Who woulda thought? It figures.

It's great to see the sun shining brightly today. 

 today's view from my bed

I swear, I've never been happier to see this sun shine. This week was just crazy. Super-duper crazy. I mean, who would have thought that we were gonna have another Ondoy in our midst, in the same lifetime??? I swear, 2009 was deja vu-ed all over again last Tuesday as Marikina experienced flooding again, but not that isolated. Sadly, this time, it was Quezon City that was hit hard first. Pictures coming out of my Twitter feed revealed knee-high, thigh-high, waist-deep, chest-deep waters in familiar territories I frequent, areas I never experienced to have waters that much before, like Philcoa for instance. That was crazy. 

Last Tuesday. Street at the back of my building is my barometer if things are worse. 

No flood, it's generally okay. Floods like this, then the river ran wild again.

In front of the mall, waters rose to waist-high, they said, many hours after I took this photo, 

making it impossible to pass through this area going in and out of Marikina.

Of course the usual suspects were already there on the list, like Pasig and us here in Marikina. But what surprised me this time was Cainta. I mean man, all points going inside this area from my area was all blocked by floods. This made me sad because I was hoping to get a glimpse of my girlfriend before she flies off to work again abroad. The last time I saw her was when her mother was laid to rest last Sunday. Never even got a chance to kiss her properly, just a simple goodbye beso, I think, and a quick hug. Even the hug felt obligatory since we were in their house and well, we are still on the down low there even if I think everybody already knows. You know how most families have the "don't ask don't tell" principle when it comes to these relationships. (wrote about that before: read here) We're not totally out to them yet so we're still playing it by ear. But I think her other family members already got the idea with my presence there during the wakes. I think I even sensed a nod of recognition from her kuya when he asked me to help him secure the pews on the church during the final mass. I appreciated that small gesture; meant a huge deal. Not sure about the dad, though, but I think her dear mom also gave the nod already before she left. (And, for a brief moment, after. Yes sometimes my senses are open that way, too.) Sometimes, you just feel these things, and you have to trust what you feel. I'm good with that. 

Thursday scene. Took a walk to survey things outside. 

River still overflowed overtaking the jog and bike lanes on the banks.

Things looking a bit ominous on the other side of the river. See the bar places 

at the left side getting overtaken by the river again. Goodbye inuman for now.

But well, I guess you can't fight with mother nature. I was just glad that she was able to make it out of their flooded town, and even gladder that her sis and dad were able to get back in unharmed. See, in times like these, abilidad talaga ang nangingibabaw, kasama na ang dasal siyempre, at ang kasagutan dito ng sumagot sa ating dasal. Told her to just have faith that they'll make it, because I know they won't get harmed. Yes, sometimes, you have to trust your instincts and have faith in things, too. 

My family is another story. Veterans of the Provident Village mishap, they learned already. My tita's house there is already abandoned and my tito's now with my cousin and my other cousin is settled somewhere else. Just one cousin left there and good thing they were able to go out before the waters rose again. Too bad for my other tita's house that got submerged again, this time in Twinville subdivision. I don't know what they'll do with that now. They were able to recover it last time. Well, we'll see. As for my folks, they're okay and good. Our house is in a higher area in our village so no worries there. 

Thanks to the weather bureau/science dept initiative Project NOAH, 

I was able to "spy"on my parents' house in reel-time to see if the area 

was affected by floods. Gotta love technology this way. 

Good thing I'm also in higher ground. Waters didn't even reach the lobby like before. Everything's back to normal and business as usual around this area so it's good. My favorite neighborhood coffice place was just closed the last time I went down so I don't know if they're open already. So I just decided to stay in today and write here.

Good thing my outside world connections were also intact during those times. I'm so fucking glad I got a cable TV subscription early this year, and decided to avail of it for one whole year. I was able to see what was going on around me, outside and everywhere. The great news footage were helpful to relay news to people who need it, who didn't have access. Also tweeted some photos of the floods to several news carriers so I'm glad my internet was alive and well during that time. Times like these, my internal media person kicks in talaga, the default set-up to report things happening. My inner (photo)journalist is still there, thank goddess. It comes in handy. And actually, I've been thinking of tapping into that more, but that's for another blogpost na lang.

photos processed via instagram

What a week. What a way to start a new month. Endings, washings, being knocked down but having the gall not to stay down. As always, we get up, and we just don't stand up, we walk and forge on ahead. We remember lessons from these circumstances, but we also learn how to move on. Like what the current affirmative posters circulating says, the Filipino spirit is waterproof. 

Not only waterproof but creative as well. As always. Photo grabbed from here.

Indeed, it is. Never believe otherwise.
 

monthly curse, centuries curse

My freaking period came in early today and I don't know why. I'm supposed to get it like next week pa but here it is, waking me up from deep slumber. And I hate it. And yes, that is why I call it the monthly curse. Once a month, I hate being a woman because of this. I'm sure many of you out there could relate. Group hug!!!

So what does this mean to me? Super-back ache, the lower region or whatever you call that area right above the butt. I don't get pains on my abdomen or that general area. I don't know why. It has always been like that for me, ever since I was in college. Back then, the pain was worse -- I literally can't get up from bed as I am rendered helpless from the waist down. I hated it. Now, it's not like that but it still hurts like hell. Well okay, sometimes I can't get up but it's not that worse. It depends on my physical well-being at a given time, I think. Since I have been working out regularly for the past two months, the pain is not that persistent. So I have to keep up with this workout thing for this curse. And yes, AlaxanFR is my best friend as well during these trying times. Yes, Manny Pacquiao, please keep on endorsing that pain killer. I heart you.

Ah, curses! Good thing it came today so I'll be freer to roam around next week yay! Next week is Pride Week since Pride March happens on December 4. Yeah yeah, I'm marching, I'm marching, get off my back heheh (or get me on my back? Hehe sorry can't resist the segue :P). Two good arguments by two queer women sold me on the idea this year, so... Well maybe a little bit of marching but you know me, ever the photo documentor, so I am ever-present and I roam around. So I'll be doing coverage work for my Pinoy LGBT stint at POC (haha yeah Queer Woman number 1 made argument#1 when she was running out of arguments to convince me to march: "Libay, please attend the Pride March because we need pictures for our articles!" Hahaha! I said "Sure, fine, okay, let go of my arm now." Chos! :P). But as usual, I document these things for my own pictorial archive of the LGBT movement here in the country. But we'll talk about that more next time.

So anyway, last Tuesday, I found myself in dirty, grimy Manila to collect some overdue writers payments and stuff. As I was walking along the Intramuros side where the Manila Cathedral is, I did a double-take because I saw something at the facade.

Look:

Can't see it? Let's take a closer look.

To the left, to the left.
Sorry Beyonce but it ain't about being bootylicious.

To the right (wing), to the right (wing)...
What's the freaking number for?
"Call us if you hate the RH bill, too,
so we can throw curses at these Damasos..."

I was like, what the fuck is that????????????? And yeah, I guess it's all about fucking, and being fucked, for centuries now. Centuries-old curse: religious intolerance!

Since I was preoccupied last weekend up to early this week, I didn't have time to update myself with local news. I was just mortified when my friends from the Reproductive Health advocacy circles started posting videos on Facebook about what happened last weekend.

This particular one interests me the most, since it was also edited out of convenience when this bit made it to the news.

And wait for what that guy shouts at 00:06:14 and 00:06:30. Yes, you have to hold on to your seats for that. Ready? Press play.





Did you miss it? That dude said "You should have told your mothers to have aborted you!" [06:14] and that lady said "Ask your mothers to abort you!" [06:30] and then the woman protester at the end just kept on saying how, in the depressed (poor) areas, you really can't do the natural method since it doesn't work, so she did pills and stuff.

Huwaaw! May ganung factor???? Away, Satan!!!!! *tumbling!*

So that explains that sign I saw at the facade. Freaky, huh?

But I like how the freethinkers just clapped their hands when those two peeps just shouted those lines. So, um, sir, ma'am, are you pro-abortion, then? Homaygad! Did your god hear you shout that? Tsk tsk. Say 10 Our Fathers, 20 Hail Marys and 30 Glory Bes now. Now nah. For salvation!

Hay naku. This is how warped this issue has become. But this still proves one point: that their freaking rosary is still inserted inside our freaking ovaries. Hate that.

All this Pro-Life/Pro-Choice/RH talk just makes me flashback in a weird way during this time I was with my film school friends when we were working with this Fil-Canadian lady producing a documentary for TV called "The Role of the Filipina in National Development" back in 1996. Oh man, I was what, 22 or 23 then? Jeez! And ever the videographer, I was carrying the camera and we walked inside Caritas Manila to interview some woman there who was supposed to give her insights about the docu topic. But just when we entered one of the offices, some crazy nun started showing us these huge posters of aborted fetuses which of course had to look all gory and icky and stuff. One even shoved this small figurine she was holding in her hand in my face while she was ranting about the "philosophies" behind those crazy posters. At first, I couldn't make out what that figurine was, but upon closer look, ah yeah it's that -- an aborted fetus. Made of rubber, I think. Or made of plastic, like them. If my life were a graphic novel then, that scene would have carried a panel with my thought balloon reading: What is this nun about??? Getmeouttahere! Now naaaaaa!

That was so fucking crazy. My girl friend was looking at it as well, and I could see that she was having a harder time hiding her disgust. My guy best friend was also looking but as usual, the artistically weird person that he is, he just absorbed the scene and played along with the crazy nun. When our shoot was over, of course we discussed it and just laughed at the incident. We even thought of comeback scenarios for that nun, if ever that moment gets replayed in our lives. My girl friend would tell the nun that she was having--hold your horses!--premarital sex with her boyfriend!!!! My guy best friend would tell the nun that--oh nooo!--he masturbates!!! So I kinda ran out of my own shock value excuse since, um, hm, I was still a virgin then and um, hm, I didn't subscribe to any kind of "label" then (but of course by default, people think I'm straight because I have big boobs. Yes, that's a valid equation/hypothesis/conclusion in the Philippines). But ah, a couple of years later after that incident, I guess I made my big in-yo'-face: I became a lesbian!!!!! Insert thunder and lightning here. Woooooo! My ticket to damnation! Yes, my friends and I are a merry bunch of sinners.

And a few weeks after that shoot, a campaign was launched and the country -- or at least Metro Manila -- soon became familiar with the terms "pro-choice" and "pro-life." Hmmmmmm... When was this? Fourteen years ago? Hmmmmmmm...

Cut to: present time.

Fourteen years after, nothing much has changed. Well, the world changed, in some parts. Like hey, look at what our main colonial master did -- they legalized freaking gay marriage? Good heavens!!!! While us, its former colonial subject, still have people banishing satan awaaaaaaay! because people want to use condoms. And protect women. And protect people. Generally.

Haaaay lost...

I never really had a clearer and bigger picture about how fucked up RH situations are in the world because of bigotry, prejudice and religious righteousness until I started being exposed to women's issues at my former NGO, Isis International. While working there, I came upon this group Catholics for Choice or something like that which had really cool campaigns about contraceptive use.

Look at their poster:



Cool, huh. Look at more here.

But that's the thing. How come those Damaso RH "protesters" were excluded from this so-called religious ritual? They are, after all, Catholics, too, as they said. But alas, there is a "right kind of Catholic" as that pro-life person said in the video. Hmmmm...

The right kind of Catholic. What is that? Beats me. I've lived in this country for 37 years now and I don't think I've seen the right kind of Catholic, yet. I didn't know that there was a right way and a wrong way of practicing your religion according to so-called religious leaders. Hay curses, foiled again.

I think the point here is, when are they going to open their eyes to the real realities of things? Like that poor woman from the urban poor sector said, their realities are different where they are. But these church-going people in Manila Cathedral have their own kind of realities, I guess. I just wish they won't impose their own kind of morality on others, you know. Especially on the poor and disadvantaged people. Hay...

Manila, my Manila, what will happen to you?

And going back to me, I guess every time, every month, I get this monthly curse, it's just sad to think that I don't even have a say in what goes on in my body, according to the laws of this land, according to the non-insinuated "laws" of the Catholic church. Who owns women's bodies? Sadly, in the Philippines, not the women.

And I get reminded of that ownership every month. Every. Freaking. Month.

Where's that freaking Alaxan?????? *pop*

life update, with the richard gutierrez subplot thrown in somewhere

this is an update of my previous post.

it's nearly 5pm on a wednesday afternoon as i type this. i am still taking advantage of the generous free wifi at the pan de amerikana marikina here in molave street (forgot the new name of the street but growing up, we knew this street as molave). i am seated right smack in the middle of the middle area of this humongous picturesque resto cozily hidden here in the heart of marikina. there's a children's party about to start to my left, where colorful balloons are painstakingly taped around the back rest portion of the batibot chairs in that covered section (i am at the sun-roofed section where the TV is). i'm glad that in other parts of marikina like this part, life goes on, and people are actually happy. that's good to know.

most of those not heavily affected are back, anyway, back to normal, back in business, like concepcion area, bay tree, and this area. and that's great. only the bayan area and, i assume, the bonifacio road and areas leading outside, passing provident village and barangka, are not yet operational. jeepney drivers say there is still heavy traffic there. so i'm staying put here and won't leave the city for now.

RELATIVES UPDATE:

-- tita coring in parang are now being helped by people clean up their muddy house. her daughter, cousin rona who works for WHO, is already there along with her french hubby, cousin-in-law xavier. they were actually the first casualty among us linsangan folks, for as early as 11am, their ref already started floating in flood water already inside their house. so that takes care of the santos brood on that side.

-- on the other side, in provident village, the other part of the santos brood, doc ricco's family, was rescued right around the time when cousin rey and cousin-in-law edward started their rescue mission to save the remaining gabriel brood in provident. okay na rin iyon.

-- as for the gabriels, cousin gerry filled us in yesterday morning on what happened to them. he passed by my parents house yesterday morning and we listened to his story. an initial account is already up on the web when a manila bulletin newspaper writer wrote their story via an interview with gerry's brother rey's wife monique, who posted this link in facebook. read about that here.

but it was gerry's account that got to me. he recounted how his brother, cousin rey, who already resides in bicutan, searched for a rubber boat and bought one to rescue their father, tito manuel, who was like 80+years old already, and gerry's family which included his wife syndie, my nephews teenager kurt and 8-year old joshua, and gerry's older sister, my cousin angie.

i'm sure by now that the kapuso actor richard gutierrez' story is known all over when he came with his speedboat and rescued co-actress cristine reyes who also lives in provident village. but richard was not alone. he arrived at the same time my cousin rey arrived with their self-bought rubberboat. richard and rey both entered provident village at the same time, and they were actually talking as to how they should approach this rescue and all, making small talk to ease the tension of their looming task ahead of them, i suppose. my cousins also said that richard brought the wrong kind of boat in this effort, as his was the hard wood type ba or something like that, which was hard to lift and all. but it got the job done, so i guess that was well and good for him. my cousin rey even joked that had he known that cristine reyes needed rescuing, he would have gone to fetch her himself hehe. of course this was in jest. i think linsangans are like that -- we still find humor in the direst of circumstances. or maybe it's a filipino trait. whatever. we're just glad they all made it out there.

but gerry narrated that it wasn't easy for them. his son kurt was already badgering them to leave when the waters were just thigh-high. since the gabriels were already used to their first floor being flooded, they just move stuff up on the second floor and wait for the water to subside. every so often, especially earlier in our marikina lives when the city was not yet a city and it was still under shitty leadership, provident would always be flooded a bit because it was near the wall near the marikina river or something like that. so my cousin gerry was unfazed, until the water rose as fast as an oil price hike in the philippine stock exchange or something. next thing they knew, they were already up there on the roof of the second floor, with my tito manuel and the rest of gerry's family.

good thing they were able to contact cousins rey and liza, their sister, who was married to edward. they were the ones who took turns riding the rubberboat to rescue the stranded gabriels on the roof, cutting up tree branches and even cables that were on the way. but when the water rose up higher, there was no need to cut wires. there was just a need to protect the boat. and this is where it gets all lord of the flies-ish/the beach-ish for me, when gerry shared that edward and rey had to carry a gun to protect their boat, just in case other trapped people started grabbing their boat away from them. true enough, as they entered the pitch black submerged village, man, people started to call on them and asked to be rescued, so they tried to steer away from the sides in case people started grabbing onto their boat and all. this is the real harrowing survival mode, where the line "it's every man to himself" was coined, i think. times like these, we all turn savage to save our own lives. good thing they found no need to use the gun.

i think this was like saturday evening already. there were still no rescuers in sight, and people were already trapped, cold and helpless. they actually went back several times daw to rescue others after keeping the gabriels safe. across their house is actress tessie tomas' house where her actress mother laura hermosa lived. i don't know who else lived there or if she still lived there (sometimes we see tessie crossing over to the gabriels' house to use the phone during the pre-cellphone days of the philippines) but her family members also asked my cousin gerry if they could stay there at my cousins' rooftop, as their house is not that high enough; it was submerged totally. so my cousin helped them and all in all, they were like 20 people atop that roof that were rescued. gerry tied bedsheets and curtains as makeshift ropes so that the others could hold on and cross over to where they were. but he found out that curtains and bedsheets get heavy when wet, so he snagged their cable TV cables and used that to make sturdier makeshift ropes, and that worked. they were able to hoist over people.

but he was actually disappointed at the younger people with him. i am 36 so gerry is about a decade or so older than me, i think, so he was like the uncle figure of some twentysomething people there, some of which were mega-buffed guys who spend more time at the gym than in the church. and these gym bunnies turned out to be scaredy cats because they can't swim!!! they were asking my cousin "tito gerry, ano gagawin natin 'pag tumaas pa ang tubig?" gerry had to pretend that he also didn't know how to swim in case these useless chunks of pseudo hunks clung onto him when they got scared. "ang lalaki ng katawan, baka malunod pa ko 'pag kumapit sila sa 'kin, 'no." we laughed at this. hay...

grabe din ang surroundings daw nung dumilim. they had a neighbor who bred dogs, and when the waters started to rise, their neighbor locked their seven dogs in a second floor room or something. but the water rose higher, and gerry could hear the frantic sound of dogs barking. as the waters didn't stop rising, the dogs' barks started to lessen, as one by one, they died, drowned. poor dogs. but many who were let loose survived. they saw several dogs swimming to save their own lives, or dogs clinging onto treetops daw. panalo ang man's best friend's instincts. natuwa kami sa kuwentong ito...

gerry showed me and my parents the beating he got from helping out others. he had huge palm-sized deep purple bruises on his leg, his back and elsewhere that he looked like a fraternity hazing victim. but he said he didn't feel anything during that time. it was when they were all safe and sound in his sister liza's house in valle verde (where they are still stationed) that he felt the tiredness, the ache, and all that. i think our cousin ricco and his family is also staying there at valle verde up to now. i'm not sure about this, but since it was also the gabriels that rescued them, they stayed there at valle verde din daw initially.

-- tita boochie and the orfinadas naman are all fine naman pala in vista verde in cainta, as they finally texted my mom yesterday afternoon. we never heard from them since this all started, and cousin gerry wanted to drive their truck there to check up on the orfinadas, which included my tito bong and their son hugo and hugo's wife and kulang-sa-family-planning brood of kids. good thing their house, which had a second storey, was located so far towards the end of the village that the harrowing floods didn't reach them anymore. but like the others, they were just as trapped inside the village. i was supposed to go with gerry for this mission visit but my father dissuaded us, saying it might be impossible for us to plow through the mud, even with that more than 6-wheeler truck gerry brought with him, so we scrapped the plan.

so that's all for the linsangans. we're fine. and oh yeah, monique just gave birth na. so rey is a dad times two na. yey. binyagan soon.

***

as for me, it's day four of having no working utilities in my condominium unit in marikina's bayan area. i pity my neighbors, especially those who don't have other relatives nearby. at least i have my parents' house to go to during the daytime where i can take a bath, eat hot meals and just rest, as the power in their area was immediately restored back (the area was minimally damaged). good thing the management was able to establish some sort of shower area near the swimming pool area where residents take their baths. since there is no electricity, no power powers the water pumps of our buildings. this is the reason why some of the ground floor units are still helpless in cleaning their units. as my girlfriend goldstar and i pass by their opened doors, we could see furniture, plasma flat screen TVs, matching fancy dishes, cute throw pillows and other things covered in murky brown. the official color of marikina is now murky brown. there are still muddy wet areas on the ground floor, and it's disheartening to see people lug water jars and mineral water liter bottles up several flights of stairs to get water from the water tank stationed downstairs at the driveway.

of course, that's the middle class story. upper middle class, if you will, and i'm sure some righteous makabayan activits, artists or scholars might look down upon these/our plight as "having it easier" than the rest of the poorer folks who got damaged by this typhoon just because we live in a condo. but i don't care about them now. let them intellectualize about this for their career all they want. i'm just writing this down as an experiential thing and, knowing that we are all humans, hope that others who are merely onlookers of this event actually start growing a heart and start caring for others, for once.

as my cousin gerry said, it was a good thing that he had well-off relatives, people who could buy a rubberboat just like that and help. money comes in handy, let's face it. he is grateful, as we all are, that everyone is safe. we just wish that more people had money din, so that they could help. and i'm actually happy that those who don't have much just come and volunteer their efforts. students have told me of their efforts to help in collecting relief goods, volunteering left and right, and all that. times like these that i am glad i am a teacher; i am proud to teach kids who have the brains and have the sense and humanity to use them for the good of all. times like these, i am assured that i went to the right career, so never mind the negativity that i see in academic politicking. i am there for the students, always for the students. and i am glad they are shaping up well. i have high hopes for these kids. i am so proud of them.

so with all these on my mind, heart and person right now, i don't think i could go back to my regular work routine as yet. times like these that i hate being in the media, too, as we were all asked to bump off our regularly scheduled stuff to give way to ondoy-related stuff. even the narartive plot of happy land, the children's tv show i write every week, will bump off a shoot to make way for a newer shoot of a newer script which involves an ondoy story and teaching kids how to be prepared in a disaster like this and all that. i told my executive producer that i am not yet in any manner able to write about this fictionally, as you could see from my blogs, with a very very tight window to write a full script to be shot in three days' time. she offered to write it for now, and i took her offer and thanked her. i don't think she is aware of what happened to me here, so she might see me as just a maarte diva writer. natawa rin ako sa isang text na nakuha ko from UP, where the librarian was asking me for updates on the library committee work. in times of disaster, they ask me about university committee work, after i told them earlier that i am still affected by this flood disaster? winner. later, they texted me and wanted to know what happened to me, so i filled them in. they will use the info for a report daw of what happened to masscomm people affected by this. i still don't know what the report is for.

hay... buti na lang walang pasok buong linggo. just saw in facebook from wendell that there is already a readjustment in the first sem sked of things. buti naman at umaksyon agad ang akademya. times like this, my sinking idealism for UP is kept afloat pa rin. buti naman.

no pictures for now, folks. the camera of my mind is already full of rolls to develop, but i don't think i have the heart to print them out, if you know what i mean. sure, i could sit here at pan and wifi all i want, but life is still not back to normal for me. maybe next week. we'll see. tonight, i decided to sleep over at my parent's house and not go back to my condo in bayan for now. i think my parents want it that way, too, so they could stop worrying about me and my girlfriend for now. so we're staying put.

it's half past six as i wrap this up, and the children's birthday party already ran out of parlor games and food. the cake was already cut and some guests are starting to leave. i may as well leave, too, in a while, and catch up on the news of the day later.

stay safe, everyone. thanks to those who messaged and texted. happy to know that you care.

the leaflens account of the marikina flood disaster

...also subtitled "kung paano nag-take 1 ang bagyong ondoy at pinagitna kaming taga-marikina sa latest philippine disaster non-movie of the year punyemas." dasal ko lang sa supreme beings, sana wala na itong take 2. di namin kaya 'yun.

this post is for my relatives who want to know an update of what happened, para sa mga walang tfc or pinoytv channels abroad o kulang ang pictorial update sa internet. eto ang photos, sandamakmak, taken using my puny buy still handy nikon coolpix.

RELATIVES! all linsangan peeps are okay now. tito manuel and the gabriels (including gerry's family) in provident village were rescued by liza and edward's newly-bought rubberboat just for this disaster saturday pa (wala raw nahanap na amphibian vehicle). ricco and family remained in their provident house, their refuge is their attic. nag-text pa ang loko na doc kay mommy saturday night sabi "we are drowning!" kaloka. tita coring is okay sa twinville at dinalaw lang kanina (monday noon) nina ateng at hanggang balikat daw ang putik sa bahay or something, though i have to check the accuracy of this report, kung metaphor siya, exag o plain truth. alam mo naman ang pamilya linsangan, madrama. tanging kina tita boochie na lang sa cainta ang wala pang balita. paki-text si mommy for updates.

MEDIA friends, if you want to use/run the photos, go ahead. just credit the photographer as "libay linsangan cantor." salamat po.

***

so it's 2.30pm as i type this. lunes na, september 28. marikina is still reeling from the weekend disaster that put us all in peril here. i am typing this using the generous free wifi of pan de marikina resto along molave st. near my parent's home in sss village where i grew up. i checked in on them physically only today, this morning to be exact, kasi kami din ng gf ko ay nagmo-monitor ng progress doon sa condo namin sa bayan ng marikina, possibly the hardest hit among places here in marikina. sa di kalayuan sa bayan, naroon ang san roque sa bandang calumpang na hanggang dibdib umabot ang baha. sa opposite side naman sa may malanday, isang metro na daw ang taas ng baha. may kakilala akong lumikas na ang pamilya sa isang hospital nearby dahil pinasok na daw ng baha ang bahay nila.

at nakakapagtaka ito, sa totoo lang. to quote my father, sa 30 years naming nakatira dito sa marikina (since 1979) ay ngayon lang pinasok ng baha ang bahay namin sa sss village. intelligent engineer kasi ang tatay ko at na-foresee na niya ang mga ganyang chenes. kaya noong pinapagawa pa lang ang bahay namin, pinataas na niya ang tambak para mataas pa sa kalye ang bahay namin. effective, dahil noong panahong iyon na mga hanggang tuhod lang naman ang baha sa marikina at karatig-lugar noong '80s, nunca, never, nein kami pinasok ng baha sa bakuran namin, lalo na sa bahay mismo, na simpleng bungalow lang naman. e lalo na nung unang sumampa si bayani fernando bilang mayor, at ngayon ang asawa naman niyang si marides. okay na ang marikina, super-okay, kaya nga nag-relocate back ako dito after years of renting places in bulok qc.

kaya imagine my surprise when, last saturday at 1pm past, nag-text ang nanay ko ng "bay, pumasok na ang baha sa bahay, several inches na" or something to that effect. ako naman si dedma nung umaga--dahil masama ang pakiramdam ko friday night kaya nagpapahinga lang ako sa kama noong saturday morning--ay biglang napabangon at nag-survey ng view mula sa lampas-5th floor na taas ng condo ko sa may bayan.

at heto ang tumambad sa akin -- baha!


this is the view from my window. nasa likuran ng building ang unit ko kaya ang tanaw ko ay ang view ng kalye sa likuran.



at lubog na pala sa baha ang kalye, and nearby roads pati. ito ang tinatawag na paliparan area. 'pag tinahak mo iyan, diretso sa sa concepcion, marikina, papuntang sss vill, papuntang parang, at kung saan-saan pa. di ko lang sure that time kung gaano kataas ang baha, pero kung pagbabasehan mo yung naka-pink payong, aba e mataas na, kasi bewang na niya, o. that, or pandak lang siya.

pero later, true enough, umabot hanggang lampas bewang ng normal na pilipino ito, dahil may nagdaang sasakyan at 'yun ang sukatan ko.

so habang nagte-text exchange kami ng nanay ko at ina-update niya ko kung hanggang saan na ang tubig na pumapasok sa bahay namin, naglibot ako sa floor namin at nag-survey ng paligid sa baba. di kami makababa, pinatay na nila ang elevator.

at talaga palang di naman kami makakababa kahit mag-stairs kami, kasi eto ang mga eksenang tumambad sa aming paligid ng condo:


eto ang courtyard sa gitna, kung nasaan ang playground. lunod! see those round batibot thingies na may trees? nauupuan 'yan, te. ngayon, wala na. so that's about hanggang tuhod ang height ng tubig, assuming na tuhod ko ang ruler and i'm a long-legged 5 foot 3.5 inch-tall person.

sa isang side ng silipan, natanaw ko ang lobby area ng kabilang building, pati na ang driveway in between the two buildings' entrance and lobbies. heto ang eksena:





what driveway? raging river runs wild ang hitsura niya teh! (at hindi na ko nag-feeling meryl streep na bumaba) yung mga naka-barong na manong ang security guards namin. at matatangkad sila!

this was like 2pmish saturday. by 6pmish, wala na, hanggang balikat na ni manong guard ang water sa lobby. we were so trapped.

buti na lang may electricity, water at phone pa kami. kaya naghanda na kami ng candles in case nawala ang kuryente (nawala around 10pm saturday), extra tubig sakaling mawala na ng ipa-pump ang building (nawala sunday morning around 8am). dedma na sa phone, kasi may cellphone naman, pero nawala na rin siya in between those times.

naknangteteng at ngayon pa nawalan ng gasul ang tangke ko, noh! (nagpa-deliver ako pero umatras ang delivery dahil nga wala na daw madaanan sa baha, in fairness.) pero maabilidad ang jowa at sabi niya, sa rice cooker siya magluluto ng pancit canton. winner! kaya yun ang dinner namin saturday night at lunch sunday noon. winner din ang capacity ng ref ko na mag-retain ng coldness, kaya may nainom pa kaming isang litro ng chocolate malt milk na hindi agad napanis.

buti na lang kina mommy sa sss vill, pinatay na nila ang main switch ng electricity dahil baka abutin ng baha ang mga outlets. buti na lang nga at intelligent engineer nga ang tatay ko at instead na the standard 4-inch from the floor ang sukat ng outlets ay pinagawa niyang 8-inches. ang tubig-baha sa loob ng bahay ay nag-peak at 6-inches. safe and sound. nag-subside na rin naman ang water kinagabihan ng sabado doon sa sss vill kaya kampante na ko sa parents ko. nauna nga rin silang nabuksan ang kuryente (sunday pa lang) pero kami sa bayan, hanggang tina-type ko ito ng lunes ng hapon, wala pang kuryente.

pero tumaas yata lalo ang tubig sa may bayan area, dahil eto pa ang eksena sa kalye sa harap ng buildings namin noong sabado:


to the left, to the left - at the back of bluewave marquinton mall sa bayan, lampas lang ng marikina sports center. siyempre nagsara ng operations ang malls and establishments sa baba niya.


'yang parking lot na 'yan sa harapan namin ay parking lot ng mall sa side nito. at ang mga naka-park sa labas ng perimeter ng parking lot, mga residents ng condo namin na walang parking area sa loob ng building ang naka-park.




buti na lang pala, wala akong tsikot. malamang sa hindi, dito ako naka-park. at ganito na ang nangyari sa aking future car.




to the right, to the right - ang toyota car care center chenelyn building, kaharap niyan ang marikina sports center. noong gabi ng sabado, may nakita kaming mga tao na umakyat sa bubong niyan at doon nag-camp out, na-trap. mga empleyado siguro ng toyota. di ko lang makunan dahil madilim, pero aninag namin sila. may nagyoyosi pa nga, e.


sunday, the day after...

at least wala nang ulan-ulan na malakas, humupa na rin ang tubig-baha sa halos lahat ng areas, kaya we checked it out again.




sabi nga ng nanay ko sa text, may mga dalag at hito na nakita silang lumalangoy kasama ng tubig-baha. true enough, sa tanawing ito, nakakita ako ng manong na nakapulot ng muddy hito sa kalye. pinulot niya, binanlawan sa isang puddle sa road, saka sinupot sabay sabing "ulam din to!" winner. sayang at di ko nakodakan ang eksena.











at dito mo ngayon malalaman kung ano'ng kotse ang mabigat at di gumalaw kahit may raging flood waters na dumaan sa kanya. pansin ko lang, laos ang mga honda ha. kahit crv, umurong! i'm just saying...












sa bandang doon sa harap, ayun, major road 'yan, sumulong hi-way na kadugsong ng marikina bridge kung papasok ka ng marikina proper mula sa aurora boulevard, flyover sa barangka papuntang riverbanks, past provident village, lampas papasok ng calumpang, lampas marikina bayan palengke. ayun medyo baha pa. sa harap ng 24 hour delivery mcdo. katabi iyan ng...









...marikina sports center. zoom in sa gitna. can you see the lawa ng tubig sa loob ng sports complex? puwede nang mag-dragonboat rowing diyan, o, new sport. paging ruth. chos.

moments like these, i am missing my old slr minolta system with the superfast vivitar telephoto lens capacity. madali sana itong pitikin. hay...








so nung mga 3-4pmish na ng sunday, my gf and i decided to go down and look for hot food dahil wala na nga kaming gasul at iba pang imbak na pagkain. naglakad-lakad kami sa banda ng palengke, sa paligid ng sports complex at sa karatig-kalye, sa kaya pa ng powers namin dahil maputik nga kahit saan. tunay na ninja training level sa balancing act ang ginawa namin para di madulas sa putikan. ayoko ng putik, to quote maricel soriano.

eto ang iba't ibang eksena sa paligid ng bayan:




see those horizontal lines? ibig sabihin, hanggang diyan inabot ang tubig-baha sa lugar nila:




the last shot ay sa ground floor ng condo. ganyan kataas inabot ang water inside.


at eto ang mga pulitzer prize-winning shots:

dinibdib niya ang katagang "drive thru" hane?

ironic kung toyota ang brand ng tsikot na 'yan...

kebs sa brand! basta sumalpak siya diyan
sa harap ng marikina library. ayuz.

kaloka no? dami pa 'yan. ipo-post ko na lang sa multiply at facebook ko kapag nagka-connection na sa amin.

it's past 4pm as i finish this post. hay, kakapagod... sana may kuryente na sa condo...

bagong istilo ng panloloko sa kapwa

... hay, onli in da pilipins! kaloka ito. ingat tayo.

nakuha ko sa email. hindi akin ang font styles at colors hehehe.

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Mahalagang Paala-ala sa ating mga kababayan na nagsisikap na makapagpundar ng salapi para sa kanilang pamilya.

Narito ang isa sa karumaldumal na gawain ng mga tiwarik na alagad ng batas para sila ay magkamal ng salapi sa masamang paraan.

Kung kayo ay kumakain sa anumang restaurant o fastfood at halos ilang linggo pa lamang nakakarating galing sa ibang bansa ay mag-ingat kayo sa ganitong scenario....

Habang kayo ay kumakain, may pwe-pwesto sa tapat ng lamesa ninyo na isang tao (babae o lalaki) at ito ay kakain din. Kalimitan ang suot ay parang balikbayan din, malimit itong gagamit ng cellphone at malakas magsasalita para makuha ang atensyon mo, at parang laging nagmamadali.

Bigla itong tatayo at a-akto na nagmamadali, maiiwan sa table ang susi ng kotse niya. Dito ay dapat kang mag-isip nang mabuti dahil sa oras na kunin mo ang susi at ihabol sa labas ng fastfood o restaurant para iabot sa umalis na customer, pagdating mo sa labas ay hindi mo na makikita ang taong ito. Sa puntong ito ay babalik ka sa loob ng fastfood or restaurant. Biglang may lalapit sa iyo na isang magpapakilalang pulis at sasabihin sa iyo na ikaw ay suspect sa carnapping, at bubulungan ka na huwag mag-ingay at sumama sa labas dahil nandoon ang complainant; at may tatayo pa na apat na tao sa loob ng fastfood o restaurant at magpapakilalang mga intel agents daw. Dito ay malilito ka na at mapipilitan kang sumama sa labas dahil marami na sila.

ITO AY ISANG MALINAW NA FRAME UP

Kapag kayo ay nasa labas na, dito na magaganap ang pagpilit sa iyo na sumakay sa kotse nila upang ikaw raw ay dalhin sa presinto; subali't dadalhin ka nila sa isang lugar na halos walang tao at doon ka tatakutin na ipame-media ka at sasampahan ng kaso.

Ito na ang simula ng pag-alok nila sa iyo ng ibang option para hindi ka makasuhan. Ito ay ang pagbibigay mo sa kanila ng pera. Una ay hihingan ka nila ng P500,000.00 hanggang sa makipag-negogiate ka sa kanila.

KAYA PO MGA KASAMANG MGA BALIKBAYAN AT OFWs, MAG-INGAT PO KAYO SA PAGMAMAGANDANG LOOB KAPAG NASA PILIPINAS. IWASAN PO NINYONG DAMPUTIN ANG ANO MANG BAGAY NA MAIIWAN NG MGA KUSTOMER NA AGAW-PANSIN.

IPAALAM PO NATIN ITO SA LAHAT NG ATING KAMAG-ANAKAN, BALIKBAYAN AT OFWs, AT MAGING SA MGA KAMAG-ANAK NATIN NA NASA PILIPINAS.

HINDI PO TAYO NAMUMULOT NG PERA PARA NAKAWIN SA ATIN NG MGA WALANG-PUSONG NAGPAPAKILALANG ALAGAD NG BATAS ANG SALAPING ATING PINAGHIRAPAN. PATI PO ANG MAGANDANG PANGALAN NG ATING BANSA AY KANILANG SINISIRA.

Ito po ay naiulat na nangyayari sa lugar ng Bulacan, Laguna, Antipolo, Bataan, at Quezon City.

Mag-ingat po tayo palagi at manalangin sa Diyos.