201st Memoirs
Today, after 12NN, my husband and I took an emergency leave as I needed to make sure once and for all that my family are safe in Cainta, Rizal.
We took a stop at the Megamall to buy necessities for my family - food, water, medicine, and candles since they do not have electricity since Saturday. The grocery store was stormed with panic buyers - almost all food (noodles, canned goods, etc), and even the candles are sold out, I only manage to buy two packs of candles.
By the time we manage to buy goodies, I also told my husband to buy ready-to-eat food, so I manage to buy siopao and siomai which was convenient as well to carry, since we already had tons of load.
We had another problem - all vehicles going to Cainta or even just to Rosario were completely overloaded. Buses were already opening their windows and doors because their aircon had broke down due to heavy traffic as well.
And so, from Megamall to Robinsons Galeria (since we thought we could get a ride there), we walked from those malls all the way to Cainta, Rizal. Yes, the supposed-3-public-vehicle drive turned into an alay-lakad to me and my husband, plus the load on our backs of the relief goods we bought. We had to stop for a minute or two to rest, but the thought of finding and seeing my family again motivated me to walk that mile.
Along with the hundreds of people walking as well, we saw tons of soldiers and their big trucks for their rescues.
By the time we were able to reach Midtown Village, it was already dark. And another problem hit us - some streets were still flooded - knee-high to be exact. We had to pay forty pesos to the bicycle to escort us all the way to our house. We saw tons of people in our village in-line for the relief goods by the basketball court. Tons of chairs, beds, and other house furnitures badly damaged by the flood by the side of the road. The streets and houses were covered with brown mud. It was truly devastating and heartbreaking.
By the time we arrived in my house, it was already quarter to 7PM, and I ran up and hugged my dad, my mom, my sisters and their kids, and my aunt. But I didn't show any tears - I had to stay strong for them - they stayed strong over the past few days - and so I had to do the same.
My sister's officemates already went there earlier and gave clothes and food as well. My mom was grateful for my medicine, candles (with lighter), soap, and alcohol. My dad had injuries so he needed the bandaids as well.
I was sad because my nieces and nephew suffered diarrhea. The water was not safe to drink anymore. I only bought few bottles of mineral water, so I took note of buying again for tomorrow. But they were happy for the apples and other fruits that can help on their stomach illness.
It was the first time that our house and my family experienced this, and we never thought we'd face this day. The doors were torn apart, some of the wooden walls were also peeling off along with the paint, all of our furnitures, TV, refrigerator, beds, chairs, tables are badly damaged and not functionable anymore. Even the 2-inch thick glasses of our divider were broken into pieces. My bedroom, the bed that I slept in for more than 20 years was like a sponge that absorbed all those water. Floors were wet and mud were already setting in. Our stuff from the wedding were also destroyed - the gifts, etc. All of our memories from our pictures since we were kids - all gone.
I saw the water level from the mud that covered our walls - they were inches away from my height, they were even higher than my dad's height - and my dad's around 6 feet and a half, I think.
My mom tried to fall in-line with the relief goods distribution, but it was too long, and she was already tired, so she backed out. My mom and dad are already senior citizens - both should be resting - but instead they faced this cruel natural disaster.
As my husband and I went home, I broke down in tears again silently. But the pain in my heart of not seeing them for three days had finally replaced with calmness and gratitude.
If not for our kind neighbors, I wouldn't be able to see them again...
But I told my husband, this ordeal is not over yet. They'll be starting from scratch just like our neighbors too, so I'll be helping them all the way.
My feet and legs were tired from the walk, covered with mud. But seeing my parents and my family is worth it.
I am truly grateful for the prayers and help from our colleagues, friends, the gaming community, and my husband who supported me and was with me the whole time. I love you all~
We took a stop at the Megamall to buy necessities for my family - food, water, medicine, and candles since they do not have electricity since Saturday. The grocery store was stormed with panic buyers - almost all food (noodles, canned goods, etc), and even the candles are sold out, I only manage to buy two packs of candles.
By the time we manage to buy goodies, I also told my husband to buy ready-to-eat food, so I manage to buy siopao and siomai which was convenient as well to carry, since we already had tons of load.
We had another problem - all vehicles going to Cainta or even just to Rosario were completely overloaded. Buses were already opening their windows and doors because their aircon had broke down due to heavy traffic as well.
And so, from Megamall to Robinsons Galeria (since we thought we could get a ride there), we walked from those malls all the way to Cainta, Rizal. Yes, the supposed-3-public-vehicle drive turned into an alay-lakad to me and my husband, plus the load on our backs of the relief goods we bought. We had to stop for a minute or two to rest, but the thought of finding and seeing my family again motivated me to walk that mile.
Along with the hundreds of people walking as well, we saw tons of soldiers and their big trucks for their rescues.
By the time we were able to reach Midtown Village, it was already dark. And another problem hit us - some streets were still flooded - knee-high to be exact. We had to pay forty pesos to the bicycle to escort us all the way to our house. We saw tons of people in our village in-line for the relief goods by the basketball court. Tons of chairs, beds, and other house furnitures badly damaged by the flood by the side of the road. The streets and houses were covered with brown mud. It was truly devastating and heartbreaking.
By the time we arrived in my house, it was already quarter to 7PM, and I ran up and hugged my dad, my mom, my sisters and their kids, and my aunt. But I didn't show any tears - I had to stay strong for them - they stayed strong over the past few days - and so I had to do the same.
My sister's officemates already went there earlier and gave clothes and food as well. My mom was grateful for my medicine, candles (with lighter), soap, and alcohol. My dad had injuries so he needed the bandaids as well.
I was sad because my nieces and nephew suffered diarrhea. The water was not safe to drink anymore. I only bought few bottles of mineral water, so I took note of buying again for tomorrow. But they were happy for the apples and other fruits that can help on their stomach illness.
It was the first time that our house and my family experienced this, and we never thought we'd face this day. The doors were torn apart, some of the wooden walls were also peeling off along with the paint, all of our furnitures, TV, refrigerator, beds, chairs, tables are badly damaged and not functionable anymore. Even the 2-inch thick glasses of our divider were broken into pieces. My bedroom, the bed that I slept in for more than 20 years was like a sponge that absorbed all those water. Floors were wet and mud were already setting in. Our stuff from the wedding were also destroyed - the gifts, etc. All of our memories from our pictures since we were kids - all gone.
I saw the water level from the mud that covered our walls - they were inches away from my height, they were even higher than my dad's height - and my dad's around 6 feet and a half, I think.
My mom tried to fall in-line with the relief goods distribution, but it was too long, and she was already tired, so she backed out. My mom and dad are already senior citizens - both should be resting - but instead they faced this cruel natural disaster.
As my husband and I went home, I broke down in tears again silently. But the pain in my heart of not seeing them for three days had finally replaced with calmness and gratitude.
If not for our kind neighbors, I wouldn't be able to see them again...
But I told my husband, this ordeal is not over yet. They'll be starting from scratch just like our neighbors too, so I'll be helping them all the way.
My feet and legs were tired from the walk, covered with mud. But seeing my parents and my family is worth it.
I am truly grateful for the prayers and help from our colleagues, friends, the gaming community, and my husband who supported me and was with me the whole time. I love you all~