when nature strikes

kailan ba ako na stranded sa baha at traffic...
una - noong ginagawa ang nlex. pauwi ako ng probinsya noon. from north edsa hanggang balintawak, 5 hours ang byahe. kung makikipagkarera ang pagong sa bus na sinasakyan ko, pupusta ako mauuna pa syang makakarating sa finish line. ang tindi ng traffic, bumaha sa expressway dahil noong panahon na iyon eh under rennovation ito. so i decided na bumalik sa opisina at doon na lang matulog.

pangalawa - hindi ako taga manila, hindi ako nag-aral sa ust, feu o ue, pero naranasan ko ng maglakad mula ust hanggang rotonda na ang baha eh lagpas sa tuhod. takot na takot at nanginginig ako noon. it was my first time, tsaka hindi ako sanay sa lugar.

pangatlo - eto, si bagyong ondoy.noong una hindi ako makapaniwala kapag kinukwento ng mga kaopisina ko na lagpas tao daw ang tubig sa ibang lansangan. napaka exagge naman ng kwento sambit ko sa kanila. pero, magmula opisina, kitang kita namin ang not moving na mga sasakyan sa daan. bus, truck, kotse... lahat walang magawa kundi maghintay na magsubside ang tubig baha. dahil tapat lang ng opisina ang mall, we decided na magpalipas oras doon. pagdating doon ang daming tao sa labas - nakaupo, nakatayo, nakahiga, babae, lalaki, pamilya, magbabarkada..lahat stranded at kabilang kami doon. kaibahan lang sa kanila, bumalik kami ng opisina dahil doon may pagkain, upuan, higaan, airconditioned, at may wash room.

sabi ng kasama ko "may sasakyan tayo, may pera tayo pero hindi tayo makauwi. wala tayong magawa"

totoo, pagdating sa ganitong mga sitwasyon, mayaman ka man o mahirap wala kang magawa when nature strikes. sa tv pinapakita kung gaano kataas ang tubig baha. ang iba sa bubong na bahay na sila nagstay dahil umabot na hanggang second floor ang tubig. makati, quezon city, manila, pasig, marikina, rizal...walang ligtas sa tubig baha. 1st floor, second floor or third floor man yang bahay nyo, inabot pa rin ng baha.

isang buwan na konsumo daw ng ulan ang binuhos ni ondoy ayon sa pag-asa. napakalakas nya, ang dami nyang baon na tubig. hindi ba nya alam na sobra sobra na tayo sa tubig baha...i feel blessed dahil walang baha sa lugar namin, pero sobrang depressing ang napapanood kong balita sa tv, oh ondoy!

sabi nga after the storm there's a rainbow, and the sun will shine again..
may it shine so bright tomorrow..

it was a dream

It was easy to tell, I’m not a swimmer. My hand grasp firmly on each edge of the pool. My body soaked in the warm liquid and I let my feet enjoy the movement of the water.

I looked down and see how pure and clear the water is. From my position, I could vividly see how deep it was too. Oh inviting, slowly I moved my body, in its own modest way embracing the stillness the water offer.

I’m in control I thought, but it was also that moment that I realized my hands bit by bit is slipping away. “I can’t swim, I will be drowned” i told myself.
No one is prepared, no one see the vision. I tried to hold on tightly but my body made no move. Through my feet, I tried to reach the bottom of the pool, but I forgot that the water is as deep as the ocean.

Help, I shouted but no one is hearing me. I would die, and it’s unavoidable echoed in my mind. Soon, my body was quickly but smoothly moving down....down...but amidst the incidence I felt peace and quiet.

And so I took advantage of the calm to think and ponder all the blessings that God has bestowed on me, for all the teachings He thought and for the opportunity to experience life. I’ve seen & heard it all with perfect clarity as I utter…”Lord take me in, I’m ready to die”

Then, I woke up...