A Day After the Storm Ondoy
September 26 will be remembered in Philippine history as one of it’s worst day after most parts of Metro Manila and Rizal submerged in flood. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) poured 334 more than 400 millimeters of measured rain water, the highest since 1967.
Being a tropical country in South East Asia, the Philippines is hit by more than 20 typhoons yearly. The rains which started Friday night (Sept.25) seemed to be just one of the usual typhoons. Until the rains haven’t stopped until the next morning which sent rivers to overflow. The downpour continued until late in the afternoon heavily affecting the cities of Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo, and other parts of Metro Manila.
Water levels have risen significantly forcing household residents to move to the second floor of their houses, if they have any. The others were forced to evacuate and face the raging currents. Cars parked outside were shown no mercy. Fatalities as of this writing is at 75 more than 100.
Check out some of these links for more photos and videos taken by the public.
Photo Link 1
Photo Link 2
Photo Link 2
Help Donate Video Link 3
Car Flooded Video Link 3 (Intense)
Flood Video Link 3
Today, rescue efforts by the government have increased to rescue stranded families and individuals. We are not tackling how the government should have handled this situation; because this article (Click Here) pretty much summed it up.
A day after the storm, we still have friends from the mentioned places stranded in their houses without electricity and food. Much worse those with children and babies. This is aside from the material and property lost due to the flooding.
If you had your computers or cars damaged by flooding, these links may help you:
How to Save a Flood Damaged Car Engine – Click Here.
How To Recover A Water Damaged Computer/Laptop – Click Here.
Volunteers, donations and help including ours in the online community has been active in spreading and sharing information hoping to be of assistance. Local government units and non-government organizations are continuing their rescue efforts.
Please see here for Emergency Hotlines and Relief Operations and similar rescue operation contacts Here.
I was able to maintain contact with another friend who was in a similar situation with 2 babies. I tried to relay their information where necessary with help of some friends as well.
Sadly, even a day after the storm, rescue was not able to reach their location in Rizal because surrounding areas were said to be still flooded. Water subsided in their area and they were able to go back to the ground floor of their house. The place was a disaster and their properties rendered useless.
The above SMS message above says:
“What happened was disheartening. We are back to zero, all our things are drowned in mud. No rescue came. I want to cry.”
The surrounding neighbors and nearby food establishment were in similar condition. Electricity was out and food is running out. Hopefully, relief goods reach them as of this writing. God help them.
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Sept. 28 1am Update: Waters have subsided and relatives were able to bring them food. The babies were also transferred to a safer places.
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These are the times we hope we stored enough food for calamities like this.
Stay in touch to get instant news about status and class suspension from tweets and other online sources such as http://twitter.com/gma7news.
As of this writing (Sept 27 2100hrs), typhoon Ondoy (Kestana) has left the Philippines and is heading towards the east.
Ganito ang mangyayari sa arko. Read along.
Taong 2005 at isang ordinaryong middle class pinoy si Noah.
Nagpakita sa kanya ang Diyos at sinabing “Pagkatapos ng isang taon
ay bubuhos ang ulan at babahain ang buong kapuluan ng Pilipinas.
Gusto kong gumawa ka ng isang malaking arko at isakay mo rito
ang pares-pares na mga hayop at mga mag-asawang pilipino sa iba’t-
ibang kapuluan.” Ibinigay kay Noah ang specs ng Arko at
taos puso nitong tinanggap ang responsibilidad na sagipin ang
sambayanang Pilipino sa napipintong pagbaha.
Lumipas ang isang taon, muling nagpakita ang Diyos kay Noah. Walang
arkong nagawa si Noah at galit na galit siyang tinanong
ng Diyos, “Nasaan ang arko na ipinagawa ko sa iyo?”
Tumugon si Noah, “Patawarin po ninyo ako kung di po natupad ang utos
ninyo! Nagkaroon po ng malaking problema sa plano po ninyo.”
At inilahad ni Noah ang mga sagabal na nakaharap
niya sa pag-gawa ng arko.
Humingi siya ng Mayor’s permit pero papayag lang daw si Mayor kung
ang gagawa ng arko ay ang construction firm ng kanyang pamangkin.
Tumungo siya sa Congressman pero papayag lang daw si Congressman kung
may matatanggap siyang 30% commission.
Nagtayo ng unyon ang mga kinuha niyang manggagawa at nag-strike.
Natunugan ng mga left-leaning groups ang kanyang balak at ang mga ito
ay nag-rally dahil daw sa hindi makatarungang pagpili
ng mga taong sasakay sa arko (mga taong naniniwala lang sa Diyos ang
pwedeng sumakay).
Nakisali sa rally ang mga bakla at tomboy dahil bias daw na normal na
mag-asawa lang ang pwedeng sumakay.
Ang civil society group ay nakisali na rin sa gulo dahil napag-alaman
daw nila na ang pondong gagamitin sa paggawa ng arko
ay galing sa donasyon ng mga gambling lords at katas ng weteng.
Sa kaguluhang ito ay napilitang magpatawag ng hearing ang senado “in
aid of legislation”. Sinubukan ni Noah na gamitin ang
EO 464 para makaiwas sa hearing pero dahil hindi sya executive
official, napilitan siyang tumistigo.
Nang malaman ng senado na utos ng Diyos ang pagpapagawa ng arko,
dineklara nila itong unconstitutional dahil hindi raw nito
iginalang ang separation ng church at state.
Nakialam na rin ang NBI at PNP at sinabi nilang meron silang
impormasyon na ang arko raw na ito ay gagamitin ng mga kriminalp sa
kanilang pagtakas.
Sinabi naman ng ISAFP at DOJ na ito raw ay gagamitin ng grupong
Magdalo sa binabalak nilang coup laban kay Arroyo.
Nilapitan ni Noah si Mike Defensor para makipag-usap kay GMA. Payag
daw si GMA na ituloy ang arko kung ipapaskil daw sa
arko ang malaking mukha ni Arroyo na may slogan “Towards a Strong
Republic”.
“Hindi po ako pumayag kaya hanggang ngayon po ay may TRO ang pag-gawa
ng arko. Sa palagay ko po kailangan ko pa ng 10 taon
para matapos ang inyong proyekto.” Ang huling wika ni Noah.
Napa-iling ang Diyos at sinabing, “Di ko na kailangang wasakin pa ang
bansang ito. Hayaan ko na lang kayong sumira nito.”
@wake up
Interesting essay you have there. May God grant His grace to us and may we all give whatever help we can.