Not Another Ondoy Again...

An officemate just texted that work is again suspended, for second consecutive day.  I was ecstatic!  That would mean, I will wake up late again tomorrow morning.  That would mean also that I would just snuggle in bed with hubby while watching a number of movies all day through.

But then, just thinking of the plight of our fellowmen who are now suffering from the ravages of this so-called natural phenomenon, I felt a rash of guilt.  It was selfish of me to think only of myself in the midst of this crisis.  In fact, at 3 o'clock this morning, I witnessed my neighbors who kept on vigil at the possibility of floodwaters seeping through their units.

I felt so helpless.  For now, what I can only do is to offer prayers for the safety of everyone..

Work Suspended on July 31?

I woke up to a rainy Monday early this morning.  I immediately decided not to report to office and thus, I thereafter notified my officemates, and before I realized it, I was already literally sound asleep.

Few hours after, the rain stopped.  I then wondered if I just made the wrong decision.  But then, it was too late to change my mind, dress myself, and go to work.  It was already 2pm!

At around 230pm, an officemate texted that work had just been declared suspended.  True enough, my google search confirmed the text message.  I was happy, alright.  But my happiness was short-lived..

I was bugged by the question, why only at 230pm?  The government should have declared the suspension of work at the beginning of the day when everybody else is still safely tucked at home.  What if something bad had happened this morning, say, flood?  And since the government was not prompt enough to declare suspension of work, consequently, many workers would have been stranded on the streets!

Oh my!  I shudder at the thought everytime I remember what had happened to me on the day typhoon Ondoy struck Metro Manila.  It was a nightmare!  I walked for maybe a 5-km stretch of C5 Road.  And it was raining cats and dogs.  And I bravely (but stupidly) crossed floodwaters just to reach home.  And I promised never to do it again..

That explains why I would rather prefer to be cuddled in bed than be marked "full service" in the attendance report.  My question now is, what about tomorrow? :)

More of Ondoy... and Hopefully the Last of It...

Before I shift to another topic, let me just finish what I started about my Ondoy experience.  Here it is:

While walking away from KFC-Guadalupe, I noticed a few public utility vehicles passing by.  This is unusual, I thought to myself.  And I started to get worried...

After about half an hour of waiting, I was able to board the first jeepney that came around.  The driver promptly informed his passengers that he would only drive as far as Market! Market! only as the road halfway to FTI was already flooded.  And I didn't have any choice...

At Market! Market!, I was already wondering why no taxicab driver would take me to my destination.  It took me another hour to find another jeepney.  And I was so glad when I was already seated, but that gladness was short-lived... 'coz we found ourselves in the middle of a heavy traffic upon entering the C5 route.

The driver returned our fares and shooed us from his jeep.  I could already hear other cars turning off their engine as traffic was no longer moving.  I followed other passengers when they alighted from the jeepney and started to walk their way home.  I guess I walked about three kilometers while making sure that the laptop I was carrying won't get wet.  I was finally relieved when I realized I was already near my residence but que horror!  I saw a body of water in front of me!  It was about waist-deep!

Scared that the laptop might get wet should I decide to cross the flood and possibly stumble upon something and do a dyesebel underwater, I opted to ride in that black rubber wheel instead and paid P20 for it.  Just when I thought that my nightmare had already ended as I was about to enter the compound, I saw another body of water in front of me.  This time it was neck-deep!

Good thing, I bumped into a neighbor.  We decided to take an improvised boat, which I later on found out that it was made of a large trash bin covered with a weak plywood.  That boat was maneuvered by a group of teens, whom I was afraid, might take advantage of the situation and do something bad to us.  We were so helpless then.  And I was already hysterical.  Our life was literally left in their bare hands..

But lo and behold!  Those streetkids safely delivered us straight to our condominium!  It surprised me that I misjudged those people who turned out to be heroes that I desperately needed that day.

Indeed, what an experience it was!

Will It Be Another Ondoy?

I was asking that question when I woke up to a rainy and dark morning a couple of hours ago.  I would have taken a hot bath then had I not thought that I might be tempted to go back to sleep thereafter.  FYI, I have been nursing my cough and colds since Saturday.  Hence, the bad weather would have been a good excuse for me to be tucked at home.  But still, I reported for work...

My hopes were high that office will be eventually suspended today.  But then, up to now I heard nothing of such news.  The online weather monitor says temperature is at 26 degrees celcius with "light rain".  From where I am sitting now, I could not see if it is still raining outside.  I don't want to underestimate light rains that's why I am a little bit worried.  I should have brought a life jacket instead of just an ordinary rain gear.

But what the heck.  This is another adventure... and I wonder what awaits me on my way home later... :)

Reminiscing Pre-Ondoy...

Exactly a year ago, Metro Manila residents woke up to a rainy morning not knowing that something extraordinary will happen later that day.  I, on the other hand, was almost tempted not to attend my 7am class that day.  But then, just thinking of my favorite teacher (hi Mr. Jovy! harharhar!), made me jumped from my bed, rushed to school and took my teacher's challenge (well, that's another story).

It was almost 1130am when we received an announcement that classes will be suspended effective 12nn.  Since our teacher gave all kinds of lame alibis he could think of just to excuse him from giving us a lecture, we were idle for more than an hour while impatiently waiting for class dismissal.

At noontime, I decided to take my lunch at KFC-Guadalupe before going home.  I was supposed to meet a friend at SM Mall of Asia but at the last minute, I backed out.  Aside from the bad weather, I was restless as I slept late the night before and woke up so early that morning.  Hence, what I desperately needed at that moment was, SLEEP.

Guess what happened on my way home? Stay tuned! :)