Farm Boy In The City

It is on.

Since Yahoo is closing down geocities soon, I went to my geocities sites to check if there's anything there worth saving. I saw this article I wrote in one of our writing classes in college. Even then, I have the talent in writing "in-depth" articles. LOL! So yeah, while my classmates were writing about the Visiting Forces Agreement, Oil Deregulation Law, etc., I was busy writing about typhoon's names.

But it's timely. And informative (haha). So here it is:

***

The students heard the announcement. Many of them rejoiced while some of them grumbled. They stood up almost all at the same time and started walking their way out of the fluorescent-lit classroom. Unable to get out of the building due to the rather heavy rains and strong winds, they all stayed in the lobby. And yet the mood wasn't all gloomy and tense. In fact there were some joking and chuckling around. What made many of the students happy was the fact that classes were suspended because of the typhoon. But what made them happier was the fact that the typhoon was named Jolina.

So typhoons these days can be named after (literally) colorful pop stars. Our typhoons used to have female names ending with "-ng." In other words, they had names similar to our grandmothers' and even our great grandmothers'. We were used to hearing Ernie Baron calling the whirling white shapes on his monitor Goring, Mameng, Insiang or Rosing. But now, when you chance upon Cheryl Cosim reporting weather disturbances named Darna, Barok, Pogi or even Batibot, do not be surprised or alarmed that the news programs are sensationalizing the weather news just to improve their ratings. She is not making things up. The names are legitimate and they can be found in the set of new official typhoon names in the Philippines.

Typhoons or tropical cyclones (this is how international weather agencies generally call typhoons especially those formed in the Indian Ocean just as the ones formed in the Atlantic are called hurricanes and in the Pacific, typhoons) are named so to avoid confusions between forecasters and the general public regarding typhoon forecasts and warnings. They cannot call the typhoons as "the typhoon we are having now" since typhoons do not come one at a time. Sometimes, two or even three typhoons are formed in one ocean at the same week and wander around that area. Naming them reduces the confusion on which typhoon are the forecasters talking about.

Of course, the idea of naming typhoons did not automatically come into the minds of Adam and Eve. One Australian weather forecaster started naming typhoons only in the early 20th century. The said weather forecaster named the cyclones after politicians whom he disliked. Doing so enabled him to publicly state that they (the politicians) are "causing great distress" or "wandering aimlessly at the Pacific." (Early this July, typhoon Gloria caused great rains and floods throughout the Metro Manila and its nearby provinces, much to the delight of the July 4, Fil-American Friendship Day protestors. The typhoon became the activists' convenient analogy to the Philippine President ravaging the nation with US troops and causing much havoc to national sovereignity).

Meanwhile, during the Second World War, meteorologist from the US Army Air Corps and Navy tasked to monitor and forecast typhoons being formed in the Pacific devised a list of typhoon names, which are mostly women names. This was because the soldiers named the weather disturbances after their girlfriends or wives. Only in 1979 did the US National Weather Service use a set of names that included men's names.

Here in the Philippines, the first typhoon that hit the country, reported in 1897, was named "El Baguio de Samar y Leyte." Women names have always been used to name typhoons since 1963. The said names were arranged in alphabetical order, that is from A, Ba, Ka to Ya. In 1997, then Senator Ernesto Herrera questioned Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) about naming the typhoons female names saying that it has "subconsciously associated women with the loss of precious lives and properties." It is therefore, according to Herrera, unfair and derogatory to the females.

That is why in 1999, PAGASA launched "Name a Bagyo (Typhoon)" contest. Entries for the said contest must not have any derogatory meanings, must not exceed nine letters and three syllables, and must reflect the culture of the people. The new list was therefore used starting in 2001. The said list, composed mainly of the winning "Name a Bagyo" contest entries, is still in alphabetical order, but now from A to Z (However, there are no names starting with Ng and X.)

According to PAGASA, the adoption of the new names that are mostly local and reflective of the Filipino culture was meant to enhance the awareness of the public that a formed typhoon is already within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). When a typhoon is still outside of PAR, it is still called through its official international name. Thus, when Filipinos hear a report about a typhoon named Hambalos, Labuyo or Manoy, then is the time to be alarmed.

But these should not be confused with international typhoon names Cimaron, Hagibis, Imbudo, Malakas, and Talim. Yes, the said names are international typhoon names. The reason for their very familiar and local sound is that it was contributed to the international typhoon naming organization by- who else - but our very own PAGASA.

Although PAGASA had already contributed ten names in the International list (along with other countries in the Pacific rim like U.S.A., China and Japan), they were never content. Of all the countries in the world, The Philippines, (together with Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji) is recognized for having independent names for typhoons.

PAGASA'S list of new typhoon names is composed of four sets, which will be rotating until the year 2016. Other noteworthy names in the list are Roleta, Sibak, Espada, Harurot and Kenkoy. The names, more or less, make one anticipate on what the next typhoon name is going to be.

To those who missed typhoon Jolina in the year 2001, do not despair. She'll definitely be coming back in 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Tonight we anxiously (is that even the right word?) wait for this next typhoon called Pepeng. Unlike Ondoy, Pepeng is like this big celebrity with a very good PR team behind. Early as Thursday, he's been building hype, fueled by the media, and of course, the obsessive monitoring of us social networking mainstays.

I am praying hard for the typhoon the just vanish. Especially if he's really as strong as the words about him has built him up to be. I am praying harder because as PAG-ASA has repeatedly announced, Pepeng is going to wreak havoc in our province. You see, in our province (Isabela), whenever there's a storm, we do not only go crazy worrying about our houses. Our hearts beat double time for our crops. Real-life crops, when destroyed, is more problematic than how Farmville shows it to be. It means great loss, not only of the harvest, but also the great deal of money spent to till the lands, buy the seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, etc. It means loss of EVERYTHING the farmers have worked on in the past months. And that is very heartbreaking.

I am hoping that Pepeng will turn out to be all hype. We've experienced a lot of typhoons like that in the past. Metro Manila newscasts would send out panic signals to us, only for us to prepare for a considerably normal rainy and breezy day.

I am glad though that the provincial government seems to be prepared, as I've seen on TV Patrol earlier this evening. I thought they would just treat this as just another atmospheric disturbance (cause we're so used to typhoons visiting our place, right after they do their thing in the Bicol region). But they've got relief goods and rubber boats ready. (And our province looks so good on TV haha).

As I am writing this, it's already raining in Isabela. And in my mind, I am still praying.

Just a normal rainy and breezy night please.

I posted the old Romania typhoon picture below (see previous post), not expecting that the post-storm weeping would soon come closer to home.

Just like everyone else, that Saturday morning for me was just one regular weekend. It wasn't even raining when the day began. My brother and my sister even went to work, while I chose to indulge in some extra hours of weekend morning sleep.

And when I finally got bored sleeping (yes, there's such a thing), I turned to facebook, and I was amused by the my friends' amusement over the floods happening in their respective places. Like me, most of them even found it cute that water is rising in their area for the first time in years, if not for the absolute first time.

In my defense (haha), it was really "cute" at first. Our neighbors were playing happily in the rain. Mothers were joining their kids wade in the ankle-deep water. Some were even lying on the cemented road, attempting to float.

And then the water tuned brown. Mud brown. Panic clouded over them, as it was clear that the murky water was coming from the swollen creek nearby. Water rose, up to the people's waists, and then they knew that Ondoy has rained on their little weekend parade.

***

Once again, TV saved me from ignorance.

TV showed me that Ondoy worked extra hard, and the damage was serious.

As the day went by, more and more arresting videos flashed on screen.

Until I saw that video, the one everybody must have seen by now - bridge, family holding on to the floating debris, man waving at the people on the bridge, group hitting the bridge... yeah that video. I deleted my pa-cute status updates on facebook. Cause it was just so wrong to be jolly, while most of the people around are in extreme fear, and holding on for their lives.

***

I witnessed the twitter revolution. Pinoy twitterers here and abroad were throwing updates at each other, right when getting up-to-the minute information was most crucial. Some influential twitter personalities were mobilizing their followers on calling on the authorities to hurry up and go to the people who need rescuing.

***

Everybody is doing his/her part. It didn't end after the storm. The overwhelming show of support, the overflowing desire to volunteer, the sacrifice each one has made to help the victims of Manila's most destructive typhoon in years... much has been written about this and mostly everyone knows about this by now, that anything I mention here will just be a minute detail in the compendium of Ondoy-related good deeds by individuals, and by a united nation. Of course, there were horror stories too, mainly about people taking advantage of the weaknesses and vulnerability of others. In times like these, we see human nature in its most raw form.

Ondoy has come and gone, and as we work hard in erasing the traces he left in our homes and in our memories, may we never forget the lessons it brought along, during and after, especially after, its wrath.

I was cleaning up my browser bookmarks this morning and I found one link that's more than two years old already. It links to MSNBC.com's 2006 year-end photo essay, and it includes the photo above.

I remember seeing this picture for the first time and it did make me a little tearful. A little. Haha. Looking at it now, more than 2 years later...it's still heart wrenching. The Getty Images photo has this caption:

An elderly man and wife weep as they work to build a chair neir their flooded
village of Rast , Romania , on Thursday, April 20. Thousands were evacuated
along the Danube River in western Romania , and thousands more were under threat
as the river hit near-record levels.

Hi UPJC friends. Let's crash this. Well, we are all invited but crashing is much more fun to say than, say, attending. Cause 'attending' makes it sound like it's a chore or an obligation. Haha.

And yes, I was in last year's kapihan and there's actual coffee. Not a figure of speech.

Visit www.upjournalismclub.org

Oh and hit me like a hurricane when you left me.

But I'd do it all again for you.

I'd walk a thousand miles on broken glass.

It won't stop me from making my way back to you.

It's not real until you feel the pain.

And nothing ever hurt like you.

This, officially, has become my favorite music video of all time. Applause!

One random proven fact: In times of panic, the mind is capable of thinking several thoughts at the same time, in less than a minute.

This happened last week on my way to work. You know those office pants (I think it's what they call dress pants, but don't trust me)? Well, we all know that things slide out of its pockets when we sit, especially inside the cramped spaces of public transport vehicles. I rode one of them FX taxis/shuttles and yes, when I'm near our building's entrance, I instinctively gave my pockets a pat, and was shocked/confused/scared that my phone wasn't there anymore.

And during that half-a-minute of confusion, my mind was able to think of all these thoughts (and more):

1. I know I never left it at home cause I even used it inside the vehicle.
2. I must have left it inside the FX. I hope one of the passengers beside me took it.
3. Good thing I have another phone. I must start calling my lost phone now.
4. What If I never get my phone back?
5. I did not back-up my contacts.
6. Do I have embarrassing pictures of myself stored in the phone?
7. What should I get as my next phone?
8. Have I already paid the phone completely?
9. Am I late for work? No, I still have 5 minutes.
10. Why is the person who has my phone now, not answering my call?
11. Some more thoughts.

And then someone tapped my shoulder and I was relieved to see a familiar face. She was sitting next to me in the FX...

But she doesn't have my phone. She said the guy in front of me took it.

With one important fact now certain (that someone has the phone), I maniacally redialled and redialled until the guy picked up. We agreed to meet in his office, and there his co-workers asked for a Sbarro or Yellow Cab ransom.

Thankfully, they're joking.

Kuya Pasky became a bearer of good news today. Not just any good news, but THE Good News. Haha. I got a surprise visit from him, and he came to give me a package from Nalyn containing this:

This is Manga Messiah - a manga-inspired re-telling of the story of Jesus. I first saw this book at Sango! in Makati. I begged Mr. Sango (the kind Japanese owner who gives out wonderful pieces of origami to customers) for that copy by writing him a letter and giving him my card. But alas, he never called. Haha. I am reading the book now. Here's a look of the inside pages:

I hope they also have an Old Testament of this. Imagine the possibilities - Creation! Noah's Ark! Tower of Babel! All in manga! Hmmm, The New Testament's Revelation would be fun in manga too.

Thanks Nalyn! :)

I remember it so well, that final day of EDSA 2. Gloria Arroyo has just been sworn in, and in her message, she vowed to practice leadership by example.

And so in light of the great page 6-worthy Le Cirque scandal, Hyatt and I followed the great example of Mrs. Arroyo, and dined beyond our means.

We were just wandering around the very anti-SM environment of Greenbelt 5 when hunger struck us. We can easily time-space warp to Greenbelt 1 and feast on the Wendy's Twenties menu, but we decided to social climb a bit and try one of those places in the restaurant row with very nice cushioned seats, filled with businessmen and expats.

At the very end of the row is Felix. I heard the place is partly owned by Ben Chan. I think it's true cause the logo looks like Bench Fix. Anyway, the place is intimidating, especially for us - me with the messenger bag and jeans and sneakers and Hyatt with her flip flops. (Or was it just me, cause Hyatt is a rich kid with an eternal colegiala accent). Felix reminds me of hotel restaurants - with the complimentary bread and butter and the waiters with the dedication and attentiveness of butlers.

I tried the malunggay with tokwa soup. Of course, they didn't call it that. They have fancy names for everything. I forgot all of them already (lol) except for the Dyesebel, because it reminds me of Marian Rivera. For my main dish, I chose this thing:

And yeah, It's still chicken. And yeah, I forgot what it's called. Haha. I don't even know how to pronounce its name in the menu. But you know, whenever I'm faced with this problem (of not knowing how to read the food's name, I either a) point to the menu and say "I'd like this one!" or b) read the looong description ("Hi Mr. waiter. I'll order the sauteed chicken fillet with asparagus dunked in a special cream sauce and served with pasta in olive oil and capers.")

Everything I ate was good. I even wanted to ask the butter they use for the bread but I forgot to. Haha. Because I am jologs, I am delighted by the service shown to us by the people of Felix. Our water glasses seem to magically fill itself everytime it nears drying up. And wehen one of the waiters saw a tiny tiny black dot in my drinking glass, he replaced it right away. We have our own designated pepper grinder - a very cheerful girl, who also gave us bread when she saw how we devoured the the first batch served to us.

In conclusion, service was good, and food, yummy. And even though I forgot every single name in the menu except Dyesebel (I'm not even sure of the spelling), there are things I will always remember about Felix. Like, it's expensive, and they'll happily grind your pepper.