A Category 4 super typhoon with an international name Nock-ten, hit the Philippines on Christmas Day. With the local name, Nina, the super typhoon made its first landfall in the province of Catanduanes at 8 in the evening on December 25.
Nina has maximum sustained winds of 235kph and wind gusts of up to 285kph. According to PAGASA, Nina battered the Bicol Region with very strong winds with moderate to heavy rainfall for about four hours on Christmas Eve.
That same afternoon, Sinday, her mother, and her sister were inside the cinema watching Super Parental Guardians. Despite the text messages received from NDRRMC and social media warnings from fellowmen, the three went out for their traditional Christmas celebration.
After viewing the movie, Sinday noticed that there were only a few people inside the mall and there were a number of stranded commuters outside. Luckily, her mother managed to find a jeepney. The three decided to stop by San Francisco Church. Again, there were many people on the streets waiting for a ride home.
Sinday, 17, together with her mother, Cecil and her sister, Trix chose to walk from the church to Francia. At first, Sinday and Trix were giggling because their mother kept nagging. During this time, the wind was already strong and the rainfall was moderate. There were approaching the intersection when suddenly the black JBEE umbrella of Sinday toppled over and suddenly her body felt like it was going to be carried away by the wind. If not for the wall, the three would have suffered from severe injuries. Consequently, there was light which came from a tricycle – rescue.
The three who were already exhausted, walked from Penafrancia Church to their house. Cecil, 48, thanked the Lord later when they reached their house. After a while, the power went out. Trix already went upstairs to sleep and she was followed by her mother. The last person to go upstairs was Sinday who secured the place downstairs.
On the bed, Sinday kept on looking at their front windows. The wind was screaming at her that’s why she cannot sleep even if she wanted to. She was insane for thinking that there were thieves outside their windows. Her mother then checked the windows and she was shocked seeing the frame of the windows. Cecil then asked her two daughters to get some plywood. For a few minutes, Sinday was assured, but she did not feel safe and sound. She was bothered and terrifie, so she pleaded that they sleep downstairs instead.
For a span of three hours, 9PM-12AM, the three were praying the rosary over and over again inside the comfort room. Sinday heard the shattered glass from atop. Cecil was frightened as well, and so she kept on going in and out of the bathroom to check her home. By this time, the rain started to get inside the walls of the house.
At one o’clock, the three went out of the comfort room and stayed in the living room. Trix fell asleep whilst Cecil and Sinday were still talking to each other about what might be the condition upstairs. Sinday told her mother not to check, rather in the morning.
Sinday slept for only two hours because the three longest hours of her life lasted. Six o'clock in the morning, she was accompanied by her mother and both went up to the upper floor only to discover – a shattered window, another window thrown in their neighbor’s lawn, and wet floor.
After eyeing the rage of nature, Sinday was still grateful, hopeful, and faithful – for her life and her family. She learned that prayer is indeed powerful. She would love to share her story to teach people a life lesson – always be prepared and trust in the Lord.
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