[Life Update] Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Even though we don't "sincerely" celebrate that here, I can feel the spirit of Halloween because of the scary shows they're airing on TV. There are also a number of costume parties happening in town though. When it's Halloween, we Catholics go to the cemetery to visit our loved ones that have already passed away.

Since my mom's birhtday was on the 30th, it has been a tradition in our family to visit her grave on her birthday instead of going there on All Soul's day. That way, we can avoid traffic and the crowded cemetery too. So on her birthday, we cooked some food, bought her flowers and visited her. I wish we could visit her often but the cemetery scares me a bit not because of lost souls but because of the people living near it because they can be dangerous sometimes. haha. One time, we went there and we encountered a crazy guy, because it was only me and my sisters, we got really afraid. Sometimes, you'll get to meet some drunk guys on the way there too. And there are only a few jeepneys that goes to that part of the Barangay so sometimes you'll have to wait for an hour.

One more day, and it's gonna be enrolment period. I can't believe we only had barely one week for our semestral break! I don't want to go to school yet!

By the way, I am now officially hooked with A.N.Jell!! hahaha! My sisters and I are having a You're Beautiful marathon these days. It's really a good drama, not to mention the cute, and definitely, angelic, A.N.Jell members.. weeeeee! I will post a review of this drama soon. ;) I'm still on episode 6.

I didn't notice that I only had one post for October. I've been really busy with school stuff. So there, happy halloween everyone, enjoy your trick n treats and costume parties.. And to my fellow students, enjoy your sem break! ;)

The Good that Ondoy and Pepeng Brought

On September 26, 2009 Philippines was hit by a very strong typhoon that put 25 provinces under the state of calamity. Typhoon Ondoy, internationally known as Ketsana, was brought the worst amount of rainfall in Metro Manila. It was the most devastating typhoon I have witnessed happening to my country. Flood water went up to the 2nd floor of the houses in Metro Manila. There were cars floating and a lot were stranded. That time, I hated watching the news because the calls and text messages of people asking for help and the videos and photos of the situation in Luzon really made my heart break. The typhoon was even stronger than hurricane Katrina that hit the US in 2005. Up to now, there are still people missing and the trauma it caused to Filipinos is apparently hard to take away.

Just days after Ondoy, another typhoon, Pepeng(international name, Parma), came and made a landfall. It was a super typhoon and was much much stronger than Ondoy.. The Philippines haven't even recovered yet from Ondoy and then a much stronger typhoon comes to our shores again. At first, since the Filipinos were a little prepared, days before Pepeng made its landfall, people from those areas predicted to be affected by flood and rains were evacuated, it was "okay" since we only saw Pepeng damaging our agriculture and homes instead of lives. Pepeng was about to leave the Philippine area of responsibility when another weather activity near it brought more water to the typhoon and made it even more stronger and made a U-turn back to Central Luzon. Flood water covered a lot of provinces leaving people trapped in their roofs and a lot of rice fields washed out by water from the dams surrounding the area. There were also land slides that left many people homeless and lose their families.

This is probably the biggest calamity we had to face this year. Central Luzon is the rice and vegetable bowl of the country. Prices of such commodities are now going up and people from Luzon are now being supplied by Mindanao. People lost their homes, families, and their means of living.

During these times, what amazes me is the Bayanihan spirit and kindness of Filipinos.