A Date With Regine, The National Library of the Philippines

and Typhoon Ondoy

The date is October 26, 2009 because of needed materials for my research I need to
visit the National Library in T.M. Kalaw Manila. I left Mabini around 4:30am in the
morning,but the Ceres bus in Bolbok didn't leave the terminal till pass 6am. I arrived at
Buendia quarter to eight. I manage to ride a jeepney going to Kalaw,this time the rain
is not getting any better. I eat in Chowking a couple of blocks away from NLP, as I
walked thru the rain, I asked the pedicab driver how far is the Library from my location,
the guys said two more stop lights. Well the rain is getting heavier, so the logical thing
to do is to ride the pedicab. I passed by the Manila Doctors Hospital and the Casino
Filipino/Pagcor,shortly I was in front of the Pambansang Aklatan ng Pilipinas. After
asking the guard in the Information Desk the procedure, I proceed to the cashier to
pay for my registration, my ID# B394614. I went to the 3rd floor check on the
computers for the different theses titles related to my study, I jot down three titles then
went to the study room. Actually this trip is also a date, Regine intends to help me
copying things I needed for my literature. The original plan is that she will fetch me
early morning in LRT-Buendia but since she has to go to Insular first she is delayed till
around 12:00. She somewhat got lost but manage to traced back to Kalaw,but around
that time its already flooded, as in heavily flooded the whole street. What an irony, two
lovers separated by two stop lights, a heavy rain, and flood getting higher by the
minute. I make the best of my time copying this I need,hurriedly. Then they announced
that everybody now should go home because there is an advisory that all employees
should go home now because of the flood. No choice pack up and go home,but my
love is still stranded on the other side of the street. We continually text and call each
other to analyze the situation on how we will see each other and eventually go home
early. But the flood,WOW!! The big flood, go on with it. Assessing my condition
temporarily took shelter in McDo (this is where I took these picture). Communication
between Gie and myself is okay, salamat Suncellular, but I really dont know how will I
return back to Buendia. I can't risk myself from the flood co'z I will damage my laptop
huhuhu. I decided to transfer to the nest block, I took the center aisle of the street coz
its higher there, again taking shelter this time in Jollibee. Ironically I don't feel hungry
eating after going to this food chains. I'm worried about Regine, then she text me that
she will go to my place, fearful on how she will manage to swim...este to walk in
already waist deep water. “Ingat mahal” I said to my text. Waiting as it slowly getting
dark, the rain is of no sign of stopping while the wind is going in all directions. What a
happy sight upon seeing Gie,all wet hehehe. She is with Phoebe a girl almost crying
asking her for a text as they both get stranded in the flood. Well we waited again, even
Jollibee is now closed. We help this lady to call home, then after a few minutes her
sundo arrived. Now what we gonna do?We decide to cross the waters, ready myself
held my bag tight,Regine in front guiding me. We slowly walk along with many others.
My shoe didnt make it, it shows a big smile...buka na. But it didnt stop us from just
paddled in the flood. We reached the LRT Station went up get tickets and rode back to
Buendia. Arriving at Buendia, another flood same deep,well go go go!!! She help me
again cross to the Jam bus terminal,infront of a bus, and I guess many saw us, I
kissed her two times in the lips saying “i love you,mag-iingat ka, and text me along the
way,okay?”!!! I entered the third bus, coz the two infront is already filled with
passengers. I'm wet from my waist down to my feet, I sit on the window side,texting
my dearest and slowly fall asleep due to tiredness. Gie arrived at her boss house
around 9pm thanks also to the guy who accompany her walking. As for me, all of the
buses are stranded,until 12midnight, pass 1am when our bus have a chance to leave
taking a different route out of still flooded and traffic jammed streets going to Edsa
then to SLEX. Arrived at Bolbok around 3a.m. Took a jeep to Bauan then hire a tricycle
going to Mabini, my father is already waiting for me in our owner type jeep which I
texted previously. Nice to be back home, fixing my self, cleaning up, then went to bed.
What a day!!