A Time to ACT

Before Saturday, I don't think I have experienced such great devastation so near me. ULTRA was one thing a few years back, but Typhoon Ondoy just brought major destruction over greater Luzon.

At 10AM on Saturday, I was still oblivious to the wrath of the typhoon. I went about my usual Saturday chores and anticipated the coming home of my sister from the gym at 1045AM. The sky was really dark and the rains didn't stop, but it wasn't new to someone who has been based in Manila for about 6 years now. We didn't and don't have typhoons in Davao where I grew up, but I have been used to it (although not appreciative of it) here in Metro Manila.

I got a text from my sister at around 1045 saying she was stuck along greenmeadows avenue, about a block away from our house because the gate to Acropolis was flooded. She was thinking of going back to her gym but I insisted for her to go home via White Plains as I felt the rains wouldn't stop. She did so and got stuck there as well. 12noon, preparing for lunch she texts that she might need to wait for the water to subside before she can get home.

I finally decided to turn on the news and found out the real story of the typhoon. Floods up to chest high and families already up on their roofs in Marikina and Cainta. Cainta Mayor has declared that 100% of his town has been flooded - no this is not your ordinary typhoon. As soon as my sister got home, I was relieved only to be reminded that our house in Project 8 is by a creek. We text dad and the water at the 1st floor of the house was chest deep. Then cellphone signal was gone until 2AM this morning.

Thanks to Internet,we were able to check on dad and a few other friends. But a few other friends and colleagues, we haven't heard from just yet.

As of 2PM yesterday, many people were still on their roofs waiting to be rescued. Death toll has risen to about 80people and a good number still missing. A friend's car also drowned in his basement parking. Friends families are still in Cainta, stranded on their 2nd floors. The sight of the news is very disheartening.

There is so much rebuilding to do now. RELIEF is number 1 on the list as MANY lost a lot or lost everything. And we start to Rehabilitate and REBUILD. Keep our positive spritis high and take each day one step at a time.

We also need to Heed the call of Mother Nature. Climate Change has seriously sent us a message. The Environment is our friend but we have seriously exploited it, and I say that about the entire country. It's not just about Luzon, it's about the entire Nation.