A Letter to Mother Earth

Dear Mother Earth,

                   It was a beautiful day and the children were playing tag. I was on the balcony, smiling as the cold breeze touches my skin. Suddenly, a butterfly filled with colors pink, blue, black and yellow landed onto my hand, it was beautiful, as beautiful as the bright, sunny clouds. I said 'hi' to the tiny creature then blew it away. Some moments I heard the birds singing with the flow of the wind. My messy, black hair danced with the tune of the music that had formed. The lake at the backyard splashed as the feet of the laughing kids stepped on it. But the water sounded good to my ears, and I swear, that moment was infinite. I stretched my hands and suddenly woke up from my wonderful dream. I can now hear the loud beeps from the cars outside my building. I look out of the window and see the big, black smoke from the bread company just some distance from where I am standing on. I look at the sky searching for some birds, instead, I see a plane faring to its destination. I walk out of my room and see my brother playing his latest iPad 5 that dad bought yesterday. I walk to the bathroom and look into the mirror. I sighed, thinking how far the world has gone, wishing that everything was just a nightmare.

                  You were so beautiful, Mother Earth. And it's been an honor for me, for everyone, to be a part of you. We were so innocent then, and as we were walking through our life journey from day to day, we had been discovering things. We invented these, we invented those. We built here, we built there. And I can say that the growth of modernization has been so rapid. Now, you are filled with technologies, stuff that have been giving benefits to your dwellers, but have been an endless catastrophe to thee. And for all of this, I feel sorry for you.

                  I would like to take a moment thanking you for being our habitat since the threshold. If not for your existence, our existence would also have been impossible. Without you, where would we be now? We would be out of nowhere. So thank you, you deserve a massive thank you from everyone.

For all of what you've done to us, we've been a disaster to you. And I'm afraid now that you seem to be having your revenge. But before anything else happens, I would like to say sorry. Sorry for destructing every little part of you. Sorry if we were too busy discovering new things to remember that you were suffering because of our movements. But this I promise, I will never join those harsh dwellers of you. I will not again do something that, I know, will hurt you. I will be one of those people who live to take care of you; and not to ruin your beauty, until I perish in your arms.

                  I go back to my bed and lay down. Silently looking at the ceiling, thinking that maybe it is not too late. I close my eyes and draw the beautiful world in my vision. Maybe one day, someday, the world will be as beautiful as before. As beautiful as of in my dream. Then I whisper: hug me Mother Earth, so I will be safe and sound.

Your Loving Child ,   

   Lyka Mae P. Chiang

Storm Signals

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 1 when winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours. Signal no. 2 when winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours. Signal no. 3 winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours. Very strong winds are coming generally from the north. signal no. 4 when very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours. With storm signal no. 4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches, the weather will continuously worsen with the winds increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a sudden improvement of the weather with light winds (a lull) will be experienced.
2. I want to know more about the formation of a typhoon and the factors that affect the signal no. of an area.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is experiencing typhoon of any signal no.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal nos.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing typhoon.

Storm Signal No. 4

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 4 when very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours. With storm signal no. 4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches, the weather will continuously worsen with the winds increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a sudden improvement of the weather with light winds (a lull) will be experienced. This means that the eye of the typhoon is over the locality. This improved weather may last for one to two hours depending on the diameter of the eye and the speed of movement. As the eye moves out of the locality, the worst weather experienced before the lull will suddenly commence. This time the very strong winds will come generally from the south.
2. I want to know more how a storm signal no. 3 turns into signal no. 4 and its effect on the country.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under such worst condition.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 4.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 4.

Storm Signal No. 2

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 2 when winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours.
2. I want to know more how a storm signal no. 1 turns into signal no. 2 and its effect on the country.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under storm signal no. 2.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 2.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 2.

Storm Signal No. 3

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 3 when winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours. People should watch out for the passage of the "eye" of the typhoon indicated by a sudden occurrence of fair weather immediately after very bad weather with very strong winds coming generally from the north.
2. I want to know more how a storm signal no. 2 turns into signal no. 3 and its effect on the country.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under storm signal no. 3.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 3.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 3.

Storm Signal No. 1

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 1 when winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours.
2. I want to know more about the causes and effects of storm signal no. 1.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under storm signal no. 1.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 1.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 1.

Fujiwhara Effect

1. I learned that Fujiwhara Effect is a binary interaction where tropical cyclones within a certain distance (300-750 nautical miles depending on the sizes of the cyclones) of each other begin to rotate about a common midpoint. In 1921, a Japanese meteorologist named Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara determined that two storms will sometimes move around a common center pivot point.

2. I want to know more about the formation of the said phenomenon.

3. I would like to research on the different effects of the Fujiwhara Effect in the weather of the country and the different weather  instruments that can be used to detect the incoming of such phenomenon.

4. I appreciate the fact that there are meteorologist and weather agencies that are willing to study about the mentioned phenomenon so that if such would get into the country, people will be informed.

5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather of the country esp. if there will be a Fujiwhara Effect that will form in the country.