RAVAGING TYPHOON ODETTE: NO WAY HOME

In my 24 years of existence, never in my wildest dreams that this kind of disaster will happen to Cebu! The usual industrialized - busy City of Cebu became miserably devastated by the extremely strong, screaming wind brought by Typhoon Odette. The older generations usually say that Cebu Province is the safest place among Visayas archipelago since it is located in the center part of Cebu Island. The Typhoon Odette had put an end to the famous gossip!

December 16, 2021. 9pm. This is the expected date and time that the Typhoon Odette will take its landfall.

At around quarter to 6pm, we were still on the road travelling back home to Minglanilla, Cebu (Southern Cebu) since we went to Sogod (Northern Cebu) for Karl's Grandmother's wake.

We were sort of confident that the Typhoon cannot totally cause destruction. We were also carefree that it would be okay to travel since the landfall will still be at 9pm. Little did we know that the strong wind will welcome us as early as 6pm. There were quite a few strong Typhoon in the past but Cebu remains untouchable. This time, it was different!

The feeling of "our car is the only vehicle travelling amidst strong typhoon" was so spine-chilling and traumatizing. It was a never again experience. We honestly thought that we could not make it since Typhoon Odette is attempting to blow everything away - including our vehicle.

At around 6:38pm, we were already at Catmon area of Cebu, still somewhere in the northern part. While we were driving down the street, there was a lotto outlet which was blown away by the wind and fell down on the street. There were branches falling on the roof part of the car and also some branches falling in front of the car's wind shield. Every time something falls or blown towards the car, we all scream and gasps. The unusual blue green lightning gives us goosebumps and petrifying feeling.

When we arrived somewhere Danao area, we were already horrified because the screaming wind is so strong to the point that our car will get blown away. Karl was the driver that night and he was so careful to not drive pass on the fallen trees, fallen posts and untangled live wires. It was really dangerous on the road that night because the electricity were off almost in the entire Cebu. The light from the car was our only light on the road to obtain safe travel. Mostly on a road trip going back home, the passengers usually sleep while travelling. But at that time, we were all AWAKE! We were also helping the driver watching the road or a possible fallen branches or blown galvanized iron roofs.

Everyone was anxious.
Everyone was attentive.
Everyone was daunted.

I was too frightened to the point that I was not even able to think about capturing a single photo from that night. This was the only photo I took that night.

When we arrived at Compostela area at around 7:20-ish pm, still at northern part of Cebu, we have decided to stay overnight somewhere which has the nearest house. We could find our way home but this time, There Is No Way Home! So, we rushed to Karl's Aunt's house at Liloan.

When we were one corner away from the house, we have to surpass yet an obstacle. There was a signage blown in the middle of the street which blocked our road way. There was a bended huge tree on our left side, an almost blown metal fence on our right and an untangled wire on the top of the car due to the broken/ fallen posts. We were so anxious of the situation. We were praying and crossing our fingers at that moment hoping that the tree won't fell down the car and the metal fence won't be blown towards the car. Someone has to get out of the car and remove the signage. So, Kieth went out of the car and quickly removed the signage. He was so afraid that time but he has no choice. When Kieth opened the car door, we were overwhelmed on how loud the screaming wind was outside compared when we were just inside the car. It was sooo scary! Kieth ran quickly back to the car and Karl drove the car away from our complicated situation.

We were all relieved when we finally arrived at Ate Jasmine's house (Karl's Aunt). We all felt like we were in a thriller- suspense movie. We realized that the movie scenes could happen in true to life situations.

We were still wide awake until almost 3 am. Everybody was restless and tired because we were also monitoring the water leaking inside Ate Jasmine's house. I could also not sleep because I was far from my family. I kept calling my siblings but they are out of reach already. I tried calling our closest neighbor if they can check out my siblings, but it also took how many hours for them to answer my call. I only felt relieved when our neighbor already answered my call and that our house is just fine.

When everyone has calm down, we prayed the HOLY ROSARY. I was not contented with the HOLY ROSARY prayer, I also prayed a Powerful Novena to Child Jesus by myself. I honestly felt like the wind has slow down when I was already on my 8th repetition of my Novena prayer. I will share to you my prayer just in case it can help you someday.

The Storm Will Pass And The Sun Will Rise Again