The Flooded Quezon Avenue/EDSA Intersection by Joboy Quintos

A good part of Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces have been stricken by massive flooding the past few days. The monsoon rains have been unexpectedly strong of late, due to confluence of weather patterns. The crowded metropolis, with its clogged drainage systems and poorly planned urban and suburban centers, drowned in a sea of dirty floodwater. The low-lying areas near the riverbanks were hit particularly hard, reminding many of the fearsome deluge of Ondoy three years ago. 

The social networks and mainstream media beamed images of the floods in real-time. It was heart-wrenching to see our city and our countrymen stricken with so much suffering.

Thankfully, our house is situated in a relatively flood-free part of Quezon City. At worst, I was merely inconvenienced by the flooding. 

The sight of the SM Centris Pond greeted the MRT passengers.

I was supposed to ride a jeepney to Tandang Sora from my usual MRT stop in Quezon Avenue/Centris. However, floodwaters rose to about a meter-high, making the vital artery impassable to vehicles. Save for a few brave and foolish drivers who forded the flooded highway, EDSA became a long parking lot of stranded vehicles. 

 

Marooned. Almost.

Commuters disembarking from the MRT station were more or less trapped, since the SM Centris mall remained shuttered. Some chose to wade through the murky flood waters. Take note that the brilliant minds behind the Eton-Centris facility built over the drainage channels or esteros, which was the most likely cause for the flooding. They could have at least opened the mall doors to their so-called "valued customers."

CLOSED.

I had no other recourse but to turn back and head to the nearby Trinoma station by train. Thankfully, I got home safe, clean, and dry.