Times Are Changing

Last night, I couldn’t sleep because of the heavy rain with matching thunder and lightning to boot. Thunderstorms are frequent  before the actual rainy season sets in. Maybe this is the start.  There is a low pressure area somewhere in the Visayas and it is somehow affecting Luzon too. The sun is afraid to show its face.

What I don’t like about the rainy season are the flash floods. When it rains hard, the streets on low-lying areas get flooded and traffic will be at its worse. When it rains even harder, it is a little frightening. I prefer the lovely months beginning October until March. By then the weather is just okay with little rain while April and May seem to be the hottest months of summer. This year, June is still so hot.

A friend from Cebu City and I started talking about climate change yesterday when she saw my post from CNN.

If we won’t do our share, then who will? Some people don’t care, some are not probably aware that this is a climate emergency that needs our attention. It is a global problem.

I’ve often blogged about those garbage that are haphazardly thrown at the sidewalks, on the streets and even in areas which are privately owned. I often see empty bottles of mineral water and plastic of soft drinks and straw atop my Santan blooms. Most people are undisciplined. Cigarette butts increase every day, some even reach our garage when it is windy.

I hate to say this but it seem we are in a water crisis. Water at Angat Dam where Maynilad and Manila Water  source our water supply (two concessionaires that supply our water needs)  is now below critical level. They shut down water distribution at night. Early this morning at 3am, I woke up only to find there is no flow even in our bypass faucet at the laundry area.  Enough water does not reach our overhead tank. The latter supplies our water needs inside the house.  Right now until probably around 8pm, we  don’t have water interruption but the flow is not as strong as before.

It’s a lovely Monday. The sun is finally shining….at last.

 

 

 

 

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Saturday Musings

I haven’t blogged for a while. Just feeling lazy I guess. You know that lethargic feeling that you just want to rest in bed and you are afraid to venture out because of the heat. It always rains every day but they are just thunderstorms. After two hour we’re back boiling again. It’s 34 C degree at the moment.

The truth is I just want to be updated with the news. The results  of the mid-term election distracted me. Just imagine this, by July 1, duterte  will have held all the branches of government – executive, legislative and judiciary. What I am afraid of is the total domination by China in the West Philippines seas.  Duterte is bragging that China would not let him step down.

And for the first time too, it took me more than a week to finish the book that I recently read. It’s supposed to be a thriller. It’s a novel of deception, intrigue and human  weakness.  It took me half of the book to really grasp the story. There were so many characters which were sometimes not relevant at all.  I think this book is not just my cup of tea.

Sorry guys, I am really not so inspired.

 

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When Do You Say You’re Okay?

You are often asked time and again by friends, family members and sometimes acquaintances, “How are you”? I guess that is the standard greeting and the standard answer is, “I’m okay”.  Physically, we might look good  to other people but what if you answer, “I’m not good” or “I’m sick”.  What would you think would be the reaction of your  friend  when you say that? Some would just probably smile awkwardly and just go on  while others who have genuine concern for you will ask further what is wrong.

I am guilty of this, saying okay when I am not. You are afraid sometimes that other people would think ill of you if you share your woes to the world in general. Some would just shake their heads and allow you to rant.

Just received so many messages from friends and relatives on Facebook when I posted that flood waters reached our garage. So grateful for all the concerns and regards to us. Yes, of course you are happy when you are remembered this way.

A friend (a former boss actually) posted this response  on an opinion page at one of our national dailies which asked, “Is resilience bad for us as a nation”?

“Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. There is no doubt that resilience is a useful trait, especially in the face of traumatic events such as this flooding. But, if we don’t seek solutions to the problems and hold people accountable, then, what we are seeing is the dark side of resiliency”.

I agree. Filipinos are known for being resilient, we have that innate toughness  when we encounter difficulties. As long as we can endure a certain situation, we don’t complain. As they say in Tagalog, “inaapakan ka na, pinapabayaan mo lang”.  “Inaapakan ka na at binabastos ka na, naka ngiti ka pa rin”. 

A lot of people are asking on their wall, “Where is the president”? I  asked the same question yesterday and my friends responded enthusiastically.  I understand he was in Davao when the flood hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces (as of now, some are still under water).  Supposedly, he and his cohorts would do an aerial view of the damages but it was postponed.  He didn’t show his face and true to their FAKE advocacy, he sent his assistant and a look-alike (an impostor) if you please to visit the evacuation site in Marikina City. This is the only time I observed that the president is a “no-show” in such calamities. Before, the government is always at the scene when calamities strike us, helping, coordinating works for the welfare of the people.  Oh my gosh, they elected an impostor, he is just being true to himself.  He is against drugs right? But how come an almost P7 billion worth of Shabu entered the Philippines last week through customs and until now, they are silent as a mouse? No condemnation on what happened, no words that he will punish those responsible for the allowed shipment. An irate friend shouted out that maybe he is busy  distributing  that huge amount of drugs to help those affected by the flood.

Did I say the Philippines is okay? IT IS NOT.

 

 

 

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Rainy Saturday Musings

Yesterday, I was grateful about the drizzle but today I am not happy about the rains. Yes, it is raining again and it’s been raining since  early this morning when Josef and I left the house to do our twice a month marketing.

Then around 7:30 am, I went to The Medical City satellite clinic for my urinalysis and doctor  consultation. God is good. After a month of trying several medications based on my urine culture, the last one was effective.  It’s pretty back to normal. No red blood cells, no pus cells, protein and sugar are negative.  Worrying about one’s health disrupts normal living. I have to go back though after a month for regular check-up of my sugar and another urinalysis. I don’t mind the lab tests.  As long as they turn out normal, I am happy. My doctor said, “breathe easy now, you are well and good”. Thank God.

I can’t help but say a few words regarding our present political situation here. The present government is promoting federalism and two of our economic managers, the NEDA Director General Pernia and Finance Secretary Dominguez are against it but one Concom delegate, a priest at that ( I knew him when he was a Philosophy student in UST) suggested that they remove these two from office.

Got this meme from Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s website.

These two are after the welfare of the Filipino people but those aligned with the president seems to think it would be best to approve federalism. Gosh, they are only after their own welfare. If no elections are held come 2019, what would happen to us?  They would scrap the election in favor of a new change on government. But those in the know say that the Philippines is not ready for a federal form  of government.

I was just wondering why when  those few honest government officials tell the truth, the present government make issues of their removal.  Is this where we are going?

The ship is sinking.

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Rainy, Rainy Saturday

Blank and pristine white pages, sharpened pencils, colored pens – I had this sudden longing to write by hand and not depend on my PC to compose something. But then on second thoughts, it is even harder to copy a hand-written piece  from a notebook or journal and type it on your PC. It is easier to correct words, spellings and grammar when you are typing.

It is still raining outside and it rained the whole day. The southwest monsoons are being pushed by tropical storm Domeng bringing sometimes heavy to moderate rains in Metro Manila. As of the latest weather update, we are in a yellow rainfall warning.

Josef and Jovy drove me to the satellite clinic of The Medical City for check-up then went on their way to visit Jovy’s aunt and grandma in Quezon City. It rained hard after they left and I got worried about mom being alone in the house.  I went home  soon after I got the result of my lab test  and my internist prescribed antibiotics that I have to take for a week.  I went back out again when the rain subsided to buy medicines.

I really don’t like it when it rains hard and everything at the garden is saturated. I know, I won’t have to water them maybe for about two or three days but I have to clean our small pond of rain water and debris from our Arius tree. What a hassle!

The cold weather is welcome though sans the downpour. The state weather bureau  PAGASA has officially declared the start of the rainy season yesterday. Five days of rain generating a total amount of at least 25 millimeters (mm) of rainfall is required for them to declare it officially  and these five days must also include 3 straight days of at least 1 mm of rainfall.

…but my rain lilies are blooming.

Today makes me remember that old, old nursery rhyme, “rain, rain go away, come again another day”.

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