Ondoy: Signal #1

The night concluded with heavy raindrops. It was Friday night. It seems that the clouds are crying with us over the ending of our favorite soap opera. I can’t sleep when there’s heavy rain, I worry a lot but for some reason, I slept soundly that night. From what I heard, the storm, Ondoy is somewhere in Central Luzon. Saturday morning and we started our usual. We ate bread and sausage for breakfast and do our chores. The rain never stopped, it just keeps pouring. Around lunch and we planned on buying cooked food to eat. The road was already flooded, knee deep with a strong current, there’s no way to buy outside. We contented ourselves with the leftover bread and the hopes that the rain would stop shortly. We never imagine that the water will come inside the house but the water is rising. It was past 1 PM when we decided to call it a day and started packing some things to take it upstairs. We made sure to pack the kids stuffs first, since I am pregnant and the water is rising fast inside the house, I stayed upstairs. It was around 3 PM when the water went waist deep. Hubby and the helper rummaged whatever there is that is worth saving, electronics, documents and that’s all.

We stayed on the second floor. I took some shots as the water rises. Honestly, I am still thinking about my blog and how I can blog about it, but not this way of course. I never thought I could write something like this. In my mind then, and with so much hope, it will end soon. Then we heard people screaming for help. Our neighbor from the left is a one story apartment only. Knowing that there is a baby (and a half paralyzed man) on the house, I told my husband to give the rubber boat we are saving. During his “hero” time, the water suddenly deepens. It took them almost an hour just to save the family and bring to a higher building (which would take less than a minute on a regular non chaotic day). Another neighbor (this time from the right) also asked for help. I am proud of my husband but in my heart I am praying that he will be safe too. The current was too strong. I even tied up our little floater with the hopes that he can grab it as he passes by. It took him some time but he made it (not whole though, he left his pajamas somewhere). When he come back, he can no longer enter from our front door. The whole downstairs are filled with water. He climb in through the balcony (and it was a good thing that the apartment we are renting have one). Then it started.

It was only this time that it dawned to us what just happened and what is happening and what’s about to come. It was the longest night of my life. The water continue to rise until past midnight. I tried to remain composed. I hold back my tears though in my mind I am starting to panic. I must be alert, my helper is already crying and I cannot give in to my emotions. I must stay strong for my kids, for my family. I started to think what we need to do in case the water reached the second floor. I tried to ready myself on the worst thing that can happen. I can only think of one thing, save my kids, save my boys. It was really the hardest, most emotional, most traumatic night of my life. I prayed and prayed and hope that it will end soon. A slight rain can make me feel nauseated. And though we did not have the chance to eat that night, I never care, my stomach never even bothered to gurgle. My mind is focused on one thing, to save my kids. Hubby and I planned our next step just in case. But I know in my mind it will not work, we have three kids and I am pregnant, my helper is hysterical. I knew that if it comes to worse, I will wake up with a part of me missing, and that is something that I will never ever want to happen. I keep on praying. The water calmed down around 2 in the morning. Finally we can rest a while.