Where the Flood was Super Fun When I was a Kid in Project 8, QC---Plus a Sad Story I Won't Forget

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When I was in grade 3 and 4, flooding used to be at its worst in Project 8, QC. I remember when ang mga flooding hotspots noon were in areas near bridges, like the ones in Mendez, along Short Horn near Road 23, Paradise, and especially General Avenue.

But not anymore today, syempre.

On General Avenue, the flood waters often reached to our necks. So most boys then living in the "taas" area went to General Avenue for a fun "swim." We joined kids living on General Ave. Kasi medyo malinis pa noon ang flood water. We were about 30 kids there at one time.

We loved it when DM and JD buses went by creating "waves" as they did. Most of my friends dived into the flood water as the waves splashed against them.

St. Patrick School has a creek running alongside it, and the creek contributed to the strong flow of water. Sometimes, we would see snakes floating on the water and carried to the creek. We stayed as far from that flow as possible.

One floody day, after a "flood swim" in front of St. Patrick School, we wondered why people were gathering at the bridge along Assistant Street (near the Bonggang-Bonggang Bakery now). After we marched off there, we saw the creek water level reaching above the bridge as it flowed wildly. And there, about 2 meters away from the bridge, was a pole standing amid the strong water flow---and right on top was a big RAT sitting.

The kids were stoning the rat, hoping to hit the poor thing and make it fall into the water. It struggled hard to remain on top of the pole. What a fighting spirit. Being a kid, I thought then that it probably was a father-rat who ventured out on a rainy day to look for food for his family. He had to go back home to surprise his kids and wife with a bag of "groceries," so he had to stay alive.

But then he was trapped on this pole, and kids were targeting him for fun.

Suddenly, he saw an empty square biscuit can floating from a distance and coming toward him fast. It was his chance for escape. As the empty can neared his position, he readied, finally jumping into it when it was near enough.

But he missed it by an inch.

Instantly, he splashed into the water and disappeared. I sighed, almost crying---thinking that his wife and kids were probably waiting for their dad to return with goodies, not knowing they would never see him again...