Sendong (Washi) Hits CDO

Photographed by Jeminah Ferrer

December 16, 2011, 9 days before Christmas, typhoon Sendong passed over the area of Cagayan de Oro City and left great damage to the city. Many lives were taken, many houses were destroyed, many properties were wasted, and many Christmas were ruined. Now, the victims are really striving hard to find reasons to stand up, start again and continue living after what had Sendong brought them.

During that night, my team mates at the B+ Associates celebrated Christmas party at The Tropical Resort at Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City. The rain was really fierce and wild with matching strong winds that could really blow big trees down to its roots. But we never mind the storm, the party must go on, and anyway we were on a pool party so what’s the sense of getting wet. We had a lot of fun with all the games and gift giving, not knowing that the flood slowly made its toll in the river, getting ready to wash out the innocent  village standing next to it.

After the party, when we were riding the cab going home, we saw the very minor damage of Sendong in the highway. Many trees were cultivated its roots in the soil, some were broken because of the fierce wind and the other side of the road was impassable because of the overflowing canal water that covered the whole lane. Janne and I didn’t even reached home and have had slept over at Jayson’s place because the road was already filled with water.

At around 1 o’clock, the water was already high and the flood is already making damages but at around 2 o’clock, the river filled with water and mud finally gave up and washed out every little thing that blocked its way.

All the people were not expecting the sudden wild of the river so they were not able to save their things. They have to climb to an elevated area to keep the water from brushing them away with the flood. But elevated area was an underestimation. The water continued to rise and brush everything to the point that people have to traverse from roof to roof just to keep themselves alive and watch their village being eaten by the flood.

Those who were unlucky were really brushed by the flood. Many of them were the young ones who didn’t know how to swim and elders who were already weak. There were also parents who died trying to save their children. It was such a catastrophic incident.

Even until now, I still couldn’t believe of what had become to my second home, Cagayan de Oro City. I don’t know if these people still remember that in few days to come will be Christmas. The time that suppose to be the most beautiful time of the year now seems like the darkest times for all the Kagay-anons.

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