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