Two weeks ago, the Philippine version of the Great Flood happened. As the rain continued to fall and the water started to rise, some lost their homes, some lost their loved ones, others lost their hope. However, the arc that was supposed to save everyone was nowhere to be found.
September 26 -- That particular Saturday morning, we had an exam that I was only half-prepared for. I was really hoping that it wouldn't push through, so when the announcement came that classes were suspended, I was silently cheering "thank you, rain. you're a life saver". Little did I know that I would regret those words just a few hours later.
I stayed at home and watched the usual morning news and shows. Around 11am, I had to run an errand for my dad which required me to go to a nearby internet cafe in the building beside ours. I was not aware that Katipunan was already flooded and the knee-high flood which greeted me outside definitely came as a surprise. But I needed to send the documents to my dad so I braved the few meters of floodwater to reach the other building.
While waiting for the documents to be scanned, I chatted with the woman in charge of the internet cafe. She told me that she was going to close in a few minutes because she had to get home to her two-year old son who she left with her sister. Apparently, the water was already starting to enter their house and her sister needed help to get their things to a higher level and look after the kids at the same time. When she asked me how bad the traffic in Katipunan is, I told her that it wasn't moving at all because of the flood so she's going to have a hard time going home in Balara.
At that moment, I felt her desperation to go home and be with her family. Her husband also went to work that morning and was also stranded somewhere. Worry was painted all over her face and the only thing I was able to do was assure her that everything would be okay. I know my words did not matter much at that time, but it was the only thing I can offer, as well as my prayers.
When I got home, I quickly washed my feet with water and alcohol. I spent almost the whole afternoon complaining how dirty the floodwater was and that I shouldn't have crossed it. However, when I saw the news about people swimming in neck-deep floodwater just to get home or to save themselves from drowning, I shut up immediately. My earlier experience was like a walk through the park compared to what they were going through.
It was only then that my eyes were opened to what was going on in the Metro. It wasn't the usual "hey-it's-raining-hard-classes-are-suspended-hooray" day. It was something more than that, something worse. I was immediately reminded of the storm that hit my hometown, Bicol, almost three years ago. At that moment, I remembered the woman from the internet shop. I remembered what it felt like to be away from your family when a disaster like this strikes. It was a feeling that, if given a choice, you wouldn't want to feel ever again.
Imagine being miles away from your family with no means of contacting them. Cellphone networks and phone lines are down and you have no idea if they're okay. The only means of knowing is through the news, which only reports on how bad the situation in the area is. It did nothing to ease your worries. If possible, it only made it worse. It came to a point where you couldn't even bear to watch the news because everything is just awful.
It was like the same thing was happening over again. But even though I know that my family is safe this time, the thought that hundreds of other people are out there somewhere, stranded in their roofs, swimming through several feet of floodwater, struggling to get home to their families, fighting to survive. It was hard not to feel for them.
The day after that disaster, the effect of Ondoy was really felt. A lot of people were left homeless and several lost their loved ones. I would like to quote a former OSCI formator, Kuya Ubit, who was one of those who were greatly affected by Ondoy: "It would be so easy to be emotional at those times. It would be so easy to blame people. It would be so easy to cry. But my wife and i chose not to. Even after seeing what Ondoy did to our house, to our belongings, to our life… instead we chose to celebrate. Celebrate because we still have our dreams… we still have each other. We may have lost a house but we got back our Home."
True, people may have lost some of their properties but in the end, what is important is that they still have their families to go home to. We were all shaken up by that incident but in time, we would all be able to get back on our feet and live on. Thankfully, Ondoy did not affect me as much as it did to others. My Ondoy experience was more of an emotional rollercoaster ride, rather than a physical one.
Three years ago, when Reming hit Bicol, all I could do was watch in the news as the houses disappear under the lahar and people become homeless, or get buried along with their houses. It was a heart-breaking scene which grips my heart every time I'm reminded of it. Back then, it all came as a shock to me. I didn't know what to do and all I was thinking was that everything was just plain awful. But when Ondoy happened, I was more prepared -- both physically and emotionally. And I know this time, I have to do something than just stand around.
Like one of my friends said in her blog, "Nung nangyari si Ondoy, parang dapat may gawin ka na lang talaga eh. Wala nang tanong tanong, dapat tumulong ka na." It was like I was given another chance to make a difference and it would be stupid of me not to take it. I helped out, not only because it was the right thing to do, but because I can.
For the next few days, I found myself helping out in the relief operations at school with hundreds of volunteers. The spirit of volunteerism was just overwhelming. The donations of food and clothes were starting to fill the area and the number of volunteers just kept on increasing. We may have different reasons why we chose to help out but in the end, that desire in us that wanted to help those who were affected by Ondoy brought us together. It was an amazing feeling that we were able to make other people's lives a bit better with all our joined efforts. Maybe, just maybe, this is the "arc" that was meant to save everyone.
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