THE last weeks have been never ending for me. I wrote about how August was tough on my schedule. Then September came. That Sunday (Sept. 2) after family kainan, I headed down to Manila for an early morning flag raising in Camp Crame to receive an award last Monday (Sept. 3).
Upon arrival in Baguio, I walk along Kennon Road to a meeting in Choobi Choobi from my place, needed the exercise. While in Baguio, I got an invite back to Manila for a business orientation with Joy scheduled for a Friday (Sept. 7). Being a Friday, we left after her classes a day before (Sept. 6). Done.
A treat for Tower of Power and Kalapana Concert to end the day. Back to Baguio next day (Sept.??, then family kainan again. I learned of Tito Pogz passing (Sept. 9), we were just together that Tuesday having so much fun.
Monday (Sept. 10) I was to be honored in Camp Dangwa by the Police Regional Office. I had to excuse myself as I was to go to Quirino the same day and surely it will take some time to get there. Tuesday (Sept.11) and after my meeting I head back to Baguio.
Wednesday (Sept. 12) I had a meeting in the bank and a family meeting for dinner. Thursday (Sept. 13) I drive back down for an important affair. Fortunate to seat alongside President FVR and Mayor Domogan. I am provided for some accommodations which I share with my son. Boys night out it was.
The morning of Friday (Sept.14) we get some brunch before breaking up and I back up the mountains. I will pick up Joy and my girls but before having dinner with Dad and driving back down to Manila. Classes the whole week suspended from Batang Pinoy anyway.
Dinner was fun. We take off just after we hear three sirens, signaling a warning of the impending storm. We escaped just as the rain comes. It is 9 in the evening. Marcos was dark and foggy followed by wind and rain. I just had stop for a break and rest at Chowking in Rosario. It was scary.
TPLEx was worse by then, toppled pylons and barriers were in the middle of the road, I barely missed some, I see a Patrol and wanted to inform him before any accidents. The rain and wind much stronger, no way to stop, I head on. By the end of the toll gate, I inform the lady to report of the scattered debris in the expressway. She will make the call.
Along SLEX and Skyway the wind and rain was picking up. It is 1:30 in the morning of Saturday (Sept.15) and Typhoon Ompong has made landfall. I normally could not sleep from adrenaline from driving plus the weather, that's just me. Almost daybreak and I am still awake from what I see over at Facebook and Instagram.
Baguio and neighboring La Trinidad are under the weather as the sun comes up. And for the whole morning is pummeled with heavy downpour. Juan may never imagine a mountainous area being flooded, but it happened. Well it has happened before but this is just different.
Only until day's end that many are still coping with water gushing everywhere. Worse was the waterways which just couldn't take it. Roads and slopes become waterfalls. Rain did not relent, up until sundown when it seizes.
Sunday (Sept. 16) I will find devastation in Baguio and Benguet. To think that both are hosts for the Batang Pinoy National Finals. What makes it difficult for me to fathom is why didn't the organizers check on the weather? Most if not all took precaution. UPCAT and La Salle cancelled it's supposed exams even before the storm hit. I would have assumed the same. The Philippine Sports Commission have no idea of what is going on in Baguio. Even all access is closed, isolated we are.
While this may just be side story, let it be known that most schools that are used as evacuation centers were reserved for the billeting of the athletes. I am just glad that so far all athletes are accounted for. Except for lack of food and blankets things are well. Still it would have been a difficult plight as we in our homes were already distraught, they were in our public schools.
Most deaths come from Itogon, mining I suspect the culprit. It is always the same every time. I know. But it pains me when first responders are also the statistic. I was taught of some protocol for rescue of miners in a landslide in Itogon where I was asked to assist and respond, and it's not what we all think. Actually it will not involve any typical rescue, since it will endanger the rescuers lives. Water and hosing debris down is it. I witnessed how some survivors were freed and lived. Tonyboy Tabora a Mining Engineer from Mapua has taught me many things about mining. An expert he is. But I have no solution for being swept away by rushing flood water which surely will also add up to the numbers. Living along waterways a no no.
I learned that Governor Pacalso gave out some evacuation orders but to no avail. Police were sent next but still the same. Torrential rain we experienced for a whole month and I would readily assume that the soil underneath it has weakened. Then the storm. This I think made everything much worse. Thinking that we may have overcome the worst from monsoon rains which were equally strong and unrelenting.
Baguio and Benguet and its people are resilient. But I would like to have been more on the cautious side of things, heeding calls and warnings from authorities. I saw some lack of it the past days. Areas directly in the path have zero to minimal loss of life. Gov. Dy of Isabela, Gov. Cua of Quirino, Governor Bernos of Apayao, zero. Abra, Ilocos Sur and Norte, Cagayan and Nueva Viscaya, very minimal losses.
While we were just along its swath there must have been some complacency on our end. Maybe even some brash, knowing that we just experienced heavy monsoon for a whole month. But the data being shown was that of a super typhoon and it seems we took it for granted.
It was on Sunday (Sept. 16) when I informed ASEC. Marie that they were looking at the wrong place. I told her to focus on Baguio and Benguet and check out the devastation. Only then did every Juan find out the real situation. Soon after the President comes over.
As of late there are still more being recovered. Survivors I can't tell. Villages that just disappeared. More than a hundred in the end and it is still September. A Seminar and 3 trips more to Manila and I hope I'm done for the month.