Tina Palma of ABS-CBN News said this afternoon how Typhoon Ondoy's devastation of Manila was so unprecedented. With all the destruction and mayhem that was caused, I was in fact thinking whether Manila had been ravaged like this even once before.
Seeing the aftermath of the storm on television, it should be the worst catastrophe to ever hit Manila, aside from the WWII bombings it had suffered in 1945.
Two days after the storm, it becomes clearer and clearer now how utterly ravaging Ondoy was, dead bodies piling up, whole villages submerged and automobiles mowed and thrown overboard by rushing floodwater. It was the worse ever. Six months worth of rain falling in just one night, it was that horrendous.
That way, Typhoon Ondoy was so unexpected, it came on a weekend when people do not usually watch news or hear about them. It was hidden like a silent traitor, absolutely unforeseen.
Maybe next time, every incoming storm should be noteworthy for precaution and warning. And of course, preparedness for eventuality in such condition.
Experts say that storms are very hard to predict and estimate beforehand concerning its real strength and the amount of water it carries, despite advancement in geological technology.
Even in advance countries like in the US, scientists there are still not absolute about their knowledge of storm.
But I hope --- as everyone of us would--- if only it is up to us, that nothing like this would ever happen again and that in such event that storms as vicious as this ever comes to our shore again, that there'll be enough forewarning so that the populace be fully prepared for it..
jan geronimo says; September 29, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
It's really ironic that we've advanced so much in technology but still can't get accurate reading of the awesome power of the forces of nature: typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes. We also have been to the moon and made it back.
In that fateful weekend true drama was played out in the streets when devastation struck our country - and not on telenovelas as we're accustomed to. It's all so real and surreal at the same time.
Thanks for visiting my blog, sir. It's taken me too long to beat my way back to your blog. Must I be thankful now to Ondoy? ",)
Major Tom says; September 29, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
Hi Jan: Thats so true, I've seen this National Geographic issue about storms and hurricanes, and its clear that scientists today still could not tame or dissect the phenomenon of weather disturbances, even the point where it is initiated much more on how to tame and completely anticipate it.
What we need to focus on perhaps is on the method of damage control, that way, efforts may not be entirely futile.
rudy says; September 29, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
Grabe. No one could have imagined the destruction that "ondoy" wrought on metro manila. In fact, most of us merely shrugged off the typhoon warning since it wasn't considered strong at 85kph. Little did everyone realize that the storm was bringing with it, death and destruction.
Major Tom says; October 3, 2009 @ 8:19 am
To rudy: It was most unusual that way bro, one could say it was such a traitorous storm,...
bw says; October 6, 2009 @ 2:31 am
This tragic incident would hopefully reset our priorites and get on with cleaning up the drainages and proper disposal of waste and more importantly, prudent urban planning and not just allowing everyone construct buildings and houses wherever they like.
This was an extremely painful experience and we can only really learn when we suffer the pain.
Major Tom says; October 6, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
To BW: I've just read how the government is suing those LGU's who had been entirely negligent about their duties, especially in clearing drainage within their respective areas. I bet they must have been to lax and so lack in foresight, not anticipating such disaster to come. If it were up to me, I thought the suit should push thru yo the final end, and punishments meted.