dasocialclimber

I am Kat, and I am from Iligan City. I have no plans on writing articles at the moment since I am very very very busy attending evacuation centers, volunteering and updating my FB posts to help spread the news and updates of the current situation here in Iligan City. But seeing my hometown how terrible and how badly damaged, I really think my time wasted in writing is so much reasonable. I am writing this to express my feelings and to extend help to my fellow countrymen. I am not actually asking for help, I am BEGGING you.

I just can’t imagine how devastated the city is, the muddy citizens and dusty streets. And everytime I check my FB wall, I can see how my friends get updates to help the City. Yet, other people were not informed how the typhoon struck both Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities.

Screnario:

Last Friday, December 16, 2011, around 10 PM, the rain has started to fall. This was no super heavy rain unlike the storms we had experienced before. (Actually, our place rarely hit by typhoons since Iligan City settled beside mountain ranges) But during midnight, the wind had started to whip everything from the outside that Im afraid our roof will be taken off. I was actually watching a movie that time. Moments later I can hear splashes of the water and cracks of the trees attempting to fall down. I decided to turn off my laptop and went to sleep.

When I wake up, my father said, “Cagayan de Oro has experienced flashflood that wiped the entire village”… For real? I mean… This is no Luzon! I was speechless. Then news came in. I got a lot of text messages. No phone signal. I can’t text. No landline. No internet connection. What happen last night?

One by one I read my messages. The first message: from my college friend asking how’s my family and if we are okay. 2^nd: the same message from different person. And oh I got a lot of missed calls. I wanted to text back by I just couldn’t send a message.

When I went out, I saw my sister’s husband and overheard the shocking news. What happen? I asked. “Last night was terrible. The sea level rises and everyone was shouting. We have vacated our house and went to a much higher place. The current is so strong but we couldn’t tell where the water came from. In the morning I can see flood waters. They are brown and a there are pile of logs along the shoreline.” For real?

Later I heard the news over the radio that Orchid’s village, Santiago, Bayug, Hinaplanon, and other nearby areas were affected. Then more and more similar stories were told. OMG! What happen? Then I started receiving text brigade to pack used clothes, canned goods, rice and other basic needs for people in evacuation centers. I then told my mom to pack right away.

At around 4 PM, our internet connection got back. Check my mail. Facebook. There are many photos. Shocking photos actually. There were people soak with muds walking across the streets. Flood areas where only roofs are seen. Dead people are place side by side. Still I couldn’t believe that this was happening in our beloved City. Right then and there, I have decided to help in anyway I can. Even just by spreading the news and for donation, gathering news, volunteering, etc. etc. This is the time when we can see and embrace our bayanihan.