This Blissful Life!

To all…

My family is one of the victims of the typhoon Ondoy. But, I am happy and very thankful to God that every one in the family is safe. I have never been this anxious and worried before and I know that a lot of families are feeling the same way. What happened is an unforgettable tragedy. Like it was already the end of the world, especially to those who suffers a lot and to those who did not just lost their houses but lost a family member too.

Thypoon Ondoy Aftermath (by Wenzzo Pancho)

And just a few days back when I blog about To Share My Blessings, when Ondoy wasn’t here yet, and everything’s just great.. I said that I have the feeling of wanting to help other people in need.. I believe this is the right time.. I didn’t mention my plans before because my best-friend and I are still working on the legalities, documents and permits as of the moment. But I can’t sit and watch the news and do nothing.

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Ondoy Situation Map (As of 09/28/2009)

Photo on the left side is the current update on situation caused by Typhoon ‘Ondoy’ in Metro Manila, Philippines. This is based on the various sources such as TV, internet, and radio broadcast.

Updates:

Marikina - Water supply in Provident Village has been opened to some areas already. Residents are now able to clean up their houses, little by little.

Cainta - Felix Avenue is already passable but only to private vehicles/trucks because it is still flooded up to the knee-level. No public transportations yet so it is still impossible to visit the relatives. Vista Verde is one of the most damaged Subdivision.

Bulacan - At least 15 towns in Bulacan have been affected by Ondoy. As of 1:30AM, floods in affected town subsided by at least two feet, according to Provincial Disaster Management Council Executive Officer Liz Mungcal.

Death toll may have exceeded 200 and still climbing. Ninety-six were killed from Region IV-A only.

This is just an update on my first post Tropical Storm ‘Ondoy’ Flooded Our House in Cainta, Rizal yesterday.

Yesterday was a disaster to most of us here in Manila. It was unexpected and most of us are not ready to face ‘Ondoy’. And yesterday was supposedly just like any other day where some people goes to work on Saturdays and some stays at home with their families. A typical family, just like ours. Daddy goes to work, brother goes to work and left alone in the house is our auntie who’s already 50+ years old.

My father, who works in La Funeraria Paz, wasn’t able to come home yesterday because he was stranded in the 2nd floor of their office in Araneta Ave. Though the office is elevated, the flood reached their offices & chapels. It was approximately more than 10 feet from the street and about a chest deep level when on the ground floor offices. No food for the rest of the night for them until they were able to get out this morning and look for an open joint.. We’ve been updating each other since, through the single landline that’s working on the 2nd floor..

One of my brothers who’s been working in Batasan, Q.C. area, wasn’t able to come home too. He stayed there w/ his wife and just got home today at 2PM. He walked from 9AM- from Batasan, QC to our home in Village East, Cainta, because there is still no transportation.. The flood in Karangalan Gate 5, as of 11AM was still up to his waist line (he stands around 5′6″..) In Village East, as of 2PM, Phase 1 (church area) was still up to his chest..

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For those who missed this news from GMA News TV..
Posted at 2:19AM

Two Coast Guard teams have been dispatched to assist Cainta, Rizal Mayor Ramon Ilagan whose rescue operations have been delayed by more than twelve hours, a dzBB report said.

Although the dispatch’s details were unidentified, the order was given on the air by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), which helps protect the population during emergencies.

For more than twelve hours, Ilagan, his rescue team, and some stranded residents picked up on the way to the municipal hall, have been stranded at an area along A. Bonifacio Avenue., an extension of Imelda Avenue.

The area is near the Cainta Junction where Ortigas Avenue and Imelda Ave. intersect.

Cainta remains under six feet of water, more than half a day after flash floods engulfed the municipality, Ilagan said in an earlier dzBB report.

Besides submerging “almost all subdivisions in Cainta,” floods have also delayed the municipality’s rescue operations, Ilagan added.

Ilagan earlier asked the national government for amphibious vehicles and/or rubber boats to enable his party to reach the municipal hall from where he could direct operations.

But as of two o’ clock of Sunday morning, “lubog pa rin kami [the municipality is still under water,” Ilagan said. - GMANews.TV

This day has been such a trauma for a lot of people. Many are still struggling for their lives. Many Filipinos from other countries are still up and worrying about their families here in the Philippines.

As of the moment, though the rain isn’t that hard anymore (in some areas), you’ll still find people on the streets- stranded on their way home. Some families are in the rooftops of their homes- waiting to be rescued.

Even a celebrity named Christine Reyes is also one of those people you’ll find on their rooftops. She’s from Marikina and she’s been on top since 1PM.

Now, while watching the news.. I heard that 100% of Cainta is now flooded.

It’s gonna be rough night for all of us.. especially for them..

MMDA workers use rubber boats to rescue commuters stranded in neck-deep floods along EDSA across Santolan in Quezon City…

Areas under Storm Signal No. 2 include:

Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Northern Quezon, and Polillo Island.

Under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, the rest of Quezon, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro provinces, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Bataan, and Metro Manila. -PAGASA

News & Photo courtesy of GMA News TV