Stars at Ondoy's mercy

Yesterday we were witness to the aftermath caused by typhoon Ondoy. We traveled to Tumana, Marikina to do our own share of relief operations for the victims. Traffic was so heavy we crawled our way through muddy roads. We left the office at around 4 p.m. and we reached Tumana bridge close to 8 p.m. We brought with us a few hundred bags of food stuff which we packed in the office. Mud was egregious and ubiquitous. Dirt, debris, uprooted banana trunks, lifeless trees, wayward dead grasses, and garbage were everywhere.

My heart bled when I saw somewhere in the darkness a man sitting on the bridge’s pavement waiting for I don’t-know-what. I peeped through the window and saw that he was hurt. His foot was bandaged with old cloth, maybe a worn-out T-shirt. We asked him what happened and he said, “sumabit sa alambre.” He could be one of those who tried to clamber through the bridge hanging on to dear life.

Typhoon Ondoy will leave us scarred for life. Its fury left hundreds dead and hurt with scores still missing. Over a billion pesos worth of property was destroyed. Ondoy left us with scary stories to tell. It also brought out the best in us. Families, friends, young and old shared time, money, food, prayers with the hapless flood victims. We can never ignore each other. We are so interdependent that looking the other way is not a humane, decent option.

Sunday, Sept. 27, ABS-CBN started relief operations, Sagip Kapamilya telethon for the victims of Ondoy. It has gathered so far, P29-M in cash and close to P30-M in kind. Kapamilya stars have joined in caravans to distribute goods. Actors have been assigned to different areas from Laguna, Cavite, Marikina, Cainta, Pasig, Marikina, to Quezon City. The outpouring of help was just amazing and heartwarming.  

At the height of the typhoon, K Brosas just like hundreds of others trapped inside their houses, sent text messages to friends and family that she was at the rooftop of her house in Vermont Village along Marcos Highway in Marikina with her daughter and an assistant praying and waiting to be rescued. I called some friends who offered all sorts of help and prayers which were no match to the raging waters. K and family waited for the water to subside and survived with the help of kind-hearted neighbors who literally threw biscuits, a tent and mineral water at them.

Showbiz News Ngayon’s (SNN) director Arnel Natividad stayed for two days at the rooftop of their house with his 84-year-old mother. Cristine Reyes cried helplessly as she begged people for help. Friend Richard Gutierrez braved the floods using a speedboat to rescue her.

Children crying, men and women wading through the murky waters, sick people being carried in stretchers, bodies floating, cars, buses, houses submerged in water — all these seemed like scenes taken from a movie. But no one shouted “cut!”. These are images we will never ever forget.

Each one of us has a story about the wrath of Ondoy. Our office messenger Amar had his share of heroism.     On that fateful Saturday, he was with his friends down Tumana river swimming as was his habit. “It was raining kaya sabi ko halika maligo tayo. Palakas ng palakas ang ulan at biglang tumataas ang tubig. Marami ang pilit na lumalangoy. Di ko alam kung saan galing. Siguro mga inaanod at nadadala ng agos.”

Amar was able to save three people from drowning. “Hindi namin kaya lahat. Kawawa yong mag-asawa, sumiksik sa haligi ng tulay, tinangay ng agos. Nakakaawa yong mga bata, nakikita mo hinihigop ng tubig.”

Amar evacuated his family to the Maranatha Center in neck-deep waters. When he felt his family was secure, “bumalik pa nga ako doon sa ilog. Siguro mga 15 ang nakita ko na tinangay ng agos.” Amar put his life in danger to save lives but could only rescue a few. He quietly wept as he saw the angry waters of the Marikina river kill some of his neighbors. 

Nobody really ever expected catastrophic floods. We are used to rains. But the continuous rainfall caught us unawares. “We have lived in Marikina in all our lives, ngayon lang kami naka-experience ng ganito,” said one resident.

Despite our loss, Filipinos will survive. Most of us have started our own relief operations, food distribution and volunteerism. While being part of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya telethon getting phone calls, text messages from friends and strangers alike who wanted to help, “I thought, mabuting tao ang Pilipino.”

God bless us all.

New Spring Awakening playdate

Due to Typhoon Ondoy, the Spring Awakening performance scheduled for Sept. 26, 2 p.m. is postponed to Oct. 3, Saturday, 8 p.m. For tickets, call Carlo Medina at 0917-8674647. All tickets from Sept. 26, 2 p.m. will be honored.