The day I left for college
I've been going to Manila ever since I was a boy in the 60s. I don't remember exactly how many times. In all of these trips, I've always been going with either my mother or father or both. Most of these trips were for the purpose of visiting my elder sister who was then already going to the university, and a few trips were actually for some sight-seeing, e.g. Manila Zoo, Quiapo, etc. I remember we always had to pack as early three or four days before and all of our luggage will be neatly lined along the hallway all zipped-up and ready to go (and not to be touched by anyone, except by my mom, of course). But there is one departure that will forever remain in my memory - the day I left for college. On the day of my departure for college, Conching went through the same meticulous preparation except that this time a few more items were added to the things we're bringing on the trip - a basket full of half-ripe bananas, half a sack of ...
MMDA TV shows live actual flooded streets of Manila. Many vehicles stranded. Waist high water level in many streets, e.g C5-Kalayaan stretch and Ortigas fly-over. Traffic standstill in some areas.
ReplyDeleteNa naman? I commiserate with all the people who have to wade throough those fooded streets.
ReplyDeletebaha sa sta. mesa, hanggang leeg daw sabi ni edwin.
ReplyDeleteHere's a video clip from GMA7: http://www.gmanews.tv/video/48255/qtv-floodwaters-reach-waist-deep-level-in-san-juan-city
ReplyDeletethanks chito...
ReplyDeleteOur crew came down from Tagaytay early this morning because we have an event in SM Fairview. Our staff texted me at 10 am that they had been stuck in Pioneer along EDSA for two hours na! We decided to cancel. Wala din daw masyadong tao sa SM Fairview.
ReplyDeleteBoboy is in bed. Sick. Finally, his body gave in to all the stress of the past weeks. He is supposed to go to UP Los Baños today for an NCCA assessment of the grant given to our workshops, but that had to be cancelled too. His regret: "it's bed weather, and I am sick!" LOL!
LOL, get well soon to Hugz!
ReplyDeletewe share the same plight. but we three [guela, maxi and me]. 1 week na kaming plagued by cough, colds, asthma and on and off fevers. walang humpay ang visits to the pedia, haaaaay. bed weather din dito....
Grabe ang baha, thanks for the link Chito, kakatapos lang namin manood ng tvpatrol world , walang pinakitang baha, siguro kahapon pa yung balita nila..anyway, ingat kayo dyan, and we're praying na wala naman sanang masaktan at matapos ng unos.
ReplyDeleteGet well soon Sir B. :)
ReplyDeleteNaku, Chito, my nephew just called. A lot of them are stranded in Ateneo because of the flood. It's a good thing all the cooks are also stranded, so there's food in the canteens. Diego said the water outside beyond Katipunan is waist deep.
ReplyDeleteAs I write this, rains is still raging (at least here in my spot under the sun...errr..no sun today), and I can imagine some of the flooded streets are getting worse for motorists caught in it. Harvey Keh and Jim Paredes, in their respective tweets, are reporting that areas in and around Ateneo are flooded. Harvey says he can see half submerged cars in the parking lot of Merian College where he is stuck. Jim Paredes reports that even Forbes Park and La Vista Subd. have not been spared by floods. Phil. Inquirer reports that SLEX is now closed to traffic as of 2PM - http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20090926-227046/SLEx-closed-to-traffic.
ReplyDeleteThe MMDA anchor keeps on reporting that flooded areas. Good job. But he keeps on advising motorist na "iwasan na and mga bahanh kalsada." Eh, lahat naman ng kalsada ay dapat iwasan! I think what he should be saying is "huwag na kayong bumiyahe."
A lot of events have been cancelled. Just like what Gwiz said, the organizers as well as the public have difficulty going out. Another one of my twitter contacts says "Markina is sinking fast!"
ReplyDeleteIf anyone here knows anyone who needs help sa baha/bagyo, etc. at this time, here's an emergency number which I'd like to re-post/re-tweet, re-publish, etc. - Hotline for anyone who needs help:: 734-2118, 734-2120
ReplyDeleteYes Tito Chito. Kawawa ang mga may work at ang mga pumasok sa schools. Alan is stranded in his boss's house because he cannot go home from Sucat. They left their cars at the warehouse and the company's truck brought them to their boss's house in Marcelo instead. Then two of my co-teachers taking up their MA in Manila are now stranded in a bus in Zapote because of the flood. A college classmate of mine is also stuck at work in Makati. BF is not spared too. The creek near our church overflowed already and most entrances to BF are flooded, i.e. Lopez, Concha Cruz, Southland. I hope the rains would stop soon so people could go home.
ReplyDeleteMore helplines: National Disaster Coordinating Council Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061.
ReplyDeleteNLEX too is impassable at the moment. - http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20090926-227050/Valenzuela-interchange-of-NLEx-impassable
ReplyDeleteHi Patneb. It's a terrible feeling of helplessness. Wala tayong magawa gustohin man nating makatulong sa kanila. Let's just pray hard that the rain will stop.
ReplyDeleteHere's a youtube upload on the flood situation. Be sure to finish the video clip:
ReplyDeleteOMG! I just hope no other vehicles follow that van into the construction site. Terrifying.
ReplyDeleteOur crew is still stuck in C5. they will most likely spend the night there. =( I am worried because they do not have food. Perhaps the government can send food teams to go around the city to distribute food for those stranded in their homes and in their vehicles. =(
It is still raining non-stop here in Tagaytay. But we are the lucky ones. We are praying for family and friends affected by all these.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter Pika and her little family have been stuck in Proj 6 in their car since this morning. They were on their way to her son's field trip in Ortigas. And to think that her in-law's home in Tandang Sora where they came from is only about a kilometer away. JD doesn't want to abandon his car and Pika doesn't want to leave JD alone naman. =(
At least, the Villafuertes can send someone over to the car to bring blankets and food for Pika, JD and Juro, hehe.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that Ms. G, Ortigas traffic has been reported at a standstill kanina pa.
ReplyDeleteIf the waters keep rising, it may be impossible to do anything else but leave and get to safer ground. May nakoryente na kaya sa mga streets...
and to you Tochie, pwede ka na rin mag-weather reporter (hehehe...bawi sa sinabi mo before sa akin about my Labuyo post)
ReplyDeleteOo nga, Chito, you have been a great help. I am texting the numbers that you posted here to my crew, family and friends who are affected. Thank you so much! =)
ReplyDeleteThough I share your hope Gwiz, I think there is a big possibility that some other vehicles which may have followed it. If you noticed, some of the parked cars were somewhat "floating" on the flooded street. Buti na lang na-ilabas nila yung back-hoe truck. Can you imagine how deep that hole is? More than 20-storey bldg ang balak gawin dun.
ReplyDeleteI think the disaster control and emergency agencies are really trying to do their best under the situation. At least that what Dr. Anthony Golez of the NDCC said. Kaya lang, marami sa mga equipment or vehicles nila ay di maka-galaw sa trapik. I heard that Sen. Gordon and his team are stuck somewhere in SLEX. I also heard that the Villar family, Sen. Villar, his wife Cong. Cynthia, and her brother Mayor Aguilar are also out there sa Las PInas trying to do what they can.
ReplyDeletechito, please tell me that nobody was inside that van and the other cars that have drowned.
ReplyDeleteHay naku, kawawa naman sila! They need to know that theirpersonal safety is primordial. The car can be replaced.
ReplyDeleteNo one was in it, Chiara. Ang naisip ko lang kasi, that hole where the car "sank" is about 30-meters deep. So when this whole thing is over, malaking trabaho and pag-ahon noon not to mention whether mapapa-kinabangan pa yun.
ReplyDeletechito thanks for the numbers i texted them to edwin in case it comes to it.
ReplyDeletebuti na lang. is it still raining? and how hard?
ReplyDeleteAccdg to Dr. Golez of NDCC, even if the rains appear to have stopped in our area, it is possible that the water from the rains on the hills, e.g. Antipolo, etc., may still be on its way to the lowland areas. At huwag naman sana, pero kung matapat pa ito sa high tide ng Manila Bay, naloko na!
ReplyDeleteWhere I am, and accdg to radio reports, rains are still going on in other areas, in varying degrees nga lang. Pero surely, hindi pa ito tuluyan tapos na accdg to the PAGASA report.
ReplyDeleteOK. But they should already do whatever they can. Kasi maliban sa kulang ang rescue people, the traffic grid-lock is also preventing them to attend to the many who need their help.
ReplyDeleteIt's 8:40 PM and the rain has stopped where I am. And from the various reports I'm hearing, it seems that rain has also stopped in most parts of Metro Manila. But traffic remains problematic because flood waters is very slowly receding. It is dark now and many part of the Metro no longer have power because Meralco decided to cut supply in some areas as they are concerned of safety against electrocution in flooded areas.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the floods have affected a lot of people, rich and poor, famous and ordinary citizens. One of them is Cristine Reyes http://showhype.com/story/cristine_reyes_is_maxim_philippines_magazine_cover/ a screen nymphet and cover girl of FHM and Maxim magazines. She was just interviewed a few minutes ago via celfon while was on top of her roof (her whole house in Marikina is underwater). She tearfully recounted how quickly the waters rose and was practically begging for rescuers. A damsel in distress.
around 7 plus pm, I already heard Christine on a phonecall to one of the tv stations asking for help....1 pm pa sya don sa 2nd floor bedroom yata nila...and see, mag-9 pm na...wala pa rin...
ReplyDeleteam sure people are trying to mobilize and give help...pero siguro nga sa traffic and difficulty in getting there, di rin makarating kaagad..
edwin reported that the rain has stopped and the wateris down to 1 foot sa 2nd floor. gosh i can't imagine how the house looks like now, let alone all those bacteria laden waters... we have young pamangkins over there. i hope nobody gets sick.
ReplyDeleteHere's another video upload (ADVISORY: THIS SCENE MAY BE TOO DISTRESSING TO SOME. IF YOU FEEL YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE THIS, PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE PLAY-BUTTON.)
ReplyDeleteThis one is a scene inside the compound of UERM Hospital along Aurora Blvd. near SM Centerpoint, at the height of the flooding yesterday.
OMG, i hope they were able to escape. also the man hugging the tree.
ReplyDeletehonga eh..parang di napansin yung taong nandun sa puno
ReplyDelete