Rising Above the Waters

What goes through someone’s head when the merciless tides of water creep up onto the calves of one’s legs? What would be one’s thoughts when the chilling coldness of rising currents cause shivers to erupt and goosebumps to appear? 

Joe Deadio, known as “Kuya Bobong” to the Davao Christian High School community, works as one of the school maintenance staff. He and his family live in Barangay Salvacion, Carmen in Davao Del Norte, and they were one of many who were affected by the heavy rain and flooding in Carmen. 

According to Kuya Bobong, the water rose early in the morning, around 3-4 am. He and his family started to pack their things, but they had not expected that the water level would be so high. “We usually do get flooded in our area but it was never as high as it was during that day. It was the first time for all of us,” he said. 

Despite the looming danger, Kuya Bobong rushed to help their community. “At first, I was helping and rescuing those that lived on lower ground, but in less than a few minutes, the water reached our house, and so I prioritized myself and my family.” 

Kuya Bobong and his family quickly gathered their things and placed them in a safe area, but the water level went so high that their belongings ended up drenched. As the floodwaters surged, more and more homes were submerged under the currents, and many families were reduced to pitiful states. Anyone could clearly see that they had not expected it either. Everyone was panicking, gathering their things such as refrigerators, TVs, clothes, food, and rice. Some of the houses were half submerged in water while for some, only the roofs were visible. 

As the calamity further worsened, the process of evacuation became all the more complicated. 

“At 5 am, we started evacuating and we walked for around 4-5 kilometers before we arrived at a high enough area. My first thought was our safety, the safety of the children especially.” Kuya Bobong explained that the children (1 yo, 5 yo, 13 yo) were complaining on the way, saying that they were hungry, and only when the clock hit 3 o’ clock were they finally able to eat. 

The ground was slippery and parts were eroded, and there was an area where they couldn’t pass through as it was so flooded. Hence, he used parts of banana trees as forms of transportation so that his children could get across the deep waters. 

“It was a bitter feeling, knowing that many of our things are ruined or broken, and that I have to start all over again from square one,” he said, but by God’s grace, Kuya Bobong and his family were able to evacuate safely. 

The news reached the DCHS community, from staff to students. Maintenance staff had approached Kuya Bobong and never failed to show their concern, regularly checking up on him and his family. They donated money through GCash and donated clothes to the family. Donations were also opened to the students of DCHS in which Ma’am Frane personally delivered to him and his family. The donations ranged from clothes, food, toys, as well as supplies for the kids. Kuya Bobong stated that, “The community in DCHS showed me their kindness and never failed to ask how I and my family are.” 

In the aftermath of a calamity, stories of survival remind us of the remarkable strength found within all of us, and Kuya Bobong’s story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. In the relentless surge of nature’s fury, floods carve stories of both devastation and resilience. Kuya Bobong serves as an example that through trials and tribulations, resilience is essential to rise above the waters. 

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