Saturday morning we woke up to pouring rain. It worried us because we had plans to meet Elena’s group of lady friends and 2 other husbands at the Marco Polo Hotel to use the pool. As we were getting ready, the rain slowed down and shortly after arriving at the hotel, the rain did stop. After we went for lunch and then to meet a couple we are friends with. It drizzled a little on and off later but never any heavier rain.

Today, Sunday, as always we went to Agdao Public market and then later to Gaisano Mall for lunch and the rest of our marketing. It was nice and cool outside with thick cloudy skies. My only thought was how nice it was instead if the usual humid heat. As the afternoon progressed it did get darker out, but I did not think much about it. I guess you get used to clouds and a rain shower during the week.

Well, we were finally done with the shopping and as usual, as Elena goes out with a helper to bring the groceries out to the lower level drive through to wait for me to get the car, I went to the first level to get our points for shopping and then to get the car. As I was walking through the second level parking structure, I noticed the pouring rain.

As I said, we are used to rain here, but rarely do we get that heavy downpour that makes seeing across the street difficult, but we did today. As I was coming down to the lower exit ramp, all I saw was cars. Nobody was moving and the gridlock was terrible. I knew Elena was going to text me to inquire why I was taking so long so I text her to let her know. About 10 minutes later she text me asking where I was, and I told her I was in the same place. Then it took about another 10 minutes to get around to the entrance to the lower lever where I pick her up outside the market area of the mall.

Again, exiting the parking was slow since cars were lined up everywhere and in true Filipino driving skills; many cars blocked other cars to force a standstill. We were trying to decide which way to get home and not get stuck in a flooded street. You see, here in Davao and I would assume in most places, streets and areas as developed are not graded to remove lower areas. They just build roads following the natural contours of the land. Because of this, there are many low spots that just fill up with water during a rainstorm. Well, I finally decided to exit in whatever way there was moving traffic. We took a back road and at a few intersections we hit some deep pockets of water, but nothing too bad. We finally got to Victoria Mall by a back street. As we turned to J.P. Laurel, a main thoroughfare, Elena mentioned the street how that road always floods after a rain and sure enough, as we got close we could see deep flooding. I U-turned and then we decided to turn into the mall parking so if need be, we would have exit options where to try next. As we drove along the front of the mall in the raised and level parking, J.P. Laurel was flooded, but by the further exit the street was higher and not flooded. I parked to take a few photos and saw the water over the curb and some guy pushing a stalled small jeepney. Well, the rest of our trip home was uneventful; the rain had practically stopped and no more flooded streets.

The city has been working on the flooding problem and I must say the streets are less flooded in the past, but during a real heavy rain, it is difficult to have the drainage perfect with all the rises and dips. I am glad we did not get stuck in a flooded condition we were in about 18 months ago, where a truck passed and I felt my car rise up as it floated.

When I started writing I could only remember the 3 Red Cross workers that were abducted back in January by the Abu Sayyaf on Sulu, an island group south of Mindanao. As of now, I think the only one hostage remains, an Italian.

June 28th a NPA group attacked an Army post in Torril, in the southern edge of Davao City. This area has been a problem since it is so far from the main part of Davao.

Now more recently there have been bombings in other areas of Mindanao.

A bomb blast in Cotabato city on Sunday killed six people and wounded dozens, followed by another attack in Iligan city on Tuesday that wounded three soldiers and about 10 civilians. Because of these bombings the UN World Food Program has suspended food distribution to these areas due to safety concerns for their workers.

An Article in GMANews TV has this information:

On Tuesday, two separate bombings in Jolo, Sulu and Iligan City in southern Philippines claimed six lives and wounded more than 40 people.

Shortly before 8 a.m., an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in front of a hardware store in Jolo. Police said two people were killed and 17 injured. About three hours later, another improvised bomb placed under a car exploded.

Last Sunday, a deadly bomb near a cathedral in Cotabato City killed five people and wounded dozens others.

The night before, another blast caused by a 60-millimeter mortar explosive in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province injured three.

The military had said the bombings could be the handiwork of rogue units of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The MILF, however, had denied responsibility for the series of attacks.

Following the recent attacks on Tuesday, government forces in southern Philippines have been placed on heightened alert.

PNP chief Verzosa said all government forces in Mindanao were directed to set up checkpoints and secure vital installations like power pylons and communication lines.

“Due to these incidents, the PNP and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) have declared full alert at Mindanao and heightened alert at other areas of the country. We have directed our offices in Mindanao to secure vital installations and conduct intensified checkpoints,” he said.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado directed the Western Mindanao Command and Eastern Mindanao Command to fortify existing checkpoints. Bomb experts and additional K9 units have also been deployed in the town of Jolo in Sulu province as well as the cities of Cotabato and Iligan. -Sophia M. Dedace, GMANews.TV GMANews.TV

Most of these attacks are in areas that have been active with the MILF and have not been a problem in Davao.

I thank Mayor Rodrigo “Rudy” Duterte, Task Force Davao, the PNP and all other Military and Police agencies for keeping Davao a safe place to live for Filipinos and Foreigners alike.

We do need to be vigilant and careful no matter where you live, I still feel safe here in Davao.