Cherry Hills Tragedy
This was taken at the exact location of the Cherry Hills Subdivision in Antipolo, Rizal, a suburb in east of Metro Manila in 1999. I was there wearing the black shirt and my bestfriend Christine with the red backpack. I know we looked happy but actually we were nervous trecking those rocky terrains. Those were what’s left of the subdivision when the mountainside collapsed during a landslide because of non-stop raining.
I was there to cover the event, I even smelled the stench of death, it was not a very pretty sight. The story of the people who survived was chilling.
As many as 109 people died in the Philippines when Typhoon Olga provoked torrential rains and flooding throughout much of South East Asia in early August. The areas worst affected were Manila, Pampanga, Rizal and Pangasinan. Over 73,000 people were forced to leave their homes and seek shelter and food in local halls, schools and clubs. Some 900 families were evacuated from the town of Valenzuela as flood water rose to dangerous heights.
The majority of the deaths were concentrated in one small housing estate—the Cherry Hills subdivision in Antipolo, a Manila suburb, and home to hundreds of families paying off low-cost, concrete houses. On August 3 the subdivision became a death trap when its foundations filled with water and the whole complex slid down the hill on which it was built. (More of this story here)
Cagsawa Ruins
This was a very old photo of how the Cagsawa Church in Albay Province, Philippines before an eruption of the Mayon Volcano occured in 1814.
This is what’s left of the church now we call the Cagsawa Ruins, shot was taken in May 2007.
By the way, I am celebrating my blog 1 year anniversary and I would like to invite you to join my giveaway. Details here
28 Comments
@ ZJ I beg to disagree Philippines has three main regions Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Bicol (and not Bikol) is part of the Visayas region 🙂
@ gmacomics yeah Cherry hills was really really bad.
@ Hootin Anni yup scary trek it was.
Great selections for this week’s theme!
I’ve been to Cagsawa ruins myself and I must say that it’s really amazing to see whatever’s left of the church. By the way, Albay province is in Bikol region, and not in the Visayas region 🙂
Sreisaat Adventures
That WOULD be a scary walk along the landslide!! And the one photo of the church in the distance is an amazing work of art! You did good.
My Native American Sonoran Desert Ruin is posted…come join me, won’t you?
Happy Hunting!
That WOULD be a scary walk along the landslide!! And the one photo of the church in the distance is an amazing work of art! You did good.
My Native American Sonoran Desert Ruin is posted…come join me, won’t you?
Happy Hunting!
i remember that cherry hills tragedy. it was sad.
great entry and i love that cagsagwa church in ruins.