Sunday, June 22, 2008
MANILA'S FLOODING PROBLEMS
The downpour continues all day this Sunday as Typhoon Frank (international codename Fengshen) sweeps over Metro Manila with public storm warning signal 3.
According to local weather bureau reports, Frank has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, which means I have a lot of cleaning up to do in the yard tomorrow with all those fallen twigs and leaves. Nonetheless, except for the brownout from early morning until noon, everything else is all right at home.
Haven't gone out at all today; thus, unsure of the road conditions. But I'm quite certain that there's lots of flooding all over the city due to the constant rainfall throughout the day. And anyone smart enough would do well by simply staying put.
Incidentally, there was a torrential-like downpour around noontime last Friday. Although it lasted no more than an hour, the accompanying floods created horrendous traffic all over the city. Many taxi and jeepney drivers took some time off from work until the water receded, stranding many commuters.
With all the digging and drainage improvement projects done during the past few months in Metro Manila, I thought the flooding problem has been finally resolved. But alas! Check out the video below that I took at a corner near where I met a friend for lunch on that day near La Loma in Quezon City.
I went to Quiapo afterwards and decided to take a jeepney; however, what usually takes me no more than half an hour's commute, took almost two hours that Friday. Be that as it may, I've got to hand it to our local folks, though -- despite such a troublesome affair, they took it lightly and had fun with it.
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Labels: life in Manila
posted by Señor Enrique at 12:29 PM
24 Comments:
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said... hay naku super flooded na ang areas dito sa amin. I dunno if I can go to work tomorrow.
Last night, lumilipad ang mga yero ng neighbors namin and my niece was kinda scared kasi dumadaan yung mga yero sa window namin sa room sa second floor.-
nutart said... Hope everything will turn out fine once more after Frank. It just is shocking to know that a lot of lives perished here and there. We prayed that the typhoon would go gentle through our island and he/it did. I hope the next ones will heed our prayers as well! My sympathy for those places/areas where Frank went full-blast.
One thing I also miss are the quips of street-smart Pinoys during challenging times...or their pa-pogi boy poses when facing the camera. Is it really a Pinoy streak of genetical genius or what? :-)-
said...
Good to know everything is all right in your home, Eric. :)
Tropical storm Frank also passed by Dagupan and Pangasinan, and now exiting, and we were so nervous. May phobia na kami with what happened to our place from last May 17 devastation of Cosme - the strongest and most destructive we have ever experienced. We have barely recovered, and here's another storm. I can't imagine being plunged again in the dark for three weeks!
It's La Niña season this year, according to weather reports - with numerous typhoons expected to visit the country. So let's brace ourselves.
Nice to see another video here... :) And I like the 'glassy' effect of the rain in the pic above.-
EM said...
wow.. I somehow miss the typhoons we have there back home. We never had a rain lasting 15 minutes here. After watching the video... it suddenly all came back to me. All the problems associated with its aftermath.
I very much remember how it was now. ... though somehow.. i still miss it...the good and bad...
thanks for sharing senior.-
said...
I believe the recent diggings around the metro is for laying of water pipes and not for drainage.
I just slept away the height of the typhoon. The only time it woke me up was when it was blowing rain into my bed. After closing the window, I just slept again.-
said...
Living in upland Cavite spares me from floods. But the cold and battering rain is equally frightening and devastating.
We should prepare for more typhoons that are on their way.
PS
The Phil. Blog carnival has just reopened, our theme is "Manila, My Manila" posts, videos, podcasts and photos about Manila are welcome. I'm sure you have lots to share. :D-
NOYPETES said...
...."Where have all the esteros gone?...long time passing"....
Too bad there aren't anymore old blue prints of old Manila...way back before the esteros were covered up by the greedy land grabbers who put up business establishments over them. If you find these old city plans, you will know why Manil goes through these cycle of flooding causing a lot of health and environmental problems for the populace.-
escape said...
i was awake around 2am-3am the night frank was passing by metro manila. ang lakas at naalala ko kaagad ang mga tao sa tabi ng dagat.
yung mga nasa areas na laging baha nga ay delikado na lalo na yung sa mga coastal areas.-
Lola said...
Good to know you and family are okay. No so with my relatives in Iloilo. I just got news today 1/3 of the town (where my father was from) is submerged in water. Two died, so far, that they know of. They are still cleaning up and trying to locate missing people. How so sad, right before the fiesta too.
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Unknown said...
I hope you cleaned up the yard this morning, Eric.:D
Buti na lang, the area where I live is not prone to floods. But the winds yesterday morning were scary. It sounded like an airplane landing above our roof! We also lost power but only for about 5 minutes...cable service was also out for about 20 minutes. I'm not complaining ha?!:D
Another devastating calamity...a lot of people have lost their lives, properties destroyed. Blaming each other will get us nowhere. But I wish the disaster coordinating council was actually ready for any disaster.-
Señor Enrique said...
You're right, Luna, no sense in pointing fingers because Earth can be an inhospitable planet -- it has been so for millions of years and even before humans began to exist.
The area where I am is not prone to floods, either; however, the surrounding areas are :(
Yes, finally got to clean the yard. By the way, I was much too deep into sleep to notice the howling winds of Frank.-
Señor Enrique said...
My heart gooes to the folks of Iloilo, Pat. Just saw the news this morning. Kakalungkot nga.
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Señor Enrique said...
I am just beginning to realize -- from seeing the news on TV and from hearing local folks -- about the intensity of this typhoon, donG. Like you, I feel bad for those devastated by it.
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Señor Enrique said...
That's right, Pete!
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Señor Enrique said...
Hi Jhay ... would love to!
Good to know that the typhoon wasn't much of a problem in your area.-
Señor Enrique said...
Prior to the citywide Nawasa water pipe projects was the replacement of those huge underground "imburnals," Dave. They even replaced the streets and sidewalks with nice concrete but only to be destroyed by Nawasa a month or two later. Unbelievable, really!
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Señor Enrique said...
The only thing I miss nowadays during the typhoon season is the "champorado," EM ... hehehe. I should make some soon.
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Señor Enrique said...
I was actually praying that Frank wouldn't be as bad as Milenyo that devastated the city a year or so ago, Rhoda. But the storm you guys endured recently was something else.
Thanks!-
Señor Enrique said...
That's right, Bernadette, many lives were lost during this storm. I'm sure lots of property damages as well.
Now you got me thinking -- where and how did this pogi gesture come about? I've only seen this done here, nowhere else in the world ... hehehe.-
Señor Enrique said...
Many local folks I know are complaining of the very same, Joy -- flooding and lost roof sheeting :(
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Tina said...
the photo/illustration of kaymeto foliages on the concrete really tells a story ... thanks for the news and the you tube!
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ka tony said...
I don’t know why Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok is called the “Venice of Asia” because of its canals. In fact The City of Manila should be called “Venice of Asia” for the city has more canals or “Esteros” than Bangkok. Perhaps Bangkok got the “title” because Intramuros, then was the Manila they knew, minus the districts that are now part of Manila. If only the government will clean the canals & esteros that are gone and reclaimed by the Manileno’s garbage, Manila could have been more beautiful with perhaps gondolas or colorful native “bangkas” rowing the “esteros” and using them as “streets” “highways” and “freeways” for transportation, solution for the heavy traffic, high cost of gasoline and air pollution…mga politiko paki konsiderahin lang po ito…”ang lagay” ehhh, papabayaan na naman ninyo ang pagkakataong ito!!!
Ermita have Estero Balete. San Nicolas and Binondo have Estero de Binondo extends to Estero de la Reina, Ongpin, Gandara,Estero de la Industria, crosses Soler street ends at Reina Regente. Tondo have the wide Estero de Vitas, Ampioco, Patria, Estero Sunog Apog, Herbosa, Moriones, Estero Teneria, Abukay, Molave, Bambang, Estero de San Lazaro, and Estero de Magdalena. Quiapo have Estero de Quiapo and Estero de San Sebastian. Sampaloc have the San Juan River and Estero de Valencia. San Miquel, where The Malacanang Palace is located is surrounded by The Pasig River. Paco have Estero de Paco, Estero Concordia, Estero Balete and Estero Provisor. Santa Cruz have Estero de la Reina and Estero de San Lazaro. Pandacan have two esteros named Estero de Pandacan. Malate have Estero San Antonio Abad. Lastly, Santa Ana have Estero de Santa Clara and Estero Tripa de Gallina. These canals or esteros, I mentioned are located in the City of Manila, not counting the rivers, esteros and canals of the now Metro Manila. Basically Manila is surrounded by water, which flows to the main artery, Pasig River, that meets Manila Bay.-
Señor Enrique said...
My pleasure, Tina :)
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Señor Enrique said...
You're right, Tony. Manila with its estero system should have been known more as the venice of Asia.
From what I understand, the problem with our esteros goes way back during the Spanish colonial times. With a growing population and undisciplined disposal of garbage and wastes, our waterways just seem to conitnue getting even more polluted over the years.
Thank you very much for sharing with us this information. I wonder if we could still rehabilitate and reclaim our estero system?
