i used to celebrate when PAGASA announces a typhoon is about to hit us. no classes. no teachers/professors. music to my ears. and so when my boss asked us not to go to work last Thursday, i rejoiced. much to my surprise the forecast is accurate, and believe me it doesn't happen often on this side of the planet.

i woke up very early, waking up my officemates asking them if they're going to work. we all decided not to because according to the news the typhoon that will hit us is strong. i waited by the door and nothing happened. signal #3 (i later on learned it was actually 4) but no heavy rains, no strong winds, no nothing. and then it came. and when it came i wished it didn't. i watched by the door looking at the trees as they swayed dancing to the sound of the wind. the dogs were happy, they even played under the rain. then i heard a loud sound, so loud i too screamed. it was our neighbor's roof flying around as if aiming at something or somewhere... or at me. so we let the dogs go inside the house. it did stop for 20 minutes but when it returned it was a heavier, stronger wind with a louder sound. i couldn't stay in my room with 2 huge windows because i thought any moment the jalousy will break into pieces and glasses will be buried on my face.

and then the unthinkable happened. no electricity. no electricity means no water. no water means no baths and showers. no drinking water. no decent food to eat. no everything. plus phone lines are broken too and my cellphone died on me that afternoon. disaster. DISASTER. i spent friday reading "White Oleander" (which i finished in a day and a half); i used the natural light of the day for reading and play the guitar during the night. the rest of the night is spent staring at the candle, waiting for it to burn and let the burned wax flow on a container. you may find it boring, but when nothing is left for you to do and you're stuck with a lit candle you'll do the same. i had no choice.

i finally got the chance to smell and taste fresh water again, this morning -- 2am. i gathered all containers that can serve as a bucket and filled them with water. bottles, mineral water containers -- all things deep, my neighbor even used a plastic bag just to get enough water supplies. fire trucks and firemen became an instant celebrity in our place too. they are the heroes of the moment. the dogs were happy to see running water from the faucet too, one of them even went to the faucet put her head under it and let it flow over her head. poor dog. i was done by 4am and i tried to get some sleep. i couldn't so i started to get ready by 5:30am. they cut the water supply at 7am i heard.

and when i got out of the house, the horror of all things horror. uprooted trees, houses without roofs, establishments destroyed, businesses not operating because there's no power supply. people running around looking for places to get water. it was a mess. in times like these i appreaciate the sunny days, the loud sound of the jologs radio stations playing with "orcs" singing along a Cueshe song, and yes even Cueshe. i wanted to hear something, anything but shouting and fighting.

tonight i hope i'll see a lighted street when i get home. or water, just water. i can live without electricity but not withoug water. if i'm be lucky enough, ill spend the night staring at a candle again until i get sleepy.