Back when I was still living with my parents, each time that heavy rain will fall in our area for sure a flood will follow. Since it has been that way most houses will either have a boat in their homes or will have a 2nd to 3rd floors. We had both, as I had the capability to provide some financial support to better our situation.
The image uploaded is our boat, made from fiberglass. I think I bought it at around 5,000.00 PHP. We had a fishing boat too but it is used solely for fishing some milkfish and tilapia
Floods in our place will take months to subside since the rainy season will start around June until December more often than not our homes are still flooded until holidays and even valentines. Boats have been one of the modes of transportation in our home and in some areas where the flood is too high a small wet market "literal wet market" like in Thailand happens.
I have a ton of stories relating to boats but I guess I will be sharing one of the experiences that I had when we are evacuating to a higher place.
Habagat, flooded our area sometime in 2013 not really sure about the date. I was on my way going to work in Manila but since the surge of water is too strong, I cannot leave our home. I immediately notified my lead that I cannot make it to work that day due to the extreme weather but once everything subsides I will go ahead and report back. Power was cut as a countermeasure by MERALCO since electric posts are dancing in the wind as well. Fear engulfed some homes, we are blessed that we are able to have somehow a sturdy house that can surpass the weather. Help isn't available and some members from different families just climbed into their roofs for safety. It was a terrible experience, our home was quite high and since we saw some neighbors that needed help we immediately used our boat to rescue them and let everyone stay in our home until the weather become better.
A day passed, and the rain stopped water flow isn't that strong anymore thus some neighbors requested that we can help them carry their things and evacuate to a nearby school. We offered our home instead as they are still relatives around 3rd cousins but declined as we had done enough already. After bidding goodbye and sending them to the evacuation center our family had a small discussion about what we should do next. I cannot stay that long in our home anymore as I am still working and needs to report the next day or so and since our house is not in a good place to stay in the meantime. We had agreed to leave that time and searched for an apartment in a high area.
Luckily we did but the price of the places skyrocketed as many residents are looking for a higher place at that time. Since I am on calamity leave, I decided to do some part-time jobs. I become a ferryman / bangkero so that I can somehow earn some money. The fare was 5.00 PHP for each ride and I remembered earning more than 1,000.00 in a day after the Habagat as many families are asking for special rides.
At the top of my head, I hoped that it should not stop as I am earning good, way better than my corporate job but I know it isn't good. I had been doing the part-time job during weekends after work and yes I was able to earn a good amount there.