Bloody FLOOD!

Okay, I know this post might be late and it does not have to do anything about ART or WGMG; however, this is an event that damaged my plans and almost took away half of my soul: the WORST FLOOD that hit my hometown, OLONGAPO.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71289/olongapo-reels-from-worst-flooding-ever

On my quest to look for a better career, I went to Manila and then stayed in Guadalupe with my friends. After a week of searching for a new work, I decided to go home; however, on September 23, 2013, because of the continuous rainfall, Olongapo was swallowed by the flood, and hence my trip to go home was delayed.

Upon knowing what happened to Olongapo, I immediately go online on my mobile to see the news. I already know that Olongapo is usually visited by flood whenever a heavy downpour occurs (thanks to our WONDERFUL government); on the other hand,  I was stunned by the videos and pictures uploaded on Facebook!  Olongapenos have never experienced a flood that was enough to drown a five-foot tall person.

I called my mum to see if they are doing alright. My brother was the one who answered the phone; he then told me that our house and some of our belongings were eaten by the flood. He also mentioned me that he wasn’t able to save some of my belongings, and my guitar was one of them.

This is my friend’s bass guitar. This was the one that got drowned, not my acoustic guitar.

I felt like my heart just fell from my buttocks. I just couldn’t help myself but cry. I also felt guilty because I wasn’t there to help my family. I talked to some of my friends to keep myself calm and sane.

This is our dog Krauser. He was the one who woke up my mum, on the day the big flood happened. He pretended that he was vomiting to force my mum to get out from her bed. Thankfully, he succeeded! He made my mum worried because she taught he was really sick; however, she soon found out that it was all an act. It was an act to alarm her that the water was already at our door step.

On Wednesday, 25^th of September, I could finally go home. While I was on the road, listening to FT Island’s Compass, I couldn’t help but cry a bit. I felt very sad and scared, scared that my artworks, art materials, computer, clothes, shoes and other things were already covered in mud.

My brother’s medical books.

When I got home, my house was in a mess. Our refrigerator was not saved and all the plugs in the house were wet. We couldn’t use it! The only plugs that we could use were the ones placed in my room and the bathroom because the flood did not reach them.

My room still had some mud on the floor.  My desk where my computer is placed and where I sometimes draw, did not escaped the muddy situation.

This is my computer desk and this is where I also draw and write.

I then went to my aunt’s house, where most of our things where placed; her house has a second floor so whenever we encountered a flood, we evacuate in her pad. As I got to her house, I immediately looked for my things.  I almost cried when I found my COPIC markers and my artworks. My sketchbooks were drenched; however, thankfully, I used waterproof ink and pencil so they weren’t that damaged. My computer was also there but I haven’t tried it out. I still don’t know if it’s working. I’m afraid to test it.

I asked my brother about what happened, and he just told me that it seemed like a nightmare that he wants to forget. I didn’t pester him anymore because he was so upset about what happened, who could blame him.

Our house is near the river.

The wall that covers our land was destroyed by the strong current. For now, we just covered it with pieces of wood.

All of our slippers were taken away by the flood. Fortunately, my mum found some slippers that got drifted in our backyard. All of them don’t have matching pairs.

My shoe. Its pair was lost in the flood.

After my chit-chat with my brother, I then felt tired, caused by my 3 and half hours journey. Thus, I just slept in my mother’s bed, which was covered in plastic, then a comforter.

My pet cat sleeping on top of the trash bin.

My father’s pet rooster.

In the morning, I helped out to wash the clothes that were soaked in mud.  There was still no sun; hence, drying them was very difficult.

My mum drying out the laundry.

My Winnie the Pooh that got soaked from the mud.

This is just some of the junk that the flood left us.

This is the back of my sister’s computer shop.

I just hope that this NIGHTMARE would not happen again. I want to thank GOD for saving my family! I’m so grateful that no one was hurt. My family is still blessed. I’m truly thankful for that.

This is my kitten, Mi-chan. Even though she’s blind, she’s very strong and smart.

About my artworks that survived, I will post another entry about it next time.