Ashfall

When I first found out that Manila Midtown Hotel is going to be torn down, my initial reaction is to look for another place to stay. I should have listened to my instinct; but I love where I stay.

The demolition have been going on since late last year. At first, it was pitiful, even laughable, the work that they called demolition. Then, they started to work for 16 hours, not so laughable, not so pitiful anymore. The past month, the crew are at it round the clock. They're getting quite agressive. The demolition crew would hammer away all day.

It is summer. It's hot. Even the slightest breeze's welcome, or should be. But since we live two streets away from Manila Bay, and just across the demolition site, it is understandable that we learn to dread every breeze coming our way, for it would mean dust all around.

The past two weeks is pure torture. The crew would empty the rubble they accumulated on the top of the building to the construction site below. Given the 12 or 15 storey height, this would translate into pure white powder (dust) floating across a two, maybe four block radius! Last night was the worse yet. We woke up this morning to a floor looking like it's made of marble (our windows are closed at that). But our floor's made of wood!

I have given our help a mask to prevent her asthma from attacking. Our resident black cat, Lestat, is now sporting a new color - gray. The only thing I find funny in this is we know exactly where Lestat has been sleeping!

It is reminiscent of the Pinatubo's ashfall days. It is now raining outside, and it is very much welcome. Less dust for the next 12 hours!