Pala-isip

Large parts of northern Luzon were flooded and without power Sunday after Typhoon “Pepeng” (international codename Parma) lashed the area, while authorities announced that the typhoon could still continue to pound the area for more than 3 days. Exactly one week after Tropical Storm “Ondoy (international code name Ketsana) dumped the heaviest rains in more than 40 years that devastated Manila, killing nearly 300 people, “Pepeng” ripped through Northern Luzon starting Saturday. Two separate landslides buried homes in the province of Benguet, killing 12 people on Saturday. In the town of Itogon, 7 construction workers were killed, all of whom were relatives. They were reportedly sleeping in a hut when the landslide occurred around midnight. A family of five, including a 10-month-old infant, was also killed in a landslide that occurred in Barangay Beckel in La Trinidad town. More from ABS-CBN News .

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer . Typhoon “Pepeng” yesterday skirted Metro Manila and environs, sparing fearful flood survivors who had lost homes and loved ones, but hit this Cagayan capital with heavy rains and strong winds starting at noon, killing three people. What was earlier described by the Pagasa weather bureau as a potential super typhoon toppled billboards and trees, ripped off roofs even of newly built houses, and severed power and communication lines in Cagayan and Isabela. Reports of rising floodwaters in low-lying sections of the city were received between 1 and 3 p.m. I know some people who said that PAGASA was wrong again saying that Pepeng was going to be a Super Typhoon. But honestly, sometimes we are to Metro Manila Centric. Those living in Metro Manila tend to think that the Philippines is only Metro Manila. While yes, PAGASA can be considered wrong in forecasting again. But it was only wrong in hitting Metro Manila. But PAGASA really needs to have better monito...

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer . Anticipating the impact of what might be super typhoon “Pepeng,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared yesterday the entire country in a state of calamity to ensure that all government resources would be ready for a worst-case scenario. The declaration of a state of calamity clears local government officials to tap 5 percent of their funds for calamity purposes, and trade officials to set price ceilings on commodities, officials said. Pepeng (international code name “Parma”) slowed down at sea yesterday afternoon, prompting the Pagasa weather bureau to warn residents of Metro Manila and surrounding areas to prepare for the possibility of the typhoon changing direction and passing close to the metropolis. At a press conference, Dr. Prisco Nilo, Pagasa director, expressed concern over Pepeng’s slowdown, which, he said, was caused by a high-pressure area in Hong Kong that was blocking its northward progress. This could cause the typhoon to linger ...

Update on Typhoon Pepeng.

Pagasa said it could raise public storm signal number 4 over Northern Luzon Friday night if Typhoon "Pepeng" continued to strengthen in its current track. According to PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo, storm signal number 4 means winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour over a region. "Its possible that we will have to raise storm signal number 4 over Northern Luzon by Friday around 11 p.m.," Nilo told reporters Thursday. Full story on the Philippine Daily Inquirer . I hope the government is prepared for this one this time.

Check out this link to track Super Typhoon Parma (Pepeng)'s path to the Philippines. http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/products/tc_realtime/storm.asp?storm_identifier=WP192009

Here's a CNN weather report on Super Typhoon Parma (Pepeng). Forecasted to hit Metro Manila late Friday and Saturday. Winds 240km or greater.