ondoy: not just another typhoon

just another typhoon..that’s what I had in mind last friday..what a big negligence..i did not even checked out typhoon2000.com for updates and stormtracking (which is part of my job as operations engineer) and made myself busy with the division’s budget to beat the finance group’s deadline..hey, it’s a Friday..it’s a homecoming day..batangas is waiting for me..5pm and off I go to the bus station to suffer another trafficy trip thru edsa, slex, turbine, star, balagtas to my place at cuta..the rain and wind does not pose any threat on me at all..

came saturday..as usual, went to the university to attend my masters classes..it’s already stormy but what the heck..i’m not in high school to be tardy for schooling..it’s raining cats and dogs outside and still classes is business as usual..not aware of ondoy’s devastation over other parts of the country..

home again..upon watching the videos of people walking on floody streets and this family standing over a floating pile of garbage got carried by this fast river current..and that’s the only time I get to realize the serious peril my countrymen was facing that moment..i really am surprised..i thought it’s just another limpy typhoon..it’s not just another typhoon..ondoy is a destructive one..

ondoy made landfall on september 26, 2009 at aurora area with a maximum sustained winds of 85 kph..pagasa science garden in quezon city recorded a new record rainfall accumulation of 455 mm (17.9 inches) in 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 335 mm (13.2 inches) which happened last June 1967..that’s remarkably horrifying..imagine..that amount of rainfall for one day is equivalent to a month of continuous rainfall..the wind is not that strong but the rainfall made it devastating..

in this time of crisis, heroes emerge..they are the one who is involved in the rescue and relief operations..bayanihan spirit is still within us..the aids and donations are inspiring..thanks also for the effort of the media networks which have covered the events for public information and encouraged everybody to help in their own ways..abs-cbn and gma have already received more than 50 million worth (in cash and in kind) of donations..even if I haven’t had that chance yet to directly participate, i’m proud still that filipinos have that will to help..but i still hope to have that chance to partake in such activities..


oh God! please save the philippines from another one..recovery would be a long one..many are still in mourn..many are still walking in floods..hungry..homeless..restless..coping..don’t let them loose hope..