The cats and I are supposed to be in Mindanao right now having our Holiday vacation for Christmas and New Year. We were supposed to leave on Friday the 18th of DECEMBER after the typhoon as they said, The typhoon will simply pass and the trips will resume the day after. We all know that the typhoon was strong and made a historic visit to the country especially in Central Visayas and the Northern part of Mindanao. But, most of us were confident that it will pass as quickly and will not cause any heavy damage and lives.
It was Thursday afternoon when the typhoon landed on Central Visayas hits the Cebu area and the nearby island. I had my very long nap that time as I woke up with a very loud wind hitting our window. As I checked my phone it was already 7:00 p.m. So, I was checking all the messages on messenger when my old neighbours already had like 100 messages. They were talking about how scary it is and that and this. I made a quick noodle dinner and seated on the sofa as we listened to the big wind sounds and watched the trees as it sways with the wind. Until I saw my plants losing their leaves, And I saw our chair moves to the other side of the balcony. First, I was filming the two beautiful trees in front of the balcony and sending them to my family back in Mindanao and Sweden and telling them how the winds crash it leaves. I feel sorry for the trees I said.. Then the wind and rain keeps coming. Getting stronger and stronger. I couldn't finish my food as I panicked and saw some water coming from the glass windows and door. I panicked a lot that I went to the bathroom taking deep breaths. Planning what to do. As I was crying calling my sister back in Mindanao as she was trying to calm me down. That's it's okay. My sister told me to get myself together before the floor get flooded. Before doing her instructions. I told her I need to have a quick shower coz I cannot think of what to do. Went to the bathroom take a very cold shower to awaken my body and brain.?Like! Who would dare to get a shower in a situation like this? 😹Then it scares me that I want to run to the ground floor and stay there. As the water keeps coming. Jeep and Neyney get so scared that they also stay with me in the bathroom having their ears standing up. Listening to the noise of the wind that went through our exhaust fan in the bathroom. We have some leaking situation in our bedroom as the smoke alarm continues to shower some water and the glass windows as well. But, I managed to clean everything up and put a lot of towels on the floor.
It was a horrible night. Electricity went off as I heard our extra batteries in the living room beeping. Thanks to the management who secured our generator and keep it running until now 🙏
We slept around 3 in the morning. Talking to my friends and family. Thanks to social media these days that connect you anytime around the globe.
Woke up early and check my plants. Yes, my plants were everywhere. It was a disaster as I went out through the balcony. No more trees are standing outside in front of the facilities. I started cleaning weaving Hello, How are you as the guards walked on the ground checking the damages. And this view welcomed me the early morning after the disaster. A beautiful orange morning sky 🤩
As it slowly fades as the bright morning comes 🌞
It was a beautiful morning indeed. A beautiful orange sky at 5 o'clock somethingyish. I never knew that we have a lot of houses and apartments in front of us until the typhoon hits all the trees in the area.
A friend came over. And she was showing me all these pictures she took along her way here. She even asked me if I saw what happened outside our place? I only went to the balcony earlier. So, as she helps me clean the house. We decided to go out and see if we could buy some fresh milk.
I was devastated when I step out outside our lobby door. Everything is gone. Gone. Our beautiful botanical garden was gone. Our beautiful flowers were gone. There are only small branches left without leaves. My heartfelt is so heavy to see how it turned. It is nothing compared to the outside world. These trees and gardens can be replaced easily but the homes of people outside this fence will take time to restore and recover.
As we walked slowly to the outside gate. I was more shocked by what happened. We're lucky that nothing breaks or damage the buildings and the people who live here were safe. It was a nightmare for everyone. And it hurts to see how it happened so quick in just a few hours during the night. As we walk around, I was trying to check if I could see some workers that I know. Theirs a few people trying to get all those logs along the way and starts working around.
Everything has been damaged. 🥺
I was so lucky that even though I was alone. My Cebu Friends came to the rescue to accompany me.
Driving me around to get some food. Fixing my cats papers which expires yesterday as we planned to leave Cebu as soon as we can and we couldn't get tickets as everything is fully booked.
A High school friendzy from my hometown in Mindanao. Came and dropped by a box of water for me and the cats. We seldom meet each other as he works his ass so hard. But, whenever I need help so badly. He comes to the rescue. As always! And I'm forever thankful for that.
I'm beyond grateful for the friends that keep me sane during this time. We are safe. We have everything we need and are surrounded by amazing and super helpful friends who check on us from time to time. We have some electricity interruption yesterday as the management tries to accommodate all buildings. So, they decided to cut off some electricity sometime during the day as they still waiting for the fuel to be delivered.
I told myself not to go out anymore as my heart gets broken watching other people lining up for water to survive. Walking under the heat of the sun to be able to get their food. Everything is just chaos and sad and it breaks my heart. I have been telling my friend redundantly during her stay that how lucky we are having this place without worrying about anything. Some people lose their homes and we are sleeping peacefully with air-conditioned, fresh water and more. We can even watch Netflix while the outside world is suffering.
Wish everything will get to normal soon and restore their homes.🏠✨🙏