Ketsana!

I have a friend in Manila whom I have never met. T.S. are her initials. Cajole is her middle name. Then Ketsana arrived. 36 hrs of the heaviest storm to hit the Philippines in four decades, 80 people already reported dead and an estimated 250,000 displaced from their devastated homes I chatted to her on facebook chat and her sister was out of reach in the most submerged region.. Rizal province!!! The following day her work organised their own search and rescue activities. Today I have had this yahoo IM chat with her…

Me
got the message about your sis….great news ugh?! 10:37
are you busy celebrating? 10:45

TS
@ work now. Just relieved dat she’s safe although not totally okay. Her place was flooded. We brought rescue & relief teams yesterday & today to our affe 11:04
cted officemates & their families. Of course, family comes first! We’ve seen worst along da way. It’s really heartbreaking. Indescribable. Never seen qui 11:04
te like it before. The damage, was enormous. Aaaarrrhh! ;-( 11:04

Me
mmmm it’s grim isn’t it and sad too 11:08
I see the death toll is now reported as being toward 100 11:09
is it still raining? 11:09

TS
Really sad. I’m happy my sis is safe but sad 4 others who arent so lucky. No more raining here. Its sunny actuali. Storm was a great equaliser i shud say 11:17
. It didnt matter whether ur rich or poor or whether u drive a millions worth of suv or just a plain jeepney. They were all floating in da same muddy h2o 11:17
. And da houses too. It can be replaced alryt. Still is good to be alive. 11:17

Me
your sis may experience some trauma affect… Not my business but I would have her stay with you or other family member for a week 11:20
just my thought 11:21
anyway I guess you have some catching up to do at work 11:21
I will let you attend to all that stuff and catch up with ya again soon 11:21

TS
Ok thanks. Good day. 11:30

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I feel happy yet sad toooooo!! Now the death toll is at 240.