ondoy

Another late post. This was seating in my Drafts for over a week!

Shockingly devastating. That is what summarizes my thoughts about the recent typhoon Ondoy.

It took just one day of nonstop downpour to flood almost the whole of Metro Manila. There is lack of food, clothing, medicine and water. Some places still experience total blackout. Others are still submerged in flood water. There are a number of fathers, mothers, siblings and children who are still missing. Houses, lives and dreams were corrupted.

But here we are, Pinoys, still moving on.

The Storm

I have my share of “being stranded” story when typhoon Milenyo hit Manila in September 28, 2006. Luckily, I was home when Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) displayed its fury. Ondoy made its landfall on the eastern part of north Luzon which brought strong winds and tremendous rain in the area. Somewhere, I read that Ondoy broke records in terms of rainfall (even that of Hurricane Katrina). Flood in some areas reached up to 20 feet nearly drowning a large part of Marikina, Pasig and Rizal. Landslides occured. Dams released water. Rivers overflowed. Roads became impassable. A large part of Luzon was placed under the “state of calamity”. To date, death toll here in the Philippines related to typhoon Ondoy rose to 240 (41 in Vietnam and 9 in Cambodia).

The Celebrities

We hear stories of survival of many celebrities. Among them are Cristine Reyes, Gladys Reyes and kids, and Carmina Villaroel and her family. But what touched me most is when I saw photos of Gerald Anderson with his brother and Jericho Rosales in his surfboard. Of course, there are other gallant stories like those of the couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo and Cesar Montano, but my favorite is that of Gerald and Jericho. Gerald Anderson, together with his brother Kenneth, braved the flood waters to check if his neighbors were okay. Jericho Rosales did a heroic act when he saved a boy, an elderly woman and a dog. Also, two thumbs up to Angel Locsin who used her Hummer just to help rescue Ondoy’s victims.

I had goose bumps when I heard about their stories. I mean, that really is heroism. Doing a selfless act without bragging about it.

Bayanihan

Both ABS-CBN and GMA launched telethons to accept donations, in cash or in kind. Many local celebrities helped in the distribution of relief goods. Hollywood celebrities and other prominent figures published announcements to help the victims of Ondoy. Kris Aquino knocked on the doors of the management of the products she endorse to spill some donations and asked other celebrities to do the same. Most private companies and schools made their own effort to help. Truly, the bayanihan spirit lies in every Pinoy’s heart.

And thanks to Facebook and Twitter!

Moving On

I remembered watching K Brosas, one of the celebrity victims of the typhoon, in SNN. In her interview, she was asked what lesson she learned and she said: Palaging iisipin na may bukas pa… At pagkatapos ng May Bukas Pa, Lovers in Paris. (Something to that effect.) I laughed so hard.

Cameras roll and Pinoys, with half of their body immersed in flood or mud, will give a big smile and an excited wave.

We do have a way of coping with disasters. Very strange. Very Pinoy.

Notes: Ondoy photos here. Also, Bianca Gonzales’ blog compiles a comprehensive list of how and where to donate to Ondoy’s victims.