The Sendong Tragedy

Magdadalawang linggo na matapos ang nangyaring flash flood sa Iligan at CDO. Napakasudden talaga. Baha here and there. Baha everywhere. Hooh.... Until now, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala but then I'm just thankful kay God for the lives of those who were able to survive. At least bagong buhay. Time to reflect and change. Of course, hindi ito magiging madali. I've seen the destruction. Naputol na tulay. Ruined houses. Dead bodies. Nakakatakot at nakakalungkot.

 

Photo from Doppelganger

It happened so fast. Walang mag-aakalang at exactly 1am... some lives will end. Karamihan pa ay mga bata at matatanda. That night of December 16, kahit ulan nang ulan, party everywhere. Christmas party nga kasi. Institute party nang MSU-IIT, department parties. Personally, I was happy that night of December 16. Umuwi galing Laguna ang isa sa mga closest friends ko and she even visited our department and kind of joined the party. It was the awarding night of the 2 day Skills Competition nang department namin. Foundation day kasi nang depatment namin. We had so much fun habang nagbabatuhan nang pick-up lines. By 10pm, we all went home while ako naman, went straight to Jolibee to meet the unit head of CYA, we were going to have an overnight christmas party at Linamon. Humabol lang ako dahil nga sa christmas party namin sa department. 

10pm - 4pm. We just played games sa isang bahay na nirentahan namin na nasa tabi lang nang dagat. Malakas pa rin ang ulan at ang hangin. Para na ngang ililipad ang bubungan pero, ayun, tawanan to the max pa rin kami. Exchanging gifts and all the sharing and presentations. Nakuha ko pang magpost nang status sa FB about quarter to 4pm. One of our sisters said na nagtext na nga raw ang mama niya at sinabing binaha na daw sila but we never really thought that it was that worst. Sanay na rin kasi ang Iligan na binabaha  ng hanggang tuhod basta mayroong continuous na ulan. Wala kaming kamalay-malay sa mga nangyayari until we went home 7 in the morning.

We passed by Tambacan and the view stunned us. Sirang mga bahay. Walang katapusang putik. We reached the city at ganon din. Putik at napakaraming kalat. Wala naman masyadong tubig and then we reached Tibanga. Nagtaka pa kami kung bakit napakaraming tao. Yon pala mga evacuees. We reached San Miguel at doon ako natakot. Hindi makadaan ang jeep na sinasakyan namin sa main na daanan dahil hanggang baywang ang tubig at makapal din ang putik. Bumalik kami at sa Redemptorist dumaan at it was the same. Never na nangyari sa Iligan ang ganong klaseng baha. pinasok nang putik ang Church at hanggang tuhod ang tubig mula doon hanggang sa dormitory na pinasukan ko. Good thing was that our Dormitory was elevated at hindi napasukan ang first floor kundi tanging ang reception area lamang. Our neighbors were the ones na sobrang naapektuhan. Hanggang leeg daw ang tubig sa kanila mga 2am mabuti na lang at natulungan at naevacuate sila nang landlord namin.  

The next two days, me and my classmates spent our days circling Iligan distributing relief goods. For the first time, I was able to go to some places in Iligan that I have never been before. Some of my teachers, classmates and friends were severely affected. Yong isang teacher nga namin, puro putik ang bahay nila from ground to roof. Yong ref nila nakasabit sa kisami nang tindahan nila. I even saw dead bodies being transferred. One of the faculties of MSU-IIT died. Natrap daw sa loob nang bahay at nang makuha na ang bangkay kinabukasan, magkahawak kamay sila nang asawa niya. (sighs) One of the students in our department was even missing and is still being searched up to now. One of my classmate lost their houses and we searched for her for so long. Kahapon nga lang namin siya nacontact. At least nakunan kami nang tinik sa dibdib.

I really don't know what to feel. I'm thankful na hindi ako nasali sa nangyari but then nalulungkot ako para sa maga taong nawalan, mga buhay na nawala. It was tragic. What hurts more ay iyong naging napanegative opinyon ni Celine Acut na kinlaim pa na taga MSU-IIT siya. Sobrang nakakahiya siya. My Gulay!!!.. 

Anyways, one thing is for sure. Nothing is certain in our life pero God has a purpose. I believe, everything happens for a reason.  We just have to strengthen our faith and keep on believing and remember that He is always there for us. Mahirap mag-move on pero in time, magheheal din tayong lahat sa trauma na dinulot ni Sendong.