My Unforgettable Ondoy

Your visit was not expected, that's why we were not prepared. Not even the local on the national government. Your stay was brief, yet it brought a lot of damages. You took a hundred precious lives. Not only in Rizal Province but also from Marikina, Pasig and Quezon Cities. Thousands of residents evacuated. Flood water was terribly high, it reached the rooftop. Our hearts ached a lot looking at those dead bodies being retrieved by the rescue teams. Other are still nowhere to be found. How much more with those kids who were helplessly separated from their parents by the strong current of the flood. Our hearts torn-apart looking at the new-born infants, one week old and one day old who died of severe coldness. Their parents tried to shelter them even at the rooftop but to no avail. Rescue was too slow. There are no enough rubber boats. There's no food around. Water is everywhere but not a drop to drink. Some were rescued after a day, others after two days while the rest are starving already on their third day.

It was a good thing our concerned brothers and sisters worked hand in hand to raise funds and relief goods to be given to the flood victims. The US communities also send their cash aid and more rubber boats.

So, Ondoy, you are remarkably unforgettable. How can a single family forget your devastating effect if they lost one, two or three members?

As you leave our country, you left countless Filipinos homeless while others lose their properties.This is a lesson learned, as there are two tropical depression coming in. An eye opener, we must pray more.

(images from EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN )