flood – BRYOLOGUE

Seoul and Water: Flood Memories

August 10, 2022bryologue Leave a Comment

In the last 2 days, I’ve felt so invested reading on the record-breaking rain and subsequent flooding in Seoul. It felt very jarring to see all the videos coming in not only from news outlets, but also social media users regarding the flood. We even watched during breakfast one of the regular walking tour vloggers from Seoul, who veered away from his usual promenades and daringly walked around the city while it was flooded.

We were lost for words. We were heartbroken.

At the same time, it felt really visceral having to read and watch all of these. That was the last thing I’ve immersed myself with (no pun intended) before sleeping last night, and I felt a familiar bodily reaction.

PTSD.

I’ve spoken publicly and also written here several times over the years how I’ve developed trauma from the strong rain and rushing flood waters. Every start of the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof for a potentially heavy rain, or even on vehicles was enough to make my head spin.

Continue Reading →

Day 1: 2021

January 1, 2021bryologue Leave a Comment

There’s no point saying I will write more (i.e. at least once a week) because that clearly did not materialize since January 5, 2020. To be fair, it lasted for two weeks before things fizzled.

My last post was a birthday post in April, the first for everyone to celebrate their birthday during a pandemic. That is for those who were lucky enough to celebrate their birthday this year. The year 2020 was our generation’s annus horribilis. A volcano eruption in January, the start of the pandemic in the Philippines in March, and the worst flooding (Ulysses) in my hometown in November since 2009. I wrote back in July 2012 that I developed trauma during heavy downpours, and it only took me a trip to work in Pampanga 2 months ago that I might have PTSD.

Bye 2020! Bleh!

While in April, there about 4,600 cases with 297 deaths in the country. As of January 1, 2020 it is now at a staggering 474,000 cases with more than 9,000 deaths. These are more than numbers. These are 474,000 people who did not see the year change to 2021 with their families.

Continue Reading →

Where the hell can I get acid dye in Manila?

November 13, 2012bryologue 8 Comments

Back in 2009, I was able to buy this whimsical Prada Tessuto Robot Tote 6 but I never got the chance to use it and it was stuck inside my closet. I had few misgivings with the color because it was something I have never carried before. I didn’t mind the robot detail because it was exquisitely done, but lightly blue was something I was not keen about.

But along came Ondoy and destroyed some of my items. I was most devastated when I saw that this Tessuto Robot Tote has sustained irremovable stains because of the light-colored material. I initially tried removing it, of course, but to no avail. Then last year, since I no longer had any use for it, my DIY-inclined self kicked in and I spent a weekend coloring the bag to black:

I was first happy with it and even used it several times, but at some point, I really want to make the look more finished. Yes, the bag was accidentally destroyed and I have technically altered its basic identity. LOL But what else can I do? Last Sunday, I was out to look for something to dye the bag. After careful research, I’ve read that the best thing to use to dye nylon was an acid dye. I searched and searched but there was none for sale in the area.

So I grabbed the nearest thing to acid dye that I could get — three sachets of Venus dyes, more popularly known as ‘jobos‘. But until today, I still haven’t done anything with it and I’m still thinking of where I can find an acid dye! I’ve tried looking on Sulit.com but the one selling was offering it on the bulk (a supplier) and I just mentioned I only needed a couple of grams. I never got a reply. LOL I made up my mind that I’m fine with the bag being black, even the details. I can make it as my own reusable bag (does it need to be Prada? Really? LOL), always stashed inside my bag. With all the eco-consciousness going on in Metro Manila recently (which makes me extremely happy!), I can do with a little reusing/recycling myself. Now, where to find some acid dye? Hmmm…

Heavy downpour trauma

July 3, 2012bryologue 2 Comments

Whenever the rain falls down so hard, I can’t help but feel a little nervous. Since the 2009 Typhoon Ondoy, which struck our area and family so hard, we became eternally paranoid of a heavy downpour. My family were safe, albeit shaken from the experience but sometimes, I still look back at some of the things that were destroyed by the calamity. I know this might sound frivolous to some but I mostly hoped that I could have just given out some of these before the tragedy struck. Then they could have survived.

I had acquired this Hermès La Promenade de Longchamps scarf, which I only used once in 2009, in that photo below:

Hermès La Promenade de Longchamps scarf - Manila, Philippines

Details of my (already unfortunate) Hermès La Promenade de Longchamps scarf

Continue Reading →