Bagyong Pedring September 27, 2011

Yesterday morning, Tuesday, I drove from Quezon City to US Embassy in Manila. Typhoon Pedring just made a landfall in Aurora province and headed towards Mountain Province. There was a suspension of Classes
in all levels but suspension of work
for government offices and businesses came at around 8:00 a.m. By that time, I was already in Roxas Blvd. coming from Quirino Ave. travelling towards Luneta. The traffic was heavy because of floods on the street and side streets of Roxas Blvd. The water is not just due to the rain but coming from Manila Bay over spilling over the water breaker concrete into Roxas Blvd. The water level is almost touching the floor of the car. Okay pa, hindi pa abot ang blades ng fan pero basa na ang brakes.

I decided to back-off, turn around, counter-flow, made U-turns ... around Ermita area until I reached Kalaw and Luneta. Along Kalaw street to Roxas Blvd. MMDA closed the road to US Embassy so I turned right to Rizal Monument road and turned left to Manila Hotel and reached the parking lot near the other end of the Grandstand. There was no flood water at the time I passed the Grandstand. I got out of the car to pee (mga 5 minutes siguro kasi yong payong ko bumaliktad ang fold at saka ang lakas ng hangin at ulan). Then I stayed in the car for another 10 minutes sending SMS. I finally decided to cancel my business in US Embassy and go back to my office in Quezon City. I drove back to where I came from (Grandstand to Manila Hotel) but I was shocked to see the road ahead knee-deep of water coming from the rain and Manila Bay. Again I drove back to the parking lot near the embassy and crossed the traffic light to Kalaw then turn left at Agripina Circle (sounds familiar ba?)

I have my video camera with me but I can't take a shot because of worry that my car in the middle of the flood water may stuck up. I could have video the Manila Bay water flashing and spilling over the Concrete Water Breaker, the falling trees, and kids in front of the Grandstand swimming in the flood water.

Going home through Lawton, Quiapo, Quezon Ave. to Quezon City was no problem. No flood, no traffic (becasue there were no classes) and few cars and jeeps on the road.

In the evening news, all guests of Sofitel (Westin) Philippine Plaza were evacuated and transferred to other hotels because of flood water. The Mall of Asia was closed. A lot of cars were flooded in the parking lots (side streets) of hotels along Roxas Blvd. Kung nag stick ako sa traffic lane baka inabot ako ng taas ng tubig. Buti natanong ko sa kasalubong kong pedicab driver kung may tubig sa dadaanan ko. Sabi niya lubog ang kanto ng Roxas Blvd. at San Andress kaya buelta agad ako.

What a day.... para akong nasa Disney or Universal. Damang dama mo takot na malubog ka sa baha. Tapos maraming puno sa center island ng Quirino, Pedro Gil, at San Andres ang bigla na lang natutumba sa lakas ng hangin. Yong kotse ko damang dama yong salpok ng hangin... ang lakas. Ang Ospital ng Maynila lubog sa tubig baha ang ER. Meron ngang building construction site sa may Midtown-Robinson area na nagliparan ang yero.

Ibang excitement eto......