The family gathered over boxes of Shakey's Pizza and Chick n Chips tonight. A quiet celebration of sorts meant to shake off three days of anxiety.
My sister Mia, and her family, including my one-year old niece, were stranded on the second floor of their home in Riverside Pasig. No phone, no electricity, and no means to communicate to the outside world. My brother-in-law's text on Saturday, at twelve noon was a plea for help because the flood waters were rising and about to reach the second floor. There was no communication after that.
My parents were beside themselves. Not knowing what to do. It was foolish to go to them, especially when radio and television report of epic destruction (and even casualties) along the long road to Pasig. Even the driver was dealing with his own crisis, a house also submerged in violent waters.
Another sister, Janet, was dealing with a monstrous traffic jam while bringing home her husband who has just been discharged from St. Luke's after minor surgery. Theirs would be a five-hour journey from the hospital to their home in Donya Carmen Subdivision. Her child, my two year old niece, was at home. The yaya phoned to say that flood water was slowly creeping into their house as well.
My sister at Riverside recounts days of waiting in fear, especially at night when it was pitch black. The residents in that townhouse complex slept with one eye open, hoping to hear the sound of rescue workers. My brother-in-law saved a drowning puppy, a dachshund. It was their neighbor's. It died a few hours later. It could have been the shock, or ingestion of dirty water, he said. Potable water became scarce and my sister decreed that whatever remained will be kept for the baby. The parents and yaya were ready to drink from the faucet if it came down to it.
Meanwhile my parents are crazed with worry. Hoping to hear from Mia. No one recalls their address, or her husband's next of kin. I check Facebook regularly, hoping to read an update. I sent messages to my brother in law's FB account but got no responses. Sunday, rubberized boats from the Philippine Navy arrive at Riverside and assessed the damage. Yet, no rescues were made. They arrived a few minutes later with relief goods. My sister lifted her baby for the rescuers to see. That merited an extra supply of food. It was straight out of a disaster movie. But it was real. This morning we got a call from my brother in law. The flood has subsided. The house in shambles. But at least they are all right.
The family gathered over boxes of Shakey's Pizza and Chick n Chips tonight, at Fonda Street. The two nieces are noisy. They like playing with each other, and watching Elmo and Sesame Street. The adults wolf down slices of Garlic n Cheese, Pepperoni and Manager's Choice. We kid around, debating on who gets the bigger slice, we horse around on who gets the heftier fried Chicken. Sister Janet says jokingly- it’s like Thanksgiving dinner. I couldn't agree more.
