Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines

Last September 26, 2009, Saturday was the worst experience that the Philippines had. A typhoon named Ondoy set off since Friday night. Heavy rains poured out and hence dams had to release waters that caused so much flood throughout the NCR and CALABARZON area. We were one of the few who are lucky here in the Novaliches Gulod area. But sadly, most of our neighbors were badly devastated by this tragedy. That morning My sister and cousin went to the clinic for the check up of my niece. I was washing our clothes then, I was with my niece and uncle. During the afternoon, my sister texted my uncle that they had nowhere to go because of too much flood. But then they were lucky and went on a shortcut and got home safely. During that time, I was busy washing clothes and helping my niece with her project. My uncle was uneasy and he was going out of our house to check out the flood in our area and was saddened to see that 4 houses apart from ours was flooded until  the 2nd floor of their house and when we checked our window from the back of our house it was like a sea of mud. My sister took pictures of it:

That area was Joan of Ark. We were shocked and was so afraid that we packed our important things and set it to our van just in case the flood would go into our house. We heard a lot of screams, and even witnessed a pile of men who are in their rooftop saving someone. We are afraid ourselves and even crying and praying that the rain would stop.

This was taken in the front of our house. 4 houses away from ours.

Half of our subdivision was merged in sea of flushing mud. Our chapel was wiped out. The bridge beside it was destroyed. Many of our neighbor's houses crashed. Later that afternoon, about 5 pm the rain stopped and the water slowly went down. That night, the water decreased and left a lot of damage to properties and even lives.
The next morning, my Uncle went out to see what happened. He said, there are many trashes in the street, dirty and muddy, he also took videos of the scenario. This was taken with the same window as yesterday:

That mud-like sea yesterday was the pile of houses. All were fixing their houses. And some where asking for help, especially their loved ones who where victimized by the calamity.

All day we tuned in the news, and was shocked to see that so many were stranded, lost their homes and lost their lives. It was very alarming that many of the places that we don't expect to have this would end up like this. In a span of time, this would happen. News said that the amount of rain  that happened during that 9 hours was more likely to be compared to a 1 month of rainfall. Also the government did not warn people that they would be releasing water in the dams. Private and exclusive subdivisions are also victimized, all walks of life were victims of these. Hundreds were killed, thousands were homeless, billions worth of properties were damaged. I am very thankful that we were not part of this and not harmed. I pray that all those who experienced this would be able to get up and be able to rebuild again. Although the lives that were taken can't come back, let's pray for their souls and may they be with God our Father.