Young mother recalls 'Pepeng' ordeal

ROSALES, Pangasinan , Philippines  – The sight of her brother trying to save her son from the rampaging flood that engulfed her house and the sound of people screaming for help were more than Stephanie Salindong could bear.

Her body drenched in mud and water, the 23-year-old mother held back tears as she looked back and saw her house and her cherished possessions washed away by the deluge brought by typhoon “Pepeng.”

Elsewhere, people scampered to safety as heavy rains, aggravated by the excess water released from the San Roque Dam in San Miguel, started to flood Pangasinan.

There was so much devastation. Salindong and many others like her saw their homes and their dreams washed away in an instant.

Carmen East, where Salindong’s house is located, was among the most devastated barangays in Pangasinan.

When Pepeng unleashed its fury, people tried to evacuate in a rush. Those who did not make it out of the ravaged community clambered to the rooftop of their houses and stayed there for a day or two, without any food or water, waiting to be rescued.

As of this writing, at least 45 people have already been reported dead and the figure is rising everyday, most of the fatalities due to drowning and heart attack.

Salindong said nobody warned them that the dam had released tons of water until her uncle who lives in Paniqui, Tarlac sent a text message to her father about it.

Her family sought refuge in the old two-storey house of her grandparents.

“I didn’t think we would die, because almost all of us believed God would save us,” she said in Filipino.

Her father Ferdinand said their experience was “very horrifying.”

The family was not able to save any of their belongings and the gate of their recently built house, now submerged in water, is the only testament to the bungalow that was their home.

Stephanie’s and her parents’ houses, as well as that of her aunt, recently built and yet to be occupied, were carried away by the strong current of floodwaters.

Fernando Escalona, former Carmen East barangay captain and president of the Senior Citizens Association, said it was the worst flooding he has experienced.

He said the volume of water released from the dam was so huge and it came like a thief in the night, catching them unprepared.

Escalona was able to evacuate about 20 families in a two-storey house a few hours after receiving a text message from his friends that the dam would release excess water.

“I saw that houses were collapsing and people were shouting for help. I told them let’s just pray,” he said.

Except for two elderly citizens in their barangay who died due to hypothermia, everyone survived the flood. It took another day before the casualties were brought down from the rooftops of their houses.

Escalona said their barangay was the center of devastation as floodwaters breached the earth dikes.

“People here live on relief goods given by Good Samaritans, as all that we had were gone,” he said.

The following day, Oct. 9, with floodwaters still submerging houses, Stephanie celebrated her mother Army’s birthday. She said they just prayed the rosary.

Despite what happened to their home, Stephanie said her family is still thankful that no life was lost.

Her mother prayed at the height of the typhoon that if they must die, she’d rather have all of them die than have survivors who would just suffer.

She said she doesn’t know how to start a new life, but added that she’s looking to work abroad again to give her child and her parents a new beginning.

Damayan to aid Pepeng victims

After conducting back-to-back relief missions in Botolan, Zambales and various towns and cities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces battered by the recent storms, The STAR’s Operation Damayan is set to start relief operations in Pangasinan and is accepting donations for victims of Pepeng.

Those who want to send donations, in cash or in kind, may call The STAR at tel. 527-7777 (llok for Myrna Serdeña or Emie Cruz). Cash or cheque donations may be deposited directly to Metrobank Aduana branch savngs account no. 151-304161622-9 c/o Operation Damayan. Please fax the deposit slip to telefax 301-9598 for confirmation.