Visayas Earthquake 2012

2:37 AM |

        Yet another earthquake has unleashed its wrath, and this time it struck the Visayan region of the Philippines.

        A magnitude 6.9 quake hit Central Visayas last Monday, February 6, 2012 and left severe damages particularly on Negros and Cebu.

        The earthquake, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), started from Negros (North of Dumaguete) as its epicenter having the strongest magnitude of 7.

        Numerous aftershocks were experienced which made things worse.

        It was reported that the most affected areas are Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, and the city of Guihulngan, in Negros Oriental. Buildings were evacuated immediately, and to ensure safety, malls were also evacuated and decided to temporarily close. The quake caused houses and buildings to collapse. It also caused landslides here and there which buried houses and people. (Solonggon, La Libertad and Planas, Guihulngan were the places which were seriously affected by landslides). Moreover, communication traffic made the situation worse because telecommunication services were disrupted after the earthquake.

        Aside from these, there were several places wherein water and electricity supplies were cut off.  Roads were damaged so the transportation in Cebu and Negros suffered.


TSUNAMI HOAX AND VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

         False alarm!

         After the strong quake, rumors of tsunami in Cebu were spread. It's not true! Phivolcs raised a Tsunami alert level 2 over the coastal areas of Cebu but lifted the warning up after about two hours. But the people panicked and feared so much about the Tsunami rumor that instantly spread throughout Cebu and Dumaguete. They tried to evacuate to a higher place, and establishments decided to close. Schools and offices also canceled classes/work. Phivolcs proclaimed this to be a hoax. The dreaded tsunami won't be happening.

         People also feared a volcanic eruption, because text messages regarding this were spread. There will be no volcanic eruptions caused by the quake.

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La Niña Season 2012: Rain, Rain and More Rain!

1:02 AM |

Wonder why it has been raining since last month? Frustrated how it's always wet outside? It has been foretold:

NASA Sees Repeating La Niña Hitting Its Peak

         La Niña, "the diva of drought," is peaking, increasing the odds that the Pacific Northwest will have more stormy weather this winter and spring, while the southwestern and southern United States will be dry.

— ScienceDaily (Jan. 19, 2012)

La Niña peaking this month

        Manila, Philippines – The La Niña phenomenon will reach its peak or strongest effect this month as reflected by the oceanic and atmospheric patterns in the Pacific Ocean.
PAGASA said the latest observations, combined with model forecasts, suggest that La Niña will be of weak-tomoderate strength in January and February, and will gradually weaken. It is expected to dissipate between March and May.
— Tempo (Jan. 13, 2012)

 WHAT'S LA NIÑA?


        "La Niña is characterized by unusually cool ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, associated with strong rainfall in Asia and Australia, chilling weather in North America, and drought in South America."

        It is the counterpart of El Niño, which is characterized instead by a higher sea surface temperature. El Niño would cause a dry period, while La Niña would cause a wet period in that area. La Niña is said to be a cause of drought.


LA NIÑA IN THE PHILIPPINES


        Filipinos has been experiencing a lot of raining lately (if not since the world began). Typhoons of all size and shape had come and go in the country and some of them left some serious damage. How this "La Niña" season could affect the Philippines is the question. And to some, the answer is but obvious.

        There have been numerous number of disasters such as floods and landslides caused by the continuous rain -- a sure sign of La Niña.

        It's a rainy Valentine's! Rain, rain, go away. Le people has a date.

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Pyromusical Competition 2012

1:07 AM | Labels: , , , , ,


        And the PYRO FEVER is on again! Last night (Feb. 11) marks the start of six Saturdays of awesome musical pyrotechnics display at the seaside of the SM Mall Of Asia. This "Pyromusical Competition" has already been sort of a tradition for MOA and of course the country. It's an international competition between the Philippines and other countries near and far.

        Since it started, more and more people became pyro-ddicted and enthusiastic about it. With a reasonable amount, you can enjoy watching it, but even for free, you can still enjoy it! (well, because it can't be exclusive for those who buy tickets. the sky could not be contained!) Just go to MOA and wait for it! Such an amazing experience.

        Your eyes will be filled with awe in every flashing of light and the play of fire. The sky's filled with sparkle that dances to the beat of the music. Really, wow.




SOUTH KOREA VS. MALTA

        This year, the third of this annual event, started with a blast. Err, literally! South Korea and Malta gave the people a good show, it's really the start of the a tight competition. MOA was filled with "WOOOOW's" and "AWWWWW's".

        South Korea:




        Malta:





SCHEDULE

        Do not panic! Do. Not. Panic! It's not too late!  It only just began! You still have 5 more saturdays to watch out for. :)

        Watch out for ten more competitors! Mark your calendars. Here's the schedule:

February 11 - South Korea and Malta
February 18 - United Kingdom and Spain
February 25 - Finland and Portugal
March 3 - China and The Netherlands
March 10 - Australia and Canada
March 17 - Italy and Philippines

        Show starts at 7pm. :)

        What country will reign victorious this year? Let's all find out! See you there!

--
Photo Credit: Joice Pecson

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Aaron Cross is "Bourne"

6:32 AM |





First off, my condolences to those who watched the new trailer for The Bourne Legacy having completely forgotten that Matt Damon would not be starring in the franchise’s fourth installment. Maybe you were so befuddled by Damon’s absence that you, like your blogger, half expected to start speaking fluent German, engage in hand-to-hand combat on the nearest police officer, discover a safe-deposit-box account number implanted in your hip, and then realize, after catching your reflection in a nearby mirror, that you are Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne.Stranger things have happened! Now that you have wrapped your mind around the fact that Jeremy Renner will be The Bourne Legacy’s star, though, let’s take another look at the trailer and see how he stacks up to Damon’s C.I.A. agent.
After sitting through titles that obscure anywhere from 25 to 80 percent of the screen—because nothing says “see this movie” like a preview in which you literally cannot “see this movie”—viewers are informed that “there was never just one.” In fact, judging by this trailer, there were at minimum two handsome blond C.I.A. operatives who look good in black and at one time promised that they had the “strength to do what’s necessary” to protect their government. Like Damon’s Bourne, Renner’s Aaron Cross has an equally great blank expression and action impulses, especially when it comes to jamming nails into fire extinguishers to create makeshift weapons and mercilessly beating up men who clearly deserved it. (We hope.) Additionally, like good footwear or tires, Renner’s Aaron Cross transitions well between seasons. In one sequence, he connects his fist with a uniformed official’s face while wearing a T-shirt, and in another, he leaps from a tall snow-covered tree while wearing a winter jacket. He is functional in multiple climates! Also, he can aim a sniper weapon at a plane. (No word yet on whether he hits the plane. We’re just going to have to wait until August 3 for that answer.)
In case the above evidence doesn’t sell you on Jeremy Renner’s ability to match Matt Damon in Jason Bourne-ness, allow the trailer to make this point for you: “He’s a Treadstone agent without the inconsistency.” Burn! Somehow Jeremy Renner is even Bourne-ier than Bourne himself.


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Magazine Covers, Photoshop Wars

5:24 PM |


        It's funny how big of an issue magazine covers are. But we can't blame the people, can we?

        The last few months have been very controversial for magazine covers. Cover photos of Charice Pempengco and Jinkee Pacquiao gained a lot of negative feedback instead of positive ones. Why? Because they say it's "impossible"; very obvious that it's "photoshopped".

        But we all know magazines really use photoshop. Is it the photoshop skills that's a major fail? Well if that's the case, then there's a photoshop war here, everybody!


PHOTOSHOP QUEEN CANDIDATES

> CHARICE PEMPENGCO

        Charice Pempengco is Preview Magazine's cover girl for their January-February 2012 issue. Since it was published, a riot of criticisms popped from everywhere. Some didn't recognize Charice at their first glance. Some just laughed hard.

        You be our judge:


        However, Preview's creative director Vince Uy explained, "We don't deny that we use Photoshop. That already, I think, in this day and age, it's already a common practice. But we can say though that we didn't overuse it. We wanted to give (Charice) something fresh, something people haven't seen her in." He also pointed out: "It's actually the hair that really made Charice look different."

        Again, you be the judge.



> JINKEE PACQUIAO
        Jinkee Pacquiao, wife of our boxing champ Manny, is also receiving an overwhelming shower of disbelief on Mega Magazine's January 2012 issue. Another riot of negative comments for another magazine cover. Let's take a look, and you decide.


        On this "photoshop" issue, Mega magazine said that yes, Jinkee's picture undergone photo editing, but it was only "the standard cleanup process"  that all the usual magazine covers go through.

        Moreover, Jinkee added that she really prepared for that photoshoot. She claimed to go on a diet to look slimmer and sexier. And she even challenged her critics to come and see her in person.

        Her husband, Congressman Manny Pacquiao said nothing about the issue, only that he believes that his wife is indeed beautiful on the magazine cover, and also in person.


> and... KC CONCEPCION??

        Just recently, another magazine cover gained numerous feedback from netizens of different networking sites. It's KC Concepcion. She is Rogue Magazine's cover girl for their Jan-Feb 2012 issue. Apparently, the cover is very striking, given that KC's pose was somewhat revealing. She gave people a a good look of her behind.

        However, KC was not safe from the eyes of "critics". Some praised it, and some was not impressed at all... (or at how it was "photoshopped").

        Again, you see for yourself:


        The snake on her wrist is real, it's her pet Coco. The head she's holding, however, was said to be originally a Piolo Pascual look-alike, but eventually changed into a generic mannequin. As we all know, KC is now moving on from her "mala-teleseryeng" relationship and break-up with the said actor.


        Inappropriate? Photoshopped? What? You decide.



--

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Sendong: 40th day

10:46 PM |



     Nightmare. That's probably one word to best describe the tragedy that struck down Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, December last year. It has been more than a month and the typhoon victims are still trying to absorb the shock Sendong brought them.



WHAT DID HAPPEN

        December 17, 2011: the dreaded day for our Mindanaoan brethren. Sendong came just "like a thief in the night", it surprised every one. Strong winds and heavy rains... and in a short span of time, it took away an awful number of lives.

        Did it come without a warning? No.

       Authorities admitted being warned days before the typhoon landed, but they took it as if it was just another rain that would pass and do no terrible harm. BUT THEY WERE WRONG. Well, who would've thought that this could equal -- if not surpass -- Ondoy?

        And so it happened... at night... while the people were fast asleep... clueless of what unpleasant fate awaits them. Some woke up the next morning to witness the disaster and to save their lives. Some did not even made it the next day.

        1,430 lives were taken away and families are left grieving. And up until now, people are still missing, and people are left with hopes of ever finding them again.


DAY 40

        On January 27th, thousands of CDO and Iligan residents gathered to honor the memories of their loved ones whose lives were stolen from them. They lighted candles and exchanged stories. This marked the 40th day of their loss.

        The president, Mr. Noynoy Aquino also came and joined the commemoration. He was there to see the resettlement site and also to show it to the people. He then met the officials of CDO and Iligan, and made some plans. When it was his turn to speak, the President talked about the plan of building a dam -- Sabo Dam -- in order to prevent this disastrous event from happening again.

        The Filipinos are strong. We may still mourn until now, but, given time, we are sure we can still stand back up again.


SENDONG TOPS UN LIST

        Meanwhile, it was also this day that UN released a statement that likens the Philippines' Sendong to major tsunamis like that which struck Japan. This was after UN's head for disaster risk reduction visited Mindanao and examined the damage Sendong left.

         Then, with 33 major events, the Philippines tops UN's list of disaster league table for the year 2011. After the three-day visit from UN, and after meeting with DFA Secretary Del Rosario, UN discussed about what took place.

         It is obvious that the major cause of the tragedy was the environmental problems present in the area. Illegal logging is one of the major factor contributing to what happened. They also discussed the need for cooperation between the government and the public.

        However, UN has high hopes for the Philippines not only in our disaster risk reduction team, but more importantly, that we learn from Sendong.


STANDING UP AGAIN

        Up until now, we would understand how hard it is for the victims to stand up again, to start all over again, and to move on. Right now, the leaders of CDO and Iligan are doing the best they could to help their people.They are doing it step-by-step. They have already provided relocation sites, and now they're planning reforestation.

        You can still help. It's not too late. Even the smallest acts of kindness will strengthen them.

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