All roads leading out of Makati experienced heavy congestion on Wednesday night due to the torrential downpour which led to flash floods, leaving drivers and commuters stranded for hours. Feeling hungry and desperate, I decided to switch from defensive to offensive driving in order to reach my destination. Surprisingly, Santillan street leading to Arnaiz was relatively empty, so I took a gamble after observing how motorcycles were able to navigate through the flooded roads. I noticed that people were stranded on higher parts of the street, and those who decided to wade through the water did so at the risk of stepping on sharp objects or contracting leptospirosis. This flood reminded me of the vast collection of archived documents on various disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, locust infestations, fires, and floods that are waiting to be explored in the Philippine National Archives. These documents, categorized under “Calamidades Publicas,” provide valuable insights into past calamities. When I previously browsed through earthquake documents, my main interest was not the inventory of damage or casualties, but rather how people described the different types of movement during earthquakes – a circular motion that caused dizziness or an up-and-down motion that resulted in objects falling and pedestrians tripping. During the Spanish colonial era, buildings were not very tall, which meant that casualties often occurred when roof tiles fell on individuals. As a proposed solution, it was suggested to replace heavy baked clay roof tiles with lighter galvanized iron or GI sheets. However, this also presented a challenge as these GI sheets would often blow off during violent storms. Reverting to nipa roof was not advised due to its flammability. There is even an account of a devastating fire in Intramuros caused by an unattended candle in a church. Additionally, locust plagues were a major problem for rice fields. Scarecrows, loud noises, and bonfires were ineffective as deterrents. One solution proposed was importing martins from China, which were believed to be natural enemies of locusts. It is unclear how far back Philippine policymakers delve into history to provide context for disaster prevention and preparedness. As someone who experienced the destructive effects of Typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009 and Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013, I recognize that we often only take action after such major events rather than proactively planning to mitigate the problems. While our storm drains may struggle to handle long and heavy rainfall, the flash floods that plague our city could be minimized with regular inspection and clearance of debris from drainage systems. Instead of receiving spam and scam texts on a daily basis, it would be beneficial to receive emergency texts that warn of potential traffic or weather-related issues. Previously, I believed that the 5 p.m. chime heard throughout Tokyo signified the end of the workday. However, I now appreciate that the chime is actually a daily test to ensure it functions properly during emergencies. The role of the Jesuits in the Philippines, particularly in their association with Ateneo and Xavier schools, extends beyond education. It is often overlooked that the current weather forecasting office, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, originated from the Jesuit Manila Observatory located in the Ateneo Municipal in Intramuros. The observatory later relocated to Ermita, which is why the major street formerly known as Padre Faura is named after one of the observatory directors, Federico Faura. While Faura made significant contributions through accurate weather warnings, it is important to highlight the work of his successor, Jose Algue, who served as observatory director from 1898-1925 and published valuable research that remains relevant today. The Manila Observatory now resides in Quezon City, within the Ateneo campus, and its archive holds a wealth of data. The Jesuits not only documented weather and seismic data, but also delved into historical sources to compile references to earthquakes and typhoons, providing historical data that can guide us in the present and future. Unfortunately, during the recent flash flood, all of this historical data was of no use to me.
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