As of this writing, Tacloban is dark and cloudy, dreary and wet.
Yolanda has been reported to have made landfall in Samar Island and in a couple of hours will move slowly to Tacloban. Rain has stopped for the moment as people quietly wait for the onslaught of a potentially devastating year end experience.
Electricity was cut off for a few minues about 2 hours ago. As of now, no wind can be noted. A drizzle of rain casts overhead. The calm outside belies the power of Yolanda. Described by CNN as the most powerful storm of 2013.
I sincerely hope residents in low lying, flood prone and mountainside hamlets evacuate now. Meanwhile, we wait.
Huwebes, Nobyembre 7, 2013
Miyerkules, Nobyembre 6, 2013
Panic Day
The news of the approaching supertyphoon Yolanda battering Eastern Visayas has spooked a lot of Taclobanons. Officemates of mine were worried of its potential destructive effects and in preparation for such scenario, we rearranged the furniture in the office, sealed up the windows and disconnected all electrical appliances from their sockets.
The day was however bright and sunny, surreal especially compared with the ferocity of an approaching storm. Indeed, the day was so calm, so sunny, so bright that it reminded me of the calm before a really bad storm, and in fact, Yolanda is one hell of a storm that will probably devastate Eastern Visayas, one of the poorest regions in the Philippines, and possibly displace and even kill hundreds of my regionmates.
The day was however bright and sunny, surreal especially compared with the ferocity of an approaching storm. Indeed, the day was so calm, so sunny, so bright that it reminded me of the calm before a really bad storm, and in fact, Yolanda is one hell of a storm that will probably devastate Eastern Visayas, one of the poorest regions in the Philippines, and possibly displace and even kill hundreds of my regionmates.
Martes, Nobyembre 5, 2013
Super Typhoon Threatening the Philippines
Recent reports early this afternoon indicated a brewing disaster on the horizon. It is estimated that Supertyphoon Yolanda is on the hots for the Philippines and will be making landfall in the next 48 hours. This is probably going to be the typhoon of the decade. I remember years back a news broadcast stating that the Philippines is hit by a super typhoon once in a decade, and I think this one has come to roost.
As early as now, and coupled with the chronic poor disaster preparedness planning of the government, a cornucopia of suffering and chaos that will inevitably result. Once again, we will see the mismanagement of resources, the inability to distribute relief goods and the general inefficiency of government responsiveness to the situation that is going to eventually unfold.
Good luck to the Filipino nation on this one heck of a typhoon.
As early as now, and coupled with the chronic poor disaster preparedness planning of the government, a cornucopia of suffering and chaos that will inevitably result. Once again, we will see the mismanagement of resources, the inability to distribute relief goods and the general inefficiency of government responsiveness to the situation that is going to eventually unfold.
Good luck to the Filipino nation on this one heck of a typhoon.
Lunes, Nobyembre 4, 2013
TV SHOW REVIEW: The Walking Dead S04E04
This was probably for me the most boring and least stimulating episode of the entire run of the Walking Dead...by far. However, there is a caveat, dare I say a saving event, shown with increasing clarity, Carol's transformation from the fearful, abused wife that she was when Rick first met her to a take-charge, no non-sense group player that she has become.
Many fans of the show have commented in support of Rick's expulsion of Carol from the prison lair that the group is presently holed up in. They say Carol deserves to be let go from the group as she has become nothing more than a cold, calculated person. That she has lost a sense of compassion and the like etcetera etcetera, etcetera.
I'll give my take on this, in support actually of Carol's actions. For all that she has experienced, encountered and endured, Carol has come to look upon life as what it should be, a constant calculation between ideals and the practical demands of existence, actually survival, in a world devoid of any semblance of civilization and decorum. More than what most fans of the show will actually admit, life teaches us many things, and sometimes, hard decisions have to be made, in order for survival to be guaranteed. In many circumstances, even Carol's dectractors will do exactly what she has done, and in cases of extreme peril and natural calamities, it is in fact a common phenomenon to secure for one's group, family or tribe a favorable advantage over and above all others. Indeed, in many instances across history, this has in fact become a common feature. While I do not deny that even in such circumstances, some of us actually will do unselfish acts, think of Oskar Schindler, who saved hundreds of German Jews from the genocidal antics of Nazi Germany or Florence Nightingale, whose unselfish service to wounded English soldiers during the Crimean War actually resulted in the birth of the nursing profession, to say that doing what Carol did is inhumane is to say that man is a static creature.
Carol did what she did in the belief that threats to the group must be neutralized as much as possible, and in the earliest possible instance as practicable as can be, and with good reason, the dearth of resources and the uncertainly of daily living has taught Carol to act with prudence and not with emotions. It's sad that Rick expelled her for protecting the group that she has come to love and come to depend upon. What she did in the murder of two of residents of Block C was, when taken within the context of Carol's role and the circumstances of the group, reasonable and in fact understandable.
When faced with similar circumstances, most of us will actually retreat to our ethnic group, then to our tribe, then to our respective families - exactly what Carol did. For after everything has been said and done, she knows too well that sooner or later, the two sickly persons will become a threat to the life and welfare of the entire group, especially the group she has come to know in Herschel's farm, her new family.
Many fans of the show have commented in support of Rick's expulsion of Carol from the prison lair that the group is presently holed up in. They say Carol deserves to be let go from the group as she has become nothing more than a cold, calculated person. That she has lost a sense of compassion and the like etcetera etcetera, etcetera.
I'll give my take on this, in support actually of Carol's actions. For all that she has experienced, encountered and endured, Carol has come to look upon life as what it should be, a constant calculation between ideals and the practical demands of existence, actually survival, in a world devoid of any semblance of civilization and decorum. More than what most fans of the show will actually admit, life teaches us many things, and sometimes, hard decisions have to be made, in order for survival to be guaranteed. In many circumstances, even Carol's dectractors will do exactly what she has done, and in cases of extreme peril and natural calamities, it is in fact a common phenomenon to secure for one's group, family or tribe a favorable advantage over and above all others. Indeed, in many instances across history, this has in fact become a common feature. While I do not deny that even in such circumstances, some of us actually will do unselfish acts, think of Oskar Schindler, who saved hundreds of German Jews from the genocidal antics of Nazi Germany or Florence Nightingale, whose unselfish service to wounded English soldiers during the Crimean War actually resulted in the birth of the nursing profession, to say that doing what Carol did is inhumane is to say that man is a static creature.
Carol did what she did in the belief that threats to the group must be neutralized as much as possible, and in the earliest possible instance as practicable as can be, and with good reason, the dearth of resources and the uncertainly of daily living has taught Carol to act with prudence and not with emotions. It's sad that Rick expelled her for protecting the group that she has come to love and come to depend upon. What she did in the murder of two of residents of Block C was, when taken within the context of Carol's role and the circumstances of the group, reasonable and in fact understandable.
When faced with similar circumstances, most of us will actually retreat to our ethnic group, then to our tribe, then to our respective families - exactly what Carol did. For after everything has been said and done, she knows too well that sooner or later, the two sickly persons will become a threat to the life and welfare of the entire group, especially the group she has come to know in Herschel's farm, her new family.
Linggo, Nobyembre 3, 2013
TV SHOW REVIEW: Dangerous Flights S01E01
While rummaging through Youtube's endless repertoire of videos, I came across a TV show called "Dangerous Flights" that chronicles the adventures of a group of pilots whose job it is to deliver airplanes from the U.S. to worldwide customers. It's actually an adrenaline inducing show with a lot of drama and twists. I was hooked from the moment I saw the first episode.
I cannot wait to finish the entire first season and move on to the second, where a director of the show reportedly died while filming the show. It's not called "Dangerous Flights" for nothing, that's for sure!
I cannot wait to finish the entire first season and move on to the second, where a director of the show reportedly died while filming the show. It's not called "Dangerous Flights" for nothing, that's for sure!
Sabado, Nobyembre 2, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW: Escape Plan 2013
I was surprised I actually liked the movie. It's a new take on prison movies and is presented in a unique and stimulating manner. The action sequences are not so spectacular I would say, but the story line and dramatic flare it provides more than makes up for its lack of spectacular fight scenes.
Sylvester Stallone plays Ray Breslin, a professional dedicated to testing the reliability of prison security and spent his life being sent to prison to test such security, he is then tricked by his partner into going into a prison whose address they did not know and for whom his partner was paid millions to keep him in prison. Eventually though, Breslin escapes after befriending a prisoner Emil Rottmayer played by Arnold Scharzenegger.
Although the movie was starred by big name actors, it's over-all entertainment value is low moderate, in that the action was lethargic at best and the story did not really develop into something mature.
Sylvester Stallone plays Ray Breslin, a professional dedicated to testing the reliability of prison security and spent his life being sent to prison to test such security, he is then tricked by his partner into going into a prison whose address they did not know and for whom his partner was paid millions to keep him in prison. Eventually though, Breslin escapes after befriending a prisoner Emil Rottmayer played by Arnold Scharzenegger.
Although the movie was starred by big name actors, it's over-all entertainment value is low moderate, in that the action was lethargic at best and the story did not really develop into something mature.
Biyernes, Nobyembre 1, 2013
Remembering the Dead
Today millions of Filipinos flock to cemeteries to remember their beloved dead. This occasion marks not only a time of reminiscing our ancestors, it is also the time were families gather and share time and memories. Ironic in that this day marks a celebration of life as it is about the dead. It is a time families actually recognize the finitude of life, the scarcity of time and the preciousness of the moment.
Some Filipinos are known to sleep overnight on the graves and in the mausoleums of their families. Such commitment to our forebears is a manifestation of the Filipino propensity for family.
A memorable day of remembrance for the dearly departed for all Filipinos!
Some Filipinos are known to sleep overnight on the graves and in the mausoleums of their families. Such commitment to our forebears is a manifestation of the Filipino propensity for family.
A memorable day of remembrance for the dearly departed for all Filipinos!
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