Worse than Ondoy - Our Habagat Story

I used to love the rain. It's makes me want to stay in bed or cuddle.  It actually brings out the lazy, laid back me. Then came 2009. And Ondoy happened. Rain, to me, will never be the same.  From exuding calm, it now has a cataclysmic and catastrophic face.

I lived in Malabon all my life. And as flood-prone as it is, believe it or not, I have been happy here. We have been flooded several times but I always looked at it on the brighter side of life - it's a reason for general cleaning, minsan lang naman, may tumutulong naman sa aming mag-akyat ng gamit, etc., etc.  It was only in 2009 that the rain caused so much panic attacks. I was pregnant with S when flood waters rose to chest level inside our house.  It was a very horrendous first.  But being the positive me, I still didn't complain.  I still chose to look at it on a different perspective - at least it didn't reach our second floor, what we've experienced was nothing compared to what happened to others.  Then came 2012, with Typhoon Gener flood waters greeted us from a few millimeters away.  Luckily, it didn't enter our house. Just the same, I needed to take two days off from work to ensure that our house and our children were safe. 

  

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Monday, August 6)

After Gener left, we're still experiencing heavy rains because of habagat (southwest monsoon). I went home with Tatay and it took us two excruciating hours to reach, as usual, flooded Malabon. Then I have to walk barefoot for 20 minutes (Sayang ang sapatos!) on thigh-high waters, then ride a styrofoam raft for another 7 minutes, then walk another 10 minutes just to be able to reach home. With the amount of rain we were experiencing, we knew in no time our house would say hello to an unwanted guest. A guest so familiar yet we so despise. We started bringing to our second floor the things we thought would be easily reached by water - the kids' dressers, R's school stuff, toys, shoes.  But the rain didn't stop, flood waters kept rising.  We knew we have to bring up more stuff - TV, everything below our sink like pots, pans, plates and other kitchen paraphernalia.  Then it was thigh deep, we have to bring up all the electric appliances on our counter top - microwave, toaster, turbo broiler.  I knew by this time we have to have food upstairs.  Ramir asked someone to help him bring up the refrigerator.  I, on the other hand, got hold of all the food I could find.  Yayay brought up our rice container and S's stash of milk.  But the rain kept pouring. Ramir's septuagenarian aunts came to us for shelter.  Their bungalow house was already submerged.  They brought with them 5 neighbors (two females, two males and one 3 year old kid).  They too didn't have a place to stay.  Our second floor became a mini-evacuation center.  It was a good thing that we have a bathroom on the second floor. 

Mini library turned into a mini evacuation center

As the water rises more, we knew that in no time we would lose electricity. And we were right.  For three days straight we didn't have any power.

Candle-lighting

Good thing we were able to charge our cellphones and laptops prior the outage.  My office mates were in touch, asking how we're doing, what we need, do we need to be rescued, etc.  In a scenario like this, knowing that there were people whom you can rely on was very comforting.  It strengthened our confidence that someone's got our back. That we're covered.

When the water was already chest deep inside our house, and the rain was still torrential I packed our "rescue bags".  In case we needed to be rescued, we would just bring these two bags. We packed  three pieces of clothing for each of us, some biscuits, a bottle of water, a white towel, some toiletries and cash. 

Our next door neighbor.  Nothing was saved.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
The water was already 6 steps before our second floor but the deluge went on. 

Karambola!

I already sounded our need to be rescued.  Ramir told me that if a rescue team comes for us, Yayay and I would need to huddle the kids because he'll stay behind.  It was a moment of truth for me. I admitted to myself that yes, we needed to get out of our house.  We would be leaving Ramir behind but it was the best for all of us.  The faster we get out of the house, the safer the kids would be.  While we're waiting for the rescue team to arrive, I made a mental note of the things we would save in case flood waters reach our second floor.  I realized that I was willing to lose everything except those mementos that we were able to collect through the years, memorabilia that we wouldn't be able to buy nor replicate or would be difficult or bothersome to request again - letters, drawings, baby books, memorabilia of my kids' milestones (e.g. umbilical cord stump, hair, foot stamps, etc.), photos without digital files, operative records, insurance policies, titles, diplomas, transcripts of records, passports, bank books, government issued IDs, electronic devices that are memory repositories (where our photos and videos are stored) like laptops, cellphones and iPod Touch. All of these, I stored on plastic envelopes, zip bags and black trash bags.  I put these in one area of the house.  Naghabilin na ako. I told Ramir, worse case scenario, we'll lose everything.  But if we can save anything, let's save those - sabay turo sa mga bagay na ibinalot ko na. We agreed. Then we kept watch and waited for rescue.  No one arrived.  A text message informed us that the rescue team couldn't enter our area because it was too dark, the current was very strong and because of the heavy downpour, it was almost zero visibility.  Honestly, I was relieved that we weren't rescued.  I wasn't really solved with the idea that someone in the family would be left behind. Inaliw na lang namin ang mga sarili namin, to keep our minds from worrying.  We played cards, did sagidi-sagidi sa popo, sang together to songs on our iPod playlist, told stories and improvised play on whatever we can find.  

Playing cards and lipstick.  Bad combination. (Ramir's was R's doing.)

Our mini-library was a gift.  For three days we don't have electricity, our kids just read their books and played their toys. No one complained. They adjusted very well.

Kids' Grand Time. (The boy in blue was one of our evacuees.)

HELP CAME
We have a mini stove that ran on butane.  By day 3 (Thursday, August 9), we have used up our butane supply.  And to make matters worse by day 4 (Friday, August 10), Maynilad cut our water supply.  Imagine, no electricity, no water, no stove to cook food.  It felt like we're dead meat.  But I guess the human will to survive would always prevail.  And a little creativity helped.  Ramir went down to waist level waters and salvaged our floating and greasy stove and LPG tank.  I waited for him in the stairway and washed these with dishwashing liquid.  We learned that water pressure was just low.  Water is available downstairs but not on our second floor bathroom.  Umigib na lang kami.  But this was only suitable for cleaning.  Then help came.  A group of kagawads from another baranggay went the rounds and distributed mineral water packed in plastic.  Our drinking water problem was instantaneously solved.

Later, we learned that a volunteer group was distributing relief goods, although we still have some stock, my yayay and our guests, lined up for their stash.  We were given rice, canned goods and bananas.  I realized that even though we know we have enough and I'm sure we wouldn't go hungry, it still warms my heart that we were given help.  That somewhere, somehow, a nameless fellow, whom I wouldn't meet probably even in the afterlife, have extended his resources to help people like us. 

Relief goods

WATER RECEDED
Water started to recede on Day 4 (Friday, August 10).  By 12 midnight, water left our house.  By this time, Ramir already started the clean-up work. By 5pm of Day 5 (Saturday, August 11), our house was back in order.  Except for the damp cabinets, it looked like nothing happened.  Ramir and I went to the grocery to re-stack our supplies.  Paranoid na kung paranoid.  We also brought some jolly food to reward ourselves - pizzas (free from BPI credit card), pringles, chicharon, candies and Coke.  The kids had a field day.


WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
1. You should have at least 5 days worth of food supply.
Rain and flood would usually last for about 3 to 4 days.  During these days, it might be impossible to go out and look for food.  Having something to eat lessens the stress.  Habagat picked a good day, Tuesday. We always do our marketing on Saturdays for a whole week's menu.  It was also a blessing that it happened beginning of the month because we do our grocery every first week of the month.  So you can say that we have enough food supply. Buti na lang.   

2. Collect and store water (both for drinking and cleaning)
The shower was working.  The flush was working.  All our pitchers were full. At the beginning, we thought that we don't need to store up because supply was good.  Then the water stopped coming.  On stormy days, it pays to have more than what you need.  Nothing is ever predictable.

3.  A portable stove is very, very helpful.
In a movie of FPJ he said, hindi ako kumakain ng bigas, isinasaing ko muna. So true. Anung gagawin mo sa bigas, sa noodles, sa kape? Kailangan mong magluto at mag-init ng tubig. I remember doing a TV ad where it was mentioned that one of the immediate needs in disaster situations like this, are easily cooked food. Cooked being the operative term.

4.  Have an emergency kit
We didn't have this but we realized we need one.  This should have candles, match sticks, flashlight, extra batteries and a fan. 

5.  Be ready with your "rescue bag"
In case you needed to be rescued, you're ready to go with a set of clothes, towel, food, water and some cash.

6. Charge all your communication devices
News from the outside world.  News to the outside world.  For updates or anything you might need to know or say.  Communication devices are life lines.  If they're fully charged, your life would be easier and safer.
 
7.  Trash bags.
Not just for your trash but for your valuables.  For the things you need to keep dry, your last bet can be these.  Just securely tie them up.  Better to double bag.  And they float too.

8.  We can always help.
I never thought that we would be able to help anyone given our condition.  But there's always a way.  Shelter for a neighbor. Food for relatives.  And I'll always be grateful for the help extended to us.  A neighbor helped Ramir brought some of our stuff to the second floor. Kagawads from another baranggay gave us drinking water.  Volunteer groups gave us relief goods.  Friends and family members became our window to the world. And I know they prayed for us too.

9. Let go.
You'll lose valuable things.  In our case, our car, our 1997 Mitsubishi Galant.  Luma na kung luma pero kotse pa rin.  We also lost one of our dogs and our lovebirds.  Nalunod. Well, that's life. Ganun talaga. Inhale exhale tapos kalimutan mo na. 

10.  Enjoy.
Of course you need to be brave, have presence of mind and all those other qualities to survive a calamity.  But when you have kids, I think it's also important to show them that despite what's happened, it's not all that bad.  It can still be fun.  I think "enjoying the moment" helped a lot in making our kids cope well. Ramir and I thought of ways to entertain our kids.  I was able to teach some "magic card games" to R.  S, on the other hand, had me read some books to her over and over again.  Ramir jumped on the silly idea of borrowing a boat from a neighbor to let the kids "ride" around. We've got a lot of shrieks and giggles because of this.  The flood became less traumatic.

Our own Venice

EPILOGUE
I pray that we  wouldn't be able to experience the same thing again.  But if we have to, I hope that we would have enough clarity of mind to do what's best to keep everybody safe.  It's not easy.  But it can be done.  I think the saddest part was, hindi namin naramdaman ang tulong ng baranggay namin.  But I'm consoled by the fact that help came from elsewhere. When the Lord said, I'll never leave you nor forsake you, ramdam na ramdam namin yun.

P.S. To Ramir, thank you for being the man of the house.  Kung wala ka, lagot na kami. I don't know how to clean the aquarium, or change the light switch, or test whether outlets are grounded, heck, I wouldn't be able to carry the refrigerator nor climb the roof nor bust the door to help our pregnant neighbor get out of her house. And lastly, malulunod ako if I go downstairs to check on anything.  Kung hanggang bibig mo ang tubig sa baba, lampas ulo ko na yun.  You're the man.  Mahal na mahal.

P.P.S. To R and S, the best part of our Habagat experience was being able to spend uninterrupted days and nights with you. There were no complains.  No dramas.  You brought us so much joy and hope.  You daughters are the bestest.  You made Mama proud. Mahal na mahal.