Now I do feel a need to post some pictures of the terrible floods that still are ravaging Manila, with estimates as high as 90 percent of the Greater Metro Manila area flooded, population near 20 million people. Much of the city is waist deep or more in water. A local book blogger posted on Facebook that her entire first floor is flooded and she lost over 1000 books, the accumulation of a life time. I made some collages from pictures from local media and pictures that have been shared with me. They tell the story of the courage, faith and resiliency of the people of the Philippines.
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All these scenes were shot in the streets, not in lakes or rivers. The boy in the last row, third from right is looking in the debris for things he can sell. We can only pray the man and his baby made it to safety.
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In the second collage I think you can sense the strength of the people in their resolve, smiles and willingness to risk their lives for each other.
There is lose of life, homes and property but not loss of faith, family bonds, and optimism.
Our family, through sheer luck, lives on one of the highest points in the area, far from any rivers, dams, or lakes. We did not lose power or even internet or cable TV. My wonderful wife Lyn was stuck outside on her way home from a business trip and a journey that should have taken 7 hours took 20, with ten hours of time in which she could not move. We feared she might not get home for the night but my and the girls prayers were answered when she came home with her normal beautiful smile just before dark. Our three daughters have no school for three days.
Our local community, we all know we are blessed by our high location, is donating through St Peters Church on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
I know I have 1000s of readers who live in Philippines. I hope they are all safe and invite any and all to share your experiences with us. If you have photos to share please send them and I will post them.
Rereadinglives@gmail.com
My thanks to those who emailed me to ask if we are Ok
Mel u
17 comments:
Thanks for posting this. I have family in Manila too, but I think they are in a high area (usually do not get flooded) Alabang?
The person who reports is out of town. Thanks for the news and the pictures. May you stay safe and dry.
kmjrose
It's a sad week. Thankfully the casualties are not as worse as the previous storm (Ondoy).
These pictures are incredible. I will pray for the safety of all affected.
Oh, Mel. I'm glad your wife made it home all right and that you & your family are safe. I will keep Manila in my thoughts, that all may find high ground on which to rest.
Thank you for sharing. Be well.
I had no idea this was happening as I just returned from a road trip vacation. Glad you and your family are safe and am praying for Manila's people.
Again first I heard of it was via yourself & the BBC this morning (both sources of information arrived within seconds of each other). Glad your wife & daughters are fine & hopefully Manila & its people are ok to.
Mel, I'm very sorry to hear and read about the floods in Manila and the loss of life and displacement of hundreds and thousands. My thoughts are with those affected by nature's wrath. "There is lose of life, homes and property but not loss of faith, family bonds, and optimism" — that's the kind of resilience I often see in my own country which is not new to annual floods. Thanks for sharing this.
mel u,
Glad to hear that you and your family are OK.
mel u,
Glad to hear you and your family are OK. I didn't realize how serious the situation was until your post.
Thank you for sharing, Mel, it is devastating for everyone. Thoughts are with you, your family and those impacted by this awful flooding. Stay well and safe, all of you.
Thank you for posting on this Mel. It is utterly shocking and the images speak for themselves. Very moving. Thinking of all the people directly effected by this and others who are also effected.
Awful situation, Mel. Glad to hear you and your family are ok.
I didn't know there was a flood until now. I hope you and your family are safe and sound. I'm sorry to hear that so many families will be losing their homes.
May you have all the strength to deal with the situation...
Such situations of misery come as dilemma for me..how does an atheist pray??
My great thanks to all who wished my family well
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had --Acts 4:32
This helping and sharing spirit would surface only in time of calamity...The world needs more calamity to educate the people that they don't need calamity to do Gods will...and although calamity seems to be harsh what else God can do? If God would speak to the people through his servants saying stop your system it is a calamity, no one would listen. The system of mankind is a calamity for if one has no money what would he/she feel? and if there are companies for people to work for what have they done to our environment?
Did they not incessantly mined our mountains and cut our forest to keep the demand of their factories? they have produce climate change that if God would not intervene would kill us...the system of mankind is a calamity...Let there be calamity God because there is no way out
This last comments troubles me..If I may use the words of Rabindranath Tagore, "Men are cruel, but man is kind"
What a common threat can do to men, a common interest can't and won't do.. So that threat be a necessary evil and that God be a thrust interest, whom do we chose? An interest that is threat in disguise?
~a humble atheist
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