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WORST 24 HOURS OF MY LIFE...BAGYO, BAHA, BUBONG, BANGKAY!

as you all know, we just experienced a natural disaster. pag-asa said it rained more last night than all of september put together...and we've had some downpours this month.here's a recap of the WORST 24 hours of my life which totally changed me...

9am- i wake up...the water is starting to rise.it is already in our backyard at about 3 inches deep..

10am- the water starts to rise so we start moving out our cars to higher ground..our street isn't called RIVERSIDE for no reason...we are literally next to marikina river...meaning, it's where it floods the most. the main road is higher ground so we moved our cars there.

we start to move our things..valuables were moved upstairs (mostly me since im the only one with my bedroom on the first floor). the rest of the stuff like refs, freezers, tables, were elevated on stacks of chairs to keep them from getting wet.

11am- the water reaches the 4th stair of the staircase. people are still trying to salvage what they can by bringing it upstairs or elevating it..all for naught. by this time we prepare for the worst.we packed all our valuables, documents, and some change of clothes in case we need to abandon the house. i thought this was exaggerated and the water wouldnt reach us upstairs...i was wrong.

1130- "the boys" (my dad's employees/personal trainers/all-around handymen) come with his kayak, with instructions to take us out one by one out of provident...he calls me to say to take charge and lead them out. we didnt, thinking the water wouldnt reach..

12nn- the water suddenly surges at a fucking high rate, hardly giving us time to think...we look at the road, the current was like 20 kph..we find out THEY FUCKING OPENED THE DAM releasing all the water on our street and into the village. he kayak option is too late and we head for the roof from the highest point of the house.

there were about 15 of us, 1 of them a 2 month old baby just today. we struggle to get to the roof but succeed. the wind- blinding and furious enough to send a child's arms flailing if not crossed together... the rain- like sharp icicles stabbing at you from every direction.we eventually settle down in the roof, which had 4 levels.the first was submerged, we were in the 2nd and 3rd, the kids under a small crevice that overlapped the 3rd and 4th levels, thankfully giving them shade. i looked around and saw people on roofs everywhere, totally exposed.

1pm-12mn-RAIN...WIND...putangina i admit ive never been more scared.the kayak left to see if it was possible to take us out...10 hours later, they havent returned. i watched helplessly as the water rose...slowly, gradually...as if taunting me.everyone's praying aloud ,singing christian songs...i pray in silence. as i sat shivering in the cold, the kids sheltered, my parents and grandparents shelterd yet still cold and wet, i begin to feel the weight of it all. "OK, wake up" i visibly recall myself saying, hoping this was all just a dream. the physical battle was fucking hell...the mental battle was fucking HELL!!! eto na nearest break down point ko...the only things keeping me strong were the concerned friends and the knowledge that too many people needed an anchor to be strong for me to flake out. they were all kids and my grandparents with some household help.

at around 5pm our superhero arrives..i see my dad, swimming in the muddy flood.he parked his car in cubao, ran till riverbanks, and swam/canvassed roofs, till he got to us.fucking superman.all tired, cut, and bloody, he begins to plan the night ahead. it's like a huge weight was taken off my shoulders. i was most worried for my grandparents who were out in the fucking rain all day and night! luckily we found several trapals and wood..we made a makeshift shelter for them.

as night pushed on, the rain became drizzle, which came and went...mostly leaving us alone. but the damage was done..all we could do was wait. thankfully, by sunrise, the water was now down to the first level.

8-9am- we hear news from my dad's contact that they will be reopening the dam again at 3pm...so we decide not to wait for the water to subside completely and leave. my dad and i took them out on the kayak one at a time.2 riding, my dad and i pulling and pushing through the flood (hello mud, ipis, ahas, shit, etc)... when we got to the gate...it was the worst sight ive ever seen...

the gate- DISASTER AREA...tired, sweaty, wet, muddy, fucked up utterly...cars toppled everywhere, patong-patong...trucks and small boats of afp, marines, police, and local government finally helping people out. as we are standing there, i see the faces of people walking by with look on their face that exemplifies the meaning of suffering. i survey them, one by one...i realize what has happened...what i feared most...DEATH...since they werent in our street, they didnt see the current was flowing so fast already. they stayed inside and realized too late that they werent going to make it..i was recounted of the cries for help, the screams of fear...then...silence. PUTANG INA my heart broke, my knees got weak, and i started to fucking cry. i see people walking out, crying their hearts out..i know why...it wasnt the cry over lost possession...you could see it in their eyes. they were living hell on earth...the hell of losing someone.

and i learn people had a conference on the CHURCH! they were locked in and werent able to leave! putang ina may mga namatay sa simbahan?!?! WTF IS GOING ON?!?! it seems hard to feel happy and rejoice being alive and well when you hear of these things. everything was such a fucking mess.

in the end, we walk to riverbanks and we were fetched by my uncle..our cars in caltex were intact, full of mud inside, but intact. the house, full of mud, nakabalandra lahat ng gamit, basa, and wasak mga kisame...our help and the boys are fixing there as i type...

end- thank god for keeping us alive...thank you to my friends for the concern..i will forever remember you guys who kept me awake, alive, and sane, as i was almost losing my fucking mind...thanks A for everything...i miss you. your concern propped me up more than anything else. everyone who texted/called, SALAMAT SOBRA. you guys have no idea gaanong nakakalakas yun..but i mourn for my neighbors who passed during this tragedy. such an awful, painful, grim way to go..no one deserves that...may their souls rest in peace...for our village will long be in dire need of it. here's to a bittersweet smile.