Ondoy

The worst that I suffered during the onslaught of Ondoy was strained eyes for trying to read with only crinkles of candlelight as my aid. We had no electricity for the whole day, and thankfully, that was it. But for thousands of others, the devastation the storm brought was more severe.

During the day, my family and I were worried about our relatives living in Fairview, Quezon City. While the rain was pouring in torrents, they were calling us telling us that the water was already rushing inside the house reaching the first to third steps of the stairs. It was only my two aunts and my 3 year old pamangkin who were present there. No man to help them bring the appliances that could be saved upstairs. Somehow they managed to save a few things, like the television and the computer, but the rigorous lifting left my aunt suffering from asthma. They kept calling us telling us that the water was already above chest level and they, as well as the people in our house, worry that it might reach until the second floor. There was a time when we couldn't contact them anymore.

Thankfully, their neighbors were able to extract them from the house. My aunts destroyed the window screen and the other neighbors helped to place them into safety. They went to a neighbor's house which has a third floor. They were finally safe. And our worries finally settled for a moment. My mother constantly prayed. And although I was straining my eyes trying to study, I still thought of them. This is a downside of being a law student. I cannot help but study. I must.

When my parents went to my aunt's place the next day, they were shocked by what they saw - cars piled on top of another, houses were left disparaged and browning in mud, a welter of debris and what remained of their former homes covered the strip of lot, and the people, my relatives included, were scurrying and scouring over these remains. My aunt's house' whole first floor was a big pile of mess and mud. I wasn't there. I went to Powerplant to sip Seattle's Best coffee and study only to find out that classes were cancelled out the next day.

I regretted it. I regretted not going to my relative's place and not being able to lend a hand in picking up the broken glasses, scrubbing the muddied floors and walls, digging...digging for something that could still remain useful to them. I wasn't expecting that the damage was that great, though nevertheless, I should have been there. It is around this time that I question my priorities. Could I honestly say that my absence there was justified?

In any case, my internal regrets should not overpower me now. There are bigger problems at bay. The best I could do is help my relatives, help those people whose houses were ravaged by the storm in any possible way I can.

I thank God that my family is safe. I thank God that my relatives are all safe despite the fact that their house is almost a rubble. But I still have worries about other people, friends and classmates whom until now I can't contact. I cried when I saw the news and saw the state of some cities submerged in murky water. Only the patches of roofs can be seen. Some of my friends live there. I pray that they be safe...God let them be safe.

Let us all pray for each and everyone's safety and let us all extend our help.