Of Floods, Strength and Gratitude

September, 2009 was my last entry here. I can clearly recall that I wrote to honor an 18 year old construction worker who risked his life just to save others. This event happened at the height of the infamous Ondoy Flood.

Today, is August 11, 2011, just 45 day after I experienced one of my most horrific nightmares - FLOOD.

June 29, 2011, 12:15 midnight, I had just uploaded some 105 pictures to my facebook account, when I noticed water slowly creeping into my room. And in just about two minutes, the water rose to about six inches and in about 10 minutes, it was already knee deep...

I woke up my ageing neighbors who were sleeping so peacefully. It took me about ten minutes to successfully rouse them from their deep slumber. Flood water was slowly rising at the rate of 3 inches per minute.

I tried to secure my belongings, but the water was constantly rising, so I decided to stay outside of my house to pray, when suddenly I heard a very loud crashing sound, coupled with a barrage of garbage and wild rushing of the floodwater. My neighbor's car was slammed against their fence that did not stand the pressure of the strong onrush of the water that quickly rose to about three feet. I started to pray harder...

I was not even in the middle of my prayer, when I again heard another loud crash... I was numbed... All I saw was the small Rambutan tree falling towards me... then I realized, my perimeter cement wall came crashing before my very eyes. Flood waters rose to about 4 feet.

I tried to find ways to try to save my neighbors who were trapped in their home, but I could not do it because the current was so strong and there was no way for me to reach them without me being ripped by the strong current. I tried to climb up to my roof, but I couldn't do it because the plank of wood I was using was too slippery. And when I noticed that the flood water was already neck deep... I decided to climb up to my other neighbor's rooftop. Carefully, I braved the flood water and grabbed the grilles of my gate and started to climb to safety. Water was already about six feet deep.

As I was sitting on the roof, I noticed a stinging pain all over my legs and arms --- I realized I had several shallow cuts. Up there, I realized, there were people on the rooftops of every house. Except on the rooftop of the old couple's house that I tried to save earlier. Then I shouted for help. I asked the other neighbors on my rooftop to save the old couple trapped in their own home. I was glad that there were three self-less teen-agers who braved the flood, jumped from one roof to the other to save the old couple from perishing in their watery grave. My thanks to them, the old couple were saved. Flood water kept rising.

From where I stood, I saw cars being washed out by the raging waters, an elf truck, a stranded taxi cab and a multicab went careening down the submerged road, crushing everything that got in their way. Nearby, a white car, as if calling for help, kept blinking its hazard lights. It found refuge on an electrical post. The water steadily kept rising.

It was nearly daybreak. The sun was slowly revealing the extent of the damage the flood that was slowly losing its rage. And as the sun rose, leaving behind image by image the horrible picture of the devastation, I watched my ravaged home in desperation. I uttered a little prayer of thanksgiving to God for "sparing" my house. But the sight of my other neighbors whose houses were demolished by the raging flood water, crushed my heart.

My front yard was like an evacuation center. Some were crying helplessly, others letting out loud nervous laughters, a few kept their cool. Everyone was wet, feeling cold, tired and hungry.

Two houses were crushed beyond recognition, one was swept into a neighbor's house, another house leaned on another house.

Those, for me, were a sorry sight to behold.

The flood experience, no matter how horrific it was, taught me a few lessons. One, there is no room for self-pity if I am caught in this difficult situation. I cannot afford to waste my time looking for someone to blame for my miseries. Most of all, I have no right to blame God for my misfortunes. God has nothing to do with the flood. People's irresponsible decisions and disregard for nature may be the true culprit. And if this happens, I cannot do anything to reverse their lack of judgment. So if I fall, all I need is to stand up and move on. If I fall again, then, I just need to stand up again and find ways to make life worth living. After all, only I can make my life meaningful. Two, no matter how bad the situation is, there are people, who will make my life easier to bear. There were family members and friends who came rushing toto help move on. Therefore, I never lose hope and I always believe in the innate goodness of people and even strangers. There were strangers who came in to help and never took advantage of my condition. Three, All worldly belongings are nothing. I work to accummulate them, but once disaster strikes, they perish into thin air. So, I give more value to life. If I am alive, I can still, one day, replace all the lost properties if I so desire. And lastly, I always look for the hands of God in everything that happens to me. I try to reflect on the role of God in my life during these trying times. I always find God as a God who has a weird sense of humor and I find it funny. I just need to reflect on all the things that come my way and focus on the learning experience. The mere fact that I was not one of the 30 persons who perished in the flood, I know that God really loves me and that is enough reason to praise, glorify and thank Him.