Sorry for the typographical error, I didn’t realize the missing N.

This was what I have seen when I arrived from Davao. I was expecting a fun filled saturday night, because my main purpose why I went was to celebrate with friends. But this is what I had to see.

I thought it was only a heavy rain. A harmless heavy rain because back in my high school days, CdO always had heavy rains. The heavy rains only caused traffic and minimal over flowing of dirty water in the streets, but it was a whole lot different now.

The heavy rain caused the city pain, suffering, and sorrow. The heavy rain gave a whole lot of dirty water to flow across the river that was enough to destroy all the homes that were built near the body of water. The heavy rain gave enough strength to drag asleep bodies to drown. The heavy rain gave too much mud for the roads to be dark brown instead of dusty gray. The heavy rain caused heavy tears and heavy hearts to everyone.

Let the pictures speak for themselves. Let the pictures feel you how devastated Cagayan de Oro was, and is.

The last two photos were the most eerie and emotional that I took. The first one was taken when we were on the gym across Corpus Christi Highschool, giving the used clothing we were able to collect amongst our neighborhood.  I saw desperation. I saw hunger. I saw pain. I saw everything that Sendong caused. I saw it in everyone’s eyes.

The last photo was taken when we were about to leave. We were supposed to go that way, but we didn’t because there were bodies laid on the floor covered with dirty blankets. I don’t know what the child was doing here, but he was sad and scared. Shock and pain, combined into one.

The city where I grew up is destroyed and hurt. The people are suffering from loss of their family, funds, and homes.

According to my friend’s brother, “Dili nimo mailhan ang pobre ug dato, equal lang sila tanan. Pareha sila gahilak na galakaw, gapamula ang mga mata. Pareha sila nakatiniil, nakasinina’g na’y pita. Sa baha, wala’y dato, wala’y pobre; Equal tanan.” (You could never know the difference of the rich and the poor, they were equal. They all walked crying. They were all barefoot, their clothes had mud. In this kind of flood, no one is rich, no one is poor; All of us are equal.)

And he was right, I wasn’t able to recognize the poor and the rich. They were all needing help.

I should tell you one thing, be thankful. Be very thankful if you are safe, full, and happy. Be thankful that you were given a chance to live after everything. This too shall pass.

FOR MONETARY ASSISTANCE:

• BPI Account: 9331-0133-63 
• Acct. Name: Xavier University

FOR VOLUNTEERS:

• Enlist as volunteer at XU Canteen.

There’s one more thing I’d like for you to do, pray. Pray for everyone, for the world, and for the Philippines. Pray for your family, friends, and safety.

X,

TheAidxParedes