Week 34

September 2014 General Women's Meeting

Wish I could be there to go with my girls, but will watch it live on Sunday morning the 28th instead!

Week 33 

Well, there wasn't too much going on and I thought the only news to report was going to be my parasite infestation, but the weather is the really big news here!

MANILA, Philippines — Communities on Sunday prepared for flashfloods, landslides and possible storm surges as Typhoon “Luis” (international name Kalmaegi) rushed towards the country, bearing powerful winds and heavy rains, authorities said.

The typhoon, with maximum winds of 160 kilometers per hour, is expected to hit the northeastern side of the main island of Luzon around sundown with residents prepared for the worst, government agencies said.

At least three towns in the direct path of the storm have initiated a “pre-emptive evacuation”, with other vulnerable areas being told to brace for flashfloods and landslides, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

“I am calling on our countrymen… take proper precautions for your situation and listen to the warnings of your village leaders. Do not wait for the storm to hit you,” the council’s head Alexander Pama said in a live television broadcast.

He warned that the typhoon might bring storm surges as high as two meters to coastal areas.

The typhoon, moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour, is expected to pass Luzon by Monday, the weather station added.

The Philippines is hit by about 20 storms or typhoons each year. Typhoon Rammasun killed 98 people and left five others missing in provinces around Manila in July.

It rained for 15 straight hours and we didn't really feel any other effects from it.  

But,  "Fung-Wong is moving northwest, along the edge of a ridge of high pressure and is expected to make its closest approach and possibly make landfall in Luzon on Friday. It is then expected to track north, as the upper-level ridge weakens and an upper-level trough strengthens to the north. This track would take Fung-Wong close to Taiwan this weekend."  and we awoke at 12:30 a.m. to a super charged lightening/thunder storm.  This went on for a couple of hours and then it started to rain!  It rained and rained and rained...for 24 hours!  The basement of the Temple had five inches of water in it, and most of the workers couldn't make it in because of the rivers flooding.  All the main roads were waist deep in water.  These are the low-lying areas, close to the river.  We are higher and seemed to make out okay.  The worst part about the Temple is the laundry personnel couldn't get in and we were running out of clothing for the patrons.  Yes, we had some actually make it.  Most of these were staying in the Patron housing across the street.  All available people pitched in to help and we had a successful day.  Things aren't back to normal today (Saturday) but at least the rain has stopped!

Sept. 19, 2014

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, known as Mario in the Philippines, is bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to portions of the northern Philippines. The storm formed Thursday just east of the Philippines.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warns that parts of Luzon could see tropical storm-force winds and flooding in low lying areas. Heavy rainfall is the greatest concern with up to 4-8 inches possible.

Projected Path

Some strengthening is expected as Fung-Wong will be moving slowly in a favorable atmospheric environment and over warm water temperatures. Intensification may be limited due to its expected close proximity to land, especially if Fung-Wong moves directly north over the high mountains of Taiwan. 

1 / 15

Typhoon Kalmaegi

'Mario' flooding shuts down Philippine capital

Agence France-Presse

Posted at 09/19/2014 2:27 PM | Updated as of 09/19/2014 2:27 PM

MANILA - Heavy rains brought by the outer bands of Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong) shut down the Philippine capital Manila on Friday, stranding motorists and forcing tens of thousands to flee their flooded homes, officials said.
A major river burst its banks on Manila's heavily populated eastern districts, while other parts of the sprawling metropolis and the region north of the capital also suffered widespread flooding, though no casualties were reported.
Although Mario's winds were relatively light, with maximum speeds of 65 kilometers (40 miles) an hour, the storm brought heavy downpours, dumping some 268 millimeters (10.5 inches) of rain on the capital overnight, state weather forecaster Gener Quitlong told AFP.
That represented 76 percent of the average rainfall for the entire month, and more heavy rain was expected on the mountainous northeast as Fung-Wong swept westwards, brushing along the coast, Quitlong said.
Flooding had forced at least 50,000 people to flee their homes in and around Manila, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman told a news conference.

Residents of a village in Mandaluyong City use a pedicab to cross a flooded street on Friday after heavy rains overnight flooded many parts of Metro Manila. Schools and most offices were shuttered after torrential rains brought back scenarios experienced during Ondoy in 2009. Photo by Jonathan Cellona for ABS-CBNnews.com

The government declared a school holiday and sent home government employees not involved in rescue operations and medical emergencies, while financial markets closed down.

Manila airport authorities cancelled 21 domestic flights, with six international flights also diverted elsewhere in the country due to bad weather, they said in a statement.

"I am angry that I have to do this each time it rains hard," Manila lawyer Ghelynne del Rosario told AFP, whose northern Manila bungalow was swamped by chest-deep floods.

Cradling her dog, she said she, her mother and grandmother -- who is in her eighties -- waded through the water at daybreak to reach safety on the second floor of a neighbor's house, with her two other dogs swimming alongside her.

An average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines each year, killing hundreds and bringing misery to millions.

Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the strongest ever to hit land, left 7,300 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November last year.

A thoroughly drenched office clerk Alyssa Aldea, 22, decided to return home after finding the street outside her Manila office blocked by knee-deep floods.

"I'd rather not get paid than get sick" by wading through the floodwaters, she told AFP as she contemplated a long bus commute back home.

We are fortunate in that our apartment did not get flooded and we are safe and dry.  No webbed feet yet, but after three typhoons and a season that doesn't end for two more months, I am sure something will be growing.

Enough said about typhoons!

Grocery Finds:

 Not as good as Cheddar, but good once in a 

while.  They are made in Japan

 Tomate sauce in a pouch

 A real turkey roast!!!!  Not like Moroni's however.

Hmm...thought these would be like carrot sticks.  Not!

Love these grocery sacks!

 Especially the "recycle what you don't eat."  

Remember Grandma Henrie?

Help stop food wastage - haha!

Guess this is enough news from the Philippines.  Got to go and fix some suppa.  Parting thought:

Take your umbrella with you - come rain or shine - and RWYA and KoKo!  We love and miss y'all!

Week 32 - Catching Up

Heidi-ho!  As I was going though our trip pictures, I found many which were not included that I really wanted to post, so today's blog is them:

Painting bridges in Cebu 

 Oops!  I dropped my paint brush!

 Motorcycles everywhere.  We see this all the time.  Sometimes,

there is a child, dad, child, child, mom.  Yikes!

 I believe the translations is:  Cleanliness is next to 

Godliness - Thanks - found this one outside a yard.

 Love this one:  This way.... with a No Entry - haha!

 Tricycles, tricycles, tricycles!!!!

 Way cool Fan Palms

Army Navy Restaurant in Baguio - we have these in Manila too.

 Loved the Freedom Fries!

 I loved this info about the Quonset Hut as that is part of

what my father constructed here in the Philippines

during WWII

 Sooo....just where do we park?

 A hill in Baguio.  As we went down this the first time, we in almost

unison said, "Bet they are glad they don't get snow here."  It

would be a slick ride for sure.

 At the bottom of the hill we just came down.

 Jeepney anyone?  A definite difference between the

old and new ones.

 Baguio - the haze is rain clouds, not pollution.

 It's crazy how the wires hang so close to the traffic!

 A tree turned Totem Pole at The Manor

 A close up of the top of the Totem 

Still the grandest flag around!  It made me a little homesick,

but proud to be an American!

I think this pretty much catches up our tripping.  It was good to get back into a routine this past week.  The Temple opened Tuesday, and the renovation work wasn't completed, but we made out okay.  They redid the laundry facilities and what is done is beautiful.  So many washers/driers and a large folding area.  It will be good when the dust is all settled.

We are still in the rainy season, so the weather has been pleasant (I think anyway, but Edward say it is still hot and humid) but some days I miss seeing the sunshine.  On the gloomy days, I have to keep singing: "There is sunshine in my soul today..." and it makes me feel better. I am going to try two short videos of a recent thunderstorm we had.  Usually, we don't get lightening/thunder, just rain, but this one day things were really carrying on.

Well, I don't know if I got four or zero videos, but "Oh, well."  I tried.  

This was on Facebook and is worth sharing here:

I can testify this is true.  I so wish I had my Dad to tell me where in the Philippines he actually was.  Back in those days, he wouldn't talk about the war, so wherever I go and see military things, I wonder if he had a hand in the construction, as he was in the Navy Seebees.  Edward and I also have children who have lost a parent, so this becomes even more important to our grandchildren to know about us.  No regrets!

Parting quote:  "Hold family home evening every week. As parents, we are sometimes too intimidated to teach or testify to our children. I have been guilty of that in my own life. Our children need to have us share spiritual feelings with them and to teach and bear testimony to them."

—Robert D. Hales, "Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty"

I would also insert the word grandparents/grandchildren into this.  So, I (Sherril) testify that Jesus is the Christ and He atoned for our sins, that we have a prophet on the earth today who leads us and if we listen to what President Monson says, we will find peace in our lives.  I testify that the Gospel and the Priesthood have been restored and that blessings are received in the Temple which enables us to return to our Father in Heaven.  I also testify that through the Savior, we can repent and be forgiven of our mistakes and sins.  I know that Heaven Father and Jesus Christ are real and they hear and answer our prayers.  I am grateful for family and the heritage I have been blessed with, and that I can serve as a missionary.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

With Sherril I also testify that Jesus Christ lives and has suffered for every person's sins. By Him doing so, each person has the power to choose to live with God or not.  The choice is ours to repent and do all we can to follow the Savior and keep His commandments.  I know there is a living prophet on the earth and that is Thomas S. Monson.  Everything Heavenly Father has caused to happen: creation of the earth, mortal life and the challenges we face are to prepare us to live with him again.  I love my family, those who have gone before and those who are here and those who will come. My desire is to have everyone as a family in God's kingdom.  Please, let's do all we can to love one another and reach the heavenly goal.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.  

Much love to each one of you!  RWYA and KoKo!