Typhoon Ondoy Took Metro Manila by Surprise

September 27th, 2009 by Sexy Mom · Viewed 1690 times · 13 Comments

Typhoon Ondoy has caught Metro Manila and the other nearby towns and cities by surprise! In just a few hours, the metro was underwater. According to the NDCC, yesterday’s 9-hour of rainfall was equivalent to 1 month of rainfall, the worst in 40 (?) years. This must be a manifestation of climate change, which is evident not only in our country but in countries the world over as well. This time, no matter how efficient (or inefficient) our disaster management is—we cannot control the forces of nature. And the worst is yet to come, I suppose.

We are learning our lessons the hard way. It’s not really too late, but we all have a lot of catching up to do in taking care of our environment and loving Mother Earth. Let bygones be bygones—let us start anew and do our share, no matter how insignificant an individual’s act may be. Millions, or billions of individual acts make a lot of difference.

Now I realize how insignificant my family’s experience was compared to the rest of the people affected by the calamity. As early as 10 am, we left home to fetch daughter Monica from her dorm in Rockwell to bring her to the Sofitel Hotel where Ateneo’s Bar takers were booked. Without realizing that the worst was yet to happen, we found ourselves circling the UP/Teachers’/SIkatuna Village area, near Kaipunan and near Kamias, in our attempt to reach EDSA at least. It was flooded all over, in between the car fell in a ditch—thank God for good people who helped us. We then got a call that the boys’ part of the house was starting to get flooded. No way that we could reach Makati, and it took us another half hour to reach home.

Good Vince was home he helped my mom bring their belongings to the main house. BA and Chato were stranded in UP. Pau had to return home after attempting to cruise Katipunan for her gymnastics training in Pasig. Thank God Chato reached UP at 9 am from an overnight org activity in Antipolo. She had a make up class in the morning, but we were able to fetch her only at 10 pm after the floodwaters have subsided in the area. BA reached home a little bit earlier—he and 14 other classmates helped relocate art works (Amorsolo and all) in one of the museums in UP to higher ground. Monica is still in Makati, we will fetch her and bring her to doctor for a check up. She has not been well lately, now she has a large infected and painful pimple in her nose.

The house is now in shambles, the boys slept with me in the living room, and by tomorrow, we are moving out of the place we called home for the past 15 years to a new location—we are yet to inspect the damage, if any, in the new home, as Katipunan and Loyola Heights were and still are flooded. So many things happening at the same time—decisions to make, things living and otherwise to give up, fond memories to remain as memories, and many many more.

And today is Vince’s 20th birthday. Happy birthday, our dear Vince.

And Lord, please continue to protect our countrymen. Open the hearts of those who have more in life (not only financially) and even those of us ordinary people to reach out their hands to those who have been affected by this calamity, to share, to help and to comfort. And please, Lord, let politicking stop for a while. Amen.

Tags: Mother Earth · Thoughts

13 responses so far ↓

raqgold // Sep 27, 2009 at 9:26 am

hi dine, affected din kami. we who just left germany to find a better place in the philippines. all our things who survived germany for more than 50-30 years were damaged in just a few seconds. no more appliances and furnitures. kids are in shock and crying… welcome home let’s pray that this rain is only a cleansing for all of us.
Sidney // Sep 27, 2009 at 9:47 am

Good to hear everybody in your family is safe. I hope the damage to your house is minimal. Take care.
PeterM // Sep 27, 2009 at 10:13 am

You said it, Ma’am: we cannot control the forces of nature.
So I guess it isn’t man’s fault, this nature thingy? And many blame people for what the climate is.

Praying for Ondoy’s victims…
Harry // Sep 27, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Di niyo talaga matiis ang mag angas no…
Oo na, mayaman na kayo, mataas ang pinagaralan nyo…

Focus kayo sa BAGYO. Dinadagdagan niyo pa e….
Nica Mandigma // Sep 27, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Hello Ms Dine! Thank you for kind email. Fortunately, we’re all safe and the only damage done by the flood was to leave our first floor like a huge dust bin.We spent the better part of the day cleaning!

http://nicamandigma.blogspot.com/2009/09/9-26-09-victim.html
CherryJ // Sep 28, 2009 at 11:05 am

hi, we are affected by typhoon ondoy, bday ko din sept 26, i have a plan of treating sana my family to a good buffet lunch..kaso ala.., stranded sa hauz, lampas tao na ung flood.
an2nette // Sep 28, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Hi Ms. D. i’m going to pray for you and your family, and get well soon to Monica, probably its stress because of her bar exam
Rach (Heart of Rachel) // Sep 29, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Hi Dine. I’m sorry to know about the ordeal you went through but I’m happy that you and your family are safe from harm. God bless.
Chris // Sep 30, 2009 at 4:08 pm

We should be thankful that God is still good to our country, despite the hard headedness of most filipinos. We are learning the hard way through this recent storm. All life’s storms are blessings because they teach us to be stronger in our faith in God and to refocus our priorities in life. Typhoon Ondong is still nothing compared to the Hurricane Katrina in the US last 2005, where more than 1,000 people died. There is a purpose in this recent storm and we should thank the Lord still despite the loss of our homes and loved ones. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the people who lost their loved ones and I am hoping that they would rise above this tragedy. God bless us all.
Thelma Bowlen // Oct 3, 2009 at 6:10 am

Hi Tita! Thinking of you and sending my love from across the ocean.
cacochca // Oct 5, 2009 at 4:49 pm

yeah…we shuold be thankful that god didnt leave us…
Blue Montoya // Oct 9, 2009 at 6:52 am

Sorry to hear about the Typhoon that past by the Philippines this past week, good to know your family is alright.
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