Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Day After Typhoon Ondoy - Santolan, Pasig City

The day after Typhoon Ondoy hit, despite my being depressed about losing my apartment, I accompanied one of our househelpers to Santolan in Pasig City (close to Marikina and the Cainta area). We brought rice, clothes, water, and other necessities for her relatives. I also had some other stuff for other people. At this point, Marcos Highway was somewhat still impassable so taking a car was out of the question. So we walked from IVS to Santolan. First via major Dizon where we waded through the leg-deep mud, then up the elevated walkway that connects SM Marikina to the LRT. It was easier walking barefoot over the cement walkway but on the road -- that was tough. Then when we got to Santolan, we took a trike to the school. There was a government task force handing over medicines and some foodstuffs. The only available light was from candles, flash lights, lamps, and moonlight. Talk about tough. On the way back, I walked once more this time alone in the dark. 
Free medical check up for the displaced by Typhoon Ondoy. The water in this srea was anywhere from 10-20 feet deep and many people were hungry and dehydrated. 
Inside the classrooms of the public school were more than 40 people and many of them adults. It was suffocating and real depressing. People were upset and angry over the disaster. They were angry because of what the perceive was the release of water from the dams (I don't necessarily agree with that even if I too was a victim) and the slowness of the government's response. I thought that everyone was caught flat-footed. It also serves as a warning about Climate Change. 

Into every bag of relief goods were a couple of bottles of medicine, mineral water, one de lata, and rice.
On the school stage, they were distributing medicines and water. I figure these donations were from the Office of the Preisdent as there were banners and plastic bags that had the image of PGMA on them.
This volunteer was real beat after pulling an all-nighter. You can see the mud mark on his leg -- an indication of how deep it was.
These refugees were able to save their stove and a gas tank that allowed them to cook some left over food before it spoiled. In this refugee center, there were donations of food, medicine, and clothing but when the food ran out, it was up to every person to scrounge for their own.
The school corridors of Santolan Elemenetary School were also teeming with refugees. The day after Ondoy hit, there was no light and no running water in this area. It was frightening as well. People were just hungry and scared. 

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