Last Tuesday morning (26 July) I was woken by a 5.9 Earthquake on our Mountain here in Dinalupihan Bataan. It was a real dish rattler, but we sustained no damage unless you count terrified dogs as a problem. The Earthquake hit at 1:15 am, and I found I was unable to move, I was trapped under a panic stricken Mayang, who was shouting Aye-Aye-Aye over and over again. I felt it was my duty to inform her that the earthquake had ended a minute earlier, but for some reason that just didn’t hold any water. I was thinking on my feet and trying to calm her down and get out from under her death grip , so I said; “Mahal, let’s go downstairs and see if any of your knick-knacks (dust collectors) had been damaged!” As her luck would have it (not mine) nothing was broken.
Now it’s Wednesday the 27th and Pagasa (Weather Guessers) Think there might be a Tropical Storm or maybe a Typhoon named “Juaning”” or the rest of Asia calls it Nock-Ten, (I pointed out on FB that the radio and TV were going to have fun with the name of this storm; “We have a tropical storm warning, on tropical storm “Juaning”) headed towards the Philippines.
Bataan and Zambalas were on the watch list, but they were not really sure, I believe the Pagasa is waiting for CNN or the Weather Channel to update them. The reason I say that is because Bicol was hit hard the night before with extensive rain, flooding and loss of life. But they still wouldn’t say on TV if it was a Typhoon or Tropical Storm. We later found out the Bicol was hit with heavy rains, causing landslides and flooding. But the Pagasa forgot to tell them. Even after a State Of Calamity was declared, the TV could still not say what type of storm it was.
I had to go online to find out just what was happening, where I live. I figured I should prepare just in case Pagasa messed up and got it right this time (I really won’t worry about that happening.).
I was in pretty good shape because last week just before that beautiful day we had on the farm, we were warned of Typhoon Hanna that never came close to the Philippines. But Pagasa was worried, so I spent P6, 000.00 stocking the gas for my generator, which was needed anyway as I’d been lax in replenishing my gasoline stock for a couple of months. Also during the big Typhoon Hanna scare, my friend Tommy stocked up on food stuffs and batteries. To prepare for the Typhoon that never was. (Here in the Philippines) yet it was out there in the South China Sea.))
The Pagasa predicted, that Juaning would hit our area at 09:00 Wednesday morning fizzled, at 10:00 hours we had some drizzling rain so the Twin’s and I went to Subic Freeport to get extra food, in case the worst happened.
Mint Oreos cookies, Oatmeal Cookies, and Coffee Ice Cream one of the important food groups. Tenderloin steaks, Campbell’s chicken and Tomatoes Soup, Jif Peanut butter and grape jelly, which are staples of life. So am I ready for the big blow?
I had plenty of canned coke, 10 bottles of rum, and six cases of canned SMB, both SMB, and SanMig light, plus a full bar, stocked with enough of a selection to please anyone.
Oh bring it on, show me what you’ve got “Juaning”. I have ridden out’ hurricanes, typhoons and Cyclones at sea on a Destroyer Escort, which is never fun Seas so rough we had to paint the bulkheads (walls) with Non-skid so we could walk to the chow hall. Taking forty five degree rolls, and water thrown one hundred feet over the bow. And even that was not my first time. Sound like braggadocio, I think not! In Puerto Rico Hurricane Hugo hit me as a Category five, I lost a bar, a condo, a house, and two cars.
Hero to zero all within 36 hours!
13:30 Wednesday we finished shopping and started our drive home, it was frog choking rain pounding down, with thunder and lightning every few seconds. The rain was so thick my wipers couldn’t keep up with it. I slipped in behind an 18 wheeler and thought if some idiot crosses into to our lane the truck will protect me. We made it home safe; now the car is locked up in its carport.
Lunch with friends on Thursday might be canceled or postponed. The rain never let up for a minute, powers off and the generators on. I’ll report in tomorrow with an update.
Thursday Morning 28 July, Tropical Storm Juaning or Nock-ten is gone, we still have a little rain and overcast weather, with the sun sneaking out every once in a while. But we received no wind; and no typhoon, the storm was too fat north of us. The areas around Mega Manila also received rain, which caused flooding and hindered the anti-smoking task force, from reaching their ticket quota for that week.
Southern Luzon received no wind, which I had thought for years were part of Typhoon Lore! But I realize now when any local person tells me or even the TV or the Pagasa, that a typhoon is on the way, I’ll wait until my Mango tree starts bending, my dogs take to flight and then I might believe it’s a typhoon, until that happens, it’s a Thunder Storm and nothing more!
I am still going to lunch with my friends, but on Friday instead! The Rum and beer I stocked up on will not be wasted, my comfort food will be consumed, and I’ll wait until the next storm is over the horizon before I bother to think about it again. That’s the life I signed up for when I moved here low those many years ago. It’s still the good life, so I’ll let that smile be my umbrella, and remember to keep my powder dry!
Paul,
Good thing the weather guru’s keep you informed there! I use http://www.typhoon2000.ph/ to keep me informed of the weather there. That to though is sometimes a day late and a peso short! Good thing you had plenty of food stocked up!
Steve;
The normal lead time on notification of a storm, is while it is hitting the Islands. After living in Puerto Rico and Florida I built my house with a slab roof, so as the wind blows I pop a top and fire up the generator, sit in the kitchen with my dogs and listen to Zac Brown Band play some tunes and know that the sun will be out again soon.
Paul,
It sounds like you had enough spirits to open your own bar again. I guess its best to be prepared because you never know how long you might stranded by a Typhoon. You were prepared with the food groups covered too. Nothing like listening to some good Zac Brown Band or even Kenny Chesney and Hank Jr. while drinking some cold ones. Nothing like a good Typhoon party. Be safe.
Papa Duck;
Every place I’ve lived I always had a full bar in my house/Condo/Apartment, I once had a girl friend in Florida who’s parents were coming down from New York, she told me I would have to put away everything from the bar, because her parents don’t drink. I told her the best I would do is not offer them one. We parted ways!
Mikes Mountain shook? Unbelievable!
I’ll be there in 2 weeks. If you have the same cell # I’ll give you a call.
Mike;
Looking forward to it. Everything shook, but didn’t fall down!
Sounds like good sleeping weather to me, Paul. Up there in the mountain with your pantry and bar stocked up and plenty of gas for the generator, you can ride out the worst Philippine typhoon better than you did with Hugo in Puerto Rico. 🙂
Ricardo;
You are right about that, I had to abandon my house and car and moved up the hill with a cooler of beer rum and Ice during Hugo, at my friends we ended up in one room in the back as the front rooms were destroyed. When we woke up the sun was shinning and we had 3 bottles of Blue Nun Wine, we put them in the stream to chill and then drank them as we planned on how to get up to the states.
Dear Me, Blue Nun! That brings back memories. Crap it was, but it seemed okay in it’s day!
Jim;
Jim you just came through a Category 5 hurricane named Hugo, your sitting by a cold stream on the mountain, and all you have is Blue Nun. Ah, your right! It’s crap, but it helped pass the day! (lol)
Juaning flooded most of the city I live in here in Bicol. The water came up to my stomach in my living room. My motor bike was under water for 2 days before the water was ow enough to wade out there and pick it up to move it to higher ground. I have some photos on my flickr. The first 2 photos are from the 3rd day after the water had gone down a bit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64337145@N03/
Alan;
I checked out the pictures and now know why I live on a mountain. That was bad to see and I’m glad you and your family came out of it unhurt. Everything else can be fixed or replaced!
lucky i was here alone. The power went out about 10pm and i could not sleep at all so i had some rum to help me nake a nap hahah. then about 3am i woke up and i went to the kitchen for a drink of water the house was dry. i sat on the edge of the bed and played guitar for about 5 minutes because I was bored out of my mind. I work over nights but this time i had all the energy and not able to work. I layed back down and around 3:30am i heard water drip i though oh i have a leak in the roof i looked around and noticed that there was water up to the bottom of the bed. it came up so quickly. i started grabbing things that were important for my work my laptop etc. by the time i was finished moving my things upstairs the water was above the bed up above my knees. lucky i was the only one that sleeps downstairs everyone else sleeps on the 3rd floor.
Alan;
That sounded like an interesting night, if my name was Alan I’d rethink the downstairs sleeping arrangement. (lol) Remember gravity! But I’m happy to hear you got you most important things out of harms way. It’s still raining here in the Subic Area.
One of the advantages of living on the 37th floor in Hong Kong was that the world would have to go to hell before I got my feet wet!
Steven;
My Condo on the 22nd floor in Puerto Rico was hit by Hugo a category five hurricane, and I was glad after I saw the damage that I was on the other side of town at my house. No person would have survived that.
Paul,
We’ve been lucky where i live here in Florida. Haven’t been hit in years by a Hurricane. I guess we are long overdue. The busy season is getting ready to start so we will see. With a Category 5 hurricane, i don’t care how high your are it will still destroy everything in its path. Have a nice day.
Papa Duck;
Where you live on the Left Coast Of Florida is not really a Hurricane zone. After I left Puerto Rico I researched where I could live in Florida with the least chance of a hurricane. (It can happen, but not often!)
After a dreadful storm many years ago in Hong Kong in which a tower was pushed down a hill, all builds now have massive piles going down to bedrock and are designed for a direct hit typhoon. Unfortunately, developers insist on glass cladding.
Steven;
My Condo in Puerto Rico was a Penthouse on the 22nd floor, the Hurricane smashed out the glass wall facing the ocean and proceed to suck out everything within. When I got back up there I had walls and nothing more.
Where did you live in Puerto Rico? I lived in Humacao. My fathers from cuba my mom from houston texas, but i ended up in PR by marrying a girl from humacao.
Alan:
Luquillo , Playa Azul. Humacao was our County Seat for all records and court cases.
Alan,
I’m glad you and your family are ok after the flooding. Like Paul said, possessions can be replaced, but people cannot. Hope all works out for you. Take care and be safe.
thanks guys for the kind comments.
I use http://tropicalstormrisk.com. Pretty good. Doesn’t give fine details about locations but an overview of the country. Covers the whole world and you zoom in on any one storm. Used it in Macau adnn Hong Kong before coming here. Plenty accurate enough to see whether you need to do anything. I’ve been using it now for 3 or 4 yrs and it’s been spot on. Have a look.
I have to be honest I love rain and storms. I have to hold that back a bit here because I know so many people suffer so much when these heavy rains arrive but it’s in my blood !!
Paul, I’d like to exchange some emails with you mate. If you are ok with that, please send me an e-mail.
Thanks
Cemlyn
Cemlyn;
I too like a rain storm but even that has an expiration date. My has expired it could stop for a while and let us see the sun.
Send an e-mail to me through Bob’s contact us section and I’ll respond!
Ah Blue Nun, Haven’t heard that name for awhile, good stuff..Say , just wondering , if its not to personal,… when you lost everything before, did you have any kind of insurance there? The weather here in the Phil’s…. you just never know which way the wind is going to blow, so it’s better to be smart than foolish, that’s for sure…Take care.
Lenny;
I was paid for my condo as that was wind damage, my house, bar and car I was not because that was a tidal surge or flooding (15 feet) and that is deemed an Act Of God, I tried to collect from the Catholic Church since they collect money for him, but was turned down. What a shock!
You should have watched the movie “The Man Who Sued God”, starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis. It may have given you a better chance of compensation from those priests!
Steven;
I learned as a young alter boy that the money comes in but never goes out. Like a TV preacher; who wants you to send your money to the Lord, but gives his address.
Nice one Paul. Maybe that is why the Chinese burn their money as an offering (it isn’t real money – ghost money – but it has to be paid for in real cash)! I wonder what the priest would say if one put a P20 note on the tray and set it on fire.
Steven;
20 pesos na lang! He might asked you to leave. (lol)
Hi Paul T: Excellent article about the storm. Sounds like your place is stocked like Noah’s ark. Sorry to hear about your losses in Puerto Rico, but you sure bounced right back and lived to tell about it. Have a nice day.
Roselyn:
Puerto Rico is why I live on a mountain now, after I figured out that thingy called gravity it just made sence. I was back on my feet in 6 months, and returned to Puerto Rico to sell my rebuilt Condo and never went back again. I’ll visit a beach but I don’t want to live there (lol)
I never get attached to things, only people and my pets.
Tommo.
I think you were a bit light when you stocked up on the SMB. Or was you being a thought ful human being and leaving some for your fellow man.
Frank;
Let them eat cake! If my beer ran out the truck would be at the house within an hour!
http://www.weather.com/maps/geography/asia/index_large.html gives a great satellite view of south-east Asia that is updated every hour. For wind vectors I use http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/wxfcst.html
Steven;
The Weather Channel is where Pagasa.dost gov.ph copies all it’s information from and still gets it wrong.
I use these websites: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/ and http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/
Does anyone know why the Philippines insists on renaming weather cells? They are named by an international organization and it must be confusing for maritime uses: are they hearing of two different storm cells of one with two names.
Steven;
My only answer to your question is “Because It Is The Philippines” there can be no other answer.
And Noy noy has just renamed the south china sea…It’s now the West Philippine sea.
He can name it whatever name he wants, but it’s only for local consumption, IMHO. Internationally, though, South China Sea remains the official name, as named by the International Hydrographic Union.
Hudson;
If he’s done that, then it is the first thing he’s done while in office! It good to see he’s a man of action.
Hi Paul – 3 storms right now… Kabayan, Lando, and the lastest.. Mina. Earlier this morning.. the flood was ankle high already. As usual Manila floods every time it rains! You’d be pissed, I bet if you’re driving here. Traffic Jams and all!
And by the way, I like you stock of foods! He he..
Sugar:
Every year I read that Manila is 90% ready for the rainy season, and that flooding will decrease. Manila must have the largest 10% in the world!
I stay away from all big cities.
Mint Oreo’s are the bomb!
I still like the photo of the ‘picnic yacht’ Paul!
Mark;
One of the guys put that on Face Book, and it broke me up, so I asked if I could use it on LiP. Very funny photo!
Paul you may recall I ‘liked’ it on Facebook, too, lol.
Mark;
Yes Mark I do, funny is just funny no matter what!
Gee, Paul, from the FB comments I thought you just had a big dump of rain. Well, I’m just glad to hear that after years of marriage Mayang can still climb on top & make the earth shake for you.
John & Melanie Rodgers just caught the tail of a category 3, heading out of Panama & had their mainsail shredded, forcing a turn-around to Costa Rica & the end of their voyage to Hawaii. I guess what I’m saying is that it’s all relative & nature doesn’t play favourites.
Paul, you’re really going to have to step it up with a funny article now that that guest-writer “Fluffy” has shown her stuff! Heavy competition there, my friend!
Hey Mike;
I can’t believe they were crossing the Pacific during Typhoon season. I’m glad they are alright, the boat can be repaired. I’ve spent a lot of time in Costa Rica, and if you have to be stuck somewhere, that’s not a bad place to be.
As for Fluffy, I just can’t believe she knows how to type so well, I’m impressed! We’ll see how well she does Monday against Coco the Flying Labrador puppy!
Paul,
Pilot guides for that area show relatively reasonable weather & sea states until mid-October, but the category 3 that they encountered was on the radar before they were underway. I think John is racing the clock, in several ways, trying to reach the Islands to spread his dad’s ashes & get the boat back to ‘Frisco to get it sold. Apparently(Sat. phone com.) there were some issues with the quality of the mainsail.
Lol, I’m looking forward to reading what Coco has to say!
Mike;
I see your point, all valid reason to finish the trip. I will credit the tenacity it takes to do something like that. My days for that are over. But I wish John all the best!