Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A safe Christmas and New Year to our brothers and sisters in Bicol

Rumbling Philippine volcano shoots huge ash column
December 23, 2009, 3:35pm




LEGAZPI, Philippines, December 23, 2009 (AFP) - Mount Mayon shot a huge column of ash high into the sky Wednesday as Philippine officials warned that the volcano was increasingly active and told villagers still in the danger zone to flee.

The kilometre-high (half-mile) column alarmed residents and officials who have been bracing for a major explosion since last week, when the country's most active volcano started oozing lava and belching steam and ash.

It blanketed surrounding villages and towns with a thin layer of fine particles that health officials warn could cause respiratory and skin problems.

The explosion underscored the urgency of convincing an estimated 500 stragglers to abandon their homes and farms inside an eight kilometre (five-mile) radius danger zone, officials said.

And with tens of thousands of people facing up to four months in crowded evacuation centres, the provincial government called on aid agencies to bring more supplies and help spread Christmas cheer to the displaced.

The alert level remained at four on a five-point scale, meaning that a major eruption could happen within hours or days. Level five means a hazardous eruption is already occurring.

Head volcanologist Renato Solidum said the increasing activity could lead to a major eruption "but this (morning's activity) is not enough to warrant raising the alert level."

"It has intensified since we hoisted level four, and there have been new explosions," Solidum said. "The tendency of the volcano is that the pressure is getting stronger and stronger and this could lead to a major explosion."

"Mayon remains in a very critical level," he said.

The government has already evacuated more than 47,000 people living inside the danger zone around Mayon to 26 evacuation centres in anticipation of a hazardous eruption.

For 42-year-old taxi operator Narciso Marama, Mayon's rumblings have been both a blessing and a curse. Mayon has for years attracted tourists to the province, but it has also caused misery for his family.

"They may have snowfall in other parts of the world, but here, we have ashfall," the father of four told AFP. "It's a white Christmas for us too, but this is ash, and we have to wear face masks."

He said relatives from inside the no-go zone have joined tens of thousands in temporary shelters. His own family however remains just on the edge of the danger zone, and have not been moved.

"But if there is a huge eruption, we may also be forced to leave," he said. "I can still remember the devastation three years ago."

When Mayon last erupted in 2006 it oozed lava and vented steam and ash for two months. No one died directly from the eruption, but a powerful typhoon three months later dislodged tonnes of debris that had collected on its slopes, burying entire towns and killing over 1,000 people.

Marama's house was among those crushed in the mudslide, but no family members were killed.

"We lost everything we owned and had to rebuild from scratch," Marama said. "I still have nightmares from that incident. I am praying that no one is killed this time."

Provincial governor Joey Salceda said resources were fast being strained and declared the area "open season for aid."

"They (aid agencies) don't need to come to my office to deliver aid anymore, they can go direct to the centres," he said.

Initial deliveries of food, blankets, medicines, water, face masks and toys and school supplies for the children have been distributed, and local policemen with Santa hats have been trying to cheer the crowd with carols.

Nativity Scene at Saint Pio Chapel in Libis - 12/19/2009




Monday, December 21, 2009

In everything that happened there's a reason

Christmas is just around the corner, my wish is a good health for all of us most especially to my family and relatives. May we spend this Christmas with lots of joy and happiness. Saint Pio please grant my greatest wish since the first day I came to Your Chapel. Yon lang po ang tangi kong kahilingan.

Health is Wealth

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Two Months and a Half

+++ Thanks Saint Pio +++

Friday, November 6, 2009

10/24/09 - 10/26/09


Thanks Saint Pio :-)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

No work on a Rainy Saturday - long weekend :-)

Synopsis: At 4:00 am today, the center of Typhoon "SANTI" (MIRINAE) {0921} was located based on satellite and surface data at 60 kms South Southeast of Metro Manila (14.0°N, 121.3°E) with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is moving West Southwest at 24 kph.




It was 4 AM today when I woke-up and it's raining CATS and DOGS. The wind was very strong and according to the news typhoon Santi is passing by Southern Luzon (Laguna) and wohaaa! nandon kaya ako nakatira!

I decided not to bother myself going to work because it's quite impossible to travel from Laguna to Makati at that type of weather. Thank God wala palang pasok. My one day (unpaid leave) was saved (pambili din yon ng REH).

The sad part there was I couldn't fullfill my Saturday routine after office. Next week na lang ako babawi pagpunta sa Libis. Thanks Saint Pio you saved us from another typhoon. Sana wala ng bagyong dumating this year +

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Saint Pio day :-)

Synopsis : At 4:00 a.m., today, Typhoon "PEPENG" was located based on radar, satellite and surface data at 260 kms Southeast of Aparri, Cagayan (16.6°N 123.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 17 kph.

Last Saturday was ONDOY and now here's PEPENG but it seems that I can go to Saint Pio with no hassle at all.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

My first mass at Saint Pio Chapel in Libis

It was a very unforgettable experience last Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. Vehicles from Magallanes going to South Super Highway was not moving and there's no way we can go home at that time (around 4:00 pm) so we decided to stay at my brother's house in Makati. Pasong Tamo was flooded therefore it was not possible for us to go to JP Rizal. We tried our luck to go to Guadalupe via MRT, the problem when we got there was there's no passenger jeepney because JP Rizal Palmolive area was flooded. We stayed at Guadalupe MRT Station from 6PM to 9PM. The rain has stopped at that time and buses going to South were coming and we again tried our luck to wait for a bus going to Pacita (going back home). We reached Pacita at around 10PM and luckily a jeepney from Alabang granted our request to take a trip from Pacita to Calamba eventhough his regular route was Pasay - Alabang. We passed by 7 flooded areas and thank God we safely got home. I am praying to Saint Pio that He guide us going home and He granted it! :-)


MRT Station - Guadalupe

The next day, (Sunday) I heared my first mass at Saint Pio Chapel in Quezon City. Weather at that time was very fine and I reached the Chapel with no problems at all. I was able to blessed my Saint Pio relics after the mass. I hope for a fine weather this Saturday.


P. Tuazon Cubao, waiting for jeepney (Ever, Rosario)



MMDA Overpass at E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Libis QC



Entrance to Saint Pio Chapel is on the right side of Floor Center




Saint Pio Chapel, no traces of ONDOY though it was cloudy

Saturday, September 26, 2009

ONDOY is still pouring cats and dogs

Tropical Cyclone Update
Issued at: 11:00 a.m, 26 September 2009
Tropical Storm "ONDOY" has made landfall near the boundary of Aurora and Quezon.

Pasong Tamo Ext. is not passable as of this writing (1:15 pm). The tunnel that crossed Edsa and Pasong Tamo Ext. was flooded and all vehicles were stranded. Access to MRT via Alphaland Southgate Mall has been closed. It is not possible to go to MRT at this time.

Saint Pio please subside the flood and let my wife pass by Alphaland. She is stranded at MRT Magallanes Station. I really wanted to go to your Chapel but if this rain doesn't stop I hope you will understand why we couldn't make it.



MRT Magallanes Station

Saint Pio Day eventhough it's raining......

At 4:00 a.m. today, Tropical Storm "ONDOY" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 130 kms east southeast of Baler, Aurora or at 90 kms East Northeast of Infanta, Quezon (15.0°N 122.5°E) with maximum winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 19 kph.

That was the latest weather bulletin from PAGASA as of this writing.

Rain or shine after office we're still going to Saint Pio Chapel in Libis. It's a Saturday routine for us from now on. See you later Padre Pio :)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Saint Pio Chapel in Libis, Quezon City

My New Sanctuary


It was September 13, 2009, my wife was watching Rated K an ABS-CBN program every Sunday and they were featuring a Chapel located somewhere in Libis, Quezon City and I was doing other things then. The talk show then caught my attention and I seriously watched that episode hosted by Julius Babao. Day after that, I immediately search the informations on how to get to that Chapel in Libis.

Rated K - September 13, 2009. It was all started here......




September 16, 2009, Wednesday, I filed a one day leave and we went there immediately. I'm not a religious person neither going to other church every Sunday to hear mass, but Saint Pio Chapel in Libis, Quezon City has changed my faith and I know that "I found my new Sanctuary" in Saint Padre Pio's Chapel.

I have read so many blogs about Saint Pio, particularly the Chapel in Libis, Quezon City. It was maintained by Mr. Ramon Rodriguez and his family on their property at 188 E. Rodriguez Ave., Bagumbayan, Quezon City. They were also recipients of God's grace through a miracle click here.

Please refer to this site for Direction & Map

September 19, 2009 - my 2nd visit to Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Chapel in Libis, Quezon City.