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It has been more than a month that my family has been homeless. For the first time after Sendong, we went to mass together as a family, to worship God being thankful that my parents, siblings and my very own daughter were spared when TS Sendong hit our home in Villa Nena 2, Balulang. After a month and a few days, my family now shows signs of "normalcy". At least that is what I have observed now, compared to that very day after they have experienced struggling with the water's currents that almost drowned them to death. That fateful date, December 17, 2011, which disrupted all activities and even sent my parents away from the very home they have built, where 36 years of hard earnings have been soaked in flood waters and covered in mud. But then, like what I said, everything is better now. Everything has already been prepared. The documents now in order, and in two weeks, we are all moving out of my pad here in Macasandig to transfer to that place on higher ground. Perhaps it had taken us all this late to move because we had to make sure everything is settled. Unlike others who immediately were able to transfer to their new place, we had to wait for documents to be ready, for lights and water to be installed, and the list is quite endless. Although this pad is home to me and my sister and daughter, for my parents, and two other siblings, this pad is merely their temporary shelter. It is in this little pad that transition had taken place. It is in this little pad that TS Sendong victims, now survivors, have learned to cope with so many other issues after Sendong struck our home. For awhile, because we don't live together anymore, it seemed that we were no longer one, which actually added to the adjustments that each of us had to go through. But like what I said, today, we have become a family again.
After mass we went to Lim Ket Kai Center, shopped for shoes at this newly opened boutique which sells American shoes and sandals with really great discounts. Then we headed to Rai Rai Ken for dinner. We have not done that for quite some time. And especially not after Sendong ruined Christmas and the New Year for everyone. So today had been a breather for all of us... it has been rough the past month and the days that went by, but now, everything seems to be normal again. That is, minus the expenses of buying new things for the new house where they will transfer to. I, on the other hand, have also opted to transfer somewhere near them, in case another emergency might happen. It is always nice to be near your family. Because when Sendong struck our home in Balulang, my sister and I were here in Macasandig, and it was only in the morning that we were able to go to them for rescue, to which, they have already done themselves, as the water have already gone down when we arrived..
Here is my personal account of what transpired on December 16, 2011--- the night it all begun. And as we face a new chapter of our lives, I am hoping that everyone else who have been victims of Sendong and its wrath will do so too... I know it will not be easy, but we just have to keep moving forward.
With this new beginning, I have also bought this new domain http://www.sendongstories.com/, to collate all TS Sendong related stories and experiences of friends, family, and hopefully everyone who has a story to tell about how TS Sendong touched or devastated their lives. I do believe that by sharing one's story, there is a healing effect. And by reading someone's story, there is a lesson we learn. Do like Sendong Stories at Facebook for more updates and stories..
My family and I would like to thank all the people who helped us get through the rough times, and I posted their names HERE..
My family and I would like to thank all the people who helped us get through the rough times, and I posted their names HERE..
