Laguna de Bay level apt to break 90-year record

The water level in Laguna de Bay is set to break its 90-year record, threatening to submerge more areas in Metro Manila and several nearby provinces in flood waters, a government official said Thursday. Edgar Manda, head of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), said that as of Thursday night, the lake is almost 14 meters deep - half a meter away from the bay’s highest recorded level of 14.5 meters measured in 1919.

He said the water level in the bay could further rise once typhoon "Pepeng" makes landfall on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The LLDA chief said tropical storm “Ondoy" (international name: Ketsana), which pummeled Metro Manila and nearby provinces last Saturday, contributed to the “anomalous" rise in the bay’s water level.

He said the increase should not have taken place for at least 10 years.

“Anomalous dahil dapat umabot pa ito ng 10 years. Nag-accelerate because of climate change at aggravated ni ‘Ondoy’," he said.

“Ondoy" brought 341 millimeters of rainfall in the country in a span of six hours last Saturday and flooded huge portions of Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon).

Manda said residents living near Laguna de Bay, especially those affected by the floods caused by “Ondoy," are advised to relocate immediately.

“Delikado ito in a sense that those living around 12.5 meter elevation and the next layer, papasukin na sila," he said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Pepeng" had gained strength and is now packing maximum winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

The typhoon, carrying what Pagasa called "disastrous" winds, was spotted 440 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar and was forecast to move west northwest at 24 kph.

Heavy rains are expected in the Bicol Region and Eastern Luzon starting Thursday night, according to Pagasa chief Nathaniel Cruz. - GMANews.TV.

A little boy sings to his baby sister.....

A Boy Singing to his little sister.....

You are My Sunshine, My only Sunshine'
(Be prepared to get watery eyes!)


Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy's tummy.

He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute.. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor.

Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition.

With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St.. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville , Tennessee.

The days inched by.. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope.... Be prepared for the worst.

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.


Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. I want to sing to her, he kept saying.

Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.

Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care...

Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket.

The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed,

'Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed.'

The mother rose up strong in Karen,and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. 'He is not leaving until he sings to his sister' she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside.

He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.

After a moment, he began to sing in the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang:

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.' Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. 'Keep on singing, Michael,' encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes.

'You never know, dear, how much I love you,please don't take my sunshine away.'

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. 'Keep on singing, sweetheart.'

'The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms'.

Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. 'Keep on singing, Michael.' Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.. Please don't take my sunshine away.'

The next day...the very next day the little girl was well enough to go home.

Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song.

The medical staff just called it a miracle.

Karen called it a miracle of God's love.

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE...

LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Life is good.

Have a Wonderful Day!

In God We Trust!

'The evidence of God's presence far outweighs the proof of His absence.'

Prayer to all our brothers and sister

Our Father in Heaven,
we humbly pray to you as a nation.
We plead to Your merciful heart that
You may look upon us with compassion.
We pray for our brothers who have
lost their lives today..
Receive them in Your Heavenly kingdom.
We pray for those who are lost
and those trying to get home to their family.
Make their way easy.
We pray for those who have lost their homes.
Give them comfort.
We pray for those who are still exposed
to the bad conditions and awaiting help.
Give them strength.
Everything we do for our unfortunate brethren,
we offer to You and Your Glory.
All this we pray in the most holy Name of Jesus.
Amen.

THE GREAT FLOOD (ONDOY)

(Juliet de Loza/Noel Abuel/Eralyn Prado/Dindo Matining/JB Salarzon/Tina Mendoza/AFP)

Ginulantang kahapon ng walang patid na buhos ng ulan na hatid ng bagyong ‘Ondoy’ ang rehiyon ng Luzon kung saan pangunahing sinalanta ay ang Metro Manila matapos nitong palubugin sa ga-hita hanggang lampas-taong baha ang 90% ng kalungsuran.

Kasabay nito ay naitala ang 9-kataong nasawi dulot ng hagupit ni ‘Ondoy’ sa iba’t ibang panig ng rehiyon. Paliwanag naman ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Admi­nistration (PAGASA) flood forecasting center, ang bumuhos na ulan kahapon ay katumbas ng halos dalawang linggong normal na pag-ulan.

Nabatid pa na simula alas-otso hanggang alas-11:00 pa lamang ng umaga ay umabot na sa 112 millimeters ang volume ng bumuhos na ulan at sobra-sobra na umano ito para bumaha ang malaking bahagi ng Kalakhang Maynila. Bagama’t sunud-sunod ang bagyong pumasok sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas nitong nakalipas na tatlong linggo, ang pinagsama-sama nilang buhos ay naitala lamang sa sukat na 300 millimeters. Samantala, isa pa sa nakadagdag ng biglang paglaki ng tubig ay ang obligadong pagpapakawala ng tubig mula sa mga water reservoir na mabilis na napuno at umangat ang tubig sa critical level dahil na rin sa walang patid at tila galit na galit na buhos ng ulan. Unang nagpakawala ng tubig ang La Mesa dam matapos umakyat sa 80.15 meters ang antas ng tubig dito. Sinundan ito ng pag-akyat din sa critical level ng tubig sa Angat dam kaya’t napilitan din itong magpakawala ng tubig dakong alas-11:00 ng umaga. Ilang oras makaraan ito ay nagpahayag din ang Magat dam sa lalawigan ng Isabela na posible rin silang magpakawala ng tubig dahil sa mabilis na pag-akyat sa critical level. Ang Ipo dam ang unang nagbawas ng tubig dakong ala-1:20 ng madaling-araw nang buksan ang gates 2, 3 at 4. Makaraan ang ilang oras ay isinara na ang gate 2 at ang gates 3 at 4 na lamang ang iniwang nakabukas hanggang kahapon. Bilang direktang resulta, 25 barangay sa Marilao, Meycauayan, San Miguel at Bocaue sa Bulacan ang lumubog sa flashfloods. Sa pang-alas-dos ng hapong ulat ng National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), umabot sa 33 barangay sa Metro Manila ang iniulat na lumubog sa baha: isa sa Maynila, dalawa sa Marikina City, anim sa Malabon City, dalawa sa Muntinlupa City, lima sa Quezon City, isa sa Makati City, isa sa Pasay City, lima sa Pasig City, isa sa Valenzuela City at siyam sa San Juan City.

Bukod pa rito, 37 kalsada sa Kalakhang Maynila ang idineklarang ‘impas­sable’ o hindi madaanan ng maliliit na sasakyan. Ngunit sa ulat ng Manila Police District (MPD) district tactical operations center, sa Maynila pa lamang ay 33 major at minor streets na ang hindi madaanan pagsapit pa lamang ng alas-12:30 ng tanghali. Bunga nito, kinaila­ngang gumamit ng mga 6x6 o 10-wheeler truck ang mga kawani ng Manila City Hall sa paghahatid ng mga relief goods sa evacuation centers at maging sa pag-rescue sa mga na-trap sa baha. Sa kahabaan ng Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), daan-daang commuters ang na-stranded sa hindi inaasahang pag­laki ng baha rito kung saan marami sa mga ito ang sumugod na at nagpakabasa sa ulan habang sinasagasa ang ga-tuhod hanggang ga-baywang na baha makaraan ang siyam na oras na pagtitiyaga sa walang galawang trapiko. Sa Makati City, mahigit 1,000 pamilya sa Silverio Compound ng San Isidro ang kinailangang iligtas sa ga-bewang na baha. Samantalang umakyat din hanggang tuhod ang baha sa San Antonio , Palanan at Olimpia.

Sa Taft Ave. sakop ng Pasay City , umabot din hanggang sa bewang ang baha. Sa Bgy. Putatan, Alabang at Sucat, Muntinlupa City , umabot sa 4,000 pa­milya ang nagsilikas sa mga paaralan para sa kanilang kaligtasan. “We need the help of the concerned agencies to help us evacuating hundreds of (families) in eight out of nine barangays in Muntinlupa. They are in danger,” pagsusumamo ni Muntinlupa City Rep. Rufino Biazon. Ang mga tirahang barung-barong ng mahigit 1,000 pamilya sa San Isidro , Parañaque City ay nilamon din ng malaking tubig. Bunga nito, nagpasaklolo kahapon si Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez sa pamahalaan upang saklolohan ang mahigit 5,000 pamilyang naapektuhan ng baha sa kanyang distrito. Karamihan umano sa mga ito ay ngayon pa lamang nakalasap ng baha sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon. “These areas never experienced flooding in the past. Ngayon lang sila binaha kaya marami ang naapektuhan,” ani Golez habang tinutukoy ang mga lugar ng Bgy. San Antonio , Marcelo Green, Don Bosco, Moonwalk, Sun Valley , Merville at San Martin de Porres. “We also need big trucks for distributions of relief goods,” ani Golez. Si Bayan Muna party­list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, sa kabilang dako, ay nanga­lampag naman ng rescue teams para saklolohan ang mga pamilyang na-trap sa biglang pagbaha kung saan marami sa mga ito ay nasa bubungan na ng kanilang bungalow na mga bahay sa kasagsagan ng buhos ng ulan. “Please prioritize the families on the roof of the house on P. Santos St. , Doña Peña cor. Road 1, Bgy. Tumana. Malulunod na daw sila doon,” anang kongresista.
Sa Kabikulan, tinatayang 1,000 hanggang 2,000-katao ang na-stranded matapos na harangin ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ang kanilang paglalayag. Sa Caliclan, Aklan, hindi rin pinayagang magbiyahe ang mga maliliit na bangka. Sa inisyal na ulat na 9-kataong nasawi, isa rito ay mag-ama na nabagsakan ng isang bumagsak na pader sa kasagsagan ng baha at buhos ng ulan samantalang apat na bata ang nalunod at tatlo pa ang tinangay ng malakas na agos.

Hindi matiyak kung kasama sa bilang ang tatlong batang naiulat sa tanggapan ng alkalde ng Muntinlupa City na nalunod sa Bagumbayan River . Samantala, iniulat kahapon ni Manila Electric Company (Meralco) external communications mana­ger Joe Zaldarriaga na kinailangan nilang agapan ang pagputol ng supply ng kuryente sa mga lugar na unang dumanas ng matin­ding pagbaha upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan. Kadalasang panganib na hatid ng lumalaking tubig ay ang pagtulay dito ng kuryente.

“Power was disconnected in many areas so as to ensure the safety of the public,” anang Meralco executive. Sa Pasay City, isang lalaki ang nakuryente kahapon ng tanghali matapos pasukin ng baha ang loob ng bahay nito. Nakilala ang biktimang si Rolando Lozada. Kaugnay pa rin ng ma­tinding pananalasa ng ulan ni ‘Ondoy’, kinansela ng Korte Suprema ang bar exa­minations ngayong araw at sa halip ay iniurong ito sa Oktubre 4, 2009. Ito’y alinsunod sa desisyon ni 2009 Bar Chairperson Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura.


People are stranded in Cainta, province of Rizal , eastern Manila .


Aida De Leon grieves in Pasig City , east of Manila .


An aerial view aboard a Philippine Air Force chopper shows devastation brought by Tropical Storm Ketsana in Cainta, province of Rizal , eastern Manila .


A Philippine Air Force aerial shot shows damaged houses in Marikina City , Metro Manila. More than 70 people were killed, Manila was blacked out and airline flights were suspended as a powerful tropical storm battered the main Philippines island of Luzon .


Residents are evacuated by police boats during flooding in Cainta Rizal, east of Manila .


Residents cross a flooded street with the use of a rope in Quezon City .


Thousands of people in the Philippine capital and nearby towns were marooned by flash floods after a strong tropical storm hit the main island of Luzon , disaster officials said.


Residents wait to be evacuated from a partially submerged house during flooding in Bocaue, north of Manila .


A boy is lifted onto the roof of a building to escape the flooding in the Quezon City suburban of Manila . Nearly a month's worth of rain fell in just six hours Saturday, triggering the worst flooding in the Philippine capital in 42 years, which stranded thousands on rooftops in the city and elsewhere.


Residents clamber on electric wires to stay out of floodwaters while others wade neck-deep in Cainta Rizal, east of Manila .


A victim of floodings is rescued in Pasig City , east of Manila . Authorities rushed rescue and relief to thousands of people who spent the night on the roofs of their submerged houses in Manila and surrounding provinces.

Commuters wade through waist-deep floodwaters after heavy rains dumped by Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally known as Ondoy) on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Manila , Philippines .

1 dead, 3,000 families evacuated in Calamba City

By Karen Lapitan
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 11:59 09/29/2009

Filed Under: Disasters (general), Flood, Evacuation (General)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Philippines - One died and over 3,000 families in this city were evacuated to safe ground as floods spawned by typhoon Ondoy swamped this city, disaster officials reported on Tuesday morning.

Officials identified the dead as David Rafols, 20, a resident of Barangay (village) Looc, Calamba City while the city's Action Center said 3,084 families or 15,765 individuals were already in 43 designated evacuation centers in the area.

It added that so far, 4,598 families or 22, 015 persons in this city either fled from the floods or lost property due to the floods spawned by typhoon Ondoy.

City government and resident-volunteers had been clearing the streets of mud since Monday afternoon.

7 REASONS WHY WE ARE SUPPORTING NOYNOY

1. We see the handiwork of God in his candidacy --Ninoy died for the country and his widow became president after people power. After battling cancer, Cory went home to the Lord which ushered in an unprecedented showing of support and love for a former president. This showing of support miraculously bankrolled into a people's call for Noynoy to run for president even if he had no plans of doing so. These events could only be orchestrated by a sovereign God who has compassion over nations shackled by the blight and darkness of arrogant and shameless corruption.

2. He inspires hope -- Prior to Noynoy's candidacy, we were resigned to our fate of just choosing the utopian lesser evil among traditional, same old, eager beaver presidentiables. None of them inspires hope. But all that changed when Noynoy responded to that God-given calling in his life to serve the Filipino people whom his father died for . Tears of hope from the hearts and eyes of ordinary Filipinos flowed when he declared his candidacy. Upon learning of Noynoy's candidacy, a Bureau of Customs employee said, "Salamat. Pwede na ulit mangarap."

3. He is honest -- Ballsy Aquino Cruz, Noynoy's sister declared on national media that she is willing to be shot if anybody could present evidence that her brother is a thief. This sincerity is unparalleled even among the closest family and relatives of the other presidentiables. None of the other presidentiables' sisters or brothers would like to end up dead. Noynoy was reared in an environment of honesty as exemplified by the lives of his parents. Indeed, an apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

4. He has strength of character -- We don't need a president who will hang a shingle in Malacanang that reads, " Business as Usual". He is the only candidate that we believe when he says he will clean house because he is clean.

5. He is humble and not in love with power -- Everything about him is not contrived. Ordinary people like us could see through spin doctor- managed acting among public officials and candidates. But we see in Noynoy the sincere simplicity of a simple man, who although pedigreed, is not self-centered, power and recognition hungry. He doesn't mind having thinning hair, simple clothes and a down-to-earth manner of speaking. More so, his humble spirit was manifested when he sought God's direction first before plunging in the presidential race.

We could see that his reluctance to seek the presidency is genuine. We believe that power should be given to those who have strength of character because they are not obsessed nor in love with it. And yes, Mr. Gary Olivar, Malacanang spokesman, Noynoy is his own man because true manhood could only come from a humble spirit.

6. He alone could mobilize people power -- No other presidentiable could ask the Filipino people to bankroll his campaign and credibly call for volunteers. In this country where the norm is patronage politics and presidentiables spend billions just to win an election, Noynoy is the only presidential candidate as of press time who is being swamped by a snowballing groundswell volunteer support from unknown, ordinary Filipinos from Luzon to Visayas without any budget. Noynoy is the anti-thesis of patronage politics because he could ask for volunteers to spend time and resources to campaign for him.

7. He is the good in this fight between good and evil -- No other opposition candidate had earned the most vicious attacks from Malacanang and the other political parties who are fielding candidates in the presidential race than Noynoy.

In fact, some parties are already demolishing the people's perception and argument that the 2010 presidential race is a fight against good and evil. Noynoy's detractors would like to brush aside the morality of the elections because morality in government leadership is not a campaign strategy that could propel their traditional, same old, eager beaver presidential candidates.

It is true what Earl Spencer said ,that true goodness is threatening to those who are on the other side of the moral spectrum. In this fight versus good and evil, Noynoy credibly represents the good.

In his declaration speech, he was unmindful of politics or a possible loss of votes when he said he desires justice over the unresolved issues and cases the Marcoses committed against Filipinos. That to us, is true goodness, because it is a conviction that stands up for what is right no matter what the consequences are. Mabuhay ka Noynoy!

Mabuhay and Pilipinas!

Cory An Intimate Portrait

By Margie Penson-Juico

I'm reading Cory An Intimate Portrait at the moment and I was able to know how she manage the government during her time. But what I want to know more about her life not only in politics but also her personal life. My target next is to get the book entitled The Making of Cory. Hope to find a copy soon and I hope that there's more to know about her on this book.

Typhoon Ondoy

My husband was caught in traffic due to floods in almost whole of metro manila and wasn't able to go home last night. He was stuck in traffic from 9am to 10pm, from Osmena cor. San Andres St. going to Makati with low gasoline =(. Poor hubby, no aircon all through out the waiting, good thing there's a lot of vendors who took advantage of the situation so he's starving in the traffic jam unlike the other area.

Ondoy causes a lot of damage not only in Manila but also in other region. They say that this is a historical event. There was a flood in Metro Manila 40 years ago but not as worst as what had happen yesterday.

I hope this won't happen again in the future.