The Night When I Walked from Divisoria to Pureza

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I temporarily interrupt my blog silence for one experience that I couldn’t resist posting this blog. I’m talking about my long walk from Divisoria to Pureza because of the heavy rain and the flood this evening. Divisoria and Pureza has a distance of at least 3 kilometers when you followed Recto Avenue and the LRT tracks.

The rain started around 4 PM this afternoon and it’s not just a simple rain. There are strong winds. There are thunder and lightning. It is as if a typhoon suddenly appeared in the city.

With that kind of rain, I know that I going home will be difficult. But I am wrong because going home became extra difficult.

First, there’s no jeepney and the traffic is not moving! So, I had no choice but to walk to LRT – Recto Station. Unfortunately, the train station is surrounded with flood and since the floodwater is disgusting (and I don’t want to wade to floodwater mixed with human pee, human poop, garbage, animal poop and other unimaginable eeky things) I decided to find another flood-less path.

To make the long story short, I walked from Recto to Quiapo Area to San Sebastian Church to Legarda then climbed the Magsaysay Bridge to finally reach an area few meters away from LRT – Pureza Station. This is where the floodwater stopped my long walk.

Vehicles stopped by floodwater near LRT - Pureza Station.

I am not complaining with my experience this evening. Actually, I’m already accustomed with the floods. In fact, surviving Manila means getting accustomed to flood and traffic. Complaining is useless so people just learn to live with it. This evening, many people walked barefoot through the flood to prevent the water from ruining their shoes.

I heard in the news that another heavy rain will fall again tomorrow. I admit that I enjoyed this evening’s long walk but I don’t want a repeat of it tomorrow. I want to go home early and less tired. So, I pray to God that He prevent another heavy rain tomorrow.
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My Flooded Adventure in the City of Manila

Around a year ago, I braved the floodwaters along España Boulevard to reach our office. I almost did the same thing today because government was late in suspending work in private and public offices. What made the difference is that the Universal Guiding Star bus that I was riding passed through España Boulevard.

Thanks be to God. I was spared from wading in the dark-colored-filthy floodwaters of España Boulevard.

I managed to take a video of the flooded boulevard, from Blumentritt to San Vicente Streets.

My efforts were in vain because the government declared that work is suspended in Metro Manila. The announcement is very timely! Many employees are already on their way to their workplaces.

The flood in Metro Manila was caused by the rain brought by habagat (southwest monsoon). Many people living in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bataan and other provinces were severely affected. Many people are now in the evacuation centers as I type this blog post.

Lawton area and City Hall of Manila were already flooded. Buses were the only vehicles that can pass through the flood.

Jeepney stalled in the middle of the flood.

Pasig River already spilled its waters beyond the river banks. I think that this river can’t take in water anymore and that’s why many parts of Metro Manila were already flooded.

There is water everywhere. I want to leave Manila but I don't want to wade in the filthy flood waters. The only way that I can avoid most of the flood is by walking on the center island of the street.

Flooded Lawton Area,Manila.

I had no choice but to go back the way I came because office work was suspended. I’m fortunate that there are still buses that I can ride back home.

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Many of Filipinos are now suffering due to the flood. Some of our kababayans are in evacuation centers. Some of them are trapped in their houses. They need food, water, medicine, clothing, toiletries – in short they need help.

I appeal to your kind hearts. Please help our kababayans in need.

You can send your help through here:

Please visit their event page for details.

Waterworld of España Boulevard

I was both amazed and baffled last Monday night when I looked at Taft Avenue from the platform of LRT – Pedro Gil Station. The whole stretch of Taft Avenue is submerged in floodwaters! My great dilemma was the fact that I have to go down the LRT station and brave that ultra-mega-super-filthy flood.

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I left that area of Taft Avenue with my sock soaked with disgusting floodwaters. Even my beloved and her sister, whom we fetched from the nearby Robinson's Mall, were not spared. They also braved the flooded Taft Avenue.

The rains and floods that Monday night is just the beginning of the calamity brought by the “habagat” winds. I woke Tuesday morning just to see that major parts of Metro Manila were submerged by floodwaters. People from low-lying areas were evacuated. Many people died by electrecution,drowning and landslide.

I decided to go back to work on Thursday even though many areas are still flooded. Employees, like me, were forced to go work because the government didn't suspend work in government and private offices.

I knew something was amiss when the bus conductor told us that they will be cutting their trip at Blumentritt Street. It only meant that España Boulevard is still flooded. I was not wrong.

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Stranded passengers at Blumetritt corner España Boulevard

I was forced to go down Blumentritt Street because the bus driver didn't want to brave the flooded  España Boulevard. Passenger vehicles are rare so I decided to walk the remeining stretch of  España Boulevard despite the flood.

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Thigh high flood along De La Fuente Street.

There are a lot of people who waded through the flood of  España Boulevard. Most of them are workers who didn't to be late for work. Fortunately, the flood along the side of the boulevard was just as high as my thighs. I might have turn back if the flood rose higher than my hips.

The trains of Philippine National Railways (PNR) continued its operations. Passengers of PNR are fortunate during that day because of it.

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Flooded España Boulevard and the train of PNR.

I saw some buses that passed through the floods of  España Boulevard. I am dismayed when I saw those bus. The bus that I had ridden earlier should have braved the flood for the sake of the passengers. The operator of Universal Guiding Star is such a chicken.

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Bravo Florida Bus Lines!

I know that my ordeal is about to the end when I reached the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

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Walking beside the fence of UST.

UST is one school worst hit by floods. According to news reports, Floods entered UST Hospital and many patients had to be transferred to the upper floors.

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Flooded arch of UST

Morayta is the last part of my journey. I climbed the footbridge to see the extent of the flood. Here is what I saw:

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España Boulevard is totally flooded.

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Morayta Area.

Many people used the flood to earn some money like the people who made this bridge:

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It is good that the classes are suspended. I am sure that students of Far Eastern University (FEU) will be horified to see this:

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I am glad to see that there is no flood at Lerma Street. I am so happy to walk on flood-less street.

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The underpass under Recto Avenue became another big swimming pool. The water in the underpass was gone when I passed yesterday morning.

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Walking along the flooded  España Boulevard is a great experience for me though I will not do it again in the future.