Getting Typhoon-ed In Manila (and anywhere in the Philippines)

Hello people I am back. It has been very busy these past few weeks. Add the fact that connection has been somewhat erratic due to the past typhoons that visited the country. It is a usual thing here: when it rains hard, internet connection goes haywire.

I should not be complaining much though, if I were to consider how it has been for many more people who have lost their homes and the lives of their loved ones when Typhoon Basyang (International name: Conson) dropped by the Philippines for a deadly visit two weeks ago.

The Philippines entered the rainy season last month. Typhoon Basyang crossed the islands recently, leaving 180 people dead and 31,542 houses damaged in regions III, IV-A, and V. As of late, the total cost of damages to agriculture and infrastructure is at PHP377.975.880, roughly USD8M. Not a nice way to welcome the new president of the republic who assumed office last month.

My own experience? Not as bad, but undeniably annoying.

I was asleep when I was suddenly awakened late at night on July 13 (Tuesday) past midnight. It was sooooo dark: apparently, nearly the whole of Metro Manila went into power failure. The winds were howling and my windows were flipping to and fro. It was a situation quite similar to the one created by Typhoon Milenyo last 2006 which left the entire metropolis dark and waterless, although on a lesser scale.

We got our electricity and water back in less than 24 hours. It is annoying enough that we did not have both, but it made me realize once again: I can live without electricity for a few days, but definitely, I cannot live without water. Fortunately, before I lost my mind, there came water. :)

There were reports that the local weather bureau PAG-ASA has been amiss in sending out prompt bulletins regarding the typhoon which the death of some fishermen. President Noynoy Aquino was even reported to have berated the agency. I know for a fact that most of the equipments found in our science and technology government agencies are outdated. No, I won't even start with my sorry experience with the Department of Science and Technology where I spent PHP2,500 for my research, for naught. My research, against people's lives, is nothing.

All these are just the tip of the iceberg of woes whenever Manila and the Philippines gets "typhoon-ed". Umbrellas are simply not enough.

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