Where I'm From, Everyone is a Hero

On September 26, 2009, many people’s lives turned around in just a few hours.
Like a scene in a movie where the protagonist suddenly finds himself in a situation where he can only shield his face and hope for the best.

Unfortunately, for thousands of people in Central Luzon, this is not a movie, or a dream. It became a fight for survival. Suddenly, people were clinging to the thin string to stay alive.

Signal # 1: Ondoy (Ketsana)-
I have lived all 23 years of my life in the Philippines. It has humid weather, with unpredictable rains. PAG-ASA announced that a signal one storm would be coming to Central Luzon. If I was there, I would have dismissed that announcement and would have gone to the mall and gone out with friends. Signal number one is not strong and most schools would still have classes. We have gone through a lot of signal 1 storms, and it didn’t do any harm.

Unfortunately, this was not the average signal one storm that we were all used to. And sadly, many people disregarded the warning and went on with their lives, unprepared for what was to happen in the next few hours.
Ondoy (Ketsana) was considered a category 1 storm because of the wind, not because of the possible rainfall. Thousands of Filipinos really thought that the storm would pass without causing any damage.

Ondoy came. Rain poured. After a few hours, it was still raining hard. This was not a normal category one storm: around noon, Central Luzon was flooded. Again, typical scenario when it rains. A couple of hours later, the hard rain continued, and places that are not normally flooded had knee-high waters. By this time, rivers were overflowing, flooding every street, and waters rising with the consistent hard rain.
Then people started to feel the fear that if the rain didn’t stop, their houses would be submerged totally. And just when people are thinking about relocating, the flood suddenly rose without warning, leaving people in shock as they scrambled to higher ground. To most people, the only option they had was to climb up to their roof. As they sat there, they could have been thinking about the material things housed beneath their roof, and then witness them floating around them. They asked for help, but no one around is in a safe place. The best they could do is to transfer to a house with a higher roof.
People started to feel scared as they saw the waters reaching the roofs, the strong current preventing them to move to a safer place. Sadly, many people weren’t lucky enough to have a house sturdy enough to withstand the strong flood currents. Many people lost their lives as their homes floated away in the rushing water and some people watched helplessly as they tried to cling to safety in hopes of saving their own lives.
Assessing the damage:
Tens of thousands lost their homes, hundreds lost their lives, and people are still missing. Streets were flooded everywhere people look. Floods were waist deep, neck high, or water reached the ceiling of the first floor of most houses. People stuck on their roofs, asking for help, feeling cold and hungry. No trucks could rescue them, the flood was too high. Rescuers could only use boats, or helicopters, and unfortunately, they were not readily accessible.
People started to swim to their neighbors to see if everyone was okay. People who had inflatable boats navigated their village channels to help people who needed to transfer to higher ground. Suddenly, everyone started to help those in need, without being asked, without thinking of their own lives. Muelmer Magallanes, an 18 year old construction worker, lost his life after saving 30 people. After getting his family to a safer place, he went back for his neighbors and started to transfer them to a safer place too. After making several trips, he was exhausted, but then he saw a mother and her baby floating helplessly inside a Styrofoam box being pulled by the strong flood current. He managed to save both mother and child, but he ended up too exhausted to save himself. Muelmer was sent adrift by the current as his family and those he saved look on helplessly.

As the rain stopped, many houses appeared submerged, but that did not stop the Filipino from helping others. BAYANIHAN. Helping others. Bayanihan is a word that is purely Filipino. It is a word that is often found in social studies books, not in everyday lives; a word that is often unspoken, but is often acted upon. BAYANIHAN- a trait that is embedded in every Filipino. A trait that makes everyone a hero in their own little way.

People started to act by calling people and asking for volunteers and donations. They used Facebook and Twitter as the medium of communication. Suddenly, people braved the floods and started coming to relief centers to help pack goods and donate money. Like mushrooms, relief operation centers starting popping everywhere. Goods came pouring in, volunteers started arriving, companies started to give out food and trucks were sent to the relief centers to send out the goods to those people and places in dire need.

College students who usually don’t care, children who only thought of playing, citizens, rich and poor, were now helping. They were involved in something bigger than themselves. Colleges and universities started their own relief centers, even making the college or university an evacuation centers. Students suddenly cared to help other people. Children were exposed to the reality of life. People- young and old, rich and poor- started to move and help.

Ondoy, much as it brought pain and loss to thousands of people, gave hope, awareness, and faith to millions. It transformed millions of lives. The Filipino spirit stood strong amidst the death and pain. The Filipino people became a part of something bigger than themselves. The Filipino spirit rose to the occasion, and saved those who lost hope. Every Filipino became a hero in the eyes of another. Ondoy might be strong, but the Filipino spirit is stronger.

We never fail to see the silver lining, we, Filipinos, are optimistic. Flood? It is an improvised swimming pool to some children. Cleaning the house? It became a project between neighbors, laughing and interacting as they toss out things and pile up mud. Those in evacuation centers started to support others and gave comfort to those who lost everyone in their family, realizing how much one has.

We Filipinos may live in a third world country, we may live below average than other countries, but in times like these, we give abundantly. We care more for others and we become better people. We may not have much, but we help when someone needs help. We think of others before ourselves. We become better people when a situation calls for it and we give selflessly when we have nothing.

Many people realized that life can make a 360 degree turn in a blink of an eye. This storm taught us something that many people may have forgotten: the value of every life and Bayanihan. This only shows how resilient the Filipino is. No matter how hard life keeps throwing us down, we will get up. We will never give up. There will always be the Filipino spirit to show us what good things life still has to offer.

The Filipino spirit rises to the occasion. Where I’m from, everyone is a hero. And I am very proud to be Pinoy.

Credits: Biggest thanks to Hayen! :)

...

i am just miserable.

just too fucking miserable.

^___^

To Drummer Boy

A few more days and we're gonna be celebrating your birthday, my Drummer boy.

Lots of things remind me of you. Everytime I remember you, I cant help but smile. Good memories, Drummie. I know that you'd want me to smile always, and that's what I've been doing. I miss you a lot, Drummie. I miss hanging out with you, and if things went differently, maybe we would have made more special memories together. We'll never know now, huh? I'm glad to have met you, and be your bestfriend. I miss walking into your front door and you would hug me real tight and not let go. I miss you very much, my Drummie. I know I wasnt the sweetest person you know, but somehow, every touch and look that I shot your way, you seemed to understand how much you meant to me.

You were always there for me, you always knew when I needed a hug or be left alone. I got used to you just looking at me from the corner of your room as I curl up into a ball or hug my knees on the other corner. You always knew when to call or text me. It felt like I just needed to wish that you would call me and then my phone would be ringing. Fun times.

I miss listening to you play the drums or your guitar. I like it when you play your guitar on a rainy day, and that you sing really well. I miss looking through your notes and telling you that I can barely understand what you've written, even if I can decipher it. LOL. I miss the times when you would look for me and ask to copy the notes I might have written, then look at you squinting coz I always use pencil for my notes. I loved the times when you would research the books I needed without me asking you to. I miss our movie marathons whenever we decided to skip classes the whole day. I miss eating lunch with you, especially when you take all the veggies from my food. I miss leaning my head on your back when I'm tired, then you would turn around and give me a tight hug.

I miss you, Drummie. I wish I never walked away when you asked me to. I wish I stayed around, even if you didnt want me to. I wish I spent the last two years of your life with you. It would have been really fun. But then, maybe our separation was a good thing too, coz you know how I suck at goodbyes. Maybe this happened so I wont be crying too much, or be depressed. The funny thing is, Drummer Boy, I still cried a lot. And I got depressed. And I am still wishing I couldve have hugged you before you left. The hugs you would ask everytime we see each other, a kiss on your cheek when you're down, and how hard I squeeze you when it was Friday coz we knew we wont be seeing each other during the weekend.

I miss drinking with you, how you'd be drunk and me taking you home. I miss the way you talk when you're drunk. I miss how you cling to me, or how you trip when you try to walk in a straight line. I miss how your head would rest on my shoulder as we sit side by side and watch the sunrise. I loved watching the sunrise with you because you would always say "Hey, another day to set things right!" and give me a warm smile.

You asked me why I memorize faces, looks, how people touch, etc. I memorize those and how they made me feel because I might not feel it again. I burn these memories on my mind so I can get back to that moment. Im glad I memorized your face, how you hug, how you sling your arm on my shoulder, how you smile, and how you look when you're shocked, sad, amazed, pissed, tired, mad, or in love. I just close my eyes and I'll see your face. I even remember how you let go of my hand when you said that we needed to stop being friends because your gf was getting jealous.

Mike, know that I'll always have you here in my heart. You still make me smile. Our memories still make me smile. Heck, I even miss you hitting the back of my head gently when I got back with Alenzo, while saying these: "Pet, why get back together with him? You told me before that he is NOT THE ONE! Dont be stupid, he will never change, love. Move on." You were the only one who said that to me. The only person who can see clearly. And thank you for telling me that. And thank you for being my bestfriend. I love you, Drummie.

Celebrating your birthday without you, well, not physically, but you're here in our hearts. You are dearly missed, Drummie. And for you birthday present, we'd be recording your fave love songs. And yes, I'll be singing some of our songs.

You know how much I miss you, right? And yes, I've made a lot of new friends. I'm doing okay, but can you believe that I'm a friggin teacher? LMAO. You were the only one who said that I can be a good preschool teacher when we were on our first years. Guess your hunch was right again.

I miss you, Drummie. I love you to bits. Sending you love everyday, are you getting it? ^___^

Love,

Pet