A Monsoon of Loss

The rains have hit us all so hard. If not us, someone we know and care for, some who are still out there stranded on their roofs in Cainta, Marikina, Rizal and Antipolo.

A lot of people I know have lost so much in the flood.

Their life's work: writings, documents, legal papers, paintings, artworks.

Investments made with their hard-earned money (and are still paying for) - machineries for business, sewing machines, tools, baking ovens. Houses and cars! Cars now rendered useless once the engine gets submerged in mud.

Sadly, lives are the greatest loss in this calamity and there are those who lost loved ones overnight.

There is so much to rebuild and I hope our country can recover, despite the politics and bad weather.



I have lived in Espana and Sangandaan before, the worst possible places to witness Manila floods. But it never occurred to me how strong Typhoon Ondoy would be, as much as it had submerged (and sunk) Cainta and Marikina. I never thought I would see the day that posh Paseo De Roxas, Makati Ave and Ayala would be flooded. The Makati underpasses no different from the flooded Lagusnilad or the Quiapo underpass. Chino Roces, Pasong Tamo and Washington were waist-deep in water. Useless SUVs littered the streets everywhere. Malls and parking lots flooded. Commuters were bottlenecked at every MRT and LRT station. There was no place to go. You either had to stay put at the mall, or at the office (lucky if you're situated at a high-rise or condo).

The aftermath is far worse too, if you consider cleaning up the caked mud on the floors and walls while trying to 'salvage' and make every appliance work afterwards.

I don't know where some of my friends are, they never texted back and I still can't reach their mobiles, but I hope and pray that they are alright.