Milenyo Storming In Metro Manila

Typhoon Milenyo (a.k.a Xangsane) which was named after the year 2000 when the entire storm naming system of PAGASA was changed - storms are no longer given female names only, will hit Metro Manila in a matter of minutes. As early as this morning, strong whistling winds can already be heard along with moderate rainfall. I still came to work and it was a surprise that the creek in the middle of Araneta Avenue is a meter away from overflowing despite the absence of strong rains. This is probably due to the increase in sea level due to strong winds as described by PAGASA. On my way to the office, I saw pedestrian struggling to keep their umbrellas upturned by the strong winds, their clothes clinging close to their bodies due to the winds.

Strikingly, PAGASA was able to predict this one typhoon accurately such that suspensions of classes in all levels were declared as early as early last night. This is quite a first.

I can hear the winds howling outside my window right now. The sky is very dark and cloudy. It is estimated that the eye of the storn will pass the Metro at around 11am which will be occasioned by a lull - the skies could probably clear and there will be absence of any strong wind. Within less than an hour, as the eye passes, the skies will darken and the winds will intensify again. The last time a typhoon made a direct hit on Metro Manila was way back in 1995 when I was still in college. I remember coming back to the U.P. Campus finding large chunks and pieces of decades old huge acacia trees lining the Academic Oval scattered all over. Some trees were even uprotted. Things are much different back then - there weren't too many billboards along EDSA for one. Neither were there plenty of skyscrapers. I hope the storm passes quite uneventfully, and for all of us to weather this, safely.