The Typhoon that was Ondoy

It was scary. It was depressing. It was a tragedy I don’t think anyone can forget.


Last September 26, Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila and made it into a big swimming pool – with mud, vehicles, houses and people that seem like floaters in the water. It was not a very lovely picture. No one was spared – no one was poor nor rich – everyone was equally whipped by nature’s wrath. Nobody was prepared. No one expected it to be like this.

The sad images of the destruction brought by the typhoon actually kept repeating in my mind. I really couldn’t imagine that this has happened.

The events had been so fast and didn’t allow people to react. At a moment, it seemed like it was just the regular heavy rainfall but suddenly, places started to flood and that is when reality began to sink in – that this is no ordinary heavy rainfall.

People started to panic and worry for their loved ones who were in the areas that shouldered most of the disaster. In our office, some didn’t even get to go home.

I live in Guadalupe now. But I used to live in Cainta, by the boundaries of Marikina & Cainta. And I couldn’t imagine how or what would I have done if I had been caught there. Again, I reflect and I tell myself, yes, it had been a blessing that I was able to get out of the reasons that tie me to that place. I was once again reminded that there was a reason behind the events that happened last March. And this was one of it.

Unfortunately, some of my friends had to experience the tragedy. But thank God they are safe now. They got out of time and it was a relief to know that they are okay.

My relatives also live in Cainta – my grandma, my mom, my three brothers, my aunt and my cousins. I had my share of paranoia when I didn’t have any news about them. I had been trying to contact them but phones are dead. I just prayed that they were okay and safe and alive.

So far, they were and again, I praise God for it. I only wish I can say this to all those people who had been affected. Many have lost their loved ones and some have even witnessed it before their very eyes.

Perhaps the next reality that everybody would be facing, especially those who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their family members and friends is how would they start over? Where and how are they going to start living again?

It seems hard. It’s painful. It seems impossible. But the bible tells us,

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."– Deuteronomy 31:6

Let us all have faith in Him. Let us pray and keep on believing in Him. Where there is life there is still hope. We should all try to help each other recover what had been lost and try to rebuild what had been destroyed. Now is the time to care and act.

I don’t want to post any video of the tragedy here. I think everybody has had their fill of watching it over and over again on TV, in the internet and other video devices. I know I did. I can't take them out of my head. And I think everybody is aware of what has transpired the past two days. Instead of spending our time replaying the events, let us try to think of ways on how we can reach out and help our fellow citizens. I believe that is where we should all start – start helping the others start over.

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mood: I am symphatizing to those who had been affected by Ondoy. My prayers go to all of you.