I finally found a place to stay where I have grabbed sufficient wifi connection to work on my online stuff. Typhoon Odette which I underestimated brought so many damages I had never seen coming, however, if there's one important thing I appreciated with the experience, that is being able to really slow down in life.
It was December 16, a day before my birthday, when all of my weekend plans with family and friends in celebration of my special day were unexpectedly ruined. The celebration was planned to be a week-long. The 16th would supposedly be a dinner gathering with my small circle of favorite people at work, the 17th (the actual day), a beach day with my family, and the 18th to 21st would supposedly be a hotel stay with my special friends. That's supposedly how my birthday week would be like. But, it didn't turn as to how I pictured it to be. My birthday week last month had become the most traumatic week for me and I believe for the many from Cebu, and other parts of the Philippines which "Odette", the monster typhoon, had devastated.
December 16, my physical reporting to work schedule was suspended. We were advised to just stay at home due to the tropical cyclone warning for "Odette". I was happy then that I don't have to go to work that day, which for me meant ample time for my things at home. My day was just so normal like I was not kinda bothered about the typhoon that was nearing us. I worked on my home stuff peacefully. I got updates from workmates and friends about the typhoon, but it was like I was just taking it lightly that I didn't prepare for its coming. I was too confident then that it would not hit our place that hard. After all the house tasks, at 1:00 in the afternoon, I started writing a blog about our year-end party at work, and the other things that had transpired that weekend. The wind was getting colder, and it started to rain lightly. But that didn't bother me, so, I kept writing. A few minutes before 5:00 pm, I was able to have that weekend blog published. Then, I continue with my other stuff.
At around 6:00, some of my relatives who were just living near us, went over to temporarily shelter with us. I started to be bothered. The thing they called "Odette" had started to get on my nerves. It is serious!
We were chitchatting and watching TV news when suddenly the power went out. Everything went dark. Good thing, our phones were charged fully and we were able to use the phones' torches to light us. There, the wind started to endlessly howl which was like shaking our concrete shelter. I was scared and anxious. I just sat in one corner hugging my pet dog, trying to comfort the frightened four-legged creature too. There was chaos outside, and it was terrifying audible. The corrugated metal roofs kept clanging, some even flew away; huge trees and heavy power poles fell down, and the wind continued to hardly howl making an uncomfortable deafening sound that was like sucking my ears. I never left my seat in the corner. I was there the whole time, silently praying. We were praying. The wind had slowed down by 10:00 pm, and the intense chaos sound outside had started to slowly vanish. Everything was getting calm, we were too!
The following day, we went out. Our entire place was like a warzone. It was my very first time to witness and experience it. Everything around was damaged. It was total chaos!
And then the struggles for water, electricity, signal, gasoline and ATM machines started. Everywhere were long lines trying to get the supplies to survive.
Now, if there was one thing I am forever grateful for, that is my life is spared, our lives are spared, and that's the best birthday gift ever.
