Traded Water for Air

   I should’ve been fishing by this time today but I traded that for a helicopter ride. Call time at villamor Airbase 505 Squadron was 0900 H but I was still praying for a taxi by 0830 H. Time for drastic measures. I asked a female Taguig Traffic Officer nearby to bring me to Villamor. Whoa! I spent the whole motorcycle ride from East Service Road to Villamor praying. For my safety. 

   I specifically chose my Astroboy shirt for this ride. We’re flying! That’s my ticket on the left.

   We did aerial survey of typhoon affected areas of regions IV-A and NCR. Our helicopter went around the perimeter of Laguna Lake which measures 220 km with a total area of 91,136 hectares. Thanks to friends who texted me the stats so I can tell Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, WHO representative to the Philippines.  

   The dark blue shades in the shoreline of the paw print-like lake indicate the still flooded areas 6 days short of 2 months after typhoon Ondoy struck. I can’t help but think that Laguna Lake just reclaimed what was rightly its waterway. It is sad though that the affected population have nowhere to go. 

   Waterworld. That strip of green on the lower part of the photo is a road now transformed into a canal. Small boats take the place of cars and tricycles. 

  Fun fact. That’s my village!