Water shortage. Donation. Wiped out homes. Dismantled billboard. I’m so thankful the water didn’t reach my house unlike 2009. Most Cagayan de Oro City residents have been experiencing water shortage which means we’d only use water (aside from drinking) for important purposes only. Also I am so thankful my family’s safe. The storm was not that harsh in this part of the city. Homes along the riverbank were completely wiped out. My friends were also affected by Sendong. They lost their houses but luckily they were safe. Although Sendong claimed lives, lives that touched hearts of dear friends, lives that touched my heart. December 17, 2011 was the saddest ever. At midnight on that day I was completely unaware of people struggling for their lives. The lights had been out so I fell asleep at 10 and woke up at 1am because my brother called me so I could open the gate for him. It was the scariest sound ever. It’s like you’re on the beach, listening to strong sea waves crashing on huge rocks. But it was not the beach. Or huge waves. Just strong rains and winds. As I lay in my bed (1. the weather was good 2. finally being able to sleep at 1am), I did not know there had already been screams from afar for help. At 7 in the morning, my neighborhood did not experience what those flood victims had experienced so I thought everyone was okay. But then I received a text from a friend saying her mother and grandmother died because of the flood in Iligan. At that point I was in shock for what had happened. It was not a normal storm. Once the electricity had been back at 3pm later that afternoon, I charged my phone to contact my friends and I opened a social network and read nothing but bad news and photos of dead people and damaged homes. What shocked me was I read a post from my Kindergarten teacher that my grade school guidance counselor died because of Sendong. My mom had been busy with checking up on her office mates to see if they were okay. My mom brought more bad news and told me her office mate died, and that particular person I’ve met at their Christmas party on the 16th. A day before. Today, I went around the city with my dad. Actually being there and seeing people with no homes crushed my heart. If seeing photos of Sendong victims on the internet hurt your hearts, it would be a thousand times more painful seeing it in person. What more if I actually saw the tragedy? Truly heartbreaking. Muddy vehicles everywhere and no water to clean the mud out. I’m just really thankful my family’s safe. Thankful and depressed at the same time. But despite what the Philippines is experiencing now because of Sendong, I still thank God for keeping me and those who lost their homes, alive.