after ondoy

it was saturday when the typhoon brought heavy, continuous rain in metro manila. about midday my sister-in-law texted, saying that water was rising fast INSIDE the house. they were trying to move as many things as they can up the second floor (including a 32 inch TV). unfortunately, they were not able to bring any of k's stuff from his room on the first floor.

everything happened too fast. the water rose above the first flight of stairs to the second floor. everything on the first floor was damaged, 3 cars totally submerged.

they stayed on the second floor, food was brought by neighbors. dry and safe.

we attempted to visit them the following day (sunday) but roads leading to cainta were still impassable. k was broken-hearted, he drove in circles but no success. we had to try again tomorrow.

before 6am on monday, my sister-in-law texted that the water has finally subsided. we took it as a go-signal.

and armed with water, cooked and uncooked rice, canned goods, noodles, candles and matches (would you believe i had to bring the candles for my candle sponsors??), adobo, bananas, fried chicken, pancit bihon, ice and softdrinks (their special request heehee), we took off for cainta.

this is what we saw.


furniture brought outside to dry


one of cars


dining and living room


living room


in the line of fire


water reached that landing


the scene outside


mudded streets


a school bag washed away, still full of books


the creek overflowed and reached the top of those walls


my sister-in-law's car, a snail comfortably perched on the windshield


the residents, trying to salvage what they can


trash was everywhere


on our way to binangonan to bring the in-laws to safer ground, cainta was still flooded in some places

ondoy claimed hundreds of lives, damaged thousands of houses, leaving people to pick up the pieces.

was it an act of nature of an act of man?

could we have done anything to prevent this?

let us not allow something like this to happen ever again.