Storm Destroyed the Only Road Connecting Sorsogon City to Manila

Peoples and vehicles stranded in Guinlajon, Sorsogon because of the sudden collapsed of the national road portion connecting the City to the capital Manila and the rest of Luzon.

As I have reported, last Saturday of May 2, 2009 Sorsogon City was affected by typhoon. It was not that strong but enough to cause a lot of people suffer due to the sudden flash floods that destroyed several portions of the roads. The most terrible of which is this one because it is a national road where thousands of peope are passing not only from Sorsogon but also from Masbate, Samar, Leyte and even Mindanao. Those who chose to travel by land rather than by sea and by air.

Local officials were forced to create artificial way in order that the people from the other side can cross to the other. No vehicles could pass from Saturday of May 2 until Monday of May 4, 2009.

The problem is much bigger because Sorsogon is connected to Metro Manila and the rest of civilization only by this road. Yeah, this is the only one. So, once this road is cut off our supply of gasoline, vegetables, fruits, medicines, newspapers, mails, etc. is suddenly blocked or hindered. Gosh, I don't know why our forefathers were not visionary enough to create an alternate route. I hope that through this natural calamity we can learn our lessons and provide a suitable alternate road to reach the capital. Otherwise our economic progress will be hampered by this constant disability.

The collapsed portion was wide and large about 30 meters of the previous road was cut off.

Local officials were scrambling to help the stranded passengers coming from as far as Samar, Leyte and even Mindanao. The objective is to create temporary road so that the light vehicles could pass as soon as possible.

The previous road portion is now a river of flowing water from the mountains

This stream was previously very small so that a small passage way was provided for it. Unfortunately due to continuous raining caused by weather depression and even storm the volume of water multiplied to overflowing and it demolished the road and several houses with it.

The discomfort and pain caused by this natural accident are terrible for the passengers.

But the mothers and the wives, life must go on. They are living their normal life as if nothing happens. They are washing clothes with smiles on their faces. When confronted by natural calamities Filipinos do not suffer depression. We laugh and smile our troubles away and we cope up with the challenges that lies ahead.

A beautiful view of the mountain where the waters are coming. Even some of the stranded passengers were washing their clothes. They need it after being stranded in Matnog for about 3 days and now in Guinlajon for almost the same duration.

The devastating effect of this river was not enough to dampen the local folks love of it. They know that no matter what this water is life and it is a blessing after all.

Another view of the mountain. Beautiful and majestic, serene like a giant emerald.

If there is a Will there is a Way

Some of the stranded vehicles: Trucks of foods and vegetables, mails and fish, etc. Cars and luxury vehicles, local means of transportation such as jeepneys... one of which is shown right in front of the picture above -- the one in yellow. This house is in the danger of collapsing. The soil in front had been eaten by flash floods while the house was filled with mud and rocks caused by the same water torrents.

Local folks and passers by are staring at the portions of some houses carried away by the strong flood.

Human technology is being utilized to provide immediate solution to the delemma caused by natural forces yet people are aware that it is helpless against the power of nature.

Overnight works are being rushed to soften the pain of the thousands of passengers.

Human spirit doesn't allow defeat in times of adversity. We stand and walk tall to face the trials of life.

While taking shots and checking the place around a lot of people were recognizing me and were calling 'Father, father'... One of the volunteers told me: "Father, do you remember me? I was the one who asked for House Blessing last year." O yes of course I remember him and his wonderful family. He is the guy in orange clothe at the far right. He is together with the other volunteers or City workers from the Municipal Office.

Hundreds of meters away from the collapsed site the stranded vehicles are still piling.

One of the employees of the popular fast food chain in Sorsogon City had to take his rest at one of the Nipa Hut of a poor family. He is thinking how to bring to the City the needed supply for the Food Chain.

People are walking far in order to get into public transportations bringing passengers to the city of Sorsogon proper.

Three Aemilianum computer students about to go to Legazpi City for the On Job Training, From Left: Jeffrey, Meriwnel and Benedict Lagajino.

Hundreds of meter away from the ground zero the local trycicle drivers are slugging it out among themselves to get passengers from among those who were walking away from the chaos.