I never thought a typhoon could hurt us so badly.
My house has never been flooded in 40+ years. When Typhoon Ondoy (internationally known as "Typhoon Ketsana") hit us, the water rose to mid-thigh inside my house. Outside, it was up to the waist. For those curious, I'm 5'2" (or maybe 5'3"). More than 80% of Manila was underwater, and even until now, 5 days later, some places are still submerged.
My brother suspects that all the damns in the area were opened, that's why the floods rose to unimaginable heights. I think the sewers are so clogged up with garbage that it couldn't handle the flood waters. There are so many slums in the sewer areas... how then can you drain the water when the sewers have been covered up by houses?
And then people in the slums complain that the government is not helping them, when in truth, they are also part of the problem. We already know there's corruption in the government, so why can't the citizens do something on their own?
Then again, I don't blame them for leaving the province in search for a better life in the City. I'm only angry that so many people are hurt when I know this could have been prevented some way. People always think "if it ain't broken, don't fix it", only to cause so much grief and misery... even death.
One day, when I have enough money after I work in Canada, and I have the chance to return to the Philippines, I will make a recycling facility. I will also use Japan's technology to clear up the poluted waters, because I don't think the government will ever stop stuffing their pockets with money.
The Philippines could be so much better...
If you would like to help, there is a full list of places accepting donations here.
On another note, I say Senator Noynoy Aquino's car pass by in front of us today. From the brief glimpse we had, he seems like a simple guy. The window was down, and he was seated on the front seat of the car. I wonder where he was off to?
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