BAGYO FRANK : An Experience Jun 24, '08 5:10 AM

BAGYO FRANK : An Experience Jun 24, '08 5:10 AM
for everyone

FRUSTRATION. DEPRESSION. AFFLICTION. These were the feelings I shared with my cousins. 39 hours without electricity, 10 candles remaining, parents went on a searching spree, brother was stranded in a city, relatives evacuating their homes, tree branches flying everywhere, plants were killed, batteries dead, phone lines dead, mobile phones dead, nipa roofs were carried by the harsh wind, people drowning, flood all over the city, these were all simultaneously happening that very day. I thought I’d never see tomorrow again.


FRIDAY [06.20.08]
After 9 hours of lecture in our NCM class, I asked my dad if it was ok for us to buy our groceries because the freezer was already half empty. He agreed and we bought several items including a variety of fish, vegetables, and other needs. At that point, he was very busy contacting my brother (Chris) because he was still in Manila. He refused to take the plane ride home, so he opted to go with his friends in taking the RORO. My dad was already worrying. I can see it in his face. We went home early because there was a storm coming. Minutes later, all the lights went out and the storm was fierce. There I thought that something was not right.

We arrived home and thankfully we are all safe. Everything was fine. Suddenly I heard the blow of the wind as if it was whistling, crackling thunder, and dogs barking all at the same time. I was afraid. Then I fell into a deep sleep. It was a cold, dark, depressing night. The rain was still pouring the morning after.


SATURDAY [06.21.08]
I woke up and my dad left me with a surprise. I turned to the other side of the bed and I saw a nicely wrapped box near the pillow. I thought it was just a dream so I went back to sleep. When I woke up again the box was not there but a note saying “I borrowed your new mobile phone. Mine is dead and I need to call Toto Chris. I’ll be back.” It was not a dream but maybe a sign of emergency.


I called the office to check on my father. He said that my brother was stranded in Antique, a 4km bus ride away from the city. The bus needs to stop because the storm was too strong and they cannot risk the lives of the people. My brother’s friend contacted my dad informing him that they are alright and they are safe. After lunch I tried calling again my dad to check if everything is fine, but then, the phone line was dead. I viewed my phone and it was no use. My cousins told me that they will go to our neighbor’s house to see if the phone there is still working. They went on and managed to report everything to my father. It was 4:45pm then and my father told them the bad news.


He delegated the tasks for us. Koikoi will be the “acting – father” as of the moment. CeeEm will be helping with the food preparations. TeePee will be monitoring everything inside the house, and I am responsible for all the expenses. My dad also mentioned that Chris will be spending the night in Antique with his friends. They will be staying there and resume their voyage when the rain stops. Meanwhile, my dad too cannot spend the night with us because all the roads were blocked with the chest-high flood. He will be sleeping in the office so that by morning, he can fetch my brother ASAP. He added that my relatives, a few kilometers away, were struggling with the flood and maybe anytime of the night, they will knock on our door to stay for shelter.


The storm never seized to stop and it was 9:32pm. No sign of my relatives yet and no electricity. We were all by ourselves. Thunder and lightning followed as we were discussing some things here in the living room. When my cousins said they were already sleepy, I asked them to accompany me. I don’t want to sleep in my room alone in this type of weather. It doesn’t feel right considering your mom is not there, your dad, and your brother. We all slept in the living room talking until it was 11:25pm.


We cannot sleep. Koikoi was busy thinking about his Nursing Diagnosis for his patient with a weird case. CeeEm was busy writing her report for school. TeePee was making her homework. I was too busy thinking about my speech in school, my brother, my dad, my mom, my relatives, and the people affected by the flash flood. I stood up and prepared my room just in case they will arrive that night. The storm got stronger and I could hear the front door trembling.

My cousins were asleep when I got out from my room. I carried a candle with me; three were in my pocket including a lighter. I locked all the doors, opened the windows and placed everything in a dry place. After that, I rested.


SUNDAY [06.22.08]
The storm was fiercely banging on the rooftop. CeeEm noticed that all the ice in the freezer melted. Anytime soon the food will be rotten especially the frozen items. We went to our neighbor to use their phone, we were all wet. I asked my dad if he is alright and he said he is doing well. No sign from my brother yet. He told us to cook everything in the freezer to avoid spoiling the food. We went back and cooked everything. The 3000 – peso – worth items were all cooked. From adobong manok to fried bangus to fried chicken to fish stew to chopsuey, you name it. We cooked everything just to save the food.

I tried turning on my mobile phone with the hopes of communicating with my father but there was no progress. My relatives arrived at exactly 10am. I got the chance to talk to them for a moment. My aunt told me everything. When the water was already at their hips, they knew that it would rise quickly. She said the two children were shivering while they were heading to the attic. They stayed there for a while until it was morning. All the items downstairs were engulfed by the water leaving LCD monitors, CPUs, TVs and everything unmanageable. I asked them if they will stay for lunch and they said they will stay at my Lolo’s house. They borrowed two of our foot pumps for the car. After the quick interview, they left.