STATE OF CALAMITY : Declared in 9 Metro Manila, Luzon areas

STATE OF CALAMITY : Declared in 9 Metro Manila, Luzon areas. 

Nine areas in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon struck by massive flooding due to non-stop rains have been placed under a state of calamity.

Among the areas in Metro Manila that have been declared under a state of calamity were: 

• Valenzuela
• Malabon 
• Muntinlupa  
• Marikina City
• Caloocan City
• Manila City
• Quezon City
• Muntinlupa City

Following days of torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon. Several provinces are now also declared under a state of calamity they are the following:

• Bataan
• Laguna
• Pampanga 
• Zambales
• Cainta and San Mateo in Rizal province. 

In areas under a state of calamity declaration the following will take effect :

• It would allow the release and use of emergency funds, especially for rescue and relief efforts.   
• The government have a say and can also control the prices of basic commodities. Price control is automatically imposed when an area is in a state of calamity so traders cannot take advantage of the situation.

To ensure that basic commodities, including sardines, noodles, rice and sugar are being sold within the suggested retail price (SRP) a price monitoring team will be deployed  by the government especially at flood-hit areas.

Traders who sell above the SRP will be asked to explain and there will be penalties if the price increase is unwarranted.

In case, you encounter an establishment selling above the SRP, please file a complaint at DTI offices in your area.

Oil Retailers Hiked Fuel Prices TODAY

Oil retailers have meanwhile hiked fuel prices earlier today amid floods.

This is sad news :-(  

While Filipino people affected by the continuous rains are cleaning and removing water from their homes. Oil company giants Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Total (Philippines) Inc. increased prices by P0.80 a liter for gasoline and P0.40 a liter for diesel. 

Also expected to increase prices Wednesday morning is SeaOil Philippines, Inc. 

I hope they suspend the oil price increase until the people have recovered from the floods :-(

SURVIVAL TIPS OF A BICOLANA DURING TYPHOON

SURVIVAL TIPS OF A BICOLANA DURING TYPHOON

I was born and raised in Bicol. Yes, it is where I grew up- in the eye of the storm.

Yes, folks, we always stock on food at home, in our car, office and in our bags. Because you could never tell when a storm will strike our province. This is because of the not so accurate info by the weather bureau when I was growing up. Sometimes our farm hand look for signs on our surroundings to determine how long the rain will be. Yes, a lot of you may laugh about what I had just said. But that is my personal experience while growing up.

Today, did you noticed the time when the state bureau advised Malacanang? Yes, you are so damn right! Only today, after a lot of people had braved the flood just to go to their respective offices. Why did those people went out when it was already flooded outside due to the incessant rains? It is because they value their work. They don't want to lose their jobs.

Our farm hand, back then could guess if there's a typhoon or rain coming the next day. Yes, you read it right. Before it actually happens. How did they determine typhoons? I will discuss that in another post. I admit, all I want to do now is to sleep all day because of the bed weather. We're lucky we still have electricity.  No one knows how long this climate will last even though the state bureau had announced already that it will last until Wednesday. But, then again, it was corrected by CNN American weather bureau, they insisted it will be up to Thursday. 

It is awful to be stuck in traffic or flooded areas in knee-deep water with a grumbling stomach. It’s always better to be armed with necessary stocks at home like the following food :

• Biscuits
• Bread 
• Candies
• Chocolates 
• Noodles
• Canned Goods that are ready to eat.
• Bottled water
• Soda, tea or coffee

Important Items that should be on hand:

•  Flashlight and Batteries 
•  Transistor Radio with Extra Batteries
•  Blanket/Comforters/Mattress/Pillows/Towels
•  Jacket/Sweaters/Socks/Caps/
•   Off Lotion
•  Umbrella/Tents 
•   Rain Boots
•   Scissor/ Knife
•   Twine
•   Candles
•   Dry Matches
•   Big Pails 
•   If possible have your own Lifesaver device/ Life Vest, Old Inner tubes/ interior /Styrofoam 
•   Antiseptic/First Aid Kits/Medicine bags

Fit everything in one “EMERGENCY BAG,” so it’s easy to locate and grab. 

Cash is king during power outage. Always have extra cash handy. ATM's and Credit Cards might not be available or accessible especially if there's a power outage.

Load up! How can you ask ask for help via text or calls if you don't have a load.

Charge all gadgets especially emergency light, mobile phones for communication, rechargeable radio, rechargeable fan. 

Yes, I have a rechargeable fan in our house aside from my rechargeable emergency light.

Experience thought me it can get warm after the storm and we usually don't have electricity up to one month after a storm had passed.

Improvised flotation device can be made out of empty Soda/ Juice/ Water Plastic Bottles. Just securely tie (very important) the plastic bottles together, 10-20  pieces will do and it can work as a flotation device for one person. An innovative Pinoy made a boat out of this empty plastic containers. See photo above which I saw on Facebook, credits to the owner of that boat
I also saw a picture of a dog with a empty bottles as Life Vest.

If you want to add some valuable tips please feel free to comment. Thanks. I hope you learn a thing or two from my this survival tips. Pray!

Keep safe! God bless us all!

EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBERS TO CALL

EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBERS TO CALL:

ABS-CBN Hotline 0928-5078592

National Disaster Coordinating Council – 912-2112 / 911-1873 / 912-2665



PNP 117 / 723-0410

NAIA 877-1109

MNTC 638-4380 to 88

MMDA 136

Citizens Disaster Response Center – 0906-4361185

Red Cross – 527-0000 / 524-5787

Coast Guard – 5278481

Bureau of Fire Protection – 729-5166

Pagasa – 433-8526

Senator Manny Villar – 0917-4226800 / 0927-6751981

Senator Richard Gordon – 0917-8997898 / 0938-444BOYS

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration – 0917-8986992

Department of Trade and Industry – 751-0330/ 0917-8540009

Department of Health – 7438301

Department of Interior and Local Government – 925-0343

Philippine National Police – 117

Metro Manila Development Authority – 136

National Capital Region Police Office – 838-3203 / 833-3354

Marikina – 646-2436 /161

Pasig – 643-0000

Cainta – 387-2992

Meralco – 631-2222

Napocor – 921-3541

Maynilad – 1625

Manila Water – 1627

Stay Safe and dry! Let us all pray that the rain will stop soon and the flood will subside. na.

RICHARD GORDON: Opens FB Page for Help Request

If you need to be rescued, call 143 and 527-0000. You can put a white blanket outside your house so that rescuers can easily locate where you are.

Former Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross opens his Facebook page for everyone who needs help. He said that people could directly post their requests for rescue on his Facebook page or tweet him on his Twitter Account
   Richard Gordon, who chairs the PNRC, posted: 

"If you are unable to contact our hotlines as a last resort, please post in my wall on facebook the complete details, so that our volunteers can get back at you ASAP. Again our RED CROSS HOTLINE: 143 or 527-0000 or 911-1876 or 524- 5787. 

• Name
• Address
• Situations
• No. of people involved and there situation
• Contact numbers, etc

The PNRC chairman said they would need to prioritize the elderly and the sick in rescue efforts.

OVERFLOWING DAMS

"Damn those Dams" said a friend on a Social Network. Why was he reacting that way? It is because the water levels in major dams continue to rise due to heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon according to PAGASA.

As of 6 a.m., La Mesa Dam in Quezon City has overflowed and was at 80.54 meters, over and above its spilling level of 80.15meters, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

An overflow usually affects nearby areas such as:

• Tullahan River in Fairview
• Forest Hill
• Quirino Highway
• Capri
• Goodwill Homes in Sta. Quiteria
• Villages of San Bartolome in Quezon City
• Ligon North Expressway 
• La Huerta in Valenzuela 
• Malabon.

Ipo Dam in Bulacan opened two gates after its water level reached 101.10 meters, beyond its spilling level of 100.80 meters.

Part of the released water from Ipo Dam goes to La Mesa Dam.

Ambuklao Dam in Benguet is at 751.72 meters, nearing its spilling level of 752.00 meters. Two of its gates have been opened.

Three gates remain open in Binga Dam in Benguet after its water level reached 574.32 meters, also close to its spilling level of 575.00 meters.

San Roque Dam in Pangasinan is beyond its spilling level of 280.00 meters. Its water level has reached 283.36 meters as two of its gates were now open.

When Ambuklao, Binga and San Roque dams release water, the following municipalities in Pangasinan are likely to be affected:

• San Manuel
• San Nicolas
• Tayug
•  Sta Maria
•  Asingan
•  Villasis
•  Alcala
•  Bautista
•  Rosales
•  Bayambang

Magat Dam in Isabela is also beyond its spiling level of 190.00. Its water level is now at 191.42 meters.

Meanwhile, Caliraya Dam in Quezon is also nearing its spilling level of 288.00 meters. It is now at 287.27 meters.

WORK SUSPENSION

Better late than never! Please take care of yourselves. There's flood everywhere! 

In a Memorandum Circular No. 33 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. Malacanang announced the suspension of classes and work in government offices in Metro Manila and nine provinces today, Tuesday, due to non-stop rains brought about by the southwest monsoon locally known as Habagat.

Work in government offices and classes in college level are suspended today, 07August 2012 in the following locations:

• NCR (National Capital Region) 
• province of Zambales
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Pangasinan
• Tarlac
• Bulacan
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Rizal

The same directive, however, said that agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of vital public services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services.

House also suspends session. PSE suspends trading. Work in courts are also suspended. MMDA lifted number coding except in Makati. 

#Twitter Update:

As of 7:20 AM

Twitter Updates: DOLE Sec. Rosalina Baldoz: Work in PRIVATE offices in NCR are suspended.
As of 7:40 AM

DOLE Sec. Baldoz CONFIRMS on LIVE interview on UKG that she has NO AUTHORITY to SUSPEND WORK in private offices and companies. Private companies still has the DISCRETION / DECISION on suspension.

UKG has announcement billboard for work suspension in private companies (but to be verified by employees on their own through a number given). For your own safety, just miss work today whether there’s suspension or not.

As of 10 AM

Malacanang has announced suspension of work in private companies in NCR. #NoWorkToday #Suspended

CARLO ROSSI: California Sweet Red A Matter of Taste

Philippine style of merry making almost always includes wine drinking, be it during birthdays, wedding, baptism and during a simple get-together or karaoke session.

Moderate intake of red wine improves cardiovascular health. A fact, that was backed up in 1992 by Harvard researchers. They specifically suggested that red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. Yes, you read it right, drinking red wine in moderation is one of the eight proven ways to reduce coronary heart disease risk. The cardioprotective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes.

Scientists believe the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways: 

• by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also know as the "bad" cholesterol) 
• by boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol) 
• by reducing blood clotting. Furthermore, consuming a glass of wine along with a meal may favorably influence your lipid profiles following that meal.

One study found that the antioxidant resveratrol, which is prevalent in the skin of red grapes, may inhibit tumor development in some cancers. Another study indicated that resveratrol aided in the formation of nerve cells, which experts believe may be helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

As a symbol of status and celebration, wine-drinking has become a part of many Filipino festivities and has become evident in Philippine lifestyle. While it has become a common sight, one may note that a hurdle to wine drinking among Filipinos is the preference for sweetness.                   
Carlo Rocci is a Sweet Red California made Red Wine. Experts described the Sweet Red as soft, mild, and sweet. At 8% as an alcohol delivery system it's more effective than beer.

A red wine that fits the Filipino taste, Rossi Sweet Red provides a well balanced palate, complemented by fresh fruit flavors and a velvety soft-finish.
 
As a symbol of status and celebration, wine-drinking has become a part of many Filipino festivities and has become evident in Philippine lifestyle. While it has become a common sight, one may note that a hurdle to wine drinking among Filipinos is the preference for sweetness.
“We Pinoys are known to have sweet tooth. We love sweet delicacies and it is apparent in our usual practices like cooking.                     
                                                                      
For instance, most of us enjoy our spaghetti because it’s sweet. There’s no wonder we also look for that sweetness in drinks, even in wines. Globally also, there is a growing preference for sweet wines,” shares Von de Torres, Managing Director of Emperador Distillers, the company that distributes the Carlo Rossi brand of red and white wines in the Philippines.

The market of wine drinkers has been growing and can be somehow attributed to the openness of females to wine drinking because of its perceived health benefits. However, the preference for sweet wine is dominant since they find dry wines bitter. To satisfy this, the company brings to the market, from Carlo Rossi, the No.1 Imported Wine in the Philippines-Rossi Sweet Red.

Crafted from grapes grown in California’s sun drenched vineyards, Rossi Sweet Red is soft and sweet, with layers of vanilla and flavors of bright cherry and wild raspberry. It is guaranteed to burst with flavor and aroma with the right alcohol content, so Rossi Sweet Red isn’t just grape juice packed in a wine bottle.

Furthermore, Rossi Sweet Red innovates a creative means to drink wines: Have it on the rocks. The ice complements the rich, deep red color and allows the drinker to enjoy its sweet taste in the smoothest way possible.

A lot of people say that this is the best wine to serve to non wine drinkers . I you want to have a toast with people that do not drink wine , and you are not willing to drink cheap wine coolers this is the option to go with .

It has a great aroma . It is sweet, but not too sweet . It has non tanine flavors or after taste . You can actually taste the wine.

It can be compared to Italian sweet wines , but with the plus side that Carlo Rossi is actually reasonably priced. 

This wine is light to medium in body. The palate is well balanced. Bright red fruit and floral hints lead to a crisp finish.

“This is a perfect fit for a tropical country such as ours,” says de De Torres.                                                                                
                                               Bottle-and-stemless-glassRET

The status and symbol that wine-drinking connote still remains but overall, the most important thing is still satisfaction.

Discover a different kind of sweetness from Rossi Sweet Red Wine, best enjoyed on the rocks.

Well balanced, this light to medium-bodied sweet red wine has flavors of bright red fruits and fresh floral notes with a nice crisp finish.