.

This storm left a lot of lessons in its wake,lessons of survival and sacrifice.

But if there's anything that Ondoy taught me, it's a message of hope, the Filipinos' bayanihan spirit is still alive. I just hope it doesn't take another storm to jumpstart it again.

 

After the Storm

I thought I was prepared to hear the stories and see the images in Ondoy’s aftermath. But nothing could have prepared me for what I’ve seen in the past few days.

Heartbreaking images of dead bodies. Old folks and little children navigating deep waters. Families carried away by a raging river. Amidst everything, throngs of people helping each other in any way they can.

Time and again, moments like these, make me ask why.

At the same time, it makes me appreciate simple basic things in life, water, shelter and food.

It will take some time before things go back to normal. And yet for some who have lost their loved ones, normalcy is far in the horizon.

Help may not have come too soon for those who have waited for several hours in the cold, starving and wet. And all they can do is hope that help is on the way.

Now may not be the time to point fingers on who to blame. And yet, who can blame one who has lost everything? The process of rebuilding is a long, arduous road which requires a concerted effort from the government and the whole community. But where do you start?

I initially believed Bayanihan spirit will carry us through. And so far, it has worked wonders with aid pouring in from all sectors.

While our fellowmen grapple to hang on to something, we can offer our resources to the victims, hoping that the helping hand we lend will serve as anchor that can provide solace in these dark and trying times.

Ondoy's Rage

It's 1am I can't sleep. I've been listening to the AM radio and been online the whole day. I woke up prepared to have a full day ahead, not realizing that Ondoy already made plans for me. Today, Manila was hit by its worst flooding in recent years. Ondoy brought a huge amount of rainfall never seen in 40-plus years. A PAG-ASA report said that the amount of rainfall today is equivalent to a month's worth.

Hundreds were trapped on their roof. I saw people being carried by the strong current of a raging Marikina river. A friend's whole house was submerged. A few of  my friends got stranded on the road. A friend of mine, after spending six hours on the road decided to leave their car and took the train instead. Another friend subsisted on her sports drinks and water for 7 hours while being stranded on the road. An officemate spent the night in the campus where she had a talk that morning. The sidewalk in front of our building caved in and a parked car got "swallowed by the earth.

there used to be a sidewalk, a fence and parked cars here 

 

I heard and read a lot of stories displaying Bayanihan spirit today. Twitter was helpful in giving me updates about what's going on in other parts of the Metro.

In the next few days, I'm going to hear a lot of stories . Some tragic and some would be inspiring stories of survival.

after the storm, Makati seem gloomier and emptier

Moments like these are opportunities for heroes to rise, loopholes in our disaster coordination strategy to be uncovered, politicians to share the limelight and volunteers to shine.

And Ondoy allowed me to see something else the sun has been masking all along.....