From Styrofoam boxes to airbeds: Unconventional means of travel in the flood

Sometimes desperation can be the mother of invention. With no boats on hand to get them from one place to another in the flood, people are using their brains—and unconventional means—to keep above the water.

In a report on GMA News TV's "24 Oras", Kara David reported on the many ways the residents of Cainta, Rizal, made do with what was on hand to be able to go about their business with little fuss.

In the village of Vista Verde, people strapped any combination of styrofoam containers, wooden benches, lifebuoys, metal racks, plywood and even banana trees together into makeshift rafts.



People even commercialized the use of these rafts. “Minsan P50, minsan P100,” said a particular owner of a banana raft when asked how much he earned from trips.

Rommel Tolentino, a tricycle driver, had a boat made to take advantage of the sulky weather.

“Pang-sarili at panghanap-buhay,” he explained on why he had the small craft made, “Lagi pong binabaha dito taon-taon. [Kaya] gumawa na po ng bangka.”

In a report by Susan Enriquez, jury-rigged rafts ferrying people and even motorcycles across flooded streets are being used in several areas of Metro Manila.

Taking a pedicab to make the flight

Sometimes the unconventional means of traversing flooded streets are actual vehicles: tourists, probably used to taking cabs or hotel shuttles to the airport, had to hire pedicabs to bring them to Ninoy Aquino International Airport so that they could make their flight.

Mariz Umali interviewed one American who missed his flight but who still seemed in good spirits. “I'm kinda dry, I wanna go swimming, I think,” he joked.



Pedicabs became the main transportation for tourists stuck in traffic; some even rode on top of them to make sure the water didn't reach them. Drivers took home more than usual, with one enthusiastic cyclist saying they keep their fares entertained. “It's more fun in the Philippines!”

Not everyone found the situation entertaining, though.

“This is so terrible. Why is the government like this in the Philippines?” complained a tourist.

Soldiers offered their trucks to be used as transport for people stuck on their way to the airport.

“Malaking tulong ito sa amin,” said one of the passengers, “Dahil kung 'di sa sasakyan na ito, 'di kami makakarating sa airport.” — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News