A few days after Typhoon Tino brought heavy rains and flooding to Cebu, I visited Mananga River in Talisay City to see how things were. The water had gone down, but the signs of the storm were still everywhere. Mud-caked walls, broken furniture, clothes hanging out to dry, and people quietly trying to put things back in order.
In these photos taken right at the top of the bridge, you’ll see residents doing what they can with what’s left. Some are washing clothes in the river. Others are scrubbing pots and pans. A few kids are even already back in the water, laughing and splashing as if the flood never happened. It’s strange and beautiful how quickly life finds a way to return to normal, even after something as disruptive as a typhoon.
Snaps from Mananga River
Here is the view of the Mananga River right after the massive floods caused by Typhoon Tino. This isn’t what it looked like in the past. You can just imagine how huge and scary the water was.
From what I read, the flood swept away most of the houses in the area. This is what’s left of the few remaining ones that are still here.
Despite the water being brown, the residents took this opportunity to wash their clothes.
Across the river, the kids were also busy swimming in the water.
Despite the destruction, it’s nice to see that there is no hint of sadness. The kids are actually having a great time in the water. It actually looked like a typical day at the beach.
Other residents fetched water from the river to clean their mud-soaked houses and belongings.
The wrath of Tino is definitely something that we Cebuanos will never forget anytime soon. I know that the residents here had such horrible experiences (we all did, actually). But I’m just glad that the Mananga River has once again given them the chance to forget about their worries even just for a bit.
What’s Next to Talisaynons?
Right now, we are not sure what the future holds for the residents here. My great wish, however, is that no more properties (and lives) would be lost in the future because of the floods caused by typhoons.
This is a great challenge, not just for the people in power, but also for every single Cebuano.
The Mananga River has always been a part of the Talisaynon life. Sometimes it is a friend, sometimes a threat. After Typhoon Tino, it honestly feels like both.
However, as I watched people clean, rebuild, and even smile, I was reminded that standing back up does not always have to be loud. Sometimes, it looks just like a family doing laundry by the river, one piece of clothe at a time.
One thought on “After #TinoPH: Scenes from the Banks of Mananga River”