Typhoon Koppu / Bagyong Lando a strange Typhoon

*SOURCE: PAGASA

Philippines - Typhoon Koppu/ Lando is now a category 3 typhoon as of October 18, 2015 at 4:00 am local time. Packing winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness up to 210 kph and forecast to move west at 3 kph per hour. It is the 12th typhoon to hit the Philippines.

Why a strange typhoon? Typhoon Lando with its international name Koppu interacts with another typhoon in the pacific, Typhoon Champi this interactions is known as a fujiwara effect thus making the movement of TY Lando slows. Also there is a High Pressure in the west Philippines Sea affecting the movement of TY Lando  and this Typhoon is projected to linger in the Northern and Central Luzon for 3 more days.

Because of its slow movement residents in the Northern and Central Luzon including Mertro Manila should monitor the amount of rains brought by TY Lando. Torrential rain is expected to cause flood in that part of  Luzon.

Here is the Update from PAGASA

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING: TYPHOON  "LANDO" 
Issued at 5:00 a.m., Sunday, 18 October 2015

Typhoon “LANDO” has made landfall over Casiguran, Aurora and has remained almost stationary.

Location of Center: (as of  4:00 a.m.)	In the vicinity of Casiguran, Aurora
Coordinates:	15.9°N, 121.8°E
Strength:	Maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.
Movement:	Forecast to move West at 3 kph.
Forecast Positions/Outlook:	• 24 hour (Tomorrow morning): In the vicinity of Dupax, Nueva Viscaya • 48 hour (Monday morning): In the vicinity of Hungduan, Ifugao • 72 hour (Tuesday morning): In the vicinity of Conner, Apayao • 96 hour (Wednesday morning): 60 km North of Aparri, Cagayan • 120 hour (Thursday morning): 50 km South Southeast of Batanes, Batanes

PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNAL
PSWS	Luzon	Visayas	Mindanao	Impacts of the wind
#4 (winds of 171- 220 kph is expected in at least 12 hours)	Aurora			Very heavy damage to high-risk structures Heavy damage to medium-risk structures; Moderate damage to low-risk structures Considerable damage to structures of light materials (up to 75% are totally and partially destroyed); complete roof structure failures. Many houses of medium-built materials are unroofed, some with collapsed walls; extensive damage to doors and windows A few houses of first-class materials are partially damaged All signs/billboards are blown down. There is almost total damage to banana plantation, Most mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of large trees are downed or broken. Coconut plantation may suffer extensive damage. Rice and corn plantation may suffer severe losses.
#3 (winds of 121 - 170 kph is expected in at least 18 hours)	Isabela Quirino Nueva Vizcaya Nueva Ecija Ifugao Northern Quezon including Polillo Islands			Heavy damage to high–risk structures; Moderate damage to medium- risk structures; Light damage to low-risk structures Increasing damage (up to more than 50%) to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials. Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed Houses of medium strength materials (old, timber or mixed timber-CHB structures, usually with G.I. roofing's); some warehouses or bodega-type structures are unroofed. There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services. Almost all banana plants are downed Some big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) are broken or uprooted, Dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed. Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off; some large trees blown down.
#2 (winds of 61 - 120 kph is expected in at least 24 hours)	Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, Benguet, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal,     rest of Quezon and Metro Manila			Light to Moderate damage to high risk structures; Very light to light damage to medium-risk structures; No damage to very light damage to low risk structures Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed. A number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed. Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off. Some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed. Some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities. Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees are downed or broken Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken Rice and corn may be adversely affected Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down
#1 (winds of 30 - 60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours)	Zambales, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Camarines Norte, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Batanes	-	-	Very light or no damage to high risk structures. Light damage to medium to low risk structures. Slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities. Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged. Twigs of small trees may be broken. Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.

• Estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to intense within the 600 km diameter of the typhoon.
• Fisherfolk are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
• Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under PSWS#1 while those under PSWS #2, #3 and #4 will have stormy weather. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
• Typhoon Lando is expected to make a landfall over Northern Aurora area by tomorrow early morning.
• Storm surge may reach to a maximum of 3-4 meters in Aurora and neighboring provinces.
• Wave height in open sea may reach up to 14 meters or higher.
• Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) elsewhere is now lowered.
• The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at11 AM today. 

Keeping the Faith (The Sequel)

*Bloggers Note: My family went to a very hard time but I did not post something about it because it was too very hard then. Keeping the Faith is a sequel to my next post.

          I was not feeling good that Saturday morning. But I did not entertain that though. All I know is that I was just stress brought by my Real Estate Appraiser exam the next day.  So my Dad and I started our usual Saturday routine.  We were having our lunch in the mall when I suddenly felt strange. A cold sweat suddenly burst and I feel I’m about to faint and fall out. I was lucky I was with my Dad and brought me to the nearest hospital.

         August 29, 2015 Saturday noon, the ER doctor suspected me of having a dengue virus and based on my Complete Blood Count (CBC) my platelets were dropping. I was strongly advised that I should be admitted. I stayed almost three hours in the ER and the environment of the place aggravated my condition. It was too cold in there. As soon I was brought in my room, I felt the cold transcend on the inner most part of my body. My body is trembling, felt like my bones were trembling too. My body was shaking and I could not do something to stop it.  And because of that “chill” I was now in the spotlight, literally (a spotlight was placed to me to ease the cold I was feeling).

           But if there is one thing I could not forget during my confinement is what had happened on that Saturday night. A few hours after that “chill” I ate my dinner, and had my nap. But that is what I know and what I have remembered. BUT THE REAL STORY IS THIS, according to my Dad, I’m shouting loudly that night and chanting words he could not understand. He is tightly holding me in my bed because I was about to walk and I wanted to get out. Two Nurses came by and assisted my Dad, and then I throw up on the Nurses BP.. on the bed sheet.. and on the floor. The IV that was placed on my left hand was removed. They said that I had a very high fever, so the Nurses injected me a medicine. But was odd about these things is that; when all of those things are happening to me all I know is just I was sleeping. What was really peculiar is what had happened next, when I’m finally awake, I see a figure in front of me wiping my face and talking to me with words I could not comprehend nor understand. I felt so lost. I don’t know who I am and where I’m into. Then information flows little by little. The figure in front of me was a man and He was my Dad. And as the information unlocks I knew that I was now in the hospital but I don’t know why I am in there and the gravity of the situation I am into. Why I was admitted? Why I am in here? Questions are now popping on my head. It took me few more minutes to come into my senses. I was too tired and too weak. I did throw up again and it feels I’m throwing up all what is left inside my tummy. That Saturday night was one heck of an experience I will never forget.

   

          On the second day it was confirmed I had “Dengue Virus”. Day by day my platelets were dropping. It was further confirmed by Dra. Reyes, my personal doctor (an Internist-Pulmonologist) so they had to take my CBC every 12 hours. From 118, 88, 65, 44, and 42 then my platelet drops into 32 my Dr. was quite worried about my situation. We were advised to secure the platelets (I don’t know exactly the medical term for it) if my platelet count will still drop BUT what was positive about my situation at that time was that no bleeding occurred (no bleeding on my gums, on my nose or on my bowel). I also help myself my being hydrated. I think I gulp a huge amount of water then. And also I want to thanked my cousin for sending me Tawa-tawa a herbal medicine for dengue virus (though was not medically proven).

          Friday, as per my CBC my platelets were now 60 from being down to 32. Then came Saturday and Sunday my platelets were increasing day by day. But despite of the fact that my platelets were increasing I do still feel weak. It was due to my low potassium. I was also diagnosed with Hypokolemia. I wanted to recover ASAP so I have to help myself by eating as much as I can and by hydrating myself. Being in the Hospital for 11 days and 10 nights, I was confined on August 29 and released on the afternoon of September 8, 2015 has given me another perspective, a different view of life. Let me share some of that new learning’s:

          Keep your surrounding clean; it is a community effort and a primordial consideration to prevent the virus from spreading. I think I got the virus because I love to run or bike in the morning. Dengue Bite’s usually happens during the day and it usually formed not in canal’s but on stagnant and clean waters like flower vase, tansan (cap of softdrinks), bottles etc. There is no really specific medicine that could kill dengue virus (based on what I have learned); the only way to beat the virus is by being hydrated. Hydration is the corner stone of curing the dengue virus, so keep yourself hydrated. Keep your body in shape to strengthen your immune system so when the virus attacks, you can recover fast. Try to use mosquito repellent lotion when going out (I’m using repellent lotion now, mas ok na ang handa kesa tamaan ulit).

           There are times when you can do nothing except, TO TRUST IN YOUR FAITH. Faith that soon you will be healed that these physical sufferings are just temporary and when you are preparing for something and you did not get it, just believe that things happen for a reason, you just have the faith to trust Him. I may not have taken that board exam but what is important is that my health is perfectly ok. The new learning’s I have acquired during my training/seminar will just be on my head and it will pop up if needed.  When a health conscious like me was stricken by sickness and you are stuck in a hospital for 11 days and you cannot do something about it; but looking on the other side and on a positive perspective, Yes, I may be weak, penniless and stuck in a place you least wanted to be but I am thankful my Dad is there for me and taking good care of me He is like my right arm then. Before this, our family went to a tough time (this is why it is a prequel, I will make an entry on this) and I am thankful having my Dad around and siblings who are very supportive. In these rough times you will determine your real friends and if they stuck on you during those hard times, better stuck also on them because they will always be there through thick and thin.