On September 23rd, 2009, in the Pacific seas, Typhoon Ketsana formed but was described as weak and a low pressured storm. By September 25th, the storm gained strength and was then declared first as a Tropical Depression then later upgraded to Tropical Storm Ketsana, also known as Ondoy. It’s been reported that Ketsana only had moderate winds but had over 24 hours of extremely heavy and intense rain. Rain that led Manila to the worst flooding in its history. Flood waters measured as high as 20 feet in rural areas. As of September 28th, 248 lives were officially claimed by Ketsana, and are expected to climb with hundreds of thousands more missing. Manila, Philippines, has fell victim to Ketsana. The city has been submerged by 80%. Left in ruins, the residence of 19 million people has now been blanketed by mud, debris, abandoned businesses, sewage, water-borne diseases, currents of pollution throughout the city now pollutes the capital. Lives lost from saving others, people not carrying their belongings but carrying the Virgin Mary statue to reassure their safety, people hanging on to ropes to aid them to safety, strangers saving strangers to save their city, businesses in shambles, roofs are their savior, anything higher of the 20 feet, they fight to keep afloat. The survivors, survived in Manila’s darkest hours because as Filipinos they’ve came together to save what they have left as a people, as a city, as their passion. The thriving city, now thrives for survival and restoration.
