By: Ricardo Roy A. Lopoez
My problem started at around 7:30 in the evening. It was the end of my shift and I had to catch up with my relatives at a Japanese restaurant (Nonki, F. Torres St., Davao City). As the downpour was quite heavy, I was not able to hail a taxicab. I called my mother and she told me that she asked one of my cousins to pick me up from the office. After a few minutes, my cousin called me and said that the high water level at F. Torres St. has made it impassable. With this, my mother called me again and I was told to stay at the office as they will wait for the water to subside. So they could pick me up.
So I decided to wait inside the office for my relatives to fetch me. After 30 minutes, I decided to call my sister and ask for updates. I was told that the water level was still too high for the vehicles to pass and that I should just find a nearby restaurant so I can take my dinner. At this point, I went downstairs to look for a restaurant and saw a colleague who was just waiting for the rain to stop.
This fellow employee told me that the Jolibee restaurant 3 blocks away was still open. So we decided to share my small umbrella and slowly made our way to this restaurant. As we walked along San Pedro St., we were shocked to find that it was partially flooded to the point that some stranded commuters started removing their office shoes. It was also becoming clear that a lot of people were still unable to go home. As we approached Jollibee, we realized that it was already closed. We decided to head to the nearby Chowking restaurant which it turns out was also closed. With this, we decided to find another restaurant.
I suddenly remembered a nearby Dunkin Donuts restaurant. I then told my colleague that we should spend our time there. When we approached the donut store, we were relieved to find out that it is open for 24 hours and still had some vacant tables. With that, we decided to go inside and wait for the rain to slow down.
We ordered our meals and talked for a while. With this, I decided to call my sister and mother to update them on my current location. I looked at my watch and was horrified to realize that it was already 9:30 pm. 30 minutes later (10pm), the rain had stopped and my friend decided to go home. I realized that a lot of people were going to Dunkin Donuts so they could use the restroom. However, the employees told them that there was no running water in the establishment. It was not clear if the lack of running water was related to the floods.
An hour later (11pm), I once again contacted my mother and sister. I then decided to walk the streets of San Pedro to find a taxi. When I left Dunkin Donuts, I was shocked to find that some commuters were still stranded. As I walked, I realized that a lot of empty passing taxis refused to stop for anyone. This is probably out of fear that their units will be forced by passengers to traverse impassable routes.
I then decided to try to find a taxicab at Quezon blvd. To my surprise, the streetlights were out which made it hard for me to spot a taxi. As I waited there, I saw a jeepney that was already full of people. I also decided to call some taxi operators from my cellphone. All of them told me that they no longer have units. With this, I lost hope that I could still find a taxi in this part of the city.
Hence, I returned to San Pedro Street. To my surprise, my mother called me. I was told that our neighbourhood (Juna Subd., Matina Crossing) might be flooded and experiencing power outage. I was then instructed to head towards our clan’s apartment somewhere along Quirino blvd. As I was walking near the police barracks, a taxi noticed me.
As I rode into the taxi, I informed the driver about my destination. He was quite hesitant as the said blvd might still be flooded. However, I told him to try and see whether the road is passable or otherwise. To our surprise, the waters have already subsided. As I arrived at the dormitory, I called the attention of the guard and stayed at the management office.
After a few minutes of my arrival, the guard told me that my mother already called. By this time, one of the dorm’s attendant informed me that the room upstairs was already prepared. However, I refused to stay in the rooms because it was an exclusive ladies’ dormitory. So I brought a couple of things from the nearby convenience store and waited for my relatives to arrive.
At around 30 minutes past midnight, my mother, sister and other relatives arrived. My aunt called the Davao City Central 911 to ask for any updates with our neighbourhood. We were informed that electricity has resumed and that the water has subsided. We then decided to return home.
As I got home, I was could not help but think about those living in the flood-prone areas. I was sure that they were already evacuated. I somehow wish that they would be okay. With that, I realized how lucky I truly am. I took a shower and called it a day. One heck of a day indeed.
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