Marikina is no stranger to strong rains and heavy flooding. Through countless typhoons and monsoons over the years, the city has often been associated with being one of the most flood-prone areas in the metro.
In the early hours of November 12, 2020, Typhoon Ulysses—one of the most powerful tropical cyclones of 2020—left the city with nearly the same level of destruction as Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.
Two days following its onslaught, streets and houses were still left inches deep in mud. Yet, despite the devastation, the city was still abuzz amid the murky and dust-filled streets.
Driving through the city felt just like any other pre-pandemic weekday rush hour. People filled the roads, sidewalks, and public utility vehicles as if the pandemic did not exist. The only difference, however, is that these citizens donned face masks and face shields, while heaps of dust littered the streets.
Along one of Marikina’s streets, the remnants of the tragedy that Typhoon Ulysses left in its wake remain intact—especially for the residential areas surrounding the river. The streets, still damp with flood water, were lined with people’s mud-soaked belongings.
The roads along Brgy. Barangka and Shoe Avenue had dirt-covered cars parked left and right. The neighborhoods in the vicinity of the river were also busy with people washing mud off their streets and belongings.
In the midst of one of the most bustling districts in the city was an empty and lifeless fast food restaurant. The McDonald’s branch beside Marikina Sports Center looked like a scene from an eerie post-apocalyptic film—detached from the world that surrounded it.
For many, living with the aftermath of one of 2020’s most devastating catastrophes at the height of a global health crisis can be unimaginable. It may be desensitizing to witness individuals appear to soldier on—business as usual—as healing and recovery from the pandemic and the recent typhoons remain far from the country’s reach.