Typhoon Ondoy

Date: Typhoon Ondoy arrived on Sept 26, 2009.
Location Cambridge Village, Cainta, Rizal.

Woke up 3AM.
About to wake up the family to travel to Pampanga.
But it was still raining. Sleep overcame the desire to travel.
Then it was morning.
After having breakfast, we were monitoring the weather, it was now raining very hard.
News says that it will be like this all day.
Noticed the Rancho Verde (our little name to our view on the window) has now knee-deep high of water.

Before lunch was finish electricity died down. No news.
We watched in horror, water is rising inch after inch of height.

These pictures are the aftermath of the Typhoon Ondoy D2 to D3.

My son, Izaac, as he watched Rancho Verde's flood water.


People living in the roof of their houses. Waiting for help.


With the things or pets they can save.


People were looking for wood to be used for fire. Or maybe someting to eat.


Our Village parking lot. Submerged in water. The parking wall collapsed due to high current.


A view of Rancho Verde. No more rain and yet water is still rising.


Another view of Rancho Verde.


This vehicle, although already retired. Showed how deep is the water. On D1, this was totally submerged.




At last, help is on its way.





On Day 3, we decided to evacuate to Pampanga. Then monitor the news from there.

Mass murder at first degree.

I grew up in Pampanga. Capital, San Fernando now a city. But recently I heard a news about a road widening project. They are cutting down that trees that are planted along the McArthur HiWay. This is their story...

This is the boundary of those murdered trees and the last remaining of their kind.


Concern Kabalens drew images of people and hearts to show them that they are like us.
They have the right to live.


This is how I remembered those trees.
Taken few kilometers from the clearing made by man's onslaught.


A signage showing the project.

I am not familiar with the issues at hand.
I am just sadden by the lost of tree lives that was made just to give way to progress.

Maybe there's a better way. There is, always.

Currently, the cutting down stopped.
Maybe after the election, they will resume.
We just need to elect the ones that really care.

San Isidro Labrador Parish

Nangka, Marikina
Edited using Picasa.

Long time, No see

Been busy.
I got no time for PP.
But I tried using purely Picasa to edit this image.
My son doesn't like posing very much.
Moments like this are very rare.

PP Done:
-B&W
-Filter B&W
-Add Grain
-Add Soft Focus

It hurts me to stare.

I was trying to enhance this image.
I was adjusting contrast.
I was indecisive on what to say.
Then I just stared.
Then it hit me.
He was staring back...

Bata, Tabo at Batya

BATA:
1) b´ata n. nightgown, robe, dressing gown
2) b´ata' n. child
3) b´ata' adj. young, immature bat´a magbata, bumata (mag-:- in) v. to endure, to tolerate, to bear, to suffer. Nagbata ng hirap ang aking ina para sa aking kinabukasan. My mother endured hardships for my fu- ture.

TABO:
t´abo' n. a dipper, scoop, usually a coconut shell or an empty can · magTabo', tumabo', tab´uin (mag:-um-:-in) v. to scoop water with a coconut shell or an empty can, to use a dipper or a coconut shell or an empty can. Tumabo siya ng tubig sa tapayan. He scooped out water from the earthen jar.

BATYA:
baty´a' n. laundry tub, flat basin

--from the Tagalog Dictionary

Punished without a Sin

Innocence in their eyes.
He did nothing wrong.
Though we punished them.
Maybe far from reality?
This maybe true.

On a side note: Batman unmasked.