SAFE AMIDST THE RAINS AND FLOODS

It has been raining since SUN, 18 AUG 2013 and after 3 days of rain, as expected the Metro is again under flood. I got my own share of the rains and floods.  

I still managed to go to work last Monday, 19 AUG.   There was no advise that we can go home early, so those who were able to get to the office stayed the whole day.  I can't say I was happy that a few was working that day, but I was able to finish a lot.  Maybe because there were no distractions, just one task at a time.  6:30pm, time to go home.

When I was on my way home, I knew I'll be walking through the floods. No taxi would bravely drive me home amidst the flood waters, we'll maybe unless you are willing to pay the "right price".  Cabs often times take advantage of your desperations.  So I first decided to go to MOA and buy myself  "wet shoes". Changed shoes in the mens room. Fixed my bag.  Phones, wallet, laptop... secured and hopefully they stay dry.  Few jeepneys are still operating from MOA terminal. Took a ride to Rotonda.  From there I rolled up my pants to the knees and started walking through Baclaran towards home.  Rain pouring hard, water was knee high, ice cold.  I took slow, small steps, thinking that since I can barely see what I'm stepping, it it better to be safe and stay dry... I'll get home soon enough.  Along my way a drunk man was also trying to reach home.  He was sitting on a flower box, water almost reaching the edge.  Maybe realizing that he is already getting wet, he decided to stand up and started walking. Then he stumbled.  At knee deep, with his fall, he was already wet all-over.  He tried to get up and walk, then he stumbled for the second time.  I thought that he was trying to take too many steps to fast, but with knee high flood, that would be difficult. His efforts was futile, stumbled for the 3rd time.  Thought that I should help him... but I was also struggling to walk through the flood.  First, I would have to reach him.  Guess he decided to sit back on the flower box, so I just focused on getting home.  Rain was still pouring heavily.   Flood waters was cold. Water was getting higher.  I couldn't see clearly where I am stepping, just decided to stay in the middle of the street... finally I reached home safely, cold and wet.  

Next morning, seeing the flood water all around our area, I was thankful that I managed to go home safely. 

Our neighborhood under thigh-high flood.  A man pushing his pedicab through the flood.  A boy playing in flood waters.  A man re-thinking whether to push his motorcycle through the flood.

Trudis and Sup, keeping dry from the rains.  A man surveying the flooded area.  Children playing in the floods.  Fire broke in Baclaran area in the afternoon, still burning until evening 

despite the heavy rains.

Another rainfall record.  Global warming has really changed the weather patterns.  I just hope that the Government can focus on how to keep the Metro and other neighboring provinces flood free in the near future.  It has always been this way for several years, I thought we should have learned the lessons by now....