MANILA – The destruction caused by floods and heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” are still vivid in the memory of Boto Patrollers who took photos of the scene over the weekend.

Jun G. Andal of Cogeo Village, Antipolo City took about 80 pictures along Marcos Highway from Ligaya Area to Kingsville Subdivision before Masinag.

He said he took the photos, including that of a submerged passenger jeepney and a man taking his motorcycle through the flood, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. last Sunday, Sept. 27. He sent his shots to Boto Mo iPatrol Mo (BMPM).

Andal said in his account that he was one of those “stranded people who have experienced a lot of worries and anxiety” last Saturday, Sept. 26.

He came from a photo shoot session in Makati City that lasted from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. He said they were helpless in finding their way home. “We were worried at talagang gusto na naming umuwi.”

‘Rendezvous of vehicles’

He and his companions took the alternative route of EDSA and then White Plains. He knew they could not pass the way to Blue Ridge to Marcos Highway so they went straight to Katipunan Ave.

It was 7 p.m. already. “Imagine our time of travel,” he wrote.

He related that all the vehicles were “in rendezvous in that area” because Marikina City was flooded and badly-affected. The way to the Barangka Area, meantime, was neck-deep.

They spent the night until they finally got their chance to cross the bridge at 12:30 a.m.

The traffic was too tight and it took them around six hours to travel from the bridge beside SM City Marikina to Ligaya Area or the Manggahan Road going to Rosario. Andal said such trip is normally a 40-minute ride.

Muddy and helpless

When he saw the Marcos Highway area, he recounted that it was in a muddy and helpless state.

He decided to get his camera and started to shoot while driving. Dilemma was evident in the people’s faces, he noted.

“We were so tired and hungry but that thing didn’t bother us too much because I received a text message from my wife that they were okay naman,” he said.

He reported on the flooded areas he saw on Sunday on the way to Masinag: A. Tuason St. across Sta. Lucia (in between waist- and chest-deep water) and the area after Town & Country before Vermont Royale.

He said the areas of Golden Meadows, Vermont Park and Filinvest were also deep. According to him, the deepest areas he saw were at the Kingsville Subdivision and Manila Water Company.

Stranded at the mall

While Andal was passing by SM Marikina, another Boto Patroller was stranded at the establishment for 24 hours.

Kia Oblino posted 29 pictures on her Multiply site which showed what she went through during that ill-fated weekend.

She took a photo of the others who were stranded at SM Marikina. When the rain finally ended, she had a photo of herself taken outside the mall.

“Tumba yun poste and there is also a raging water current,” she said in a caption. She also took a picture of a dump truck that was submerged in floodwater.

“Super lubog,” she wrote.

Still smiling

Oblino even took a picture of a container truck with some people inside. “Yoko sumakay diyan naka-skirt ako masilipan pa ako,” she commented.

She just waded through waist-deep waters and was able to go home by herself.

She also took photos of people who braved the flood to walk from Marcos Highway to Antipolo.

“Buti nalang you're safe. Grabe dami kong officemate na sobrang kawawa. Wala na silang bahay. I'm happy that you're safe,” jocylynvannessasy said in a comment posted on Oblino’s site.

Another contact of hers, janelleablang, reacted to a picture of Oblino and a friend who were both smiling.
    
“Filipinos talaga, smile pa rin despite everything. [It] Takes away a bit of the pain I'm feeling just by seeing photos and watching the news,” wrote janelleblang.

Family affair

As thousands of flood-stricken victims are in dire need of help, the government and various groups and organizations worked in no time to provide them assistance.

Donations poured in and volunteers from all walks of life showed up in relief operations centers.

There were some who volunteered alone while others came in groups with friends and family.

Charie, a Multiply user (charieanne), volunteered for the Sagip Kapamilya Relief Operations with her husband and two young boys.

She chronicled her experience and posted her pictures on the BMPM Multiply site.

She noted that there were volunteers everywhere and several of them even waited under the rain.

Charie took shots of the “mountain of goods” that she, her family, and the other volunteers packed.        

Her two young children, Gavin and Kim, helped out and packed noodles and biscuits. Gavin even enjoyed unloading more than 10 boxes of water bottles, added Charie.

“I'm proud of you guys,” she said in a caption for a photo of her two kids.
 
Calls for help

Two comments on Charie’s photos album of the Sagip Kapamilya relief operations asked about how the volunteer process goes.

“Hindi na po kailangan ng ID. My family and I just went there and helped. Pero you can stay tuned sa Channel 2 special coverage and they are telling [the public] what to do,” she replied.

Meanwhile, jesicadanielle commented: “I am proud of ABS-CBN Foundation. I am proud of all the volunteers and those who donated with open arms. May God grant you all with more blessings.”

The other comments, however, revealed that there are still a lot of people who have not received help at all.

“I'd like to request for help also for my parents, bro and neighbors in Ampid 1, San Mateo, Rizal. They have not received any help until now since the typhoon devastated the entire subdivision,” said teregee.

She appealed for relief goods (ready-to-eat food, rice, potable water, sleeping mats and medicines) to be sent to B6 L11 Taurus st. Sunnyville 5, Ampid 1, San Mateo, Rizal. She said the subdivision is beside the 9 Waves Resort and in front of Mercury Drug.

Looters and thieves

According to her, there are at least 100 families, with senior citizens and infants, who were affected in the neighborhood. They are reportedly trying to survive with very little resources.

She said her father is a stroke patient while her brother has wounds on his feet because of the broken glass fixtures and appliances destroyed in their house.

She said she does not have communication with her family because their cellular phone batteries are drained.

“They wouldn't know help is there unless someone goes inside the subdivision. Looters or thieves go inside houses to salvage things that is why residents don't want to leave their houses,” she wrote.

Threatening storm

Dianarose12 of Brgy. Bangan, Botolan, Zambales also commented on the BMPM photo album.

She said that people in her barangay are frightened that Typhoon “Pepeng” could wreak havoc their town.

“Gusto ko pong humingi ulit ng tulong sa inyo para sa aming mga kabarangay kasi po marami na ang nawalan ng bahay dito,” she said.

“Nakatira na po sila sa covered court. Sana po ay matugunan niyo ang aking hiling,” she added.

Another concerned citizen, katnean, hoped that help would be brought to Northville 4 Lambakin, Marilao, Bulacan.

“Umaasa po ako na derekta nyo itong ihatid sa lugar na iyon at sana ay huwag nyo nang idaan sa lokal na pamahalaan,” suggested katnean.

“Maaring may ginagawa ang aming lokal na pamhalaan pero alam nyo po iba yung may tinitingnan sa tinitiga,” added the Multiply user.

Suggestion

Another Multiply user made a suggestion to the government and other relief bodies.

Beckyminay believes that the flood victims must be given sustainable assistance.

“Kung puwede bigyan ng sapat na pangpalipat at pagkaroon ng pangkabuhayan sa ibang lugar ang mga napinsala ng bagyong Ondoy,” she said.

“Sa ganitong paraan magkaroon sila ng panibagong buhay sa ibang lugar na maaaring malapit sa kanilang kamag-anakan o sa probinsiya at malayo sila sa dating lugar na karamihan eh mga taong hindi nagmamay-ari ng bahay na tinitirhan nila.”a

Beckyminay added: “Sa ganitong paraan din madali maaayos ang lugar dahil kukunti ang mag-re-resettle sa lugar at madaling ma-manage ng mga volunteer workers.”