It is really terrifying when it rains down heavily and continuously, and flood water starts to rise to the point where it already reaches the floor level of your house. Suddenly, you’ll find your vicinity submerged under water. For an unprepared mind, the impulse to panic first before doing anything is a natural reaction; after all, many possibilities, that will put you and your entire family in danger, may occur.

For the residents of Lambak, in Barangay Concepcion in Lumban, Laguna, facing occasional flood is like an annual routine for them. However, the recent calamities that struck their place, like typhoons Ondoy, Peping and Maring, and the habagat (southwest monsoon), left memories of despair, and properties destroyed. Even if the floods are a usual thing, the residents have employed ways to mitigate, if not to totally avoid, the destruction of belongings.

“Sobrang hirap po talaga… [Hindi ho namin alam] kung saan po kami pupunta,” (It was totally difficult… [We do not know] where we are going to stay) recounted thirty-year old Liezel Elloran, when she was asked what her family had gone through in 2012.

Her statement sums up the despair that all people from Wawa in Lumban, Laguna experienced in 2012. The place was flooded because of the typhoon Maring, strengthened by the southwest monsoon or habagat. Liezel’s house is located in the middle of a vast rice field, along with other families who depend on farming for livelihood. Because the place is a low land, flood here could reach as high as five feet. She was pregnant at that time and has a three-year old kid with her. Her husband was in Manila during that time, working as a pahinante (porter). Without any assistance, she treaded the flood and camped out on the street, before being transferred to the nearby elementary school.

For Jaime Evangelista, chairman of Ugnayan ng mga Samahan ng Mamamayan at Mangingisda ng Rizal (UGMMARIZ), proper housing and livelihood projects are the keys of improvement for the neighborhood in Cardona, Rizal.

Its project, “Fisherfolk Settlement”, seeks support from other organizations like Habitat for Humanity in order to provide proper housing for community members.

Most of their members live around Laguna Lake which causes danger to their everyday lives. Since their houses are around the lake, they are prone to flood especially when it’s rainy season. According to the villagers, they experienced riding a banca because the water level rises quickly. They also walked through the high water level to be able to find something to eat. Despite these dangers, people continue to live around the lakeshore because they lack the funds to live in or own a decent home.

For the people living in the community in Brgy. Look, Cardona Rizal, the cash assistance given by the Christian Aid Philippines helps in restoring their lives after the destruction of typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

According to the data gathered by the Official Gazette, almost 6201 people died, 27665 injured and 1785 people are still missing after typhoon Yolanda had its landfall in the Philippines. In Rizal province, 50 families in 2 barangays were affected and it is listed that there are no evacuees and evacuation center. Power outage was also experienced in Cardona.