The Rising
Written by admin on November 25, 2009.
Greetings All!
I have been tracking the Agusan River for 4 years, and today the velocity reached 16 knots!!!! That is a speed that approaches Class rapids! In years past during flood season, 12 knots was tops. My guess is that the viaduct and drainage systems were not prepared for the sudden emergence of floodwaters ‘current’ly flooding the city. Said mechanical systems are now likely inoperable due to the ‘psi’ of the Agusan. The river gave little warning, and those responsible for diverting and diminishing said flow are sure to be burning the midnight oil, as it were.
In short folks, Butuan City is flooded and facing a real disaster. The storm hovering over our clime is now slow moving. A steady rain has dumped on us for 5 straight days, and might linger for another 3. My thoughts immediately turn to the residents of Brgy. Agao, who receive the full brunt of the River prior to making a 90 degree turn to meet the tide. Agao feels the brunt, and off its banks lays the 3rd deepest hole in the entire river. Matched against incoming tides, this location is the first fight resulting in substantial whirlpools and undercurrents. A few years ago I took Joy’s (my wife), family to Agao to show them the underwater geography via sonar and attempted to explain the likely scenario of why their 5 year old brother drowned there some 35 years ago. It was a solemn occasion, but our ‘Nanay’ never let go of my arm as she sat beside me looking at the sonar, and understanding the currents involved. As most of us recognize, understanding the reasons why a loved one is lost is a wonderful tool for transitioning from sadness of a loss, to gladness of a life lived.
As to Joy, and if you’ll allow me a bit of license, we had an epiphany of sorts. I had a full van the other day, and I wanted to show the beautiful statue erected by Dr. Malvar, across from the Balanghai Hotel, which is owned by same. Without getting into the ‘why’s and wherefore’s’, it suffices to state that ‘Bones Malvar’ is a soul of vision and love for Butuan. He is creating out of his wallet that which the public sector should have been doing long ago. As we passed by the newly erected statue, a City dump truck drove past.
My wife, completely on her own, offered aloud the sentiment of how distasteful it was for a politician to print his name on a dump truck that was purchased from public funds-the peoples money-in the view of such a grand gift to the public from a private wallet-and without any personal recognition needed. Kind of like the old saying, ‘If you have to tell someone how good you are,….you’re not.’
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