The month of October 2024 surprised the Bicol peninsula and Bicolanos in general with a terrible inundation said to be worse than Typhoon Ondoy which struck the Philippines in September 2009.  We review an account written 42 years ago by Soledad “Choleng” Dato Hidalgo in her newspaper column, From My Vantage Point.

Editors’ Note: Because of the scarcity of suitable photos to depict the flooding in Bicol during the 1980’s, we feature scenes from the aftermath of Tropical Storm Kristine. Sadly, it seemed nothing has changed, then and now.

THE UNCONTROLLABLE FLOODS

By Choleng D. Hidalgo

September 8, 1982, will always be a memorable day for me because three events happened that made it a very special day.

It was the first visit of my grandson from Manila to greet me and see Naga for the first time. When they left Manila the evening before the weather was fine, but when they arrived in Milaor in the early morning there was water, water, everywhere and the 3-year-old was gleefully exclaiming: “Naga is a big river!”

He thought Naga is a river like Venice. My guests waded from the Sarkies Tours bus station up to Balintawak Steet and the house was one foot deep in water. In the afternoon, an island of cement came up in the garage and we were able to have lechon for the family gathering in the evening.

In the middle of the party amidst the rain and howling winds we heard the pealing of the church bells. The Virgin of Peñafrancia had arrived! Isn’t it wonderful?” we were shouting with happiness. “Viva la Virgen!”

Then of course there was typhoon Norming which had escalated at midnight.

Norming is the sixteenth typhoon to come our way this year. Typhoons and floods have always been with us as part of our yearly miseries, because of our topography.

The Bicol Peninsula juts out like a sore thumb between the Pacific Ocean and the Visayan Sea. We seem to be a frequent pathway of typhoons from its birthplace, the Marianas. Such that we have taken it for granted and miss it when it fails to pay us a visit. “Why is there no typhoon this year?” “Gñagñalasan!”

There was the flood in 1952, Typhoon Trix when sixteen of my tenants perished. They were advised by the barrio captain to go on higher grounds, but they thought nothing of it. Then in the evening the floods came rushing in. One boy was found floating in San Fernando and survived as also those who climbed the thorny “Andorogat” tree together with the snake which miraculously did not bite him.

Then there was Typhoon Sening October 12, 1970, that hit Legazpi hardest. The floods in Tiwi swept many people into the sea. In fact, one was found as far as Tinambac.

Well, as this shows floods have always been with us, but we began to hope that once the flood control program was started, it would somehow minimize the destruction to lives and property. When the Japanese Friendship Highway reached the Bicol area there was some premonition that it would dam the rice fields in the lowlands.

I remember some comments from prominent politicians that the highway should not be too elevated because it would affect the rice fields especially in Milaor which lies at the bottom of the Bicol River cauldron.

Anyway, some remedies have been done; like the artificial river cutting through Minalabac and San Fernando which is supposed to empty the flood waters into the mouth of the Bicol River in Barceloneta.

The one big obstacle however is the failure of the National Railways to construct the bridge which should span the channel. It is damming the floodwaters. Floods that used to last a day or two now lasts for weeks, even months. Many farmers have heavy losses and the small farmers the worst hit because farming is their very livelihood.

In the old days when floods were not yet denuded by lumber tycoons as well as “kaingñeros” and “talahib” was still abundant because the people were not yet too greedy for lands, . They served as obstacles for floods because they absorbed much water into their root system. As it is now, we need artificial means to combat floods, what with our degree holders in engineering who will find the ways and means as well to do so.

Again, we need all those long-playing researchers and voluminous paperwork. Perhaps we need some homegrown wisdom from old observers of floods from among the unschooled.  have listened to some such observations. That the mouth of the Bicol River in Barceloneta needs some dredging because it has become shallow due to the accumulation of silt. That the best kind of culverts are not the round ones because they do not adequately discharge water as fast as the ones constructed by the railways, square culverts about two meters deep into the soil. And that more culverts are necessary for faster emptying of floodwaters through the superhighways. All these should be taken into consideration, take it or leave it for what it is worth. After all is said and done who are we puny creatures to fight the furies of nature? Only God can do so.

This is not to downgrade the Bicol River Basin Development Program. It has done much for the Bicol area… most especially the building of the permanent bridge in Minalabac and the road to Antipolo. Where before going to my farm five kilometers from Minalabac was like embarking on a safari to the African hinterlands, now I can bring my sedan up to the yard of my farmhouse.

Don’t ask me why I ride a rusty dilapidated jeep around Naga and bring my Mercedes to the farm. Because I find satisfaction loading it with fuel, palay, “ata” and garden soil. My way of rebelling against dictators. Mercedes reminds me of Hitler and the Third Reich.

The header features a vintage photo of Bicol River at Barangay Tabuco in Naga City (credit: Maharang Town blog by Allan Rey Camata).