Rain and the Filipino Bayanihan Spirit

I just got home from a very eventful Friday.

Days ago I got an invitation for the launching of Groupon in Cebu. I did not hesitate in saying yes because well I am a big fan of group buying sites and their discount vouchers and online promos. So well I was ready and looking forward for the big day which is today Friday.

On the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, I was already noticing the heavy dark cloud covering most of the skies. But I did not mind it so much, and I actually forgot all about it.

 5:30pm me and Titus were already in Norkis, A.S. Fortuna in Mandaue and waiting for a countrymall multicab. Prior to that I was debating whether to go to Crossroads where the Groupon event will take place via Gaisano Country Mall or via Ayala Center Cebu. I’ve decided on the former.

Wrong choice.

Just as we passed by Sky Cable came heavy downpour. I thought we were lucky to have been at that place when the rain started, I was so sure that we will be able to pass by the dreaded flood prone area in Rolling Hills before it gets flooded.

So wrong.

The rain was really heavy, torrential and the area got flooded in no time at all!

Every vehicle was on a standstill, we can see people wading in the flood and the water reaches their waists! No vehicle attempted to cross even the 10 wheelers.

Monstrous Traffic Due to Heavy Rains

We can see from a distance of just a few meters vehicles that are also on a standstill on the Foodland side. Everything on the road grinded to a halt, except for those brave enough to walk into the flood.

Nothing was interesting except looking at all the people looking at the rising flood waters until an Isuzu pick-up braved the flood and failed dismally.

Its driver was so aggressive and he kept on honking his horn, and he couldn’t wait and ate the opposite lane. We were watching what he will do next, the driver must have been deciding whether or not to attempt the crossing. After a few minutes, we can hear the rambling of his vehicle on full gears, water splashing all around him as he goes full throttle into the middle of the Rolling Hills flood.

I could not see what happened to him first, so I observed the reaction of all those waiting in the streets. And many of them were shaking their heads; and many more were laughing and pointing into the flood.

As expected, niti-urok ang iyang sakyanan.

But the good thing is that there were these guy bystanders who came to his rescue immediately and pushed his vehicle to safer ground. These tambays were laughing at the incredulity of the situation yet was ready to help. It’s Filipino Bayanihan spirit in action, it’s something rooted in the culture of the Philippines and the Filipinos. To help readily especially in difficult situation.

But I have to be honest, I did not feel sorry for the driver. He was mayabang, I guess he got what he deserved. He saw all these big trucks and vans waiting for the water to subside, yet he still force his way in. Reminds me of that incident that went viral on the news and in social media networks in the Philippines when a driver exclaims “I was not inform (that flood water was deep)”, and his car went swimming in the flood.  All I can say is use your common sense please.

This Isuzu driver was still lucky though because after about 30 minutes he was able to start his engine and went off. But man I could just imagine the inside flooring of his vehicle!

Time continues to tick- 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 and a half hour…. the flood waters were still rising and now it reaches where our multicab was so the driver was forced to make a u-turn.

After the u-turn, sadly we were still trapped because the area near Metrobank and Cheaverz were also flooded. So we were between two catch basin of flood. We counted another hour and vehicles after vehicles keep on coming that added to an already monstrous traffic.

Nearing our 3rd hour of becoming stranded in Banilad, the 10 wheelers were now able to cross the Rolling Hills area, and people were climbing onto these big trucks. This also exemplifies bayanihan, stranger helping each other climb onto the truck, and the drivers letting them hitch a ride.

Heaven sent trucks

As for us, we were still stuck inside the multicab, one by one our fellow passengers have decided to leave the vehicle, brave the flood water and walk. I don’t want to.

Waiting pays.

There was this van, who later on we found out is a private school service, which were u-turning. And I muster enough compulsion to approach the driver and ask to hitch a ride. Looking at me and the current situation, he did not hesitate to let me and Titus ride on his van. They were good samaritan to us.

There were 3 graders inside happily chatting away when we got in. And lo and behold, they are bound for Lapu-Lapu City! Yey!

We got lucky!

So we got home safe and dry.

Today was a very eventful day. I was not able to make it to the Cebu Groupon launch but it’s okay, there will be many events and more opportunities in the future.

For now I am happy being comfty and busy blogging about what a Friday today was, lol.