10 Deadliest Natural Disasters in the Philippines

Typoon Haiyan

1. Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed. As of January 2014, bodies were still being found.

Survivor Typhoon Haiyan

2. The 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake and tsunami took place on August 16, 1976, at 16:11 UTC (on August 17, 1976, at 00:11 local time),near the islands of Mindanao and Sulu, in the Philippines. Its magnitude was calculated as being as high as 8.0 on the moment magnitude scale. The epicenter was in the Celebes Sea between the islands of Mindanao and Borneo. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's preliminary magnitude was given as 8.0 on the Richter scale and as 7.9 by other sources. There were many aftershocks following the main earthquake. A major aftershock on August 17 (local date) had a magnitude of 6.8. It was followed by at least fifteen smaller aftershocks.

The initial earthquake was widespread and was felt as far as the central Philippine islands of the Visayas. A massive tsunami devastated 700 kilometers of coastline bordering the Moro Gulf in the North Celebes Sea, resulting in destruction and death in the coastal communities of the Sulu Archipelago and southern Mindanao, including Zamboanga City and Pagadian City. At least 5000 people died during the earthquake and tsunami, with thousands more remaining missing. Some reports say that as many as 8,000 people lost their lives in total, with ninety percent of all deaths the result of the following tsunami.
 
Initially over 8,000 people were officially counted as killed or missing, 10,000 injured, and 90,000 homeless, making the 1976 Moro Earthquake and Tsunami one of the most devastating disasters in the history of the Philippine Islands.^[5] After the initial earthquake the people were unaware of the need to move to higher ground; when the tsunami hit it sucked most of the victims out to sea. Based on the investigation on the affected region it was confirmed that the waves reached up to 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 ft) when they hit the areas. There were reports of weak tsunami activity as far as Japan, as well as Indonesian Hydrographic Office reports of unusual wave activity affecting the islands of Sulawesi (Celebes Island) and Borneo.
In Zamboanga City, 14 buildings were partially damaged. Zamboanga City was spared from serious damage of the tsunami triggered by this earthquake because the Basilan Island and the Santa Cruz Islands served as a buffer and deflected waves.


3. Tropical Storm Thelma, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Uring, was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in Philippine history, killing at least 5,081 people. Forming out of a tropical disturbance on November 1 several hundred kilometers north-northeast of Palau, the depression that would become Thelma tracked generally westward. After turning southwestward in response to a cold front, the system intensified into a tropical storm on November 4, 1991 as it approached the Philippines.

Tropical Storm Thelma struck the Philippines just five months after the Ultra-Plinian eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The eruption resulted in the deaths of roughly 800 people and left nearly 1 million homeless.  


4. Typhoon Bopha, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Pablo, was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, making landfall as a Category 5 super typhoon with winds of 175 mph (280 km/h). Bopha originated unusually close to the equator, becoming the second-most southerly Category 5 super typhoon, reaching a minimum latitude of 7.4°N on December 3, 2012.

The death toll reached 1,067 people, with most on the southern island of Mindanao, where floods and landslides caused major damage on December 4. A total of 834 people remain missing, about half of them are fishermen.


5. The Luzon earthquake occurred on Monday, July 16, 1990, at 4:26 PM local time in the Philippines. The densely populated island of Luzon was struck by an earthquake with a 7.8 M_s (surface-wave magnitude). The earthquake produced a 125 km-long ground rupture that stretched from Dingalan, Aurora to Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija as a result of strike-slip movements along the Philippine Fault and the Digdig Fault within the Philippine Fault System. The earthquake epicenter was placed at 15° 42' N and 121° 7' E near the town of Rizal, Nueva Ecija, northeast of Cabanatuan City.^[1] An estimated 1,621 people were killed in the earthquake, most of the fatalities located in Central Luzon and the Cordillera region.

The popular tourist destination of Baguio City, situated over 5000 feet above sea level, was among the areas hardest hit by the Luzon earthquake. The earthquake caused 28 collapsed buildings, including hotels, factories, government and university buildings, as well as many private homes and establishments.  One of the more prominent buildings destroyed was the Hyatt Terraces Hotel where at least eighty hotel employees and guests were killed. However, three hotel employees were pulled out alive after having been buried under the rubble for nearly two weeks, and after international rescue teams had abandoned the site convinced there were no more survivors.


6. Typhoon Ike, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Nitang, was the deadliest typhoon of the 1984 Pacific typhoon season and crossed the Philippines in September. This tropical cyclone formed on August 27 in the Philippine Sea, and strengthened as it moved westward into the southern Philippines, becoming a typhoon on August 31. Typhoon Ike caused extreme wind and flooding damage when it crossed the Philippines, resulting in 1492 fatalities, one of the Philippines' worst natural disaster in modern times, and its worst typhoon since Amy struck the archipelago in 1951.


7. Taal Volcano is a complex volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the second most active volcano in the Philippines with 33 historical eruptions. One of the more devastating eruptions occurred in January, 1911.The eruption claimed a reported 1,335 lives and injured 199; although it is known that more perished than the official records show. The seven barangays that existed on the island previous to the eruption were completely wiped out. Post mortem examination of the victims seemed to show that practically all had died of scalding by hot steam or hot mud, or both. The devastating effects of the blast reached the west shore of the lake where a number of villages were also destroyed. Cattle to the number of 702 were killed and 543 nipa houses destroyed. Crops suffered from the deposit of ashes that fell to a depth of almost half an inch in places near the shore of the lake.


8.  Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetric conical shape, the mountain was declared a national park and a protected landscape on July 20, 1938, the first in the country. It was reclassified a Natural Park and renamed Mayon Volcano Natural Park in the year 2000.
Local Philippine folklore refers to the volcano as Bulkang Mayon (Bikol: "Mayon volcano"), after the legendary heroine Daragang Magayon (Bikol: "Beautiful Lady"). 

The most destructive eruption of Mayon occurred on February 1, 1814^. Lava flowed but not as much compared to the 1766 eruption; Instead, the volcano was belching dark ash and eventually bombarded the town of Cagsawa with tephra that buried it. Trees were burned; rivers were certainly damaged. Proximate areas were also devastated by the eruption, with ash accumulating to 9 m (30 ft) in depth. In Albay, a total of 2,200 locals perished in what is considered to be the most lethal eruption in Mayon's history; estimates by PHIVOLCS list the casualties at about 1,200, however. The eruption is believed to have contributed to the accumulation of atmospheric ash, capped by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, that led to the Year Without a Summer in 1816.


9. A massive rock slide-debris avalanche occurred on February 17, 2006 in the Philippine province of Southern Leyte that caused widespread damage and loss of life. The deadly landslide (debris flow) followed a ten-day period of heavy rains and a minor earthquake (magnitude 2.6 on the Richter scale). The official death toll was 1,126.

10. Severe Tropical Storm Washi, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Sendong, was a late-season tropical cyclone that caused catastrophic damage in the Philippines in late 2011. Washi, which means Aquila in Japanese, made landfall over Mindanao, a major island in the Philippines, on December 16. Washi weakened slightly after passing Mindanao, but regained strength in the Sulu Sea, and made landfall again over Palawan on December 17. In the Philippines, catastrophic flash flooding triggered by Washi resulted in at least 1,268 fatalities.


Source: Wikipedia
Photo credit to the owners.

Beautiful Places to Visit in the Philippines

The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands, of which only about 2,000 are inhabited. They are clustered into the three major island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. I have always wanted to travel around the world, but most especially here in my country. I've been to many beautiful places in Luzon recently and decades ago in Bukidnon, but I've never been in the Visayas. It is currently in my wish list - a vacation tour in Boracay. I hope it'll be sooner than later.

Below Story and Photo Credit to:

 jrplaza Jrplaza is a blogger, wannabe-web designer/web developer and the founder of always10list from Manila, Philippines. He is a Cookie Monster to be exact.

Read more: Top 10 of the Most Visited Places in the Philippines | Top 10 Lists | Always10 http://www.always10list.com/best-lists/10-of-the-most-visited-places-in-the-philippines/#ixzz3COwp35Te

1 – Boracay

This place is well-known for its long white, sandy beaches and great nightlife parties. This is a great tourist destination located in the Visayan region and is a must-place to visit for local and foreigner visitors. Trendy bars, discos and water sports are one of the activities in this place.

2 – Mount Pinatubo

This volcano has been famous in the year 1990s as it has once caused great problems not only in the Philippines but also for many parts of the world during its greatest eruptions.

3 – Intramuros

A city found in Manila famous for its walled area and had been a historical landmark for Spanish settlements. This city has historical museums and ruins that are preserved for tourists to see.

4 – Camp John Hay

This is a place in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. This area is a nice place to visit since it contains historical backgrounds dating back from American settlements. They also have a place for recreation such as golfing, horseback riding and camping.

5 – Mount Apo

If you want to enjoy mountain trekking then Mount Apo can be a good place. This awe-inspiring volcano can be found in Davao and in this place, you can also find the famous Philippine Eagle which is the biggest in the world.

6 – Palawan

It is a famous tourist spot as it contains many beautiful beaches, rich forest and caves that can be a good place to visit. There are many activities in this place such as snorkeling, paddling and many others.

7 – Dapitan

It is located in the Zamboanga province and is famous for the place where Rizal, the Philippine national hero was exiled. They also have white beach named Dakak.

8 – Surigao

When you are in for great waves to surf then Siargao is the good place to be. This island is in Surigao and is the surfing sanctuary for many surf lovers.

9 – Cebu

A tourist place identified to have the historical landmark where Magellan, a Spanish adventurer was defeated by Lapu-lapu thus the existence of the Magellan’s Cross. There are also many night life activities going on in this place.

10 – Camiguin

This small island in Mindanao is known for their Lanzones fruits, underground cemetery, white sand beaches and great island sceneries. These great places are a must-see places when you are visiting Philippines and they can good places to spend your holidays with families and friends.

Green-Eyed Monster

Have you ever encountered blinding rage and frustration? A time when you are fuming in the mouth and you are senseless in what you say? I don't know that many would ever admit to this period of weakness, but I sure did. No matter how silly some things are, people get side-tracked by jealousy. All of us can sometimes feel jealous. There are times when we do not see our self-worth. It strikes the very core of our being when we are insecure and uncertain. When we fail on our presumed goals that's when we start comparing ourselves to others. A sure path to misery. But what really is jealousy?

"Jealousy is an emotion, and the word typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something of great personal value, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness and disgust." - Wikepedia

"Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them." - Jennifer James


How to deal with jealousy? http://www.wikihow.com/Handle-Jealousy

1 Understand the emotion of jealousy. A combination of fear and anger, jealousy is fed by the fear of losing someone (or a cherished situation/state of affairs) and anger that someone else is "moving in" on the person or situation that is of value to you personally. It's a destructive and ignoble emotion and nothing good can come of it, so recognition of its occurrence is your number one self-defense.

2  Deconstruct why you feel jealous in the first place. 

3 Take a good look at the effect your jealous behavior has on other people.

4 Tackle your feelings now. Learn to question your jealousy every time that it emerges. For example, say to yourself: "Is this jealousy because I feel afraid or angry? Why am I feeling fear or anger here?" When you begin to question what makes you jealous in the moment, you can begin to take positive steps to manage the feelings constructively, without the cloud of negative emotion that typically accompanies jealousy. Some questions to ask yourself include:

• "Why am I jealous over this?"
• "What is making me jealous?"
• " What am I trying to keep?"
• "Why do I feel threatened?"

5 Change any false beliefs that might be fueling your jealousy. Be aware that your thoughts can happen so quickly that you don't even realize consciously that you've had a negative thought. Developing greater awareness of your thoughts and what triggers them is a large part of tackling the problem.

6 Take notice of which part of your body is affected. 

7 Apologize. 

8 Communicate your feelings Avoid passing on blame to the other person. His or her behavior is not the cause of your feelings––you are responsible for your feelings.

9 Bear in mind at all times that feelings of jealousy are about you, not about the other person.

10 Learn from your jealousy. The ignoble, negative emotions have a role in our lives, one of teaching each of us how to be a better person for struggling and overcoming them. They have a place, just not one that controls you and excuses poor behavior. Some of the things jealousy might be teaching you include:

1. • You are frightened when a relationship is new and still has some way to go before it feels secure. This is a commonplace feeling in young relationships for many people, and both possessiveness as well as sense of vulnerability at getting close to someone, can drive feelings of jealousy.( ...and we're so fond of seducing people; testing our power can become a very harming pass time )
   • You're afraid someone else will take your job, salary, role, position, and so forth. In this case, it's probable that you're afraid of financial insecurity (survival instinct) or you feel that you're an impostor in your role, the latter an all-too-commonly held false belief in many high-achieving people in the workforce. Remember that you wouldn't have been given the role or position unless other people felt you had earned it.( don't be your worst and closest enemy) Try living up to that trust in you rather than seeing demons hovering in every corner.
   • You feel your lover has a roving eye. In romantic relationships, both men and women continue to check out other men and women. It's biologically driven and it's natural.However, in the majority of cases, it does not mean that the person wants to leave the relationship he or she is in with you. It is, for most people, about appreciating the human form and not about a roaming eye. This misunderstanding has long created unnecessary jealousy as long as relationships have existed; it can help to accept that it's okay for a person in a committed relationship to look, provided there's no touch!
   • You listen to people who say mean or exaggerated things and let this direct your emotions. Take a stand ! Be true to yourself and those you love ! All too common, many people are easily convinced by the village gossip because it sounds so compelling and seems like it must be right. The reality is that it rarely is right and it's always far better to not listen to people who chatter away making things up as they go. Let these people go get jobs as celebrity gossip journalists while you get on with facing the facts instead.
   • You dislike looking within yourself and working through difficult emotions. It's typical to externalize painful emotions, to try and make them someone else's problem than to do the hard work of facing them and dealing with them internally. Jealousy is painful but by facing it, you can repair much internal damage that ultimately makes your relationships stronger and more enduring.

11 Trust yourself. Trust begins at home, with yourself. If you learn to trust yourself, you can radiate this trust onto others. Begin by making a list of all your good points. Stick this list up somewhere that you can see it regularly, to remind yourself that you're fully equipped with great talent, skills and features already. Moreover, only compare yourself to yourself, always seeking to outdo your last achievement without worrying what other people are doing. Remind yourself daily through a journal, affirmations or other effective way that you have what it takes, like the song goes, to be fulfilled in life. Practicing healthy thinking must be a daily, recurring action––that's why it involves constant practice. In time, the healthier thinking processes will take over the destructive ones and help you to become a whole person, resilient, capable and not prone to jealous thoughts.

• Work on relevant aspects of your self esteem if you feel it's lacking. When you have more confidence in yourself, you'll be less likely to feel jealous.
• Read some self-help books on jealousy, you'll feel you're getting your grips on that mean, insidious emotion.

Ramon Magsaysay Award - "Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize."

There are many award-giving bodies that recognizes significant and truly amazing feats by individuals and organizations in the world. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation is one of the most prestigious award-giving bodies in the Philippines. Their website says: 

Since 1958, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is being given to persons - regardless of race, nationality, creed or gender - who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better.

http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/the_award

Photo Credit to: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/08/29/1362964/emergent-leader-transforms-tribal-village-ramon-magsaysay-awards-2014

Randy Halasan, a teacher who served at a school in Davao City is the only Filipino awardee for this year. A real feat for this hard-working hero of the Matigsalug tribe in the remote town of Sitio Pegalongan, Malamba, Marilog District.

Read more on:

http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/community/announcement/page/1/view/44

To Love and To Be Loved

“The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life.”

Hugh Walpole, Sr. quotes (British Dramatist, Novelist and Critic, 1884-1941) Photo Credit to: kauramandeep.wordpress.com Photo Credit to: pictures.4ever.eu Photo Credit to: www.thewallworks.com Photo Credit to: quotes-lover.com

Red-Meat Free Meals - Anyone?

It's been five months and a year since I was banned from eating red meat, and this is not just for the duration of my disease. It's for life! There are days when I wanted to throw caution into the wind as they say, and just order a big "lechon" all to myself. But was I ever afraid? I guess I'll just dream of it. Not too often though I hope.

What really is a red meat?

Gastronomic

In gastronomy, red meat is darker-colored meat, as contrasted with white meat. The exact definition varies by time, place, and culture, but the meat from adult mammals such as cows, sheep, and horses is invariably considered red, while chicken and rabbit meat is invariably considered white. The meat of young mammals such as milk-fed veal calves, sheep, and pigs is traditionally considered white; while the meat of duck and goose is considered red. Game is sometimes put in a separate category altogether. (French: viandes noires — "black meats")

Nutritional

The old determinant of the nutritional definition of the color of meat is the concentration of myoglobin. The white meat of chicken has under 0.05%; pork and veal have 0.1–0.3%; young beef has 0.4–1.0%; and old beef has 1.5–2.0%.

According to the USDA all meats obtained from livestock (i.e., from mammals) are red meats because they contain more myoglobin than chicken or fish.

Red meat is not a uniform product; its health effects can vary based on fat content, processing and preparation. Processed red meat is strongly linked to higher mortality, mainly due to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. 

CANCER RISKS

Due to the many studies that have found a link between red meat intake and colorectal cancer, the American Institute for Cancer Research and World Cancer Research Fund stated that there is convincing evidence that red meat intake increases the risk for colorectal cancer.

Professor Sheila Bingham of the Dunn Human Nutrition Unit attributes this to the haemoglobin and myoglobin molecules which are found in red meat. She suggests these molecules, when ingested trigger a process called nitrosation in the gut which leads to the formation of carcinogens. Others have suggested that it is due to the presence of carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines, which are created in the cooking process. However, this may not be limited to red meat, since a study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who ate skinless chicken five times or more per week had a 52% higher risk of developing bladder cancer although not people who ate chicken with skin or other red meats such as hot dogs and Hamburgers.

A 2011 study of 17,000 individuals found that people consuming the most grilled and well-done meat had a 56 and 59% higher rate of cancer.

There is suggestive evidence that red meat intake increases the risk of oesophageal, lung, pancreatic and endometrial cancer. As a result, WCRF recommends limiting intake of red meat to less than 300g (11 oz) cooked weight per week, "very little, if any of which to be processed."

Some studies have linked consumption of large amounts of red meat with breast cancer, stomach cancer, lymphoma, bladder cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer (although other studies have found no relationship between red meat and prostate cancer.

A 2011 study of almost 500,000 participants found that those in the highest quintile of red meat consumption had a 19% increased risk of kidney cancer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_meat

Now this reminds me why I should restrict myself. 

Photo Credit to: http://www.123rf.com/photo_6265690_cows-grazing-in-a-green-pasture-on-sustainable-small-scale-farm.html

A Worry-Free Day

They say most Filipinos cannot afford the luxury of eating out. But when you look at how crowded restaurants are, even so early in the morning, one wonders if that was ever the case. I just finished part of my half-fried chicken and fried rice this morning at Good Taste, and I am enjoying my brewed coffee to the max. Worship service was just concluded earlier today. It's pay day, so I can afford a little time away from the usual routine.

Sitting here with a relaxed mind, even after shift with no sleep is truly refreshing. Birds fly inside the building waiting for crumbs and leftovers. The sun is shining outside, and the cool weather promises a beautiful day. I regret that I may not enjoy the whole day since I had to sleep sometime later today, so I can go to work again tonight. But I don't intend to have negative thoughts today. I thank the Lord this day has come to pass. A day when I have the chance to appreciate the good life, and the promise of better days. A day when I don't have to think about my family and their problems. A day not to think of my health issues and career concerns. A worry-free day.

I celebrate the breath I take each day. I celebrate the roof under my head, the food on my table, the clothes I wear, the material things I enjoy. But most of all, I celebrate the free and loving spirit God bestowed upon me. Life is hard, and many days I forget those, and makes me even cynical and hard to live with. But my God is gracious and ever forgiving and caring. He never stopped loving me and showing me the right way. He is always there even when I forget Him in my thoughtlessness. He gave me so much in this life that I know I can never repay Him.

I pray that days like today will be plentiful to see me through bleak days I know I cannot veer away from. But that isn't here nor there. Today, I see a sky - so beautiful and blue. The wind is sweet and caressing. The city is abuzz with activity, but with a joyful sound to it. Nothing in sight to dampen my waking hours. I know not what is in store for me in the days and years ahead. But I have today - and today is enough for a new beginning.

     

If A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words, This One's Worth A Million

If A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words, This One's Worth A Million

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, but this one may be worth a million.

11 year-old Liang Yaoyi wanted to be a doctor when he grew up, but unfortunately that dream will never come true. He passed away last Friday from a brain tumor.

But what's so remarkable is what he said to his parents before he died. He told them if he didn't survive, he wanted to donate his organs so that others could live. As Liang's body was being wheeled into surgery to remove his organs, the doctors all bowed and formed a sort of honor guard to show their respect.

"There are many people doing great things in the world," he said to his parents. "They are great, and I want to be a great kid too."

And a great kid he was.

http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/784/If-A-Picture-s-Worth-A-Thousand-Words-This-One-s-Worth-A-Million