Episode 2: A Time to Weep

And so they went last Saturday, October 28, 2006 and they could hardly move the front door. I heard a bell from our gates and found them thanking me for the notice. I could tell the exasperation from their face upon seeing the 4-inch thick mud on the floor and the dirt that enveloped the first floor. I did not help them clean as I thought investing in a house does not mean you have the money to buy it but to some extent emotionally attached yourself to your belongings more particularly your house. This is my principle of investment.

My kids got so curious and they rushed out of our house to take a look at my neighbor's. My Danielle even blurted, "I want to see this!" I don't exactly know what she meant. I am assuming she wanted to see the inside of the house although at the back of my mind and the way she said it with a hint of naughthiness, the kid would probably want to see their reactions rather than the condition of the house. Julia even wanted to climb the foyer but I just carried her.

I volunteered my shovel, and the botas.


In the morning, I saw a pile of mud outside together with all their personal effects covered with dirt. They even throw their nice satin curtain probably because it's too dirty and maybe the irritated father thought it would be beyond washing and bleaching. They left around 7 pm still not finished with the cleaning.

As they left, I suddenly remember the soiled curtain as I bore holes on my Jumanji (native bamboo lamp)! A scavenger (read as criminal) myself, I thought, who on earth would throw a nice curtain like that! It only needs some serious washing and voila! Good as new.

The events following this is intentionally omitted to avoid self-incrimination.

My Neighbor

I went to the Sales Office of LBA to get the contact numbers of a certain Ms. Elena Policarpio, my neighbor. It was already three weeks after that eventful Milenyo and nobody went to check this peach bungalow-type house just across the street. I was able to talk to the person who acknowledged that the reference of the contact person was right. I am not sure whether she is Ms. Policarpio. I made sure she understood that their house went under the mud, requiring the same unfortunate days of scrubbing and wiping. It was a Friday so I must have thought they would rush to the scene arm with soap and scrubbing pads. She thanked me.

NOBODY CAME. Hey! I just did my part informing them so they won't be able to say in the future that we didn't care as neighbors. Honestly, the day after the storm left, September 29 about 3 pm, I went to LBA Association (Oceanic) to tell them to call the owner. The sad part is that Oceanic didn't even call the owner.


Anyway, they can always cry in the end. Or better yet, sue Empire East Land Holdings, Inc.

Laguna Bel-Air 3 Underwater (My Email to Empire East Landholding Corporation)

Dear Zeny,

My name is Doods Abuel. We worked together during the PRI Investment Summit blitz, you being the marketing committee chair while me working closely with Gusi Balatbat of finance. I am assuming you are aware of what happened at Phase 1 of LBA 3 where some of the newly constructed houses were damaged by the sudden rush of floodwaters brought by the typhoon Milenyo last September 28, 2006. Water rose from the street in a span of about an hour for about 2 meters and gone at 3:00 pm on the same day.
I suspect, you also won't believe it just like my sister when I sent her an SMS so I am attaching the photos for your own eyes to see. The obscure figure is the top of my Honda Civic before it was totally submerged by water.


I went down the river after the storm to see what kind of wicked deluge had swept upon us and found no explanation why our area (Phase 1) alone went underwater while Bel-Air Drive had little water on the street. There must have been something wrong with the drainage system and the pile of earth heaped above ground conspiring to drown our place. It must be it, otherwise the floodwaters won't be gone as fast as the storm went on its merry way to the Pacific ocean.

We are still in the typhoon months although the same typhoon may not happen again in the next 5 years. Empire East has to do something about it to prevent the same catastrophe from happening again in the future. Your Company ought to do it.

Sincerely,