Yesterday was supposed to be an ordinary day except for receiving a lot of text messages for prayers so that Super Typhoon Pepeng should spare our countrymen from suffering from more flooding. Many of them  have not been able to recover from the latest disaster brought about by typhoon Ondoy. Many houses are still under water . Another Typhoon of this strength would bring in more catastrophic disaster we could not imagine.

Several text messages more that I received were warnings about this Super Typhoon Pepeng. How I wish Pag-Asa would be wrong again this time of its prediction and I promise myself I would not laugh about it.

It was already lunch time and we were in a restaurant together with my DM and Eric, a Branch Manager at our Baclaran Branch when I received a phone call that I have a visitor waiting in our Branch.

It was Sir Welly. One of our high ranking Exe-Com officer. I thought that it was just one of the usual official visit from our Superior and since it was already lunch time I hurriedly went back to our Branch store to invite him to have lunch with us. The restaurant is located just a few steps away from our store.

He was with a group of people including two cute and lovable kids. After greeting him and after introducing his companions he immediately went to business.

His purpose is to give me assorted clothing and a donation of P10,000.00 to help some of our employees who were victims of Typhoon Ondoy. He was happy that I initiated a similar fund drive two days ago and did his job to help out.

Sir Welly is one of the few people I know who is very down to earth, approachable and with a ready smile every time you see him.

He always listend to you no matter what your telling him because he is a very reasonable man. A knight in shining armor in this time of crisis. My respect and admiration is in the highest level if we speak about the Man.

I was happy and at the same time speechless. It was a great honor for me for being given the privilege of helping out my co-employees.

After lunch Eric and I went to the nearest Supermarket and purchase food and essential items needed by those flood victims. It took us almost 2 hours to complete our task due to multitude of people doing their grocery at the time. One would think that people were into panic buying. Most of the shelves were empty.

According to one merchandiser that we manage to talk to, they are still waiting for deliveries that is why their shelves are almost empty.

It was already about 5:00 PM when we were able to finish packing those relief goods.

They are now ready for distribution as of this writing.

To Sir Welly Thank you so much for your help and for giving me the opportunity of helping other people.

May the good Lord continue to shower you with more Blessing and may your tribe increase.

I found the greatest marketing idea of all time – in a FREE book found HERE

If you want to receive my future posts regularly for FREE, you can subscribe in a Reader or by Email.

Everyone of us has a story to tell about Typhoon Ondoy that visited our country last September 26,2009.

The damaged it left behind in Metro-Manila and nearby branches is beyond description that those who have suffered and survived the ordeal will live with unforgettable story to tell for the rest of their lives.

Even Google created a web page for this:

Ondoy Typhoon Victims
Help for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines”

On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy brought a month’s worth of rainfall to Metro Manila and nearby areas in just a few hours, causing severe flooding which resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. This site compiles relevant information about the disaster, including a volunteer-maintained map of persons needing rescue and a list of relief organizations accepting donations, so that more help can be provided where it is needed. You can also keep track of the latest news on Google News and YouTube.

I am perhaps one of the few lucky people who had not suffered from the fury of Typhoon Ondoy because I did not report for work that day.  I am not feeling well so I decided to take a day off. Thank you, my Guardian Angel!

Everything seems normal that day because we are used with the typhoon signal no. 1 being given by Pag-Asa and almost always the effect came after the signal is lifted.

What can you expect with this corrupt government that would spend the government money in planning to buy Presidential Plane or would prefer to have a lavish U.S. dinner than buy a lifeboat that can be very useful in these times of calamity. Oh! Never mind, kumukulo ang high blood ko.

It seems normal to me with the contentious fall of rain since I woke up until I received a phone call from our manager at Libertad Branch that they are closing shop because the flood of water had entered the store. It was about 11:30 A.M. He could not contact our District Manager and he is asking for my advised. I tried contacting our DM but the message I got was that it cannot be reach.

Ed is a newbie Manager so I assisted him of important things to do in times like these. After calling our AVP and informing him of the situation, it was decided that they could go home by 2:00 PM or after all the instructions to him was carried out. I also learned that at the same time our Mandaluyong Branch was already in knee deep of flood water and had to closed shop also. They are trying to save everything they could to prevent damaged of stocks.

By 1:30 P.M. I got word that our branch was also under water. So the same instructions were given to my staff before they leave for their safety and the stores security. Our other Metro -Manila branches like Blumentritt, Paco, Angono, Novaliches, Baclaran, Muntinlupa, Antipolo and Burgos have also closed shop due to rapid rise of flood water. All phone line by this time were not functioning making communications with one another impossible. Cell phone signals are also having a problem.

I spend my time at home monitoring news reports from T.V. and radio about the situation brought about by typhoon Ondoy. I got really scared for my personnel when I saw how flooded the streets are and heard those frantic calls of victims for help.

I tried calling and texting them to check their situation or if they manage to arrive home safely. It was already 11:30 PM when I got a reply from my supervisor that she is safe at her home. One staff replied that she was in their Barangay spending the night over together with her two kids. One stockman replied that he is now on his way home because he was able to find a ride. It was 11:35 P.M. Our company driver with our delivery van was still stuck in Nagtahan Bridge. He was advised not to proceed with the delivery but got caught in a non-moving traffic. He was able to take his dinner right in his van because of some enterprising food vendor. Those personnel that was not able to reply were the one I was more worried about.

The next day, Sunday I learned that four of our personnel survive swimming in the flooded water and reach home about 6:30 A.M. Our driver reach our motor pool about 6:00 A.M. Our Office Supervisor arrive home with only her rooftop showing. Our salesman was able to save his TV set from damage but did not notice that his cell phone fell from his pocket and fall on the water, now damage also. They all have their own stories to tell and are all just thankful that they survive the fury of Ondoy.

Our Branch personnel voluntarily give something for our co-employee but it is not enough. For the mean time, we are all happy just being together again sharing our own stories to those who would like to listen.

Related Post:

Barrio Bayanihan For Ondoy Victims

Surprise Visit

arikina: Mostly Affected by Typhoon Ondoy

Typhoon Ondoy aftermath: Here’s How You Can Help

Help Ondoy victims Recover from Trauma

Lessons from Typhoon Ondoy