After the Storm (After Milenyo Hit the Philippines)

Newspapers say it was the strongest typhoon to hit Metro Manila in the last eleven years. Milenyo hit yesterday, with PAGASA (the weather bureau), warning the public correctly as early as Wednesday night.

Announcements re class suspension already came in Wednesday night so parents were spared the usual dilemma of whether or not to send their children to school on a super-rainy day. Kudos to PAGASA and the Department of Education, as well as the CHED, for the early announcement. We usually complain about delays in such announcements when they happen so I guess we should also thank and praise them when they read the situation correctly.

There was no electricity at our place beginning noon yesterday till about 6:30am this morning. Yes, bloggers -- isang blackout ka lang. The wind was very strong (howling even) the whole of yesterday and the rains were also strong. Things started to quiet a bit in the evening and this morning, the sun was out.

I went out this morning and all over, people were cleaning up. Leaves, fallen trees, electric cables were all over the place. I was listening to the radio and they say Cavite has already been declared to be in a state of calamity given the flash floods in certain places there, as well as the number of missing and dead people.

We hope that people who have been hit hard by the typhoon will get the help they need. We ask all of you for prayers, as well as for any help that you can probably course through your schools, offices, organizations, and churches.

Into each life, some rain must fall. Just like everything though, the rains and storms too, shall pass.