FLASH FLOOD IN BALULANG...

This morning we were awakened by a phone call from my Aunt Vicky, saying that the Caballero Family needed help as the waters of the river have already eaten up their property. On all four houses in the Caballero compound, the waters have already risen high above their roofs, and they had to be evacuated.

My dad, who was up at 1 a.m. or so to rescue me from the darkness that hit Balulang(I was here at that time ...blogging, when the lights went dead---and of course, I texted my father for rescue as I was already very afraid of the darkness...hello??? I was the only one up at that hour...won't do it again, I swear...oh that's another story, hehehhehe), tried to sleep again but was soon reawakened by another urgency. He and my brother drove down to see the situation, but when they reached the area, they could not see anything but water. Good thing that my father went around looking for a way to see more, and truth be told, he saw a hopeless case since the post at the gates of the compound still had live electricity. Thankfully, with Auntie Vicky's call to Cepalco, we had another "brown out"...ahehehe, just making you readers laugh a bit, since this post may be a very serious one. So anyway, after the electricity went dead, people are then able to cross in the chin-deep waters...my father, according to another cousin swam towards the house where the Caballeros were safely evacuated, temporarily though...

While Ondo, my aunt's trusted help, together with my Manang Bebing arrived in the house with fish, and asked if we could prepare food for the victims...so my sisters and my mother prepared food for them. The fish that they brought was cleaned and cooked by Manang Bebing, while Ondo left to go back to the area. All the food leftovers from the New Year's eve dinner were heated, while my mom added some fried eggs and loaves of bread as she prepared the food to go---everyone was busy...I was entertaining my Aunts and cousins who arrived from Butuan and ushered them to the new place when the Caballeros partially arrived...partially since Auntie Mayette's family still had difficulty coming out of the flooded waters, they were still left in the second floor of the house they were in...see, our house is very small for quite a big crowd...so our relatives from Butuan, since they have already had breakfast, were the ones to stay at the new place. Their driver stayed in the van while they were inside the new place of Honeysweet.

After awhile, my father and brother arrived with Auntie Mayette and her baby. While tailing behind them is the car of Jisan and PJ with Pastor Raul, Uncle Manny and Z...they were safe at last...

Everyone was inside our house, dark as it was because of no electricity, and crowded...Nanay Purie and Auntie Grace arrived later on with clothes for the babies and kids, and for Nanay Inday. My mom went inside their bedroom and brought out spare underwear (her stocks for SaraLee/Fullerlife) that we keep in the house for spare, ahehehehe...well, they served their purpose already... More clothes for the adults. I brought out slippers for the kids courtesy of Zarelle...well, she had three spare slippers, so no problem.

While waiting for Princess and Auntie Vicky to get the cars for them to proceed to PN Roa, we were talking and despite what happened I find that the Caballeros were still praising God and thankful that they were still alive, while their neighbors were still left submerged guarding their properties....Nanay said that what happened to day just proves that nothing is permanent in life...and I definitely agree with her. Their place was perhaps the nicest place to live in since it's near water and near the forest. It's cool and really great for vacations or two. We talked about the things they have left behind and it seems that they have opened up the idea of rebuilding a home in another property of theirs...still in Balulang, but of course farther from the river...well, they have lots of properties in Balulang, so it's really no problem... The greatest thing is that they are all safe and healthy...that's so much to praise God for...

When the party left for PN Roa, Pastor Raul and Uncle Manny were left to attend to their houses, and Uncle Manny told me before they left that the waters have already subsided but left a very big damage...all their clothes were soaked in mud, while all their appliances and furniture were all damaged and lying useless on the ground...perhaps after having floated in the waters earlier in the day... but of course, they were still able to salvage a few belongings...

whew...what a day...Still we Praise God!!!