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Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) Experience: Of Badminton and Flooded Metro

Sometimes, there are things we get so excited about that we wade through floods and brave typhoons just to do it. And I’m talking about badminton here, the oft-postponed badminton meet-up with Doc Z plus the typhoon Ondoy experience.

Of Badminton

It’s been a while since I played badminton. For a badminton addict, two months is too much. The last time I played, I only lasted three soft games as my knees complained. Don’t mention age. Don’t mention weight. I blamed my current predicament on the basketball games I played during my teens. You know the banging of bodies, the broken ankles, the displaced finger bones and torn ligaments.

So it was during Iblog5 that we talked about badminton. That was four months ago, and it was only last Saturday that our date on court was materialized. I left Sucat, Parañaque quarter before 9am. It was drizzling. I phoned my wife in Cebu while traversing SLEX (bad me). She warned me of a coming typhoon. At that time, heavy rains began to pour while I passed by the C-5 exit. “You should have not left home” she said.

But I had not actually seen what a flood looks like in Manila. I assured my wife that I can take care of myself. In reality, I was just prepared for badminton, and not for the flood.

I picked up Doc Z at Pasong Tamo at a little past 9am. I made a U-turn and headed to the badminton court. It was already knee high from Don Bosco up to de la Rosa Street. My Mitsubishi Adventure easily made it to our destination. Parking was full, so I just parked on the street side. Water was still ankle-deep, yet I had to walk barefoot as I failed to bring slippers.

And so we played badminton. I could see Doc’s eyes twinkle on the opposite side of the court. His partner was also doing his best to win. Two months layoff, I felt rusty during the first game. It was a walk in the park for them and I had to apologize to my partner. Second game I felt my rhythm going. My partner and I got back as we defeated Doc’s side. Third game was a disaster. I forgot the score. It wasn’t even close.

We played four more matches unmindful of the heavy downpour. The sound of the shuttlecock every time it hit Doc’s racket was more audible than the drops of water that fell on the roof. Doc and I were undefeated when we partnered. (Doc, I forgot the results of the mixed doubles) Because of Doc’s strong smashes, he broke his strings. It was the first time we played together. Though there were some obvious rotation troubles, it was still alright. No injuries and no broken racket frames. Body pains came later.

Of Flooded Metro

It was a little past twelve when we were starving. We began looking outside the street and noticed that it was above the knee-high. I couldn’t see my vehicle from where we were. I knew the games kept me from worrying. After relaxing a bit, we packed our things and we headed to my parked Adventure. Doc jumped in first through the back door. The vehicle’s carpet was already wet. Water would surely rush in if I open any of the side doors. I passed through the back door too. The pair of Yonex shoes I left inside the vehicle was wet. Good thing I did not bring my laptop. I have the habit of placing it in the carpet instead of the seats. Imagine a wet laptop!

I started the engine. But I couldn’t shift to first gear. So I moved using the second gear. The AUV was like an amphibious vehicle, forming small waves in front of us. We made it to a non-flooded area. We opened the door and flushed the water out. We roamed around to look for an open restaurant, something with rice. But all we had were some jumbo burgers, sold at buy-1-take-1. We took cover below the YMCA hostel while waiting for our burgers. I phoned my wife again and informed her of our situation. I was already wet but the cold was still tolerable. I know I have to save my one dry shirt at a later time.

Doc also got a message from his parents who told him not to go home for the meantime. If Makati was flooded, how much more in Malabon? We also tried to contact Bonie (Pinoy Traveller) as we had a scheduled meet-up late in the afternoon. We would have wanted to join him in a Makati hotel where he got some free accommodation. He decided to postpone his Makati hotel plan, and invited us to his Sta Mesa home instead. Trapped in a Buendia traffic, I detoured and headed to Makati Ave. for an alternative route to Sta Mesa.

Traffic Everywhere

Before we reached the Mandaluyong bridge, we made a detour again. This time through JP Rizal. The street was flooded knee high. Doc Z took some photos through his celphone. He was also busy calling friends asking for directions. We reached the sports center mentioned by his friend. It was not a flooded area, but someone motioned to us that water, a few meters away was waist-high. We made a u-turn again and retraced our path. This time, the water level rose.

We hit something underwater. I felt it was something bad. But Doc Z wouldn’t mention it as he avoided some jinx. Makati Ave was not flooded and so we relaxed a bit and decided that we go to Sta Mesa via EDSA, Osmeña and Quirino streets.

Traffic at EDSA was heavy. The Doc and I had no idea about the situation in other areas. I initially thought that Yatot was kidding when he said that in their place, water was ceiling-high. I also received a text message from our HR Manager reminding us to be careful as flood and heavy traffic were everywhere in the Metro. We phoned Bonnie and informed him that we will no longer proceed to Sta Mesa but go to Sucat instead.

Flat Tire

Other than an accident, I believe that a flat tire on EDSA is one of the worst things that could happen. A man walking at the sidewalk motioned to us and pointed at the right front tire. Doc Z took a look at it. “How flat?” I even dared ask that silly question.

We positioned our vehicle at the roadside. I was confident we had enough tools despite our lack of experience in changing tires. A passerby offered to help. He overheard me speaking Binisaya (Cebuano) on the phone. I learned later that he is a Leyteño and is residing somewhere in Alabang. He was rather quick in removing the rim. But the unimaginable thing happened. The spare tire won’t fit. We had no choice but to go to the nearest gas station to have the tire fixed. Doc quickly volunteered to roll the rubber.

When Doc came back almost an hour later (as he lost his way to the gas station), the man who helped us already took a bus to Alabang. I watched over the tools and the bolts while they were away. Doc was quick to put on the tires like he had done this thing many times over. He confessed that it was his first time. I also told him that it could have been my first time too if it were not for him.  Seriously, thank you very much Doc!

Since we only put air on the tire without getting it vulcanized (the vulcanizing shop at Petron closed at 5pm), we were in danger of another flat tire any minute. The traffic got worst and it did not take long for the rubber to flatten again. We only moved a few meters from where we had our flat tire.

We took the bus lane. The flat tire was our excuse. We already had a flat tire going to Pasong Tamo and hoped there was a vulcanizing shop somewhere. The street was unbelievably empty. We asked a jeep driver, then proceeded to Pasong Tamo Extension as per his instructions. We moved slowly. We reached the vulcanizing shop at half past 7pm. A shirtless young man attended to us. We heard tales that the area was flooded a few hours earlier and that a Revo was even carried away by the rushing water. Unbelievable this flood!

SLEX Woes

Doc Z was hungry. I offered him my remaining cheese burger. I assured him that Sucat was just a few minutes away and we’ll have our dinner there. The portion near Villamor Air Base was empty. I could not comprehend why there were so plenty of cars at the Magallanes intersection when it was so clear and wide open on where we traversed. And so we thought our traffic nightmare was over. It took us another hour to get past that flooded portion near the Bicutan exit. I changed my wet shirt as we waited for the vehicles to move. It could have been easy for us since the water was only knee high. But the drivers of the smaller cars ahead of us must have had enough of traumatic flood experience that they clogged the road instead of wading through. It was an empty road again after that flooded portion.

Home Sweet Home

After a hearty dinner at President’s avenue, we arrived at my place which was so disarranged. Not because flood water rushed in, but because just because. I lent Doc some of my smallest shirts as everything he had brought for badminton were already wet. Doc was monitoring his friends. Aside from the internet, we had no TV nor radio so we weren’t able to exactly monitor what took place in the affected parts of the Metro. I was constantly in contact with my wife who was watching the news on TV. She described to me what happened in other places. I was too tired and too cold. Emotions ran over me and I really wanted to see my wife right there and then. I missed her so badly.

That night I was thankful for the prayers of my wife and my loved ones back in Cebu. I thanked God for keeping me and Doc safe. I learned that we must not put our faith on some objects (like my vehicle at that time) but to put my trust on God alone. No regrets on the badminton schedule. I love the game. It was better than sleeping all day and/or doing nothing. Who would know what would happen later that day?

That night I was able to sleep soundly out of exhaustion. But little did I know that tens of thousands others were stranded and sleepless in the streets, hundreds were either dead or fighting for their lives, and thousand others became homeless and in grave danger.

DONATIONS

Donations are still accepted. It will take time before people rebuild their homes. For those in Cebu, the Sun.Star Cebu main office on P. del Rosario St., Cebu City and sales outlets in Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City and Candelaria Arcade, Corner A.C. Cortes Ave., Ibabao, Mandaue City will serve as drop-in sites for your donations. You may also contact:

Donations coordinator: Sun.Star Publishing Inc. (for Typhoon Ondoy victims)
Contact email: theresemesina@yahoo.com
Contact Phone Number: +63 2546100 loc 314
Donation Webpage

You may also donate directly to the Philippine National Red Cross:

From your SMART phone, text RED (space) AMOUNT to 4483
From GLOBE phone, text RED (space) AMOUNT to 2899

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For Doc Zorlone’s version of the story, click here: Memories of A Rainy Day
Thanks to Doc (Filipino Poet) for the photo.

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Related posts which you would also like to read:

1. Driving Around Metro Manila; Traffic Violations
2. How To Explore Metro Manila
3. How To Survive Hurricane Gustav and A Typhoon in The Philippines
4. The Cebu Pacific Experience
5. The iBlog5 Experience

Tags: Badminton, Ketsana, Manila Flood, Typhoon Ondoy   Posted in Uncategorized