Urbanista Lesson No. 8: A Radiance of Light on stormy days...

I and my four other housemates were renting one unit of the first floor, row house apartment. Together with the other tenants and the owner’s family on the second floor and a mini store as a form of business for the housewife’s owner, we are like a small community in one mini-compound. It was Monday when we were overwhelmed by our unplanned vacation day. An instant unforgettable vacation day that how I wish it was only a hallucination as we never get to listen to warnings…

A warning from our neighbor to pack-up and get ready for safety in case the flood rises. A warning in the TV news that there might be a possibility that the nearest dam on our place that they might release water to the rivers. Foremost, a warning from my renowned instinct saying, “What if the warnings are really true?”...

It was 3:00 pm of 26th of September when we woke up with surprise that the water rises up until our foyer area, if we woke up an hour later or so, it will absolutely reach our living room and bedroom as it has the same level. Luckily, our landlord offered their house, the 2nd floor, to ALL occupants of the whole townhouse units as our temporary evacuation area. We get too rushed up to our important things, some appliances above but after 2 hours or so, still with continued heavy rain and strong winds, the nearest dam released tons of water on the riverside. As we never listened to numerous warnings and signs, we never get to prepare for supplies and food reserves as nobody knows how many days this typhoon “Pedring” will last. After 2 days of being stocked on the second floor, and as the storm signals continue to intensify, electricity and source of water were cut down. Now, the flood water level reached half of the total height of our first-floor unit with the typhoon signal was placed under Storm Signal no. 2.

In times like this, you never get to help but appreciate and notice some blessings in disguise. As by chance, the mini store of the wife’s landlord managed to save up all the food and some drinking water. Hopefully, this will last for 3 days or so but for more than 6 to 8 families? That’s the thing we’re not sure of...

Unstoppable rain followed day by day, as it was almost 3 days and the flood level still continue to rise up. Three days of eating instant noodles, and we’re still surviving. As announced on our battery operated radio, all classes in all areas of Metro Manila were still suspended and several flights were canceled due to the storm.

After day 3, the water managed to level down. Atlas, we woke up with a bit clearer gray sky. Kids are now playing on the remaining flood on the street, water delivery bikers are now offering for delivery, and even though we’re left with a muddy apartment, I still felt relieved and felt I’m a freed prisoner from 3 months in jail. There is still that good side of things, as you just need to find that idea of radiance, there is still that bright light around the corner…

“There is one thing which gives radiance to everything. It is the idea of something around the corner.”- G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)