***As I am writing this, I am in a multi-purpose hall in Green Park Pasig along with the other victims affected by the typhoon Ondoy.***
I never thought I would be able to experience being stranded with strangers, who despite of the tragedy that happened still manage to put a smile on their faces and help other people.
First day of the typhoon, September 27, after my work (past 10am), raging rains and winds greeted me so I decided to call home and ask Nanay if everything at home is ok. Thank God our house in Antipolo and my family are safe. Nanay told me to just stay put in the office coz it would be impossible for me to pass Marcos Highway since Kingsville is already waist deep flooded then. Commonwealth traffic is not moving at all, saw some officemates who went down from their car just to buy some food in Mini Stop so they wont get hungry while waiting for the traffic to move. Heard that Philcoa and Katipunan were flooded too. So, I just decided to stay in the office and spent the night there. Good thing, our office provided new blankets and free food to those who were stranded because of the typhoon.
The next day, September 28, heard in the news that Katipunan is finally clear so I called up at home to ask if it's safe for me to go home. Tatay told me, I can go home since the flood has subsided , so I hurriedly went home ... (Yes! Katipunan was clear, I was there within 10 mins. from my office) When I reached Marcos Highway, traffic began to slow down but tolerable, until I reached the LRT- Santolan Station. It was like a movie scene, where people are disoriented, don't know where to go.. Cars and trucks here and there, MMDA barricades destroyed, trash everywhere and the streets were full of mud. Asked a passerby if its possible for me to go home and drive straight to Masinag but he told me that the water and mud in Kingsville area is still waise deep. I knew it would be impossible for me to be home, so I was hoping and praying that I can drive without any hassle until Sta. Lucia or Robinson's Metro East.. and it took me 2 hours to reach the Sta. Lucia Mall. I was able to get a safe parking spot in front of the grocery entrance. Sta. Lucia looks like an evacuation center, a lot of people were there by the entrance and the stairs. I pity those who have kids and babies with them... sobrang kakaawa talaga! I was asking the guard if they could open the grocery since a lot of people are hungry but management has not given them orders yet. Grabe! Imagine, kalamidad na ang tigas pa rin nila and they don't want to help.. I heard SM Marikina opened their mall to those who were stranded with matching food, great to hear that bigger malls were more willing to extend help kaya doble din ang balik sa kanila.. Looked for water in the nearby stores but water is scarce.I reached until Burger King then went to Robinson's Metro East to drop by Mini-stop, but Water is also out of stock, got 3 bottles of Coke and 3 cans of Chill Soda (takot mauhaw!!) I went back to Sta Lucia and sat near the entrance door so I could rest my back.
As I was looking around, saw a certain young family. Dad just came back from Mercury drug to buy some food for his family.When he saw me, he asked me if I'm ok, I said I'm fine. He (Jong)is his name)asked if I'm with my family, I told him they are safe at home in Antipolo. He got confused why I was stuck there, I told him what happened and he said I'm lucky I still have a house to go home to. I asked him what happened. He told me, they have a house in Midtown (subdivision at the back of Burger King) and the flood reached their house almost until the 2nd floor. His car was submerged in the water, along with their furniture. The only thing they were able to save are there dogs and the appliances and clothes on the second floor of their home. I felt sorry for them, Jong introduced me to his wife, Chey and daughter, Cheska (a grade 4 Scholastican) and his college friend, Stef (whom he haven't seen in years) and they invited me to be with them. After 2 hours, they got a call from his dad who is stranded in Green park so he asked Chey so he could help his dad and his sisters. I can see from her that she don't want him to leave but she understood why her husband has to go and help his family. Kahit labag sa loob niya, pumayag na lang siya and asked him to go back immediately. I was moved by what I saw. So i just tried my best to talk to her and Cheska so they can divert their attention and not think of him. I told her he will be fine. Hours passed, its getting dark and Sta. Lucia didn't even bother to open their lights. I looked for some unused boxes from the grocery trash (yes, from the trash!pero trash bag yun full of boxes naman) so we could have something to lie on.. after an hour, Jong came back and told us that they will be staying at his friend's house in GreenPark. He invited me to go with them, and said that there is a Multipurpose hall near his friend's house. Stef said I should go with them so I could sleep in a safer place. I was thinking "sige , pakapalan na lang.." so I said if its ok and asked Jong if the car is safe to leave there, he said "isipin mo muna sarili mo.." and smiled.. so I joined them and we walked to Green Park.. Geez.. I didn't expect I'll walk in flood.. lagpas tuhod ha??But no choice eh.. so we reached the Multi-purpose hall with my jeans soaking wet from the flood (yuck!), Jong left me and Stef and told me he will bring us food. I was too tired, i just lied on the plywood and closed my eyes hoping that I am just dreaming. My cellphone has died down, Stef has no signal with only 1 bar (Damn, Globe!)and I'm worried coz I know my family is worried about me since I haven't talked to them since 8am Sunday morning. I slept without eating coz I don't feel like eating..I slept with my jeans soaking wet,but I don't care.. all I want is to go home and be with my family.
Woke up around 6am today. I was elated seeing the sun up.. I was praying that hopefully the flood in Green Park had subsided. Asked Manong who also slept in the hall, if the flood is gone.. he said its all clear. He gave me a cup of coffee, I gave them our food which Jong gave me and Stef. We waited til 8am before we went to Jong so we could thank him for his hospitality and concern. He asked if we will be alright, I said " we'll be fine!" and then Stef and I headed back to Sta Lucia to get our cars so we could go home. We asked people if Junction (Stef lives in Greenland, Cainta) and Kingsville are passable. A passerby said Kingsville is ok but Junction is still flooded. Told Stef to go home with me, so she could wash up, eat lunch and charge her cellphone, so I could return the favor of what her friend did to me. She said "ok!" so we convoyed going to our house and reached home around 11 am.
Nanay was so happy to see me, as well as Tatay.. they asked me what happened and they told me its good that I'm back home. I thank God I was safe in those 2 days and I am thankful to those who helped me. I will be forever grateful to Jong and his family, Stef and Jong's friends who unselfishly lent out their hands to help despite what happened to them. It is in these times, I feel God is present because there are still good people willing to help others. This is my worst weekend ever but it was really a humbling experience.
I feel so blessed and now the more I appreciate all the things even the smallest ones. God is good!!
