Typhoon Ondoy beats down on Metro Manila
I can now only write about this terrible calamity that has wreaked havoc on many Filipinos and their families. I personally am dealing with this tragedy as I await for the safety of my mom and sister who remain stranded at our family home in Cainta Rizal. The home that my siblings and I all grew up in has been overcome by a flash flood brought on by Typhoon Ondoy. Flood waters has caused many families living in Marikina, Cainta and Pasig to seek refuge on higher ground or on the roofs of their houses for fear of being carried away by the strong current. While I was miles away safe at my home, I connected to my sister through many text messages as we didn’t want to use up whatever life her battery had. But just after lunch, she called me crying trying to tell me that water was rising fast. She was mostly incoherent but I didn’t need to hear the words to understand what she was going through. I only had time to tell her “Don’t cry. Be strong. Go up to the roof now!”. That was the last I heard her voice.
My other sister, my brother and I set to work calling different agencies, hotlines, helplines the whole afternoon. It was frustrating when several helplines turned us away because they said “NCR does not cover Cainta”. My sister was able to secure a direct line to Mon Ilagan, the Mayor of Cainta but he couldn’t help as he himself was stranded along Imelda. He also confirmed that Cainta had no rubber boats to deploy at the moment. I had to restrain myself from screaming.
All through the night I had to settle with listening to Jam 88.3 on my mobile about the many people asking for help in the different areas of Rizal. I texted them the location of my family several times hoping they could get help to them soon. As soon as electricity returned to our house, I tweeted and plurked and contacted all my online friends to seek help so I could find out what the status of the rescue operations are in Cainta. I had to update several lists in facebook and google that contains other names of other people, loved ones needing rescue. I watched the live footage of people walking the chest-deep waters to reach safety along Lifehomes Pasig. They mentioned how the situation was the same all the way to Cainta, where my family was. Sigh.
A couple of hours ago, I was told that someone in the area has communicated that my mom and sister are safe. I am not yet able to talk to them, hear their voice, or even verify how safe they were but I let the news engulf me to comfort the concern that I have worn since yesterday.
Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow I go to see them and hug them personally. Below are some moving footages and photos documenting how hard Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila. Philippines.
These photos are courtesy of rembcc of Flickr
Man wading in chest deep flood waters
Woman ravaged by Typhoon Ondoy
For detailed information on rescue operations and donations please go to the following links:
Sour Politics
MLQ3 on tumblr
Random Salt
Apples,
I am so sorry to hear this. Been monitoring your tweets and plurks the whole afternoon and my heart goes to you. I’ll be praying for the safety of your mom and sister.
Take care!
hi, I read your post about your family in Cainta, Rizal. My sister is there too along with my little niece. The last time I heard was the water rising fast to the roof of their house. I havent been able to get a hold of them. I am really worried just like you are. I am so sorry. I hope your family doing ok. I hope my sister and my niece are too. If its not too much, can you please give me any hotlines I can call for info. It would help….my e-mail add: maternal123@yahoo.com
thank you very much……….
Abbie – Thanks for all your prayers. I just got back from visiting them at my brother’s house. They have a lot of stories – many sad stories that I can maybe write about some other time. I hope for everyone’s else safety as well.
Johanna – I am sorry for the delayed reply. I hope you have been able to contact your family. If not yet, pls. go to some of the links I have provided above as they have the updated hotline numbers for Typhoon Ondoy victims. Here is one -> http://sourpolitics.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/typhoon-ondoy-emergency-hotlines-and-relief-operations/
My prayers go out to you and your family.
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I just read this post from pinoyblogosphere.
how are you now and your sister and mom?
I have friends taking the bar exam. They told me that what an experience they had their. Others already stopped communicating.
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bestre – My mom and sister are fine now, thanks for asking. This calamity and its aftermath is surely one that many will not easily forget.
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i myself was trapped at the BF metals junction area, we took shelter at an abandoned warehouse and in the morning have to risk walking at home, what is ironic is that there are some local officials there stranded with us, and yet they did nothing, i ask them if there is any rescue forthcoming and they say, that they cant do anything, i cant even see any effort in their part in helping us, such as coordinating and helping others, there is a g liner bus which was almost swept away, and only the workers of BF Metals helped them by tying the bus and saving the passengers.What i really felt is that “pinabayaan na talaga kami ng local government, no rescue, no coordination, no leadership whatsoever in that unfateful day.
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