September 29, 2009
MABUHAY!
PROJECT MOBILIZATION
After hearing our boss briefing on this rainy Tuesday morning in our office in Karangalan Village, Pasig City, we were divided into two teams. We are to mobilize on our new project at One Serendra building in Taguig City to do architectural finishing works. Each team had their own vehicle that are both double cab pick up trucks carrying ample manpower and materials to construct our temporary field office. Arriving at the job site at 10 am, we were informed by the security guards that the construction management declares a work stoppage due to the continuous heavy rainfall brought about by typhoon Ondoy with an international name of Ketsana.
WALKING FROM TAGUIG CITY TO PASIG CITY
We tried to go back our office but when we were at C5 Highway, we were stuck in a bumper to bumper traffic jam which is obviously caused by heavy flooded roadway ahead. I received a phone call from my boss telling us to immediately go back to our office because the flood water is rising rapidly and help them save so many things. There is no other quicker way to get there but to walk around 10 kilometers on flood water. Me and 3 of my office mates decided to take the risk so we walk and just instructed our drivers to take good care of the materials and the vehicles. Around 30 minutes of trekking the flooded roadway and still raining heavily, we saw a roving fire truck. Then we asked the fireman for us to hitch a ride and they let us in. We saw village after village heavily flooded due to non stop rainfall that day. Reaching a bridge at Marikina River near Manggahan Pasig, the fire truck stop then the firemen help some drowning residents who were carried by flash flood.
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| These photos were taken just outside our office building |
THE RISE OF FLOOD WATER
Passing through Kaginhawaan Street which is near the entrance of Karangalan Village around 1pm, I saw an exodus of not just human residents but also snakes swimming above flood water which is now just below my waist line. This is just like crossing a jungle river.
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| Flooded vehicles in our office parking lot |
SEARCH FOR FOOD
Arriving at our office at 2pm, I told my boss to send one of our office mate to look for a grocery store and buy some food because no one can enter the house kitchen which is now submerged with very high flood water. The refrigerator and cabinets in the kitchen are full of food. Our office mate fortunately entered in the nearest grocery store before the main entrance closes due to mad rush of many customers who are panic buying.
SAVING OUR OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND DOCUMENTS
The rain still continuously falling, we transferred our office equipment and documents on a higher elevation for the fear that the flood water will reach the second floor which is 4 to 5 metes high from the ground line. After taking our humble dinner of rice and can foods, I volunteered to watch over that night to randomly check if the flood water will still rise. There was a candle light near my bed situated at the elevated portion of the entrance foyer just a few steps towards the second floor. This is around 7pm. My estimate of the flood water height is around 2 to 3 meters high. I can hear people outside who are trap inside their house shouting for help but at this time nobody can do anything. I cannot also call my children because my cell phone is already drain because the electricity was cut off in the morning. I just close my eyes and pray that the rain will stop and the flood water to subside.
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| Flooded vehicles in our office parking lot |
GOING HOME TO MY FAMILY
7 am the following day, thank God the rain stop. After gaining enough strength from just a few hours of sleep, I bid farewell to my boss to go home to Pampanga to check on my children. I bravely cross the village roadway with a flood water height just above my shoulder ( 1.2 mtrs -1.5 mtrs.) headed towards the Imelda Avenue then at Marcos Highway. When I reached the Santolan MRT station at Marcos Highway, I changed my wet clothes before boarding the train then alighting at Cubao Station where I took a bus going to my hometown Pampanga.
During my walk at the still flooded thoroughfare, I saw grim images of nature's wrath that will definitely be in my memory for as long as I live. The pictures below are not mine but the horrific images they show are very similar with what I actually witnessed.
