Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Photo Essay on Typhoon Ketsana (a.k.a. Ondoy) - Metro Manila, Philippines

I remember it clearly. It started around 7pm. September 25, 2009 -- A Friday night.





It started raining hard around 11pm. From what I remember, I think the rain did not back down. It was this hard (Please see video above)

September 27 morning came. Other than the heavy rainfall, we are very thankful to God that we do not have any scheduled activities for that day.

At around 4pm, it was still raining hard. (The video above was taken around 4pm on September 27)

photo essay typhoon ondoy ketsana pictures philippines manila destruction damage
That night, we went out to buy food. There were still electricity in other places. Ours didn't have any.


At around 8pm to 9pm the rain stopped a bit.. and it rained again.. and it stopped. In the dark, I composed this blog using my mobile phone (read it here)



photo essay typhoon ondoy ketsana pictures philippines manila destruction damage
The next day, we need to go somewhere else and this was my chance to take photos. Photos to expose Ondoy's wrath.

photo essay typhoon ondoy ketsana pictures philippines manila destruction damage
This is E.rodriguez in Quezon City. Doesn't look like a major road as of taking that picture.

photo essay typhoon ondoy ketsana pictures philippines manila destruction damage
You can see watermarks in this establishments (Wheels Inc and Kia New Manila) window.

flood philippines manila damage news update
New cars and old cars were equally not spared.

flood philippines manila damage news update
Despite the damage, it's still great to see some people smiling.

flood philippines manila damage news update
Wherever you are, water can go anywhere. Gate or no gate.

flood philippines manila damage news update
Even this bus was not spared. High or low, water can get to you.

flood philippines manila damage news update
As we go by, the road conditions got worst. More mud as ever.

metro manila bagyo ondoy litrato news media
Convenience store - racks and everything destroyed.

metro manila bagyo ondoy litrato news media
Emergency room - Also destroyed.

metro manila bagyo ondoy litrato news media
This used to be the hospital ramp - that day, it became a parking lot.

metro manila bagyo ondoy litrato news media
Rescue vehicles - still not spared...

metro manila bagyo ondoy litrato news media
Waiting sheds became temporary shelters...

typhoon ondoy ketsana photos pictures
From Boomtrap to trashtrap.

typhoon ondoy ketsana photos pictures
Below this bridge lies gazillions of trash as it is evident above it.

typhoon ondoy ketsana photos pictures
Sight for the day: Dirty cars.

typhoon ondoy ketsana photos pictures
On higher grounds where it doesn't usually flood, you can still see how high the flood reached.

typhoon ondoy ketsana photos pictures
Floods submerged the entire first floor of this bank in Banawe near Retiro.

typhoon ketsana metro manila philippines damage
I guess the elevation is not enough.

typhoon ketsana metro manila philippines damage
Yes, elevation not enough in Banawe St. for Ondoy.

typhoon ketsana metro manila philippines damage
It was that high, he said.

typhoon ketsana metro manila philippines damage
Businesses incurred losses. Including this pet shop in Banawe.

typhoon ketsana metro manila philippines damage
Even bigger businesses was not spared. This establishment covered their inventory. They sell exotic cars and several other luxury vehicles. Sources said that they weren't able to save any.

ncr metro manila philippines ketsana ondoy pictures
Restaurants suffer...

ncr metro manila philippines ketsana ondoy pictures
This famous hopia shop is closed. Closed when they should be peaking sales -- it's the mooncake festival month.

ncr metro manila philippines ketsana ondoy pictures
Restaurants let out their furniture hoping that the sun would dry them up fast.

ncr metro manila philippines ketsana ondoy pictures
Mighty mart: Not mighty versus flood waters.

ncr metro manila philippines ketsana ondoy pictures
Trash dangled from several establishments.

ncr metro manila philippines ketsana ondoy pictures
Trucks and cars are no match for Ondoy. They all became powerless floating vehicles.

cheftonio blogger philippines manila photographer ondoy ketsana
More trash above high ground as evident in the photo above. Retiro Corner C3.

cheftonio blogger philippines manila photographer ondoy ketsana
Destroyed road along Quezon Avenue.

cheftonio blogger philippines manila photographer ondoy ketsana
More devastated roads...

cheftonio blogger philippines manila photographer ondoy ketsana
More destruction caused by typhoon Ketsana.

cheftonio blogger philippines manila photographer ondoy ketsana
South Luzon Expressway: Sandstorm up ahead?

aqc photography pictures photos ondoy typhoon philippines
No.. just dirt flying up the air.

aqc photography pictures photos ondoy typhoon philippines
Billboards are down. Good job. Except for that one. Don't support that brand!

Part 2: Same day, Sunday afternoon, it rained a bit. Result?
aqc photography pictures photos ondoy typhoon philippines
Even dirtier cars...

aqc photography pictures photos ondoy typhoon philippines
Dirt road turned into very muddy road...

aqc photography pictures photos ondoy typhoon philippines
Floating debris on the road...

typhoon ketsanas damage in the philippines pictures photos
Really, really bad driving conditions...

The next day... thank God it was sunny!!!
typhoon ketsanas damage in the philippines pictures photos
Dirty cars caused by Ondoy.

typhoon ketsanas damage in the philippines pictures photos
Even more dirtier cars.

typhoon ketsanas damage in the philippines pictures photos
Even this drugstore wasn't spared...

typhoon ketsanas damage in the philippines pictures photos
Our warehouse wasn't also spared..

typhoon ketsanas damage in the philippines pictures photos
Funny, this coke bottle stood up by itself. It was filled with flood water. Anyone care for a water sample?

typhoon ondoys damage in metro manila wrath
Disaster c/o Typhoon Ondoy.

typhoon ondoys damage in metro manila wrath
Good thing that glass door didn't break!

typhoon ondoys damage in metro manila wrath
From the inside.. this is how it looks like..

typhoon ondoys damage in metro manila wrath
So, can you point out to me how high the flood was in here?

typhoon ondoys damage in metro manila wrath
Bye Flatron. May you be flat again.

typhoon ondoys damage in metro manila wrath
A grocery parking lot with stalled cars..

flood caused by ondoy in the philippines metro manila
Water-sealed Toyota Vios headlights -- water sealed from the inside.

flood caused by ondoy in the philippines metro manila
Ouch! Brand new!

flood caused by ondoy in the philippines metro manila
But, life must go on...

flood caused by ondoy in the philippines metro manila
We must learn from our mistakes...

flood caused by ondoy in the philippines metro manila
Even this dog lost his home..

flood caused by ondoy in the philippines metro manila
Good thing that dog and that pup still has a home...

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
As dirty as this looks like...

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
We must all stand-up and recover...

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
Let that bayanihan spirit motivate us all...

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
With perseverance, we all could start again!

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
Don't just sit there, sulk and do nothing..

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
Continue to learn...

cheftonio philippine metro manila blog blogger photo essay ondoy ketsana
Continue to play...

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9199/heritagepark.jpg
Because as long as we have God, surely, the sun will rise again and so will we.


2 comments:

JayDJ said...

nice photo essay. and to think this is just a very small chunk of the entire scenario. grabe noh. hope it never happens again.

Cheftonio said...

I so agree. This is just a very small chunk of what typhoon ketsana has caused in the Philippines.

In fact, some areas are still flooded right now. It's been nearly 2 weeks after already.