Habagat: My Most Unforgettable Experience with Rain and Floods

2012 Luzon Southwest Monsoon Floods

“The 2012 Luzon Southwest Monsoon Floods (Hagupit ng Habagat, "wrath of the monsoon" and Bagsik ng Habagat, "fierceness of the monsoon,") was an eight-day period of torrential rain and thunderstorms in Luzon in the Philippines from August 1 to August 8, 2012. Its effects centered on Metro Manila, the surrounding provinces of the Calabarzon region and the provinces of Central Luzon. It caused typhoon-like damage: the most damage caused by rain since September 2009, when Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) struck Metro Manila. Floods and rain left 95 people dead, destroyed 8,428 homes, and damaged 6,706 others. At least ₱604.63 million (US$14.31 million) in losses were reported across the country.”

Reference:

Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, April 21). 2012 Luzon Southwest Monsoon Floods. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Luzon_southwest_monsoon_floods.

We were awakened by a strong rain at 8 a.m. on August 5, 2012. My mother rushed into our room and informed us that the water level outside of the house had increased and that we should begin moving our belongings to a higher location. I walked outside to check. The outside had overflowed and the rain had become increasingly heavy, as I had noticed. The living room was flooded after 15 minutes, and the water was knee-deep. We double-checked and secured the important documents as well as other valuables. The water level quickly rose, and we heard the sounds of strong rain and wind. We were soon unable to stay in our home and were forced to relocate to my aunt's house across the street. And when night came, we shivered in the cold and were enveloped in darkness. We were hoping that the authorities were aware of our predicament and that a rescue team was on its way to help us. There was nothing left for us to do but pray and hope for the best. A few hours later, we noticed flashes of light in the distance and realized that it was the rescue team ready to help us relocate. We were taken to a relief center located in a school that had been spared the worst of the flood damage. We were given a room, relief goods, hot meals, and water. The rain continued the next day, but it wasn't as heavy as it had been the day before. We stayed for two days and one night because the floodwaters had not receded and we were unable to return home immediately. After two days, the sun shone brightly again, and we were told that it was safe to return to our home. However, when we finally returned, we were startled to see that our household had become unrecognizable, with the floor and other items covered in mud. We were glad that our house had withstood the flood, even if many of our valuables, such as household equipment, were damaged, and it took us a week to clean up all that the monsoon had left behind. The 2012 Luzon Southwest Monsoon Floods are my most unforgettable flood experience. At the said event, I realized that, in times of need, there are people that will really help someone genuinely, even in the smallest or simplest ways, such as donations of food, drinks, clothes, and other necessities. Also, I've realized that we need to learn how to be prepared for any calamity that may occur in our lives, such as preparing a first aid kit, go-bag or emergency supplies, an emergency communication plan, and an evacuation plan.

I realized that we should learn to go and do everything possible to keep future disasters to a bare minimum and to minimize or mitigate the effects of natural disasters on society or the community. Moreover, planning ahead will be helpful for us. Knowing what to do before, during, and after a disaster will keep us surviving, safe, and calm at times of crisis. Being knowledgeable and prepared will get us into a better situation. And lastly, as a person who believes in God, I realized how important it is to have faith in God, to always pray, and to hope that everything will be all right.