Alaala ni Ondoy

09/20/2012 01:16 AM

kikocoolstories.blogspot.com

(Alaala ni Ondoy was a three-part personal story-themed articles published by SlickMaster at the community blog site Definitely Filipino on September 2012. Hereby attached is the entire post.)

Setyembre 26, 2009, alas–otso ng umaga sa orasan ko, isang maulang Sabado na umaga na naman ang bumungad pagmulat ng aking mata habang dalawang tinig ang nariring ko nun: ang tunog ng radio ko na hip-hop pa ang kantang umeere, at ang boses ng nanay ko. “Anak, papasok ka pa ba ngayon?”

Agad akong bumangon, kumain ng almusal, naligo, nagsuot ng uniporme at naghanda para pumasok sa kaisa-isang subject ko nung araw na iyun. Pero dahil maulan nung araw na iyun, nag-alangan na kong umalis kasi naman nasiraan pa ako ng payong ilang araw bago nun. Sakto lang din at uuwi ang mga magulang ko papuntang Bulacan, kaya nakisabay ako.

Paglabas ng barangay, sa kalsada sa tabi ng Ilog Marikina agad naming napansin ni Nanay na hindi na yata normal ang taas ng tubig sa nasabing daluyan ng tubig. Pareho kaming kinukutuban na may hindi magandang mangyayari sa araw na ito. Kaya nasabi na lang niya sa akin nun na “Anak, ‘wag ka na lang kaya pumasok?” Sagot ko naman, “’Nay, bakit po?”

“Hindi maganda ang araw na ito e.”

“Ha?”

Sumabat si Tatay, “Ano ba kasing gagawin n’yo ngayon?” Sagot ko nama’y, “May klase ako. Hindi ko pa nga natatapos ang assignment ko para sa araw na ito e.”

“Sige, pumasok ka na lang din.”

Remembering The Onslaught (Part 2)

10/04/2011 05:35 PM

While being stuck at the bridge, I talked to a student from UST whom was also stranded on his way to his residence in Antipolo City. He said there are no jeepneys passing by the the highway, causing costing him some time to stay at at the eastbound jeepney stop of SM City Marikina.

Remembering The Onslaught (Part 1)

10/09/2010 11:33 AM

It’s been exactly 54 weeks since a tropical storm ravaged the island of Luzon and caused devastation on almost (if not all) every resident of Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces such as Bulacan, Pampanga, Quezon, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal. 

In fact, Ondoy (International name: Ketsana) was held accountable for at least 710 casualties and 11 billion pesos in damages to property as it crossed the island Luzon, including the nation’s capital. 

It happened after a massive rainfall on 25 September 2009 that has been unstoppable overnight and lasted 'til late evening of September 26. As part of the millions of victims who already told their stories—through personal or social media—here is my share of witnessing the catastrophic day. After all, who would ever think that a tropical storm like that would cause massive flash floods and overflowing the waterways such as the Marikina and Pasig Rivers?