Stranded in Manila

June to December is the rainy season here in the Philippines. You will notice that is half of the year! Needless to say the Philippines gets a lot of rain which is part of the reason it is so very lush and green throughout the country.

I have been here since the end of March and spent quite a bit of time in the rain including the time Maggie, Marj and I tried to spot a butanding (whale shark) from a boat in Donsol (in Sorsogon Province). Then we saw the water leaping across the road as we took a mad bus ride all the back way to Manila. We were still surprised when we saw the TV footage of the damage caused by flooding and mudslides in the areas we had just passed the day before. We were lucky to have left when we did.

In Manila, I have seen how when it rains hard and steady for a few hours, the streets can fill with water. Hopefully, you have your flip flops on rather than your tennis shoes because you won't be able to avoid the water in most places. If you aren't wearing shorts, hopefully you have on pants that you can roll up. Many people, myself included, often decide to wait for the rain to stop or slow before catching the next jeepney.

When the streets are really flooded, it's safer not to walk through the water because you might accidently step into an uncovered manhole or drain. These are large, deep and dangerous. So when the water is really deep, you will see people walking among the cars in the middle of the road to be safe.

I thought I had already seen a lot of rain and street flooding during my time here but a few days I got a taste of reality for many Manila residents. It was late and it had been raining steadily most of the evening. Marj and I were both really tired and eager to sleep. As we left the restaurant around 2:30am, we managed to push through the pond like clog at the intersection and turn onto the main road. We plodded through the flooding streets along with the others until we came to a complete halt. Under normal circumstances, we were a short walking distance from the entrance to the subdivision. We had decided to wait for the rain to stop and the water to subside when a man with a big blue umbrella came by telling everyone that the water was waist high. The rain was showing no signs of stopping or slowing and we were so tired at this point that we joined the group of cars turning around. We planned to return to the restaurant where we could at least sleep until the rain stopped but we found that street was now flooded as well.

Forced to keep going on the main road, we stopped at a 7-Eleven (yup, they are really everywhere). We parked as far off the main road as we could get without touching the building. Then we got some snacks and returned to the car to wait for the rain and water to subside. Although this was a safe place to wait with a security guard and good lighting, the street quickly filled with water. We were soon joined by other stranded motorists (especially motorcyclists). Bigger vehicles (like buses and trucks) were still braving the water. Each time they passed, they'd rock our boat, I mean car. Fortunately, our parking space was on an incline so the water only reached part way up the rear tires.

Finally around 8am, the rain had paused long enough for the water to recede a bit and we were finally able to get back on the road. The water was still deep but we were able to push through to the next intersection where the water level was much lower. From there, we could continue at a slow but sure pace. This time the subdivision entrance was no longer flooded. We were so happy to safely arrive home and fall into bed.

Marj tells me that for some Manila residents it's much worse. The entrance to their subdivision does not drain as quickly and they are forced to wait or walk to get home. For them, this is part of life during the rainy season in Manila.

Note: Please click on the small image near the title to see the full size image. These pictures were taken from the car where we were stranded. Unfortunately, on our way back, rain on the windshield made it impossible to get a clear shot of the people walking through the middle of the road (some pushing their carts of good to sell for the day). Quite a sight to see!