It was weekend September 26, 2009 when Ondoy visited Metro Manila.  I was at the office witnessing the enormous dark clouds that pouring large droplets of rain.  And I asked myself  while looking at the window “Do I need to go home now or wait for the rain to stop?“.

I’ve waited a little longer but still the rain won’t stop.  So I decided to go home and struggled with the wind going to greenbelt mall using my shorthanded umbrella. It was like fighting with Manny Pacquiao on the ring. The wind was everywhere guarding myself in front, from behind and from side to side. I was blocking those shots.  Eventually,  I reached the mall and realized my umbrella was deformed and unusable so I just kept it in my bag.

I thought it was pure bad luck.  No jeepneys and buses to ride home. Lots of people were on the street waiting regardless of the wind and rain. Needless to say,  I’m stuck again for a couple of hours. It was hopeless to wait for Public vehicles. So I’ve made up my mind and try to walk home.  My pants were soaked in the flood but I never felt tired walking because lots of people were walking too. And so I arrived home and I quickly turned on the TV to watch the news.

It was a shocking to see flood all over metro manila. Cainta Rizal, Pasig and Marikina. A hundred people died that day.  Manila was empty glass poured with water. Water kept rising.  I imagine myself back in the province where I experienced this kind of calamity. Wherein there’s no electricity for one month.  Sleeping on wet floor.  But we were blessed because we’re still alive and well.

As much as I want to believe that Typhoon Ondoy was solely responsible for the flash floods and deaths that day.  I feel guilty too, thinking about global warming or climate change.  People are forgetting about Nature.  Everyday, walking by the streets of  manila it was really disappointing looking at all the garbages everywhere.  I’m not saying I wasn’t part of it, actually I’m part of it.  part of what is happening in the environment.  I think YOU and I should start caring for the environment.  Stop using non-biodegradable things like plastic.

I’m impress the way Puerto Princessa in Palawan handle things like this. Their state of the art waste management system is highly commendable.  I just hope Metro Manila and other regions will implement this kind of waste management workaround.

It’s not too late for us. Think about the future. Think about nature.