How Siloys touch lives: ‘Yolanda’ stole my new smart phone

DALE G. ROSAL

Exactly three months ago, the meanest typhoon to hit the country made her unwelcome visit in the Visayas. Thousands of lives were lost. Billions worth of infrastructure and agricultural produce were washed out. Lives changed forever.

While me and my family were virtually unharmed, I still harbor a personal hatred for “Yolanda.”
Why? Because she stole my smartphone!

Here’s how:
When “Yolanda” made landfall in the morning of Nov. 8, Cebu City residents, thank goodness, were only rattled by her howling winds. When the skies cleared around noon that day, I was instructed by my editor to check for any damage at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC). Maybe he was worried that any damage could hamper a string of big meets scheduled there for the remaining days of the year.

Or maybe, just maybe, he was facing a dearth in sports stories that day.

Always an obedient soldier, I went to the CCSC to personally assess any impairment that “Yolanda” has inflicted on the city’s premier sports facility. Partially wet by sporadic rains and shivering cold, I interviewed some personnel there and took photos of the damaged roof using my brand new smartphone.

When I realized that my mission was already accomplished, I headed to Colon street for another ride to the office. Despite the rainy weather, I was surprised to find out that the Philippines’ oldest street was bristling with activity. Vendors were still plying their wares on the crowded sidewalks. Some street urchins were playing in the rain. In fact, I was bumped by some of them several times during their “innocent” horsing around.

It was too late when I realized that their play was only a ploy to distract my attention while some of them were busy picking my sling bag. I panicked when I realized that my brand new smartphone was no longer inside my trusted bag. But no amount of fretting could bring it back.

And so that’s how I lost my brand new smartphone. And that is why I super hate “Yolanda.”