LPA to bring rain over Bicol, VisMin
A low-pressure area that entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday afternoon is expected to bring rain over Bicol, Mindanao and the Visayas, state weather forecasters said yesterday......»»
‘Shear line’ to bring rains to some parts of Luzon — PAGASA
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and the Bicol Region may experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms this week......»»
DoT’s Philippine Experience Program to help LGUs develop, enhance tourist spots
Albay — The Department of Tourism on Monday maintained that the Philippine Experience Program, which brings hundreds of delegates to various tourist attractions in the country, is its way to make local government units, especially those with underdeveloped tourist spots, to be at par with other known local destinations. During her speech in Albay for the third leg of the DoT’s Philippine Experience Program on Sunday night, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the program is in line with Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to bring countryside development through tourism. “Recognizing how strong as a social economic tool tourism can be given the right tool to succeed in making the countryside grow, PEP gives opportunities to local government units, provinces, cities and municipalities all over the Philippines to be equally developed and promoted,” she said. The program seeks to reintroduce the Philippines to the world, “not only our natural resources, our stunning landscapes, our beautiful coastlines, our majestic mountainscapes, but also, our heart and soul as Filipinos.” Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman expressed support for the Philippine Experience Program and its swing through Bicol. “Parading the call to experience Bicol, a tapestry of history, tradition, and arts, this program embodies the essence of what makes a region unique and exceptional. Albay, with its enchanting landscape, rich cultural heritage and untapped potential plays a pivotal role in the national tourism industry,” Lagman said. In a video message, Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman also expressed his confidence that the visit from the DOT chief will “inspire” the tourism industry in Albay. “Thank you for your visit, Secretary Frasco, and we are certain that your visit will be both memorable and productive,” the congressman said. The third leg of the Philippine Experience Program started with the official opening of the Kasanggayahan Festival in the Provincial Capitol of Sorsogon, followed by a visit to the pristine sceneries of Bulusan and Barcelona Ruins in Sorsogon. On Day 2, delegates of the Philippine Experience Program Bicol on Monday revved up for an adrenaline-fueled all-terrain vehicle adventure in Legazpi City, the booming capital of Albay dubbed as the "City of Fun and Adventure," followed by a visit to Daraga Church or the Nuestra Señora dela Porteria, then a visit to the famous Cagsawa Ruins and Sumlang Lake in Camalig. The Philippine Experience Program highlights the Filipino brand and identity in all aspects of the travel and tourism experience, focused on heritage, culture and arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings with thematic experiences on Food and Gastronomy, Pilgrimage and Wellness, Festivals, Living Cultures and Heritage, and the Arts. It also aims to link key destinations to lesser-known destinations, as well as expand the country’s tourism portfolio, which includes sun and beach offerings, nature-based tourism, diving, food, education, health, MICE and farm tourism. The post DoT’s Philippine Experience Program to help LGUs develop, enhance tourist spots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Typhoon ‘Jenny’ maintains strength
Typhoon “Jenny” maintained her strength as she moved north-northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Tuesday. In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, said “Jenny” will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon or habagat, bringing significant rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Visayas in the next three days. PAGASA said the enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon will bring gusty conditions for the next three days over areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds including Bataan, the southern portion of Aurora, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Romblon, and most of Bicol Region. Gale Warning is hoisted in the coastal waters along the seaboards of Northern Luzon. The typhoon will also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.5 m) over the coastal waters of northern Aurora. PAGASA advised mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea. If possible, navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, shall be avoided. Typhoon “Jenny” is forecast to move northwestward or west-northwestward until tomorrow before turning generally westward thereafter. On the track forecast, “Jenny” will make landfall over the southern portion of Taiwan between late Wednesday evening, or Thursday morning, then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Thursday morning and afternoon. The post Typhoon ‘Jenny’ maintains strength appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Typhoon Jenny maintains strength over Phl Sea
Typhoon Jenny maintains strength as it moves north-northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Tuesday. In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, said Typhoon Jenny, as it continues to enhance Southwest Monsoon or habagat, will bring significant rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas in the next three days. PAGASA said the enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon by Jenny will bring gusty conditions for the next 3 days over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds including Bataan, the southern portion of Aurora, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Romblon, and most of Bicol Region. Gale Warning is hoisted in the coastal waters along the seaboards of Northern Luzon. The typhoon will also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.5 m) over the coastal waters of northern Aurora. PAGASA advised mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea. If possible, navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, shall be avoided. Typhoon Jenny is forecast to move northwestward or west-northwestward until tomorrow before turning generally westward thereafter. On the track forecast, Jenny will make landfall over the southern portion of Taiwan between late Wednesday evening, or Thursday morning, then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Thursday morning and afternoon. When outside the PAR region, Jenny will continue moving westward slowly over the Taiwan Strait towards the coastal waters of southern China. PAGASA said the weakening trend continues due to the increasing dry air entrainment and vertical wind shear. “Land interaction during its passage over the rugged terrain of southern Taiwan will further weaken the tropical cyclone. Once over the Taiwan Strait, additional cool dry air from the north will entrain into JENNY, resulting in further weakening,” it added. Typhoon Jenny was last tracked over the 325 km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes as it moves North Northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour. It packs maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal PAGASA said the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted in Batanes with winds of greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours. TCWS No. 1 is raised over the Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Santo Tomas, Dinapigue, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Quirino, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig), Apayao, the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong), the northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk), and Ilocos Norte. Winds of 39-61 kph may be expected in the above-mentioned areas for at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours. At least seven towns in Pangasinan have suspended classes due to the inclement weather brought by Jenny while monsoon rains continue to dump in the province. Classes in all levels were suspended in the towns of San Manuel, Pozorrubio, and San Jacinto, while classes from pre-school to high school were canceled in the towns of Asingan, Mangaldan, and San Fabian. Only classes from pre-school to elementary were suspended in the town of Manaoag. The post Typhoon Jenny maintains strength over Phl Sea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LPA unlikely to turn into TD, expect thunderstorms for the next 3 days
The state weather bureau said the trough or extension of a low-pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility is unlikely to develop into a tropical depression, but it is expected to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the parts of the country in the next three days. In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, said that most parts of the country, including Metro Manila will only experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms. PAGASA weather specialist Grace Castañeda said there’s no other weather disturbance that has been monitored within the PAR. "We could expect better weather conditions in the coming days as we have not monitored any weather disturbance except the LPA which has a slim chance to develop into a storm," Castañeda said. However, any changes will be closely monitored, she added. The trough of LPA will be affecting the eastern portions of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon. While, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over the Bicol, Aurora, and Quezon. Similar conditions will persist mainly in the western portions of Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, but caused by the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat” In particular, over Metro Manila, Mimaropa, the rest of Central Luzon, the rest of Calabarzon, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen. The LPA was last tracked over 610 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, as of early Wednesday. Meanwhile, PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy at times brought about by the LPA’s trough and the southwest monsoon may cause flash floods and landslides in affected areas. The rest of the Philippines will only have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. The post LPA unlikely to turn into TD, expect thunderstorms for the next 3 days appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Hanna’ intensifies; typhoon-enhanced ‘habagat’ brings heavy rains
Typhoon "Hanna" slightly intensifies as it accelerates west-northwestward towards the sea east of Taiwan while enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat" will bring heavy rains over the western portion of Luzon in the next three days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Saturday. PAGASA said the southwest monsoon currently enhanced by “Hanna” and two other typhoons, "Saola" (formerly "Goring") and Severe Tropical Storm “Kirogi”, will cause gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds in Batanes, Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas until Saturday. Typhoon "Hanna" has already affected 112,384 families or 408,053 individuals residing in 1,445 barangays within the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported more than P421.19 million worth of damages in the agricultural sector, affecting some 10,196 farmers and fisherfolk operating in 18,470.25 hectares of crop areas. The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure amounting to P130,251,200 was reported in Region 2, MIMAROPA, Region 6, and CAR. The NDRRMC accounted for a total of 502 damaged houses in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, and CAR with 25 roads and nine bridges remained not passable. Two areas in CALABARZON and Western Visayas are still experiencing water supply. There were 89 seaports that have canceled operations in Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas amid the continuing inclement weather. Some 234 passengers have been stranded in CALABARZON and Western Visayas. The six domestic flights that have been affected have now resumed operations. NDRRMC said two municipalities have already declared under a state of calamity due to the cyclones and intensified southwest monsoon. The government said it has already provided a total of P17.68 million worth of assistance, which came in the form of family food packs, family kits, financial aid, and many more. Meanwhile, PAGASA said "Hanna" is forecast to move west-northwestward or westward while intensifying until it makes landfall along the east coast of southern Taiwan on late Sunday. "Hanna" is considerably weakening is expected as a result of crossing the rugged landmass of Taiwan. PAGASA said "Hanna" will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility and emerge over the Taiwan Strait around Monday morning or afternoon. Outside the PAR region, the weather disturbance is forecast to move erratically and may even become slow-moving or almost stationary over the Taiwan Strait while continuously weakening due to land interaction and an increasingly unfavorable environment. PAGASA forecast ‘Hanna’ will have weakened into a tropical depression by Wednesday or Thursday. It was last tracked over 455-kilometer east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph while moving west-northwestward at 15 kph. The post ‘Hanna’ intensifies; typhoon-enhanced ‘habagat’ brings heavy rains appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Typhoon ‘Hanna’ may reach peak intensity by Sunday
Typhoon "Hanna" maintains strength as it decelerates westward but is “less likely to directly” bring heavy rains, rough seas conditions, and severe winds over the country throughout the forecast period, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Friday. However, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon or "habagat" currently enhanced by “Hanna” and Typhoon "Saola" (formerly "Goring"), and Severe Tropical Storm “Kirogi” will bring occasional monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon in the next three days. It will also cause gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds in Batanes, Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas until Saturday. PAGASA said similar weather conditions will be experienced over the Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas on Sunday. Also, Typhoon “Hanna” is less likely to bring rough sea conditions over any seaboard of the country through the forecast period. However, due to the southwest monsoon that is slightly enhancing, a Gale Warning is in effect for most seaboard of Luzon and Western Visayas, and the seaboard of Northern Samar. “Hanna” is forecast to move generally west-northwestward throughout the forecast period. It may pass close to or make landfall in the vicinity of the Yaeyama Islands in the Ryukyu archipelago between tomorrow evening and Sunday morning. Then make landfall on Sunday morning and traverse over Taiwan. “Hanna” is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday afternoon or evening. PAGASA said the tropical cyclone will turn more westward as it passes over the Taiwan Strait before making another landfall over mainland China on Monday morning or afternoon when outside PAR. Meanwhile, “Hanna” may reach its peak intensity on Sunday morning prior to its landfall over Taiwan while its rapid weakening will then ensue following its landfall over mainland China on Monday. “Hanna” was last tracked over 710 kilometers East Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph while moving westward at 15 kph. The post Typhoon ‘Hanna’ may reach peak intensity by Sunday appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meralco assures readiness to respond to impact of Southwest monsoon
The Manila Electric Company has assured its customers that its personnel are ready to immediately respond to power outages that may result from the southwest monsoon currently being experienced in parts of its franchise area. This comes as the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the southwest monsoon was enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (international name: Haikui) which is currently inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, as well as Super Typhoon Saola and Tropical Storm Kirogi. The southwest monsoon is expected to bring gusty conditions over Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas until 1 September. “As a 24–hour service company, we are ready to respond to these types of emergency. Our crews are on standby to attend to any trouble that may affect our facilities in areas that might be affected by the inclement weather,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said. Zaldarriaga added that Meralco has put in place necessary measures to mitigate the possible impact of monsoon rains, including the issuance of advisories on appropriate precautionary measures. The company has consistently requested billboard owners and operators to temporarily roll their billboards up to prevent these structures from being toppled by the strong winds. Meralco also advised its customers to continue practicing electrical safety measures which are very important especially when there is flooding. • Ensure that the main electrical power switch or circuit breaker is off. Be sure to be dry when being in contact with any electrical facility. • Unplug appliances from wall sockets. Turn off permanently connected equipment and unscrew all light bulbs if possible. • Remove mud and dirt from service equipment or main circuit breaker/fuse and its enclosure using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes. • Make sure that all electrical wires, connectors, and other wiring devices are completely dry. • When all electrical wires and accessories have dried and are clean, the wiring system of all appliances must be checked by a licensed electrician. Do not turn on flood-damaged electrical appliances. Zaldarriaga also urged the public to keep all channels of communication open and ready and charge mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other communication gadgets. Customers may tune in to the different public service radio stations should power interruptions occur. To report power outages and other concerns, customers may reach Meralco through its official social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meralco) and Twitter (@meralco). They may also text their concerns to 0920-9716211 and 0917-5516211 or contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211 and 8631-1111. The post Meralco assures readiness to respond to impact of Southwest monsoon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Portions of Cagayan, Isabela under Signal No. 3 due to Typhoon “Goring”
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Saturday raised Signal No. 3 over portions of Cagayan and Isabela, as Typhoon "Goring" steadily intensifies as it moves southwestward over the sea east of Cagayan. In its latest weather bulletin, PAGASA said Goring was last spotted 145 kilometers per hour (kph) East Northeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of 190 kph. PAGASA raised Signal No. 3 over the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana) and the extreme eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan). While Signal No. 2, where PAGASA said winds of greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours, was also raised over the eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Maconacon, Cabagan, Tumauini, San Pablo); eastern portion of Cagayan (Peñablanca, Baggao, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey); and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran). Also PAGASA, placed under Signal No. 1, where winds of 39 to 61 kph or intermittent rains may be expected in at least 36 hours over the Batanes; the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands; Central portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao); Quirino; the rest of Isabela; Apayao; eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Solano, Villaverde); eastern portion of Ifugao (Lamut, Lagawe, Hingyon, Banaue, Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista); eastern portion of Mountain Province (Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis); and Kalinga. PAGASA said moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds may be experienced within the areas under Wind Signal No. 3. Minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 is in effect while minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are also possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon enhanced by “Goring” will bring occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days. This weather condition will also bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds including Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, and Camiguin on Sunday. On Monday, gusty conditions will prevail in Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, and most of Zamboanga Peninsula. PAGASA said a Gale Warning is in effect for the northern and eastern coastal waters of Luzon. Thus, sea travel is risky for certain types or tonnage of vessels over these areas. Typhoon "Goring" is forecast to move generally southward to southeastward in the next 24 hours before turning east-northeastward to northeastward on Monday. Afterward, the typhoon will exit its looping path and move northwestward on Tuesday toward the sea east of Taiwan while moving at a consistent pace. Due to the highly favorable environment, PAGASA said “Goring” is forecast to steadily intensify throughout most of the forecast period and may reach the super typhoon category on Monday. PAGASA noted that the upwelling of cooler waters due to its slow movement will limit further intensification of “Goring” by late Monday or early Tuesday. The post Portions of Cagayan, Isabela under Signal No. 3 due to Typhoon “Goring” appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGASA: Goring intensifies, another cyclone seen near PAR
Tropical storm “Goring” (Saola) continues to intensify as it moves southwestward of the country, while another cyclone has been monitored near the Philippine area of responsibility. In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Goring” will affect Batanes, Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, Isabela, the northern portion of Aurora and the Ilocos provinces until Monday noon, with forecast rainfall generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. PAGASA warned that flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that have experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days. The southwest monsoon or "habagat" will be enhanced by “Goring”, bringing occasional rains over the western portions of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon beginning tomorrow and over the western portion of Visayas beginning on Sunday. The "Goring"-enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland or mountainous areas exposed to winds: Aurora, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Dinagat Islands and most of MIMAROPA and Visayas on Saturday. Aurora, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte will still be affected on Sunday. PAGASA said a Coastal Gale Warning is in effect for the coastal waters of Batanes, Babuyan and the northern coast of mainland Cagayan due to strong winds associated with “Goring”, which may cause sea travel to be risky for certain types or tonnage of vessels. Meanwhile, “Goring” is forecast to move south southwestward or southward over the waters east of Northern Luzon until Saturday evening. Then it turns generally south or southeastward for the rest of tomorrow through Sunday afternoon. Afterward, the tropical cyclone will loop northward before turning to the northwest on Tuesday towards Luzon Strait. PAGASA said “Goring” is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach typhoon category by Saturday. The center of “Goring” was estimated based on all available data at 225 km east southeast of Basco, Batanes, or 270 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, and moving slowly toward southwestward with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No.1 remains hoisted over Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Camiguin Island), the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca) and northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan). PAGASA likewise said another tropical cyclone has been spotted outside PAR, with the international name Tropical Storm “Damrey”. It was estimated at 3,065 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. “Damrey” is packing 65 kph winds and gusts of up to 80 kph as it moves toward east northeast at 35 km/h. The post PAGASA: Goring intensifies, another cyclone seen near PAR appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGASA: No LPA but ‘habagat’ to bring gloomy weather
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Monday said no weather disturbance has so far been monitored, but gloomy weather is still expected in some areas of the country due to the southwest monsoon or "habagat". PAGASA said it has not seen any low-pressure area inside or outside of the Philippine area of responsibility that may affect the country’s weather in the next few days. The southwest monsoon or "habagat" will be affecting mostly the southern portion of the country, bringing cloudy skies and scattered rain showers over Palawan, the Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao. Most areas in Luzon will experience hot weather, with localized rain showers and thunderstorms during the evening. PAGASA said monsoon rains have caused flooding and erosion in areas like Calbayog City, Samar over the weekend. Local authorities on Sunday said the overflowing of rivers brought severe flooding to low-lying barangays such as Danao, Acedillo and Bontay. PAGASA said that moderate to heavy rain showers with lightning and strong winds also hit Zambales, Cavite, Rizal and Quezon, while moderate to heavy rains affected Parañaque, Taguig, Las Piñas, Manila, Quezon City and San Juan in Metro Manila, and Morong in Bataan on Monday morning. Meanwhile, PAGASA has forecast that southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms today until Friday next week, or from 11 to 18 August. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms in the afternoons or evenings during the forecast period. The southwest monsoon carries warm moist winds from the southwest, causing rains over the western portion of the country from May to September. The post PAGASA: No LPA but ‘habagat’ to bring gloomy weather appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service
If life were a train, then Michael Ted Macapagal’s has been quite a ride. Raised by a labor leader and human rights lawyer father who served the people of Olongapo, including the workers of the US American Base in Subic, Michael Ted Macapagal had always wanted to become a public servant. It took Ted, though, a long journey to reach his goal, first achieving success in the insurance field in the United States where he lived for 20 years starting in 1991. Today, he is the chairman of the Philippine National Railways, a position “that allows me to make a difference in the lives of my countrymen,” he shared during his recent visit to the Daily Tribune office in Makati. Ted, good-looking and affable, proudly spoke of a father, his namesake, Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal who, early on, exposed his son to a firsthand view of a gentleman who looked beyond himself and his personal interests, and instead dedicated his career to protecting the common man and bettering their lot. The elder Ted served as a city councilor for 10 years. In 1984, he ran for the Batasang Pambansa, and in the late 1980s, for city mayor. “In all these electoral processes, I was involved and saw for myself how my father related to the people. He was a sincere man who helped them in the best way he could. He provided free legal services to those in need,” Ted recounted. Ted grew up in Olongapo, his place of birth. It was in the neighboring province of Pampanga, though, at the Don Bosco Institute in Bacolor town, where he first studied, but he eventually returned home to Olongapo, where he finished high school at the St. Columban. Aiming to become a lawyer, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he majored in History, which he intended as his pre-law course. Not unexpectedly, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi, his father’s fraternity. He also joined rallies where he stood with those who wanted the retention of US bases in the Philippines, in keeping with the sentiments of his townsmen. “It was the one concern where the whole of Olongapo was united,” he recalled, “because the people’s livelihood was connected to the base and the American presence in the community.” As a lawyer who specialized in labor, his father himself handled cases for the base employees. In 1988, his father lost his mayoralty bid in Olongapo. He fought against his fraternity brother, Richard Gordon. Actually, the two had been fighting it out for decades. “Olongapo became too small for them,” shared Ted. “A vivid memory to me to this day was the night I cried after my father lost. I was heartbroken because, for the most part of my life, I saw him give his all to the people. Throughout all those years, I just loved assisting my father. I followed him whenever he visited his constituents. I was a witness to everything that happened to him, his conflict with his political adversary and the loyalty of the people who believed in him and saw in him the man who would change the face of politics in our city.” The elder Macapagal became OIC-Mayor in 1986, but only two months after he received his appointment from the new president because the incumbent mayor did not easily give up his post which he was required to vacate under the new revolutionary government. “The next local election was the most expensive political exercise that our family ever waged,” Ted recounted. “It was then that my father decided that I pursue a new life in the United States, away from politics back home. “All the while, my heart never left the Philippines. Even before I left, I promised myself I would return to continue what my father started.” First non-white president Ted stayed in San Francisco for 20 long years. He had a tough time at the beginning of his new life. “I started off doing odd jobs. I worked as a security guard, janitor and waiter in a pizza parlor. “I also guarded the heavy equipment in a construction site in San Francisco. Thievery was a problem in that kind of situation. We would sleep in a trailer. “I transferred to a construction firm because I found out it offered a bigger salary. But I didn’t know the technical aspects of construction. Once, I made a portable ladder, but it fell apart, for which I was scolded by the owner of the company. I was fired on my third day on the job. Too bad because it paid high.” Ted then decided to pursue another degree, one that would be more useful in the United States. He took up Human Resource Management, a four-year course at the University of California in Berkeley. When he finally entered the corporate world, his first job was as a clerk. It wasn’t long before he became Division President of Stewart Title Company, one of the largest underwriters in the world, with offices across the United States, and in some 80 countries around the globe. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I may have been the first non-white president,” he said. “And I was a division president for the whole of North America. I was the first Filipino to reach that level.” Of his trailblazing accomplishments, he shared, “I was able to bring cultural diversity to the company, which enhanced its value. I got the top post because I asked for a meeting with the president. I told him we were not diverse enough to appeal to the non-white clients, and there were many of them who were first-time home buyers. Then, I told him to make the rounds. He would see that none of the home buyers was white. They were of different ethnic groups. I told him that if he appointed me as vice president, I would give him multi-cultural buyers because I would appeal to them and they would be our first-time buyers. So, he appointed me, and one month later, he made me president.” As an adjunct, he lectured on the topic of title insurance and escrow procedures in several community colleges in and around the San Franciso Bay Area. Through it all, he chose to keep his Filipino citizenship. The ‘Railway President’ For all the successes he was enjoying, the Philippines beckoned. He felt he still had a mission to accomplish. “My father was surprised. He asked me why I would still want to go home when I was doing well in the States. I insisted, so I came back and I plunged into political life. I worked on difficult campaigns, like the one for Rodrigo Duterte.” Back to his first love and passion, the political arena, he was in his element and served as president of PDP LABAN in Olongapo City from 2016 to 2021. In 2022, he joined LAKAS-CMD as its local chairman. This engagement led to his original target, as his father had achieved in his lifetime — serving the people. This time, he would be appointed to key posts in the government. He became director of the Clark Board and Gulf Oil Philippines. He took his oath of office as chairman of the Philippine National Railways on 28 April 2023. It is a job in a government agency where he is confident “I could make a difference because I can see that President Bongbong Marcos is really intent on improving the railway system of the country. “On my part, I want to make a difference. I want to be able to contribute whatever I can to help the president to achieve that objective. I call him now the ‘Railway President’ because I consider him the father of the railway system in our country.” Of course, he noted that many plans have been formulated during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte. Moreover, he recognized that President Gloria Arroyo “navigated our country through the global crisis. I was in the United States when the global economic crisis happened, and the Philippines was one of the countries spared, and I give credit to her. The economic fundamentals were very strong during her time. Being an economist, she was there at the right time when the country needed her the most.” With President BBM at the helm, he is confident “we will be able to push through with our development plan and finish the projects we have started, like the North-South Commuter Railway, which is a 147-kilometer stretch from Clark to Laguna. We hope to have the dry run in 2026 and it will be fully operational in 2027.” He also looks forward to the completion of the Bicol South Long Haul project. He is equally hopeful for the North Long Haul, the Subic-Clark and the Mindanao railways. He clarified that “we are now talking with the proponents, while some negotiations are being undertaken.” Working boots and a hard hat It would seem that this successful insurance executive was out of place in the railway sector. He pointed out, though, that “coming from the outside, I have the technical advantage of being able to look outside the box. So, I’m looking at it from outside the box, looking in. I am able to see the problems that need to be fixed. Stoppage is one of the problems so we have a bus augmentation program. We will also deploy UV Express units. We are closely coordinating with the LTFRB to provide emergency alternative transportation.” On the other hand, his exposure to people of all backgrounds from his youth, being his father’s son, has given him the advantage of “knowing how it is to be one of the boys. Something that I also experienced in the United States. “When people ask me what my management style is, I tell them straight I like to go down to the ground. I like hands-on supervision. I want my hands to be dirty. If you open the trunk of my car, you will find my working boots and my hard hat. I enjoy going to the construction sites and seeing for myself the progress, the problems, whatever it is that needs to be attended to. “Finally I want those working in the field doing the most difficult tasks to be satisfied and never to be hungry. Gusto ko, busog sila lagi. I am not happy when I get invited by the constructors and I am honored with a feast-like lunch or dinner, and not knowing what the workers are eating. I am on a diet anyway, so I make sure that my hosts bring the food to where the workers are eating. I can only eat so much and I would rather that the workers and the staff are full and happy. I am vocal about my displeasure when the construction workers are not eating the same food that is served to me. I may not be able to invite them to where I am eating but I can have the food brought to them.” Smiling from heaven Without a doubt, the old man Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal is smiling happily from his heavenly perch. He had served his fellowmen well, but he had done right as well by raising a son who took after his heart, to whom service to the people and compassion for the less fortunate matter more than any personal gain. His father, according to Ted, “died a broken man at the young age of 63. But whatever he lacked in longevity and riches, he made up for it with his compassion for others, for the free legal services that he gave to the people of Olongapo. “If you didn’t have money, you went to him because he was generous with his time and expertise. He would even give you some cash to use for your transportation fare to go home. That was my father. “The people whom he helped in turn would come to our home and bring him gifts like eggs, fruits, fish, vegetables and native chickens that they raised in their backyards. My father accepted them all. When I came home and saw all this, I teased him and said that he should probably open a sari-sari store so he could resell them. “Of course, we had a good laugh. But beyond the laughter, we both knew in our hearts that doing good to one’s fellowmen is its own reward and nothing in this world can take the place of personal fulfillment for having put a smile on people’s faces because you somehow made their lives better. “I am grateful that I have been raised by such a great father.” The post Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Typhoon Falcon strengthens, enhances ‘habagat’
Typhoon Falcon's enhancement of the southwest monsoon or "habagat" will bring a significant amount of rain in the next three days, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Monday In its latest weather bulletin, PAGASA said "Falcon" has maintained its strength as it moves north-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour on Monday morning—with its center last tracked over 1,045 km east of extreme Northern Luzon. It packs maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. PAGASA said "Falcon" may exit the Philippine area of responsibility between Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening. It is forecast to further intensify over the next two days and may reach its peak intensity Tuesday or on Wednesday. When outside the PAR region, the typhoon will turn west-northwestward and pass close— with landfall not ruled out—over Okinawa Islands in the Ryukyu archipelago between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning while gradually decelerating. The "Falcon"-enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring occasional monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon and Visayas. ‘Falcon’ is the sixth cyclone to hit the Philippines this year. PAGASA said the hoisting of Wind Signal due to "Falcon" over any locality in the country remains “unlikely” based on the current forecast scenario. However, the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring gusty conditions over Zambales, Bataan, the central and southern portions of Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and most of Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region and Western Visayas on Monday. Gusty conditions will prevail in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, the central and southern portions of Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and most of Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region and Western Visayas throughout on Tuesday. On Wednesday, gusty conditions will be experienced in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, the western portion of Northern Samar and most of Western Visayas. The typhoon-enhanced "habagat" will bring moderate to rough seas over the coastal waters along the northern (1.2 to 2.8 m), western (2.5 to 3.5 m), and southern (1.5 to 3.0 m) seaboards of Luzon. PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft to take precautionary measures when venturing over these waters. “If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, avoid navigating in these conditions,” it warned. The post Typhoon Falcon strengthens, enhances ‘habagat’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Falcon’ enters PAR, enhances habagat
Tropical Storm "Falcon" (with international name Khanun) has finally entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility while forecast to move north-northwestward and will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat starting this weekend. In its latest weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Falcon, which is now over the Philippine Sea and far from the landmass, will have a combined effect with southwest monsoon, bringing occasional to monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas in the next three days. PAGASA said the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal due to ‘Falcon’ over any locality in the country “remains unlikely” based on the current forecast scenario. However, the enhanced ‘Habagat’ will bring gusty conditions over the following areas, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds over the Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and most of CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas today. While tomorrow, gusty conditions will prevail in the Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Northern Samar, and most of CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. On Monday gusty winds will be experienced in Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Northern Samar, and most of CALABARZON, Bicol Region and Western Visayas. The center of the tropical storm was last tracked at 1,315 east of central Luzon, moving westward at 10 kilometers per hour. The weather disturbance is packing winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of 80 kph. PAGASA said ‘Falcon’ is forecast to become a typhoon tomorrow afternoon or evening and reach its peak intensity on late Monday or early Tuesday. It may then exit the PAR region between Monday afternoon and evening. The post ‘Falcon’ enters PAR, enhances habagat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Egay’ intensifies to severe tropical storm
"Egay" has become a severe tropical storm and could strengthen further by Tuesday, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday. In its latest advisory, the state bureau said Egay, will intensify into a typhoon over the following 24 hours. PAGASA attributed Egay's quick intensification to "favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions." "Through the forecast period, this tropical cyclone will continue to steadily intensify. It may reach super typhoon category on Tuesday or Wednesday while over the Philippine Sea east of Extreme Northern Luzon," PAGASA said. The state bureau also expects "Egay" to weaken by Wednesday before it impacts Taiwan, and it may weaken even more as it interacts with the hilly terrain of the autonomous island. This weakening is anticipated to continue until the storm makes another impact on the Chinese mainland. No tropical cyclone wind signal was raised anywhere in the Philippines. Still, PAGASA warned residents to brace themselves for heavy rainfall through Tuesday in several areas of Luzon and the Bicol Region. "Current forecast scenario shows that the highest wind signal that may be hoisted will be Wind Signal No. 3 or 4, potentially over Extreme Northern Luzon," it said. "However, should a southward shift in the track occur, higher wind signals may be hoisted." The weather state bureau last spotted "Egay" at 610 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte. It had winds that might reach a maximum sustained speed of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts as high as 115 kph. It moved westward and increased somewhat in speed from early Sunday morning's 10 kph to 15 kph. In the coming three days, "Egay" is predicted to intensify the southwest monsoon, or "habagat", and bring heavy rain to a number of regions of the nation. The Bicol area, Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and the southern part of Quezon expected cloudy sky with intermittent rain showers and thunderstorms brought on by the trough of "Egay". Over Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, and the remainder of the Visayas, the southwest monsoon is anticipated to bring cloudy skies, sporadic rain showers, and thunderstorms. Due to the "habagat" and localized thunderstorms, Metro Manila and the rest of the country can expect partly overcast to cloudy sky with sporadic rain showers or thunderstorms. "Egay" and the strengthened southwest monsoon are also expected to deliver significant gusts of wind to the northern parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga, according to PAGASA. The weather disturbance may bring heavy rain to Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and the northern part of Camarines Sur on Monday. The eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Northeastern Mindanao were also under a gale warning from PAGASA. The post ‘Egay’ intensifies to severe tropical storm appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Habagat rains to persist as TD Dodong moves outside PAR
Storm-enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to bring occasional and frequent rains in most parts of the country, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration on Saturday, 15 July. PAGASA said monsoon rains will affect Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Western Visayas with possible flooding or landslides in these areas possible amid scattered to widespread rains. Moderate to at times heavy rains may prevail in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region, and the rest of Central Luzon and of CALABARZON. The rest of the country will experience isolated rains or thunderstorms caused by habagat or by localized thunderstorms. PAGASA said heavy rainfall is forecast to hit La Union and Pangasinan from Saturday night until Sunday due to Tropical Depression Dodong. The tropical depression is forecast to intensify while moving towards the West Philippine Sea. Dodong may reach the tropical storm category today near the northwestern limit of the Philippine area of responsibility region and may peak at the typhoon category on Monday. The post Habagat rains to persist as TD Dodong moves outside PAR appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
All wind signals down as Dodong maintains strength over WPS
All wind signals have been lifted as Tropical Depression "Dodong" maintains its strength over the West Philippine Sea according to PAGASA early Saturday, 15 July. In its 5:00 am bulletin, the state weather bureau said Dodong's center has been found west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. The tropical depression is currently moving westward at 20km/h. PAGASA, however, said that the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or habagat may still bring gusty conditions over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, the eastern portion of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas today. Meanwhile, a marine gale warning is in effect over the western seaboards of the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan. The post All wind signals down as Dodong maintains strength over WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TD Dodong continues to reorganize over the WPS
The state weather bureau PAGASA said the Tropical Depression Dodong continues to reorganize over the West Philippine Sea as it is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday evening or on Sunday morning. In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said TD Dodong is expected to track generally northwestward until Sunday morning, while gradually accelerating before turning more west-northwestward going towards southern China. PAGASA said accumulated rainfall today will be around 50 to 100 millimeters in La Union and Pangasinan. Flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible during these weather conditions. A strong breeze to near gale strength winds is expected within any of the areas where Wind Signal No.1 is currently in effect. Meanwhile, an enhanced Southwest Monsoon may bring gusty conditions over the areas of Ilocos Region—not under any wind signal, Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. Gusty conditions will prevail over the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the southern portion of Quezon on Sunday. Similar conditions will be experienced by Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, and Antique on Monday. PAGASA said TD Dodong and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon may bring moderate to rough seas, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 meters over the eastern and 2.0 to 3.5 m in western seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon will have 2.0 to 3.5 m. The state weather bureau advised mariners of small seacrafts to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. PAGASA said TD Dodong may reach tropical storm category on Saturday and may be upgraded into a severe tropical storm on Monday over the waters south of Hong Kong. The post TD Dodong continues to reorganize over the WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Combined LPA, Habagat to affect most part of Phl— Pagasa
Rainy weather will be experienced throughout the country due to the combined effects of the low-pressure area off Infanta, Quezon, and the southwest monsoon or Habagat, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration said Thursday. Citing the latest PAGASA bulletin, weather specialist Patrick Del Mundo said that the LPA is unlikely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours but already affects several parts of the country. “This LPA remained less likely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, but we are expecting it to move closer to parts of Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte area,” Del Mundo reported. However, PAGASA has not ruled out the possibility of the weather disturbance intensifying into a tropical depression. The LPA was last tracked 90 kilometers over Northeast of Infanta, Quezon, or 85 km Southeast of Baler, Aurora (15.3°N, 122.3°E). Del Mundo said the Southwest Monsoon is still affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. “Due to the combined effects of LPA and southwest monsoon, we expect the sky to be cloudy throughout the day, along with scattered rain, lightning, and thunder,” he added. The combined LPA and the southwest monsoon will trigger rain showers and thunderstorms called “monsoon rains” in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA. Southwest Monsoon will bring occasional rains over Bicol Region and Western Visayas. PAGASA warned that scattered to widespread rains could cause possible flooding or landslides in the above-mentioned areas. While Central and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, BARMM, and SOCCSKSARGEN will experience Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to Habagat. Isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the Caraga and Davao Region due to localized thunderstorms. The post Combined LPA, Habagat to affect most part of Phl— Pagasa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»