September 26, 2009: Sad day for Filipinos

We were scheduled to leave Manila at 09:45AM of September 26. I have been excited to go on a trip with my husband since the day I booked a flight to Coron Palawan. So the week of September 21 - 25, I've been so busy packing up and listing the things that we need for our trip. I bought a new snorkle for Erick, a coverup for my swimsuit, accessories, sunglasses and chips. The batteries of our camera are fully charged. I even borrowed my cousin's camera which can take underwater photos. So we're all set and ready to go...

Then the 25th of September arrived... there have been news of a tropical depression in the Philippines. It rained that Friday but not that hard that would make us worry about our trip. I've been "Googling" for weather forecast and from what I've been seeing there will be 60% chances of rainfall -- in my mind, at least I have 40% probability of sunshine so that's enough for me not to lose hope. I was working NA shift (11pm-11am) that week so I was awake all the time. The rainfall is getting louder and louder. I've been praying that the downpour will stop by the time that we will be onboard the plane. Still, I was optimistic... By 4am of Saturday, I'm almost done with all the work i need to finish so I lay in bed for a short nap. Six o'clock AM Erick already finished preparing breakfast and started to wake me up to get ready for our trip.

Seven o'clock we're both ready. We picked up all our stuff and headed outside to wait for a cab. It was raining but just light rain. When we finally were in the cab, the driver told us that all flights were cancelled. Of course, we did not immediately believe it so what I did was to call the airlines' call center to confirm. It took awhile before I finally get the chance to talk to someone from the airlines and they told me that all flights are still on schedule.

Being with my husband, we're always the 'early bird'... so when we get to the terminal, we didn't experience waiting in long lines for our boarding tickets and we immediately found ourselves at Gate 134 where we are expected to wait until the carrier is finally ready for boarding. We were nearing 09:15AM (our boarding time) and an announcement was made that there would be a slight delay on our flight because of weather conditions. We were also scared to go but finally, we were given the go signal to board the plane. Inside the plane, we waited a long time and when we felt that the plane is about to take-off we're both excited and nervous... then the plane stopped. And eventually, it was announce that our flight was cancelled. Since our cellphones are off, we don't know what time it is but I'm guessing that it is lunch time.

When we're finally off the plane and outside the terminal, we immediately thought of going home. We called my papa's cellphone and he told us that it was flooded everywhere and at that time, he has no way to fetch us because any vehicle won't be able to make it through the flood. What Erick and I did was to ride again a cab but when it finally reached SLEX, it was deadend for us. All vehicles are jammed. Not able to pass through the flooded streets. People are out of their vehicles scratching there head trying to find an alternate way to get out and to go home. Well, sad for them and sad for us. We're stucked.

It was past lunch and Erick and I were already hungry so we headed back to the airport's terminal 3 and in front of it is McDonalds. We both were soaking wet but since we're packed with clothes, after we have ordered our food, I told Erick to change his clothes. After he has changed, I also changed in to a dry and more comfortable clothing. So at Mcdo we waited. We waited for hopes that vehicles would be able to pass through the flooded streets. That either my mom or dad would be able to pick us up. That we will not stay there till morning...

Luckily, my ever loving papa found a way to fetch us. 9PM still at McDo.. I heard him shouting and signalling me we're he's parked... I was so happy seeing him there..

Oh that day... the day when "Ondoy" hit the Philippines was very tragic not only for us but also for those whose house got flooded... those who died of drowning and suffocation... those who tried to get away from the flooded waters by passing through electric wires but eventually died because of electrical shock.. To those who have been devastated by this tragic event... I pray that eventually, everything will be ok...

I'm SAD

Today, I received a call from the recruitment agency which was handling my job application at Singapore and they told me that I didn't pass the Biographical Interview and that the employer doesn't want to progress on my application. This is a sad thing for me because I really am not happy anymore with where I am. This job application is the only light I have which I am looking forward to. Now it's all gone.