Fantazzztic!

I didn’t even anticipate that there will be a point in my life wherein I need to “swim” and be stranded in the middle of the typhoon. Yes during those times I wished to become an MMORPG character like my Daeva Mage in AION so I can fly or even a Druid in World of Warcraft so I can transform into a sea lion like creature to swim. The irony I am just hanging around a few blocks away from destination but sad to say I cannot reach my target for the reason that there is this natural disaster blocking my path that takes the lives of many.

Yesterday I decided to go home despite of the strong typhoon and an EDSA “car park” in front of my work place, On the way home while riding an MRT I saw a disastrous scene on the roads of EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue). In fact riding the MRT station becomes a huge obstacle for me. I didn’t even expect that the Magallanes Interchange Park turned into a “water park”! The area below the Magallanes MRT Station was sunk into at least 4-6 feet deep worth of flood water. I am glad that there are buses who managed to force their way despite of the flood. I was saved from the first stage I arrived at the Ayala station without getting my lower body soaked with a soup called bacteria ala carte.

From the window of the blue train, amidst of the droplets of the rain that almost block my view I clearly saw the disaster the typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) caused to the metropolitan. At around 12:30 to 1 PM the water from the Pasig River almost reached the floor of the Guadalupe Bridge.  When the MRT is on its way from Ortigas to Santolan-Annapolis station, the train passenger screamed while looking at the scenery of stranded/abandoned bus floating cars and stranded vehicles who even counter flow the road! What shocks me the most is the situation around the Quezon Avenue Station, The area particularly on the construction site looks like a river! Then I arrived at the North Avenue Station thinking that I can go home freely but I didn’t know this is only the starting point of my real adventure. There’s a flood in the area that separates SM North EDSA and TriNoMa Mall that caused the small vehicles to be stranded. However busses and huge vehicles can easily pass. I managed to ride a bus to avoid the flood but I got stranded when we arrived at Munoz (Roosevelt) I didn’t even expect that the vicinity that separates Roosevelt and Royal can turned into a sea of stagnant water.  The flood can reach up to my chest! So I have no choice but to put myself into the flood. What makes it harder for us to pass is the strong current of flood water that will surely push you back from where you came from or even worse to after life if you lose your balance.  The people are grouping themselves, arms around each other to cross the road. What makes it more dangerous is the metals and other machinery equipments from the under construction LRT 1 Extension that can possibly hit you below.  On the way I manage to meet some new companion who will also walk their way to Valenzuela. Having a companion on the long walks will surely kills your boredom.

After we get out of the flood water of Royal, we saw the Balintawak Cloverleaf Road in a worst state wherein the only accessible area is the center island. Even the Balintawak Market before we arrived at that place has a knee to waist level deep flood.

Despite of the strong rain, wind and flood we managed to force our way to Valenzuela City where the final stage begins! I arrived at the scene around 4:00PM in the afternoon after walking *coughs* swam on the flooded streets of EDSA. What welcomed us are stranded vehicles and mobs of people that will surely remind you of people power when you saw them and the Tullahan Bridge in extacy. Yesterday I really saw what a “bridge over troubled water” literally looks like. My quest is to cross the bridge that connects Malabon and Valenzuela City but the problem is the water from the infamous polluted Tullahan River erased the bridge itself from the visible eye of the stranded people! Wait I’m not seeing the capital city of the Philippines or Surigao Del Norte (Siargao) in this area the human height deep and the water current are too strong for a human to survive. Even though the given situation is worst, the people is still trying to cross that 5-14 feet (according to the news) flood water, As a result some people crossed not the bridge but the afterlife and their respected bodies are taken away by the waters. The death count is 4. To stop the people from attempting to cross the bridge a warning shot is released. It came to the point where it isn’t even possible to cross the bridge. I got stranded, I don’t have a choice. I am glad that there are drivers whose willing to provide their vehicles as a shelter for the stranded person. Some people are kind enough to use their mobile phones to send an MMS message to your loved ones and even shared their food with everyone. It is really true that when a catastrophe came “Bayanihan” comes to play.

For almost 12 hours I managed to fight the boredom and impatience inside the jeepney. I endured the cold and chilling sensation of the wind + rain that strikes to my body. My wet t-shirt and pants becomes dry! At this point I didn’t even feel sleepy, tired or even hungry and thirsty. What runs to me is the will to get out of the situation. The rain stopped but the flood even got high. All I have to do is to wait for the water to get low. At around 3:30am people can finally pass the bridge since the flood water reduced to a knee to waist level flood and the water current stopped. The only obstacle this time is the pitch black environment and the flood water with a huge amount of petroleum oil. Deep Submerged Jollibee, 7-11, Machinery, San Miguel Beer Brewery and even a Funeral Home you can almost have a taste of everything. I ignored it just to get home. After the Tullahan Bridge the “BB” area is still soaked into flood that even reached my chest.  Thank god the rescuers who stayed at that area provided a giant rope for people to cling on. Since the waters from that area are filled with petroleum oil I removed my white tee shirt so it won’t turn into black. The flood ended at the Fatima Hospital area. I finally reached the shore and walked home half naked, body covered in oil in the middle of a dark night (Thanks to the power outrage).

When I arrived at home I went straight to the bathroom and take a shower of the “year”. There is first time in everything. I didn’t even get traumatized at what had happened. I didn’t even feel emotional. What I only felt is the will to survive actually mixed emotions. I just wish that it won’t happen again. Anyway according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council we already experienced something as worse as this a hundred years ago.

Check out the Malabon-Valenzuela boundary after math pics here

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