Ondoy--Sept, 26, 2009

Better Late than Never! After 4 years-- here it is.

8:00 am - I Came home that morning passing thoruhg the same route  along the Marikina River. It was swelling from the rains the night before. When I got to the house, everything was normal. Queti just woke up and had breakfast  The rains at this time was "acting' up. We talked about the schedule this afternoon and Kiana's Ballet in the morning . The NOAH play is scheduled at 3 pm and we are all set to watch it. 

   By this time, the rains had a steady downpour-- but nothing major. . The kids eventually woke up. . 

9:00 am  - I was getting ready for Kiana's ballet and then I noticed that the rains has not stopped. We discussed whether to go to ballet or not. I insisted that I WILL NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE IN THE HOUSE. 

9:45 am - The floods outside the house was steadily rising . I admitted that I was getting worried  and I had to organize things. I called up my Auntie in Panorama and told her just in case, that we will go to her house the moment the flood goes out of control. She said that as early as now, we should get out of the house since the rains will not stop. I heeded and said there is still the border in the garden. I have that border as my last line of defense. Once it is breached, We are outta here!. 

  I told Queti to get things organized  and get some clothes and stuff that she can carry. She asked, "Why?' I said the moment the floods come in, we are going to evacuate. She said, " What?". 

10:10 am  By this time, the rains kept pouring  and after seeing the floods crawl through the first step, I told my family, "Lets Go!". I turned off the main switch of the house and got our jackets. The water from the back of the house  was now pouring into the house. We wore our boots and stepped out of the house. By this time, the floods were almost at the top of the border of the garden . I held on to Kiana while Queti had to  piggy back Kishi.  She asked me, “Where are we going?’ I said we will go to Auntie Juliet’s house. As I stepped into the flood, the water was so cold! When I opened the gate, I immediately felt the current of the flood coming from Champagne St. – pushing us back. I strived and managed to pull out Queti. Side by side we walked towards the higher streets. The scene is just surreal. Floods on the streets and down pour. Just overwhelming.!!!  But seeing the flood was almost ‘thigh” high, Queti said we can’t walk all the way to Panorama.

The Aragon’s house was just the 3^rd house from ours. I saw Jerome looking out his door and I just shouted ..” Pwede bang maki tuloy?”

He gladly opened the gate and let us in. We were able to settle the kids in their sala. The rains were still pouring in no one knew when will it stop. The good family even allowed the kids to watch DVDs. The power suddenly was cut off. The Cruz family also came in and this time we noticed that they had their CPU with them.

 This prompted Queti to histerically tell me. “you have to go back to secure the photos and paintings!” I said, WHAT?!!. So I did go back to the house.

 I went through the floods again and this time I noticed the strong current that almost floored me. But I grabbed  the railings  from the neighbors’ gates. I walked through the Catabijan’s house and peeped through the window. . “How are you guys?”, I asked.

“We are Ok!” I told them just to evacuate and go over to the Aragon’s.

When I arrived in the house, I couldn’t get inside the gate. Floating debris that the floods brought in were everywhere. I had to climb up the gate and when I got to the door, I couldn’t open it. As in I really could not open it. I later realize that it was stuck because of the pressure of the water.

I later climbed the gate and went up the roof and had to proceed to the back of the house. This time I had to pry open the door and go in from the Kitchen. Everything looked surreal! The ref was floating and I had to move it with one hand so that I can get through. I went straight to the rooms. Passing through the dining room and sal , I saw the couch floating  and immediately got the paintings  and secured it on top of the piano. There goes the piano!

 I got the pictures. They were inside the boxes  and this time placed them on top of Kiana’s Cabinet in our room. The flood was above my knee. I also got the TV set and set it on the same spot. Amazing how my strength is up as you are in a “panic” mode. I also got the CPU and secured it in a better area.

  The sight of the house under water is just frustrating. But I know I had to move. Whatever I can get, I got and make sure that everything is secure.

  I went out the same way I came in. I went back to the Aragons and this time we stayed with them the whole afternoon up until the rains receded in the afternoon. W later walked all the way to Auntie Juliet’s house in Panorama st.