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Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:49 PM
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I was still on my bed at around 10:30am in my soothing slumber when all of a sudden my mom broke into my room and woke me up. When I came to senses, I heard the throbbing sound of the raindrops ruthlessly hitting our roof. I then knew typhoon ONDOY was up for show. It didn't get us to worry though for we were that secure we were residing in a much higher place and undoubtedly, we won't get jeopardized by flash floods or anything else of the like. We've gone through the immense typhoon as typical as we had in the past years. We did precautionary measures such as closing the windows so the rain won't get in when gusting wind blows it, turned on the TV to have ourselves completely informed with the present scenario and prepared some candles moreso flashlights in case power interruptions would get to occur. Thereafter, we went outside to check the vicinity and were readily surprised by what we saw. The garage was starting to get flooded. In previous typhoon experiences, we did have a minimum amount of flood but only on the lower part of the garage, near the gate.. Yet this time. It was different. Totally and completely different from the accounts we got to see and experience back then as half of the inclined garage, where usually the cars would be parked in, was already soaked in flood. Though it didn't have any sort of current, in serenity it gradually increased its level over a minute. As the rain got a lot furious and unceasing that very instance. In no time, it reached the upper level of the garage where it's in absolute level with the rest of the house: the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, master's bedroom, the restrooms and the office of my dad where we keep most of his belongings and significant documents. Abruptly,water flood in everywhere. And that was the only time we rushed over to the appliances and other equipments that were supposedly saved. But on contrary, the water spread hastier than our efforts leaving the sofas, this PC, the ref and washing machine submerged in below knee amount of flood. Thus, only small equipments like desk fans, laptops, books and essential documents were put on a much safer place. We immediately rushed to our circuit breakers and turned the main switch off to do away with further thus life costing scenario, electrocution. After managing the issues inside the house, I went back outside to get our rottweilers from the upper part of the garage. I had to take them inside the living room for the level of flood there was way lower than it was outside. I just couldn't let them suffer and drown in flood for they're more than a family to us. Huhu.. Thus, I had to consider their conditions as well. For the male rottweiler is still under medication and is susceptible to cough and colds. Moreover, the female rottweiler actually bears pups in her womb at the moment. I bet in a few weeks, she'd already give birth to them. So I really have to treat her with extra special care amidst the current catastrophe. The two other labrador dogs stayed in the other part of our lot where their dog houses were kept. Soaked and barking for our help. But I didn't get to worry. For all you know, labradors were known as swimmers so they really could emerge triumphant against this kind of disaster unlike the rotts. We stayed inside the living room as we so wished the raging rain to stop from falling. But on contrary, it gained even more strength. And it left me into thinking of the worst cases that we could have ourselves in. It sure is safer inside for flood is way lower there, yet since we haven't experienced such mishap, we don't have any possible idea of how far the level of flood might get if worse to worst cases arise. Thus, if the flood would continue to rise inside, the deeper it gets outside. And the harder would it be for us to move out if the circumstance would already ask for it. Plus the fact that my mom doesn't know how to swim, and the water on the garage towards the street was already way beyond her height. I could save myself, but she really can't. So I readily thought of getting her out and be saved since the level of the flood outside is still bearable with the help of a floater. There were still parts of the street that were not been submerged to flood for they were much higher than ours. Luckily, one of our ever trusted helpers lives there, and that's where my mom temporarily stayed as she waits the flood to subside. She then asked me to move out as well and leave our dogs behind 'coz the typhoon has been pouring mad. Though it was heartbreaking to see them with a "why are you leaving us here to die?" look, I had no choice but to save my own life. Yet I went to and fro the house to check them and pat their heads to cheer them up and reassured them that soon, everything would get back to normal. Mom and I waited for the flood to subside at our helper's house. For lunch, I braved the flood to get back to our house and get something to eat. I got gargantuan rice and sealed them in a big tupperware and got one of the lechon kawalis left for cooking in the kitchen, took out a pair of plates and utensils and placed them altogether in a plastic bag. Before leaving our residence, I again patted the heads of our rotts and reassured them that I'd be back. Good thing they were not in panic though this was also their first time to experience such a thing. And gaaawd.. They've been standing for like countless hours already. They've not sat since the flood got in. They were too sosy that they didn't want to get their butts soaked in flood. As we were drying ourselves in the confines of our helper's house, I can't help but think about the current state of our dogs. They sure were shivering in cold and were definitely wanting the same thing.. To have the typhoon to stop devastating the land. I couldn't do anything else but to hope that sooner this would all get to a complete stop. And at around 6pm, we had completely gotten over the turmoil, the flood already gone out and we all headed back to our homes. As soon as we got home, I checked all the dogs and as real survivors in their own right, they were all safe and sound. As mom and I went in the living room, we got overwhelmingly disappointed. Rubbish was everywhere. Plus the thick mud, which I now knew as "Burak" covered the tiles all over. Thus, we wearily realized.. Much of the cleaning would be done the next days. Still we we're thankful for what we had experienced was apparently petty as compared to what our less fortunate fellowmen had all gone through. No life has been put at stake. We still have a home to return to. Beds which were not reached by the flood. And much of our appliances miraculously got back into good working condition after having them checked by an electrician. The ref, the washing machine plus this PC which have been submerged to flood is working really great as though nothing had really happened. So who are we to complain about anything? I extend my sincerest and profoundest sympathies to all the victims of the recent typhoon, Ondoy.. May we all find grace in God's light and be able to bounce back from the tragic catastrophe we all got ourselves in.
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