Ruthie's Articles

Here is my daughter Ruthie’s own account of Ondoy…

Typhoon Ondoy struck on September 26, 2009. That day I was just reading in my room when my mother called me and asked if I can accompany her to the store to buy snacks. When we left the house it was already raining. When we reached the store, there was already flood on the streets. When we got back to our house and opened the door, the water flowed in fast.

My mother and I quickly collected the things that are getting wet. Then I called my brother and sister and they helped us get the books in the lower part of our bookshelf. Then my grandparents and aunt switched off the lights and carried our refrigerator & put it on a chair.

We noticed that the water is almost up to our knees. My mother said that if the flood gets higher we will go to our neighbor’s house. My father was not there yet because he was at work. My mother said that he cannot go home because the flood in our street is already waist high.

After that, my brother and sister invited me to walk and play with them outside. We bathed under the pouring rain.

For me, all the things that happened were an adventure.

Her New Year’s resolution for Year 2010…

In year 2010, I will be more helpful to my parents because sometimes my mother can’t handle all the housework because my cousin who’s 2 years old in the house.

I would also try to spend more time with my brother because sometimes he feels rejected when I spend more time with my sister.

I would be more generous to my parents and even to my siblings because last year, when I refused to share with my brother, my father said that he would not let me join in the field trip.

I would be thriftier because my parents say I spend money too fast.

And here is the poem she made for her Nanay (with a little help from her Tatay), as her project in Filipino …

Kung Sakali, Sino Na?

Kung sakaling nagtatrabaho si Nanay
At palagi siyang wala sa bahay
Sino na ang sa aki’y gagabay
Sa pagharap sa hamon ng buhay?

Kung sakaling nagtatrabaho si Nanay
Sino na ang sa aki’y magsasanay
Sa paggawa ng mga proyektong sabay-sabay
At sa mga takdang araling walang humbay?

Kung sakaling nagtatrabaho si Nanay
Sa pagkakamali ko’y sino ang sasaway?
Sino na ang magiging karamay
Pag may nararamdaman akong lumbay?

Kung sakaling nagtatrabaho si Nanay
Sino na ang sa aki’y aalalay
Sa paghahanda ng mga bagay-bagay
At sa pag-alis ko ay kakaway

Kung sakaling nagtatrabaho si Nanay
Sino na ang sa aki’y aakay?
Magiging kulang itong aking buhay
Hindi ko nanaising siya ay mawalay

Ruthie is our second child, born at Jose Fabella Hospital in 1998 (because Rodriguez Hospital at that time, where my wife was supposed to deliver, has been flooded). She just celebrated her 12th birthday.

She always describes herself as somebody who loves adventure. We have an agreement that she would bring me to Batanes or to Benguet when she already has money of her own.