Typhoon "Ondoy"

Hi,

I posted this message, because it’s my first time to be stranded yesterday under a tropical storm “Ondoy”. Actually I didn’t expect this kind of experience, though I know there’s a storm since Friday. After going home from work at around 6pm, rain still pouring around. I slept at around 12 in the midnight and its cold “ang sarap matulog”.

I woke up early Saturday at around 8am. I took up my breakfast at my apartment then take a bath, because I’m planning to go at Festival Mall. After packing my bag (kasi every Monday nanggaling p ako s Lumban before going to Work), I left Sta Rosa City at 10am. The rain is so strong and winds blows but I continue to ride a jeep going to Alabang. After I bought my brothers school supplies, immediately I left the Mall. I didn’t check out or hang out inside the mall. Because I know there’s a storm and I need to get to Lumban as fast as possible. And there you go, I was shocked to what I saw. Do you know the under past walkway form Festival to Alabang-Zapote road? The pathway going to South Station. It already been flooded and no one can past through it. “sobrang apaw na talaga ung baha, hindi na nga kita ung lalakaran mo, upos tao na talaga”. Hahaha, I wear our company jacket and it’s a waterproof and in my hand is my php50, 000 worth umbrella (joke lang php.50 lng un, I bought it few months ago). “Natatawa talaga ako sa payong kung yun, kasi sira na talaga ung 2 sides nya, eh ang lakas ng hangin feeling ko masisira at liliparin talaga ung parong ko at ung handle na lang matitira”. And no choice, I must take the alternate route going to Alabang city terminal. So I took I jeep who’s passing along the mall and going to terminal. “Pagbaba ko, todo takbo ako, baha na rin sa kalsada. Nabasa nga ung shoes ko, maigi n lang my dala akong slippers s bag”. I removed my shoes and wear slippers. “Malas pa” there’s no any passenger at the van terminal going to Sta. Cruz. I waited for 30minutes, but no passenger arrived. So I decided I took a bus within terminal too. I was liked a “ basang sisiw” because my umbrella is broke already and my jacket is the only protection. My bag is slightly wet and I’m carrying my shoes in a plastic at the same time carrying the school supplies ( “natatawa talaga ako imagine my dala akong isang ream n bond paper, aside pa sa iba kung binili”). I arrange it inside my bag, so my bag is so heavy. My lower part of my pants is also wet.

I thought I’m safe from disaster inside the bus. Yes, the bus left the terminal at 1pm. And I saw the whole area in Alabang that already been flooded. At that time the SLEX is well fine, no traffic nor flood. And here we go, while reaching the Southwoods area in SLEX. There’s a traffic build up. I listen to music using my phone. It’s already an hour but still no movement. I’m listening to most passengers inside the bus, and they telling us that were stranded in SLEX. The rain and wind continuously hitting us and the area is filling up with floods. Yes!!! There’s a flood in SLEX. Others passengers including the driver and conductor went out to see what’s causing the traffic. And they found out that no vehicles can cross the SLEX both side along Southwoods and Binan exit. I sent messages to most of my friends regarding what happenings to me. Just giving them update to what I experienced yesterday. It’s my first time to experience this kind of disaster inside the bus. At the same time I’m quite afraid but still happy for having this experience. Its sound weird but it’s true. Hours been past, but still stuck in the road. The main reason why were stranded is the SLEX is too flooded and no one can pass through it. At around 4pm, we made to a plan to take the risk to take alternate route. Imagine its traffic and lots of vehicle around us, but we still to mange to move back ward going back to take southwoods exit and we did it. We saw the flooded area in SLEX and its look like a big river with lots of stranded vehicle. Hahaha, we pay to a subdivision just to past at their gates and exit at Carmona. At last were at Carmona and still, heavy traffic along the road going to Binan and take entry to SLEX again. At Mayapa area, I was shocked again because lots of passengers are eager to ride at the bus. Again at Waltermart in Calamba, lots of passenger still waits and according to them, they are waiting for more than hours. “Parang may artistang dumaaan, takbuhan talaga ang mga tao sa bus at sinalubong talaga. Natatawa na nga lang ako sa dami ng nararanasan kung bago sa akin”. The bus is over loaded but no choice to accept the truth. Again we also stranded at Pansol area. The way is flooded and most of the road in Calamba is full of mud. Brownout and I’m so hungry and there is no vendor along the road. We spent more than 2 hours at Pansol until we pass other town. The hi-way along Calaun-Bay area are also flooded but no problems since were in bus compares to cars and jeepneys. I arrived at town of Sta. Cruz at around 10pm and took jeeney going to Lumban. Even at night, I saw the Lumabn River is so high. According to my mama, we didn’t experience flood inside our house, compare to others. My other friends and relatives also experience flooding in their house.

I want to update my blog last night regarding my experience but I’m so tired. Actually this past few years, we experiencing flood inside our house. Maybe because the Caliraya Hyrdo Electric Plant near at our area manages well the flow of water.

This is one my best experience in life that never forgets and still continues to tell to others. “Siguro mas masaya mag kwento kung live, para feel na feel mo”.