ALORAN, a perspective AND THEN

The day after Christmas of 2022, Aloran was hit by the worst flooding in my memory. A younger friend, in his 50s, said that this was the worst flooding he ever witnessed in his entire life, I am sixty-seven. The Great Flood of 2022, is the title of an essay I am drafting and hoping to link here. Although the flood wrought havoc of biblical proportion, like every cloud, there is a silver lining. Early morning of December 26th, while rain was pouring incessantly, residents from Baranggay Ospital and Dalisay where the nearby river and creek overflowed, began moving en masse to a higher ground, bringing with them some personal effects, important documents, bottled water, crackers and most importantly to some, their pet cats. Some who were not quick enough moving ended up with just their shirt on their back. Heard from them, water level their place is taga-tuhod (knee-deep), taga-hawak (waist-deep) and even taga-liog (neck-deep), a joke went, taga-liog ni Nano (water was up to Nano's neck, Nano is an onano, a three-foot, give or take, model employee of the LGU). I know the guy meant well, but it was not funny. I learned later that Nano and family live in one of the worst-affected areas where water level was taga-liog and on Nano, twice his height. Neighbours were roaming around urging neighbours to move to higher ground, help elderlies and those with limited mobility, asking your car keys so they can move your car to safety. Those who were late in heeding the warning were trapped in their homes, forcing rescuers to break windows to rescue them. Many of the rescuers, themselves also suffered unbelievably. One next-door neighbour was offering hot meals and coffee/tea to evacuees, shelter and use of restroom. Days after the flood, I visited RC church. The church and its environs are elevated to a 'safe' level. On the parking lot were all sorts of vehicles moved to safety by their owners, and inside was clearly a chaos. Residents from Ospital, Tawi-tawi, sitio Bara, Tampi, sitio Napo and Tonggo and other affected places were evacuated, cramped in a limited space. Employees from LGU, private citizens and volunteers were distributing basics like rice, water, noodles, tinned goods, medicines, all coming from different LGUs of Misamis Occidental and neighbouring provinces and from many private citizens and NGOs. Another place I visited that same day is our Municipal Hall where Mayor Insek Roa was directing the distribution of relief goods to most affected residents. What I saw those very days not only restored my faith in my fellow Aloranons, it made me prouder as an Aloranon more than I already am.