Several parts of Luzon Island have become flooded over the weekend due to Tropical Storm Karding. This is, sadly, not uncommon in the Philippines during the rainy season. Not having much to do while their Antipolo City neighborhood was submerged in floodwater, these three men decided to brave the storm and hold a cheeky swimsuit photo shoot instead.
Facebook user John Warren Mabunga shared photos of him and his two friends yesterday with the caption: “We just wanna have fun!!!” He also included the hashtag #FLOODSISTER.
They struck a pose next to flooded cars, on a gate, and near a street sign. “Stay positive and keep safe humans,” Mabunga said in the caption. “We can do this! Fiiiight!”
Despite their light take on the situation, Mabunga noted that they’re also concerned about the flooding.
“Promise, we’re also sad about this [the flood]. Take care everyone,” he wrote.
In a Facebook message sent to Coconuts Manila, Mabunga said that the photo shoot happened on Saturday evening during the height of the flood.
He said that he and his two friends were just at his house at the time, but when the flood started to reach his bed, they decided to go to a local convenience store to get instant noodles, saying that they’ll also be checking if the water level is still rising.
Mabunga shared that he and his friends liked to do dares, and just like that, they dared each other to go to a convenience store in swimsuits.
“At first I didn’t want to post [the photos] and make it public because it’s embarrassing. But my friends pushed me to because it is funny,” he told Coconuts Manila in Filipino. “It helps people deal with the stress [of the floods] no matter what.”
Mabunga added that he couldn’t believe the number of shares and reactions his post received, now with over 4,900 likes and 3,100 shares as of posting.
“I just wanted to show this to those who were affected by the storm that instead of letting it get to you, just face it. It’s a storm, we can’t do anything else but brave it.”
“After that, it will go away and we can start again,” he ended.
Netizens took delight in the photos, leaving only positive comments:
Rotsen Arnante Corpuz said in a mix of English and Filipino: “I’m so happy that even if its flooded there, you make it feel [like] it’s just another storm and it will just pass. You don’t have to struggle through the rain. Learn how to dance with it. #loveit”
Judie Anne Medes Roco said: “I can’t control my laughter, [you guys] are so powerful haha”
Madelyn Masas-Amper said this is the “Filipino spirit.”
“Fight through it even if it is flooding,” she wrote in Filipino.
While Mabunga’s goal was to bring light to a dark situation, some netizens over the weekend spoke out about leaning too much on “Filipino resilience.”
Many said that focusing too much on these stories removes attention from the bigger picture — holding the government accountable and actually doing something to prevent flooding.
What do you think? Did you find this funny or do you think people should be more serious about the flood situation? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
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