Pleas for help, stories of helplessness
Diversion Road
Janiuay, located in the central part of Iloilo, is among the hardest hit with casualties expected to be highest. Mayor Ben Margarico in an interview told Bombo Radyo that at least 19 are confirmed dead and hundreds feared missing. Included in the missing is a family of five whose entire house was carried upstream and personally seen by the mayor to have hit the foundation of the Suage bridge. He recalled seeing numerous others waving for help with frantic looks of desperation. Mayor Margarico said it was impossible for him and other rescuers to do anything.
In Tigbauan, Iloilo, workers of a local funeral parlor were called in to 'pick up' the dead. One funeral help confirmed recovering ten bodies including one family of eight, the youngest estimated to be at least 4 months old. The family was apparently trapped inside their house made of light materials.
In Jaro, barangay officials alerted authorities of a grim sight early Saturday evening. Along the floating debris by the river were unaccounted number of children, apparently dead. Meters ahead was a body of yet another woman hanging by a fallen tree.
In Pavia, homes were literally submerged by Saturday noon as about 200 evacuees swarmed the regional office of the Commission on Audit (COA).
Father Pedro Calvo of the Spousal of Mary and Joseph Parish in Buntatala, Jaro called for rescue and assistance as water reached about 7 feet inside the parish and the convent.
“Children, men and women were all crying for help and they also had to leave for higher ground because in minutes, the floodwaters also started to fill the parish,” Father Calvo told The News Today (TNT).
His fellow priests, Father John De Castro and Father Lito Martirior along with one brother chose not to leave the parish. Father De Castro survived the evening literally hanging for his life on top of a chair placed on top of the altar. For at least ten hours, Father Castro held on to his Bible. Father Martirior and the brother sought refuge on top of the parish roof.
It was to be the first time to happen in said area. Father Calvo said efforts are being made to ascertain if a youth member of the church made it to safety after having been trapped in a taxi along coastal road.
Scores were stranded in Coastal road along Dumangas Saturday afternoon. The sight now is grim with overturned vehicles on the roadside apparently pushed by the strong current of the floodwaters.
Bombo Radyo reporter Bernard Broniola's house in Pavia was totally damaged. He fortunately swam to safety saying he was literally swimming for his life then. While shaken with his ordeal he is still grateful that his family is safe and sound.
Norwin dela Cruz, Editor of News Express texted for help when floodwaters stopped the Ceres Bus Liner that he and his wife took. It was the biggest bus available that normally withstands even the worst of flood. Frank's wrath changed all that as Dela Cruz anxiously waited for rescue in the middle of the road in Pavia, Iloilo.
Two elderly couple with a two-year old grandchild were stranded on the rooftop of a two-storey house in San Jose Community, Barangay Tagbac, Jaro, Iloilo City. Frantic calls for help was made by the son who was rendered helpless in Roxas City. All three made it to safety yesterday morning.
Families in Sitio Ilaya were all hanging for life also on top of the rooftops of houses made of light materials. Rescuers were stopped by raging floodwaters estimated to be at least 9 feet-deep.
In Guimbal, families of six fishermen were inconsolable as reports confirmed the group to be missing. Two were found alive and rescued off Oton.
Old airport in Mandurriao
In Mandurriao, returning Overseas Filipino Worker Jeana Fullon called for help as the entire neighborhood of Housing Village went underwater. Fullon's two-storey house turned into a sudden evacuation center for some 20 families. The water in the first floor was at least 6 feet-deep.
“Maam, pls pls pls help my family in Sta. Rosa. Water in second floor already,” came a text message of yet another resident in Jaro.
Meantime, a sense of panic buying was observed in various grocery stores in Iloilo City yesterday. Department stores in malls were closed while only a few people were seen strolling in the downtown area. Water refill stations had to do business even on a Sunday after locals flocked seeking for potable water.
Flights to and from Manila were also canceled yesterday with Metro Manila under storm signal 3 itself.
Classes in both private and public schools are canceled in the province and city today until tomorrow. Others even announced the suspension of classes for three days.