Super Typhoon Preparations

After my therapy session, I went straight to the pocket garden to check the plants. I wanted to make sure they wouldn't be toppled over by the strong winds. Most were secure since I also had to make the area cat-proof (they like sleeping in pots!). 

Sweetie cut some of the bamboo this morning. He trimmed the top parts so they don't sway wildly while the typhoon is ongoing. He actually started a few days ago to make sure everything will be secure. 

The only thing I'm worried about are my bell pepper plants, tomatoes and two growing papaya trees. The bell peppers are still growing a number of fruits. I hope they don't get affected by the typhoon. I'm hopeful the papaya trees will stay put. One has flowers already and it takes months before they are ready to be harvested. 

I brought down some of the decorative plants. They were swaying wildly when I went out an hour ago. It was hard to grow them, so I set them in between larger plants to be protected from the wind. 

As for our cats, I added some beds that should warm them up in the next few days. They have hiding places and should be safe. Anakin and Grogu though loves the rain and they really like wiping their wet bodies on our legs, haha. We'll be ready with towels!

Stay safe and warm everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Weathering the Storm

The wind started howling as soon as I finished preparing our food. Miggy helped me and took care of cooking the sausages while I prepped the tapa for marinating. I was washing some dishes when a low howling sound came from the pocket garden. Typhoon Uwan was just around the corner.

I followed Miggy when he went to the front door to check the plants. The tall trees across us was swaying because of the wind. It wasn't as strong yet, the forecast is it will be stronger from 7pm onwards.

We've been preparing the past few days. I asked Sweetie to reinforce the sandbags in our backyard. After going through several typhoons that inundated our childhood homes, it's better to be over prepared. 

We've also been glued to watching and monitoring the news for weather updates. The typhoon's track has been changing, so it's better to be well informed.

Praying that the typhoon will not cause harm to anyone. Our kitties are warm and safe too. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Calm Before the Storm

To prepare for the coming typhoon, we focused on cutting tall branches and reinforcing plants that can be toppled over by the wind.

I'm just praying that the newly planted trees would stay put. It's just been two weeks since Mang Henry landscaped our front lawn, so hopefully the roots have stabilized a bit already.

To be honest, we're all feeling anxious at home. We've weathered a lot of storms, but I cannot help but remember the time when typhoon Ondoy hit. I don't want to experience that ever again, much more so since Mom and Dad are no longer around. It's just different when your parents are still around.

Let's all pray for safety and for the storm to pass without hurting anyone. 🙏

#BeKind #StaySafe

Prepping for the Typhoon

We've been monitoring the news and weather reports the past few days to be updated about the coming typhoon. The typhoons that been hitting us is nastier now than before. We couldn't help but remember how previous typhoons like Ondoy hit us.

Last July an electric pole fell down a few meters from our place. There was no typhoon, just heavy rains which caused a tree to fall and bring down the electric pole. What that tells me is we need to be better prepared for anything.

We've almost completed our go bags. Just need to add clothes. documents + my extra maintenance meds and it should be ready. Mother nature doesn't select where she's hit, she just comes.

Of course, let's all pray that the typhoon would just miraculously dissipate.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Papaya! They Survived the Typhoon

I was worried about my papaya trees. I asked help from Sweetie to bring the smaller ones downstairs. I had no choice for the two bigger trees because they breached the pot and the roots are now embedded in the plant box. 

I prayed they won't topple over. While checking the pocket garden a string gust of wind passed. I had to run a bit since I was scared the papaya tree might sway downwards or maybe a fruit might fall on my head.

Quickly finished my inspection and went inside. The two papaya trees are intact. Hopefully, they will still produce proper fruits!

#BeKind #StaySafe

16 Years After Ondoy

Expecting heavy rainfall across the country today due to typhoon Opong. It's also the 16th anniversary of typhoon Ondoy.

I still shiver whenever I remember that day I almost drowned in our basement. I was rescued by people who were helping my Mom clear our stuff. I lost everything and only saved my PC.

Typhoon Ondoy happened just 3 months before Sweetie and I got married. We thought about postponing it, but both our parents pushed us to proceed. We did and made it a point not to live in flood-prone areas. 

The past two years, my childhood home was surprisingly spared from flooding. Things improved thanks to our barangay who worked on the drainages and declogging waterways. Two weeks ago though, the creek overflowed again and water rushed in to our basement.

It's worrisome and I saw reports that parts of the main road to our place has been flooding too. I also saw a signage announcing pipe laying by Maynilad. I know it's supposed to maybe help, but they could've worked on it during the dry months! Sigh.

Stay dry and be safe everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Safe!

Thank you Lord for keeping us safe from the typhoon. I pray for my fellow countrymen severely affected by it. Please keep them safe and give them strength to recover from the disaster. Amen 🙏

#PepitoPH, Let's All Pray for Safety

I've been monitoring the news closely since the third typhoon that came in the past week, #PepitoPH, is now a supertyphoon. I saw some videos showing storm surges occurring even before the arrival of the typhoon. It looked really nasty. Warning has also been given for those in Metro Manila. We're currently at signal #2, so far no rain as of writing.

Source: DILG CODIX/DOST PAGASA

We've heeded the warnings and have prepared our home. We even moved some of the plants indoors. 

Let's all pray for safety. May God keep us all safe from this weather disturbance. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

15 Years After Typhoon Ondoy

It's been 15 years since typhoon Ondoy. It also means that it will soon be our 15th wedding anniversary. Moving on from a disaster is hard. Sweetie and I thought about delaying our wedding, but both our parents insisted to go on with the wedding. Our relatives had also booked their flights already and a week after our wedding was my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. It was also set to be celebrated. 

Both our homes were severely affected. A few days after I had to fly to Iloilo for an event. It was a good respite since we learned from the Ilonggo people how they moved on from disaster. They also had severe flooding before typhoon Ondoy happened. It was also warm and sunny when we went, so it served as a reminder that things will go back to normal eventually. 

With my friend Mabel. Her baby is all grown up now :)

Since typhoon Ondoy (and Pepeng), we made sure we would take precautions so we don't experience it again. We made sure to avoid living in flood prone areas. We learned recently that it's not really fool-proof. Even areas that don't flood may get flooded too. It really depends on the rainfall and the tide. So, we've been taking a lot of precautions. 

The best way to move on from a disaster is to learn from it. Always expect the unexpected and live your life the best way you can. I always think about the things I lost. The only thing I really regret is losing irreplaceable valuable photos. I'm just grateful I had some that were saved. 

Always stay dry and be safe. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Typhoon Rolly (Goni)

The strongest typhoon of the year hit home today. My home province, Bicol, was hit the hardest. It's my first time to hear DOST Pagasa declare signal number 5 for a group of provinces. When I was growing up the strongest typhoons only reached up to signal number 3. Signal number 5 means the typhoon brings catastrophic winds which can bring heavy to widespread damage (source).

Our backyard during Typhoon Ondoy (2009).

I may be far away from home, but I cannot help but worry. Miggy and my Mom are in Manila and I have relatives in Bicol. I just heard back from Miggy and he said they're okay in Manila. I'm more worried about my Tita Olive who is in Pasacao, Camarines Sur. A friend from Naga City said they don't have electricity and there is no signal from Globe. He hasn't been able to hear back from his relative in Pasacao too. 

I can't help but worry because I remember Tita Olive told me before she had to hold on for dear life on the pillar of her house so she won't get blown away by the wind. She lives by the beach. I know she has moved to a new place, but I'm not sure if it's on the beach side or mountain side. I haven't been able to visit her in Camangui for a long time now. There's also not much news about the area so I hope and pray they are okay. 

Since we started having supertyphoons, any typhoon that's above signal number 3 always grip me with fear. Being far away from my family makes it even harder. I could only hope and pray my relatives in Bicol are all okay. 

We will only know the devastation this supertyphoon has brought in the next few days. Help will be needed. I'll post updates on where you can help once I get news from back home. 

#CB//207 #StuckAtHomeDay/237 #StayHome #BeKind

Typhoon Pablo

Didn't have time to blog today. Was really busy with this.