Life after Pedring

I am overwhelmed by the number of lives affected by Ondoy and Pedring. I don’t know how to start this column, as so much has happened.  Relief after relief, it has been more than a week already, and the victims are countless.

How many? Do we even have to go through the numbers? One life that suffers from a calamity is a tragedy enough. This is a holocaust. It has been a week, and by now we should be ready to pick up the pieces. This can’t be said of areas that are still flooded until now. Sure, the water subsided a few feet, but in some places there’s still no trace of dry land. People are walking on water, or rather — in. The mode of transportation, if you have a money to spare is the banca or a jeepney. Prices can run from a few pesos to a hundred. Most have absolutely nothing, so they brave the murky flood waters. One can only imagine what’s in it since there has been no water in the area for a week. Whatever is in there is enough to cause abrasions in their feet. An old woman was having difficulty walking already because of sores, her skin was all wrinkled from being soaked in water, but they have to walk kilometers for help. Every single day, it is like this for them. Children are suffering from diarrhea, broncho pneumonia. Others have developed leptospirosis. They are literally fighting for survival.

Another lady was begging for the last drop of mineral water that my segment producer was drinking. It was heartbreaking. Another resident, sounding apologetic, admitted to tapping the water lines for them to have water to drink. I don’t think it’s potable since the water lines might have been contaminated already. But this is survival. And though they wish that the water would subside, they pray for rain, because it gives them nourishment.

Bringing relief is a nightmare. It was very difficult to penetrate areas, because you needed bancas and big trucks to reach the residents, but you can’t have too many of them either because you will clog the small streets.

You want to bring relief to all, but most of those who are able to get them are the ones in the nearby areas. “The poorest of us do not get relief,” says a woman accusing some politicians handling the relief of being selective. It’s hard to tell. 

We were momentarily parked at the town plaza to transfer goods to a military 6 x 6 truck of the 505 search and rescue of the Philippine Airforce. Immediately people surrounded us were asking for help. One thousand relief packs were allotted for Brgy. Tampok in Hagonoy. Sadly, we had to turn down requests for even a bottle of water because when you give to one, you need to give to all.

Fortunately for us, the crowd didn’t turn into a mob. This is typical days after isolation, so much desperation surrounding the calamity. When I explained it was for Brgy. Tampok, the crowd understood. And we promised to be back, and we did the following day with the Strada Club Philippines that loaded 3,000 bottles of mineral water in their pick-up trucks. Thank you.

The residents of Tampok has not received any form of relief yet. It took us four hours to reach Brgy. Tampok in Hagonoy from Quezon City. All barangays leading to Brgy. Tampok were flooded, too, the water in Tampok was the slowest to subside.

Despite lacking, the residents of Brgy. Tampok were very grateful, with not a hint of bitterness. When we decided to leave it at the barangay hall for distribution to farther areas, people understood that others need more help.

It was a moment of selflessness and generosity of people from being who had nothing to spare but kindness. Like Rogelio, who placed his last P6O in a mineral water bottle for fear of it getting soaked.  He wants to volunteer in distributing the goods. “I have nothing to give, but I can still help,” says Rogelio.

When it was time to go, the residents, standing in flooded waters saw us off. Their faces were bright and full of hope. But my heart breaks, always fighting to hide my tears. What will happen to them when we leave and the goods run out? I’m sure it will only last them a day or two.  I can only pray. “Don’t forget about us,” said a woman. “When Calumpit or HAGONOY gets flooded, our Barangay is the catch basin. “

To all those who prayed and donated goods for victims through Sagip Kapamilya: You give them hope. Volunteers and donors may be unaware of this, but us, being out on the field, feel the gratefulness. Wish you were there.

An appeal to water concessionaires and the government: You may want to consider hauling potable water in affected areas. They need water more than anything in the world. Please. If you want to help, Sagip Kapamilya needs vehicles and big trucks to bring the goods. You may leave your donations in kind at McDonald’s outlets in Metro Manila until Oct. 9. 

The typhoon has passed, but our kababayan still need us. Thank you for your love. God bless you! 

(E-mail me at [email protected] or follow me at Twitter: @bernadette_ABS.)