Faced Off with Milenyo (Xangsane)

(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Posted by Sonnie

September 30, 2006 | 5,697 Views |

Eye Of The Storm

It’s been a long while since I’ve been in the eye of the storm.. Not that I missed it but experiences like this will make you reflect about life and the value you add to others, be thankful and make the most out of the situation.

Our office is located near the famous Manila Bay, near SM Mall of Asia and Blue Wave. It became the convenient meeting place between me and and tropical storm “milenyo” or Xangsane.

Boy it’s one of the strongest storm I have encountered in my life and the first in an area near the bay with almost no structure surrounding us that may soften the impact of the storm. From 10:00 AM up to at least 2:00 PM, we are a witness to the display of force by “Milenyo”.

• Because it’s the coding day of my car, I left home at 6:30AM, there I was greeted by milenyo’s advance party– rains and plenty of rains! I drove thru at Jollibee BlueWave to get some breakfast and brought it at the office. I was already on the road when I heard thru AM radio that coding was suspended.
• Since it’s still early, I began scribling a post BlogCon entry, reflecting on the lessons gained when the power went off. I called our house to check my family then went on with work.
• At around 9:30 AM, Milenyo began making his presence felt with strong winds battering our roof. From the view in my office I witnessed flying debris, mostly vegetation and branches of trees.
• Reports from our different revenue centers began to come in. The ceiling of a nerve center of a branch in the south gave in. The roof of one of our auditoriums in a prestigious branch were similarly torn.
• 12% of our workforce were absent and 6% of those present were late.
• Operations of some of our centers were temporarily shut down because of trouble with generators.
• I began coordinating with my bosses the possibility of sending our people home early
• I became annoyed when we can’t pick-up any AM radio station and when globe signal went off.
• We received word from one of the executives that by 12:00NN, employees who wish to go home when they feel safe can go home, but they are free to stay in the office.
• Not long after that, a tree almost hit the trunk of my car.
• Likewise, part of the roof of our covered parking collapsed damaging some vehicles. Therefore, we were advised to transfer from the covered parking to the open area. Driving against the wind is a like pulling an elephant from behind.
• We have stayed for a while to coordinated whether the planned tour of PMAP (People Management Association of the Philippines) delegates at IMAX will push thru. When we received word that it is cancelled, I prepared to go home. By this time, the storm has subsided.
• I realized the magnitude of the damage when I drove home.
  • Trees and other debris are scattered on the road.
  • Light structures along bay walk and promenade were destroyed.
  • Fallen electrical post are evident everywhere.
  • Apparent island wide blackout
  • The view of the angry waves at Manila Bay was scary.
• I bought some groceries at SM Supermarket– Manila before hitting home.

Becoming Personal

• The effect of the storm became more personal when I got to our condo. Though not affected by humidity, I failed to blog and surf. Cell Phone signal was also intermitent. We listened to news from the radio in our car.
• Morning came, since there was no electricity, we ran out of water. We went to a relatives condo to do our bathroom ceremonies. Afterwards, we stockpiled water for later consumption. Good thing we have stocks of purified water for drinking.
• The following day, I reported for work, as expected. While driving to the office, we’ve noticed the clearing operation of one billboard that collapsed and hit an SUV along Roxas Blvd cor MIA road. From the looks of it, the driver, would not make it.
• No electricity, no net and water for the 2nd day. When evening came, kids are now becoming impatient. Since the storm has subsided, it’s also becoming more humid.
• We decided to cook the remaining food in the ref lest it get spoiled.
• On the third day after the storm, after arriving in the office, we were surprised that the landlines are down. With down servers, email system, internet and intermitent cell signal, coordination is hard, really hard.
• We learned that two of our centers in the South has yet to operate normally. One may take a week or two for repair of the ceiling while the other depends as to when electricity will be restored.
• We received news that electricity was already restored in my sisters’ place in Cavite. We planned to spend the weekend there as it appeared that we will not have ours until Sunday. Med-rise hotels are also fully booked.
• I received a call from my wife that power was restored at around 5:20pm. Good News indeed!
• Immediately after office, I went straight home…

Finally! I was able to surf, thus, able to post this entry. Tomorrow, we’ll worship to thank the Creator for the protection. We are also preparing somethings to be donated when needed and necessary.

Issues that Gov’t and NGO’s will have to work out:

• Congratulate Pag-Asa for a job well done!
• Review the guidelines on billboards
• Review the guidelines on the greening project
• Disaster preparedness of local units down to the barangay level
• Disaster preparedness of utility companies.

Watchlist:

• Preparedness of companies in dealing with this situation and handling the absences and tardiness of employees.
• How fast Meralco, Telcos (Globe, PLDT, Smart) can restore services
• How corporations thru their CSR programs will help the community
• Price of oil products and basic commodities

Others who blogged about Milenyo/Xangsane or its effect, one way or another:

• Noime
  
• Jayvee
• Abe
• Codamon
• Baratillo @ Cubao
• Misadventures of Penoy
• Dementia
• Babydoc
• Susan
• Guimaras Oil Spill
• Deluge
• Everyday Ambuguities
• Jinjurks
• exblog
• Around the bend
• Angelo
• Filipina Soul
• Batang Baler
• Misteryosa
• Wifely Steps
• Cyberbaguioboy

If you find this interesting, subscribe to my feeds or e-mail to get regular updates, or add this site to your Technorati Favorites.

To contact me, go this way.

You can follow the discussion here, or by checking the email subscription tag, below the comment box. Thank you for the visit.