It has been more than two weeks since the onslaught of Super-typhoon Odette but the effect has just started. I am writing this at the office after 2 weeks of unstable internet connection and no access to power with Brgy Mabolo in the background. Still in power outage, with little to no access to water, intermittent phone signal, fallen tress and electric poles, uncollected trash, and yes traffic. I finished my filtered water in an aquaflask container I bought in a local store holiday sale just before the typhoon struck the province and continue writing.
December 16, 2:35pm
I took my last phone contact and glimpsed at the glass window at what is coming. The sky was gloomy with a little bit of rain. I keep telling myself that it will just be another storm trying to dampen the holidays and then get back with my customer. I was happy assisting the customer making sure her package will arrive on time and call it a day. The sky slowly darkens as we went out to the parking area where the driver is waiting for us anxiously. He immediately maneuvers, as we boarded the shuttle, his way out of the building going south. The rain keep pouring as we approached the south road project with cars piling up in traffic.
I am not ready I said to myself, my phone is not fully charge, I do not have enough cash in my wallet, and no extra food just in case.
As we reached the town of San Fernando, an electric pole fell causing another traffic.
I say a little prayer to calm myself as the possibility of a devastating storm started to sink in.
We arrived at Carcar at 5:30 in the afternoon but it looks like it is already late in the evening as the power went out in the entire city. A storm is coming.
At 6:30pm, it was already pitch-black outside but a thin lightning from a distance gave a hint at how messy the surrounding is. Falling leaves already covers the front porch while the water overflows from the clogged drainage. I was hoping of spending the evening in my bed fitted with freshly laundered sheets I bought at Shopee and a list of netflix movies I downloaded earlier that day.
The wind was gushing back and forth at 7:45pm, terrorizing my trailing philodendrons. The service area walling that is made of lite materials were still hanging but almost giving up. But the rain-water already entered, soaking the area. I can hear the sound of the wind whistling from the outside eerily, reminding me of the previous deadly typhoon I fortunately survived. I braved the wind and sheltered my philodendrons and my other indoor plants I unfairly placed outside.
It was 9 in the evening when a burst of strong wind accompanied by torrential rain dampened the living room soaking my overpriced pink Persian rug. I feel sorry for my furbabies taking comfort at the carpet warming themselves getting relocated. I heard them meowing from a corner I forgot they have not eaten their dinner yet. Sorry memeng!
I was so sleepy already but the constant shaking of the roof had me on the verge of a nervous breakdown, keeping me wake the whole evening. And then the wind stop all of a sudden. Like a rays of sunshine, I was feeling hopeful. There was peace and silence until a shrieking sound slowly escalated into a barrage of wind banging from every direction. It was the calm before the storm. She's here!
The darkness added to the horror and desperate state of the night along with the hustling sound of the wind everywhere.
It was almost midnight but it appears the storm has no plan of stopping. I peek at the window and my neighbors roof already gave up and the trees were bowing almost hitting the house besides it. The water keeps on getting in and I can hear the wind trying to pierce thru the jalousie window almost breaking it. God save us!
I feel asleep uncertain of what is going to happen and letting fate take care of the rest of the night.
Tho I'm not in Visayas when Odette struck, I can still imagine how devastating it was by reading your blog 🤧 The circumstances you've experienced are really unfortunate po talaga, traffic + not enough food + no battery left in phone, etc. Glad you guys survived this typhoon and you guys have been surviving the aftermath it caused :<<
This is so out of context, but I'm really really impressed with your writing. You let me imagine the scenarios vividly, + the pictures helped too. Fighting, everyone!
Thank you for the compliments, appreciate it. It was very hard but there are no other way but to survive.
I am glad you're safe, been checking you guys baya. 😭
I know Carcar was one of the area na greatly affected.
It took me 5 days to charge my fone and get a signal. Sigh. Twas hard,
You katkat the bukid for sure hehehe
Grabe jud ang atong na experience ni Odette sir
Truth, grabe ka lisod to the point of using the cistern water in fushing the toilet, haha
That's why I hate storm🥲😢
It don't like wetting
How often you experience typhoon in your country?
I feel the "nervous breakdown" part ferds. The feeling of unsure if you're safe at that moment is very scary jod. I'm happy that we are all safe now.
I know right, it is like the end of the world as we know it.. i feel bad sa koa silingan
Hahaha ayaw ba.
Congratulations @baninan! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):
Your next target is to reach 300 replies.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!