never underestimate.

That's the lesson I learned yesterday.

Typhoon Ondoy started out as a drizzle and a "harmless" rain. After a few hours, thousand of lives were destroyed.



This was the scene outside our office yesterday. We actually got amused coz we haven't seen a flood for many years now. The real wake-up call was when we saw how high the water really was. A house in one of the side streets of ABS already sank in floodwater. The whole afternoon was more like a time of reflection. We never felt more homesick our entire lives. Some even had to sleep in the office. I was lucky enough that I could crash in Greenhills, nearer than Malabon. EDSA was already passable as of 9pm.

Back to Malabon afternoon today. No more traffic. And the lights fortunately went on right at the second we arrived. Just a few steps from our house, just a wall dividing us from the other street...people are swimming in flood.

I am forever thankful that my family's safe but a big part of me is still for people out there, still stranded and who hasn't eaten for two days now. I am still fearful for my friends living in flood devastated areas who I haven't heard from til now.

I'm praying everyone's safe.

These are the numbers you can call if you want to help:

SAGIP KAPAMILYA: For donations:# 13 Examiner St. West Triangle, Quezon City Warehouse tel. no: +632-413-2667

For more info: http://www.sagipkapamilya.com/index.php?page=don

RESCUE: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173224/disaster-emergency-hotlines-you-can-call-911-1873-912-5296-912-2665

KAPUSO Foundation:

2/F GMA Kapuso Center Samar St. cor. 11th Jamboree St. Diliman, Quezon City 1103, PhilippinesContact Nos: (632) 9827777loc. 9901/9904/9905632) 9289351 and (632) 9284299 (telefax numbers)

RED CROSS: http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx


I hope this serves a lesson for all of us to start thinking of the future, amidst a world threatened by global warming. We must never think that the world still has a few months or years to survive. We should always think that anything can happen. And we must always act as soon as possible.