Viral video: From the shadows of a Manila sewer to a shot at a new life

Manila: In a moment that captured the internet’s attention, a woman identified only as “Rose” emerged from a storm drain in Makati City, the country's financial district, earlier this week.

She was mud-soaked, drenched and disoriented when she emerged from the manhole.

The haunting images of her climb back into daylight stunned the nation and quickly went viral, igniting a wave of sympathy and sparking calls for action.

The bizarre incident unfolded in the heart of one of Metro Manila’s most affluent enclaves, raising questions and fuelling speculation about what led her underground — and how she survived it.

She seemed determined, while shocked residents grappled with the surreal sight that disrupted the calm of their gated community.

The incident became viral, and was grabbed by local news media.

Now, Rose’s story is turning a new chapter.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian personally met with Rose on Thursday at the Pag-abot Center in Pasay City. 

There, he assured her of ₱80,000 in livelihood assistance to help her fulfill her dream of opening a small convenience store, or sari-sari store — a modest but transformative step toward a stable life off the streets.

“Ang magiging intervention natin kay Rose, pangarap daw niya kasing magkaroon ng tindahan (Our intervention for Rose is for her to have her dream store),” Gatchalian said, emphasising that a social worker had assessed her ability to manage such a business.

Rose currently earns a living by collecting and selling recyclable materials. 

The shocking sewer incident, she explained, stemmed from a simple accident — her blade cutter, a tool essential to her work, had fallen into the drain.

Without hesitation, she descended to retrieve it, unaware that her actions would soon make headlines across the country.

Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to support families and individuals in street situations (FISS), the DSWD is extending its hand not only to Rose but also to her partner, Jerome, a street-dwelling baker with welding skills.

The department is considering providing him with welding training and possibly a welding machine, aiming to boost their household income and move them toward long-term stability.

But Rose is not content to be merely a beneficiary.

Inspired by the help she received, she has pledged to work with the Pag-abot team to reach out to others like her — those still sleeping on pavements, surviving day to day.

“Tutulong si Rose,” Gatchalian said. “Tutulungan niya kami na kumbinsihin sila na sumama dito sa Pag-Abot shelter.”

The Pag-abot Center, operating since 2023, serves as a beacon for displaced individuals, offering temporary refuge and a path back to their home provinces through a suite of social reintegration programs. 

For Rose, the sewer may have marked a low point — but with the government’s intervention, her ascent is just beginning.