Ondoy, Untold

All the Small Things

Calamities are always characterized by great loss; it is an overwhelming event on a grand scale, where thousands of lives are affected and it seems as if no one is spared.

The sheer force of destruction Ondoy brought to Metro Manila and Central Luzon was utterly dumb-founding. For many of us the scale of destruction was just off the charts. Even as we speak the death toll continues to rise as more bodies are recovered and North Luzon has taken the brunt of Pepeng’s wrath.

But despite the damage that has left the nation in shock, there is still hope. The Filipino concept of Bayanihan; which can be defined as a spirit of communal effort to achieve a common objective has flowered. Throughout the weeks of strong rain, landslides, and flooding, countless acts of Bayanihan occurred.  As Ateneans we are called to be Men for Others, and I believe this is something deeply connected to our concept of Bayanihan. And looking back I am glad to say that majority of us did our part and lived out this calling to be Men For and With Others.

A good number of Ateneo faculty, staff, and students were affected by the storm. Me included. Majority of my relatives live in Marikina and Cainta; in fact I lost a distant grandfather when he drowned tragically due to the floods. Allen Torres (IV BS AMF) and Kristian Nilo (IV AB MECO) too had family affected by the flooding.  Throughout the week following Ondoy, we all helped out in what way we could. Most of it came with cleaning.

“Cleaning a house caked with mud and everything in it was truly quite a task.” Says Allen, who spent a good amount of time cleaning

Karl Santos (IV BS MGT) and Ogy Yap (IV AB COMM) did their part by helping with bottling water. An owner of a water refilling station decided to donate water for victims of Ondoy but needed assistance to bottle the potable water. Through their assistance and the help of a good number of other Ateneans working throughout the day they were able to bottle a solid 9000 of water.

Looking back Karl says that the entire operation was a systematic one, with people fulfilling different roles. One person would be filling the bottles, while the other would cap them, another volunteer would then pack these bottles together for distribution. In Karl’s words, “Kung kulang ung tao, hindi kami makakagawa ng ganun kalaking output. We needed everyone and we all did our little part.”

And I believe this is where change happens, in the little things. Individually we seem so small, so insignificant in the grand scale of things, but it is in numbers we find our strength. No matter how miniscule the act of Bayanihan is, it all adds up. By working towards helping one person you increase the number of people who are moving on from this calamity. For every can of food you donate you help another person get through the day. By calling for responsibility and accountability for such a calamity you add further strength to the voice of change. Even now, just as students, we have the power to help make a difference; we can do our little part in the Spirit of Bayanihan.

There is still much to do. People in Central Luzon and the Metro are still in need of assistance; more so in Northern Luzon. We need to act. The slumbering spirit of Bayanihan has been roused but will we just let it fall back to sleep once again? I don’t believe we should. The little things we’ve been doing over the past few weeks have to continue in one way or another. The aftermath of Ondoy and Pepeng leaves much to be worked on; change in the system has to be effected so that things such as this don’t happen again. And in what little way can we help? By voting. As citizens of this country it is our job to do what we can to help. And as far as I can see it this is at the very least the small little thing we can do to help.

Looking at the mess these two storms brought to the nation, I like to think of us individual Filipinos as ants, tackling an enormous problem. You see, ants are seen by most as small and insignificant, but when ants take on a problem they never do it alone, they have their entire colony to assist them. I believe working together is key. We all have our part to play, so let’s play well.

from Binks Pasco

I like disaster movies, but I never thought that I’ll be in it. I could have died twice last Saturday, a few minutes, a few inches saved my life.

Hindi naman ako iyaking tao, ayaw ko nga ng mga emo. I laughed the whole time that I was stuck, maybe to counter the fear. But reality hit me hard when I saw how the village became a ghost town. And then I broke down, a first in God knows how long.

P.S.  Sa mga nag-alala, dapat siguro nagpa news ako na patay na para todo na, haha, but seriously thanks, hindi ako naka text kasi walang signal, and nung nagka signal wala na akong battery kasi nagpatugtog ako ng Patron Tequila, for two days, parang party lang.

Aside sa inyong mga pag-aalala, tumatanggap din ako ng new clothes (hindi used ah, pang evacuation center lang yon), pagkain (ito kahit ano kasi hindi naman ako nag didiet), pero mas ma aapreciate ko siguro ang pera at this point kasi parang walang value siya nung na stuck ako so ngayon ko nalang i tretreasure ang worth niya.  Nga pala, may realization ako, hindi totoo ang LS shit na yan kung ano ang isasave mo for survival. Kasi ang una kong naisip na iligtas ay ang cellphone ko (na may TV which is very useful kasi walang electricity) at ang aso namin. Kagrogrocery and kabibili ko lang nun ng damit, hay.  Marami pa akong useless realizations, pero sabog pa utak ko ngayon so that’s it for now.  Thank you again sa concern! I’m alive, I guess hindi talaga maganda ang ugali ko. Imagine, nilusong ko ang baha pauwi, and it took me 30 minutes. Nung nakapasok na ako sa bahay, saka tumaas ang tubig (God talaga, hindi naman kailangan ganun ka “in your face” yung pagsasabing masama ako).

Binks Pasco IV BS CTM

The Story of Marie Lou de Guzman

“Hindi sana ako papasok kasi sa sobrang lakas ng ulan at masama yung aking pakiramdam. Pero the day before kasi, nag-iwan kasi si Dr. Dumlao ng exam for reproduction sa table ni Sai (fellow administrative assistant of the Economics Department), and since on leave si Sai at di nagreply si Doc Louie kung kelangan nya kelangan yung exam, pumasok ako. Hilung-hilo talaga ako, ang sama ng pakiramdam ko. Sabi nga ng mister ko, wag ka nang pumasok. Bago mga 8, nandito na ako sa Ateneo kasi our office hours start at 8.

“Sinabihan ako ni Dr. de Guzman (the Economics Department chair) na umuwi na ako, pero gusto kong tapusin na yung office hours tsaka ang lakas ng ulan. By 12, ang lakas pa rin ng ulan at grabe yung traffic. Nagsimula kami umuwi ng mister ko ng mga 2 PM, nagpahintay kasi ako pagkatapos nya akong ihatid. Sabi ko sa asawa ko, iiwan na lang namin yung kotse namin sa Ateneo, pero ayaw niya. Sa Marcos Highway, traffic, pero wala pang tubig. Tapos parang fountain yung tubig baha. Di kami maka-U turn kasi nagkalat na yung mga MMDA barriers. Nung nakita namin yung baha, urong kami ng urong. Wala kaming nakita na MMDA, dapat eh nandun sila.

“In less than 30 minutes, inabot kami ng hanggang leeg sa kotse namin. Binaba namin yung window kasi kung di titigil yung ulan, dun kami sana lalabas. Kung hindi, baka malunod kami. Siyempre nabasa kami, ang baho ng putik. Dasal kami ng dasal, tumigil na sana yung ulan.Buti na lang, umambon-ambon na lang. Balak sana namin na magpark sa Robinsons, pero sabi daw, lagpas tao daw ang baha dun. Stuck pa rin kami. Nag-overnight tuloy kami sa kotse. Di naman namin maiwan yung kotse, kasi yung mga inabandonang kotse, may mga nagbubukas. Dalawa yung nakita naming ganun. 2 o’clock ng madaling araw, nagsusbside na yung tubig pero marami pa ring nakakalat na kotse. Kaya ang ginawa ng mga tao, tinulak ng mga tao yungmga inabandonang kotse. Pero di pa kami nakauwi.

“Walang mabibilihan ng pagkain, ng tubig. Di ako kumain, uminom, umihi for 24 hours. Sabi ko sa sa mister ko na sundalo, ikaw, di mo matiis yun, eh ikaw nga yung sundalo sa atin.

“Sabi ko sa mister ko nung 5:30 AM, iwan na muna kita kasi may nakita akong mga jeep na papunta dun. May tatlong anak kasi kaming iniwan sa bahay. Iniwan ko yung cellphone ko sa kanya since yung sa kanya, low bat na. Pero nastuck ulit ako since dun sa bahang area sa daang papuntang Sta. Lucia, dun ka na binababa ng jeep, di sila tumutuloy. May nakita pa nga akong patay, mama siya na nasa sidewalk. Bumitin ako sa malalaking mga truck para lang makauwi. Almost 1 o’clock in the afternoon na ako nakauwi. Buti nga may kuryente dun. Mga 9 na ng gabi nakauwi yung mister ko.

“Buti na nga lang at hindi nasira yung kotse namin.

“Yung basement lang yung binaha, pero nasira din yung bubungan namin. Yung sa basement namin, nasira yung computer at printer dun, yung TV dun, at yung eletrical system dun. Pero ok na yun, pasalamat kasi akong buhay pa kami.”

Ms. Marie Lou de Guzman is an administrative assistant at the Ateneo de Manila Economics Department.

Living in a bungalow in Provident Village, the Lacson family was one of those severely hit by the typhoon, Ondoy. It only took twenty minutes for the flood to swallow almost the entire house, leaving only six inches of air between the water and the ceiling. Try as they might, it was nearly impossible to swim through the murky, muddy water and attempt to open the door – the current of the water outside was just too strong. All they could do was stand as high as they could on the furniture, keep their faces raised above the water, and keep breathing for as long as they could. They weren’t sure how long those six inches of space would last, but they knew it wouldn’t be long. The father, head of the family and the only male present at the time, knowing that the end was near, said his last prayers for the family. But miraculously, they suddenly heard noises on their roof. It was the sound of people – their neighbors who came as soon as they remembered them! The neighbors knowing they didn’t have a lot of time immediately began destroying the roof, so that they could get to the struggling family. They succeeded and they were able to get everyone out of the bungalow. The Lacson family was able to join their neighbors on the roof of their 2-storey house. Within thirty minutes, the Lacson family saw their entire house being completely swallowed by the floods. Fortunately, they were able to save themselves thanks to their neighbors.

-Story from Carlos Lacson (BS ECE Batch 2009)

“Ang bilis ng pagpasok ng tubig, nakakabigla.” said Jackie, a 45 year-old businesswoman/stay-at-home mom while cleaning up her house in San Juan. It was an ordinary Saturday, she remembered. Never in her mind had she thought that she would be saving herself and her family from a flood. “Sabi ng may-ari ng bahay, 57 years siyang tumira dito, hindi niya naranasan ang baha.” she recalls.

When small amounts of water entered through the house, Jackie and her household help thought it was just the leaky walls and ceilings, so they remedied it with used washcloths, hoping to absorb the water. The moment they thought the leak was taken care of; their house door swung open because of the force of the water and it quickly flowed inside. Her house being also used as their business office, with the computers, checks, permits, and other important paperwork were the first items taken up the stairs. Then, the stock items were next to be hauled up. However, the floodwater quickly rose up and immediately reached neck-deep. Jackie only knew of that when her assistant shouted, “Ma’am! Tama na yan! Akyat na po!”, as she was standing on a mini-ladder trying to salvage whatever she could.

After Jackie, her family and her household help had gathered in the second floor of the house, they

peered through the stairs. They all saw the horror: the refrigerator floating, the TV following, and a vision of brownish water covering seemingly every inch of the house’s ground floor. While everyone was still in a state of shock, Jackie smartly asked one of her maids to get food while the water level could still be passable. “Natakot kasi ako baka buong gabi kaming bahain”, she said. The maid came back with a can of pork and beans, tuna, and two bags of chips. Not enough to feed eight people, she sighed. She called her eldest son, who was in Ateneo, to stay in school and wait out the flood. She closed her teary eyes and prayed.

Seven hours later, her husband awakened her and said “Wala ng tubig, okay na”. Everyone got down the stairs and surveyed the ground floor. Thankfully, her eldest son was able to get home safely. They were all looking at the damage. Everyone lost something. While looking at her youngest son rummaging through the rubble, Jackie said “Mabuti na lang at walang nasaktan sa amin. Mas pipiliin ko na mawala ang lahat na ito kesa sa pamilya ko.”

- Written by Ralph Jordan Uy (4 BS Management)

On the 26th of September, Ondoy took away the few worldly possessions I had. It was a good thing I was being kuripot that day and decided to go to school by commuting, only if the rain stopped. Otherwise, Mr. Zu (my laptop) would’ve drowned with everything else.

Uncle checked up on me around 10:30 am, since the rain was getting stronger and it was a bit flooded already. I might not be able to go over their house for lunch if the water rises a bit more. Since I just came out of the shower, it took me a couple more minutes to open the door for Uncle and Auntie. Surprise, surprise. The water was starting to enter my gate! It had covered half my car by the time Uncle, Auntie and I came out of the house after they told me to pack the necessary things I would need in the other house (my laptop, since I use their Wi-Fi).

Once I got to Cousin’s place, we surfed the net, as always. I forgot my charger was being repaired so I used their laptop instead. Uncle and Auntie were already wondering how high this flood would be, since it was rising by the minute, which was unusual. By lunchtime, Uncle called Cousin out of the room to help out in the kitchen. I followed, out of curiosity, and found water flowing into their kitchen/dining room! Cousin and I started scooping water back into the garage but after 30 minutes, the water level was still increasing. Around 1 pm, Cousin told Uncle that the water was reaching the living room. Uncle decided that if the water level increases further, we’ll be evacuating.

Uncle switched off the power because the water level was reaching an outlet in the garage. By 3 pm, stuff packed, Uncle brought Cousin and I to the car, which he managed to move earlier. Carrying a big basin with all the electrical stuff we managed to pack and some food and Cousin’s clothes, Cousin and I went over their gate, literally, and swam through waist-high, disgusting floodwater. My Sun phone and iPod got wet, causing it to malfunction. We waited inside the car for Uncle and Auntie, who were going back and forth their house to try and save important documents. However, by 4 pm, the water was already chin-level and Auntie didn’t know how to swim. We left the village and parked a few meters away where the water level was only knee-deep. We couldn’t leave anymore since the highway was flooded as well and cars were stuck. Uncle said we had to go to higher ground, in case the water level rose. We found ourselves in a church building where one of our neighbors welcomed us. By nightfall, water had also entered the building, and a few hours later, the water outside (highway area) had reached breast level.

We stayed overnight in the church where neither one of us got much sleep. Relatives were trying to contact us, making sure we were okay. Uncle had sent an SOS message earlier in the afternoon that we were nearly drowning. One of our aunties in Quezon City was able to reach my cousin and said they were going to rescue us. Unfortunately, the water levels were too high by then and the police had closed all areas leading to us. One of our uncles, Uncle Brian, stayed over another relative’s house until he could pick us up the following day.

By Sunday noontime, we tried looking for our Uncle so we could get to our grandma’s. We walked from the church up until Franz’s street in hopes of finding Uncle’s car parked, information we received from our grandmother. Unfortunately, we didn’t see him. Uncle decided that we head back to the church since it was starting to rain again. With God’s grace, only with His grace, we were able to bump into Uncle Brian on the way back! We waited for the heavy traffic to ease down and by dinnertime; we were able to have a warm, dry, scrumptious meal at Grandma’s.

Ondoy was truly an experience. A not so good one but an experience that taught me a lot about courage, faith, trust, love and family. Thank you to Lola Connie and family for rescuing and taking us in over the weekend. For the delicious meal and wonderful bath. And for the rest of the Buenavides clan for helping us clean up. I still feel truly blessed. :)

by Written by Coleen Bunao (4 AB Chinese Studies)

Sur-viv-al (N.) Continued Existence; Endurance

Waking up on Saturday morning, September 29, 2009 didn’t feel any different from any other. I gathered my things for tennis practice without needing to hurry and left for practice leisurely. On the way to practice, the light rain I thought would simply “pass by”, as it usually would, suddenly turned into a steady pour that caused floods in and around the area that I was traversing. As a result of these floods, my playing partners and I decided to call off practice and return home to prevent from ourselves from being stranded.

What used to be my home is located in a low-lying area near the area where Xavierville meets Anonas. It is actually a very flood-prone area but never had the flood reached above knee-level in the past. As I was heading back, my siblings called me to let me know that the floods were already knee high and still rising. I felt helpless as my siblings were taking what little they could to the car parked on top of the hill by our house. Since the distance they spent going back and forth was quite far, they weren’t able to save much and I felt that my extra pair of hands would have been able to save a lot more. I felt helpless since I was so far away from home, so far away to help my panicking and traumatized siblings. After what seemed like mere seconds, the water was already neck-deep and my siblings were forced to seek refuge in the nearby 711.

All this time, I continued to receive an endless barrage of phone calls from my mom in Guam who was panicking as much as I was. She kept asking questions I couldn’t answer. My siblings and our driver couldn’t be contacted since they had just one cellular phone which was about to run out of power. Thus, instead of being in touch with my siblings and their situation, I had to spend the afternoon in constant contact with my mom, whom I could not appease.

That evening, we managed to find our way to a family friend’s place near Greenhills. We were so grateful to our close friends, who were able to lend us clothes and food for the time being.

Sunday morning came and we went back to the house to see what had happened. On the way there, I painted a picture in my mind as to what to expect. In somewhat of a move of denial, I intentionally imagined a really, really bad or worst-case scenario in my head so that no matter what I saw that morning, it would not seem surprising. I was wrong.

Everything was a mess, a cabinet from the front of the house was upside-down on the back of the house, a table from the kitchen was in the living room, and the beds and mattresses were all collapsed under our closets. When I first saw the site, I was in utter shock. Memories jetted in and out of my mind as my eyes bolted from one piece of furniture to another as I scanned the muddy remnants.

Through two weeks and still counting, we were only able to save one laptop and just got our muddied clothes clean enough to wear again. There is nothing that awakened me as much as this experience. A group of my closest friends were able to encourage me through the past weeks and have not ceased to encourage me. I want the other people affected by Ondoy to know that same piece of motivation that my closest friends gave me, so always remember: “You are not a victim, you are a survivor.”

Based on the True Survival Story of Michelle Pang through Typhoon “Ondoy”

Written by: Johann See

Edited by: Rafael Montinola and Jobo Ampil