Horrific Letters and Numbers
In the midst of the public health crisis that we are currently facing, the Filipino people have yet again been put to the test by natural calamities. According to a Time Magazine article in 2013, the Philippines is “the most exposed country in the world to tropical storms”, as approximately twenty tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) yearly. However, not until these past few weeks has the alphabet and counting numbers been this scary with RSTU and 14.
It only took 14 days for four typhoons to pour into our country. With this tight timeframe, recovery for those who were affected is nowhere near the necessary upswing. Let’s face it, the Philippines is indeed a country prone to such disasters, but having one after another is just off the hook, putting into consideration the pandemic that we are in. So, what really happened?
The start of November indicated the start of a 14-day hysteria, as Typhoon Rolly, by far the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone in 2020, made its landfall in Bicol Region, towards CALABARZON as it weakened on its exit to the West Philippine Sea. Rolly carried winds up to 225 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 310 kph, as it was downgraded from being a supertyphoon before it slammed into the Philippine landmass to a typhoon. This all happened a week after Quinta rummaged into the same region by the end of October.
“I was angry that we had to go through this. Why it had to happen again, one storm after another. And there is still the coronavirus to worry about.” — Rochelle Molina, a 23-year old resident of Virac Catanduanes (Manila Bulletin Online)
Hours after Rolly’s landfall, Siony stepped into PAR, being the Philippines’ 19th tropical cyclone for this year. It was initially spotted east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h, yet it headed north towards Batanes and Babuyan Islands. Fortunately, Siony did not make its landfall as it turned westward, exiting PAR.
Marking the first week of the month, a certain low pressure area near Sorsogon has developed into Tropical Depression Tonyo around 8 PM of November 7, Saturday. With its local name Tonyo, it had a maximum sustained wind of 55 km/h from the previous 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h from the previous 55 km/h. It earlier hit Masbate, Marinduque, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro. Before leaving PAR, it was last seen 710 kilometers west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, over the West Philippine Sea, packing peak winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph.
Whilst Tonyo was exiting PAR, Ulysses swiftly entered as it was first recorded 800 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, as it further intensified to a tropical storm. Moving northwest towards Bicol, Ulysses had maximum sustained winds of 125 km/h and gustiness of up to 155km/h, dropping a strike two from the same region after Rolly. It also raised Storm Signal №3 in Central Luzon and Southern Luzon.
Rolly, Siony, Tonyo, and Ulysses went all-out to the Philippines in two weeks. Amidst the nation struggling towards the emerging number of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, the onslaught of natural calamities has further pushed the country to its downfall. Indeed, RSTU and 14 will never be the same again, as it will now be remembered as horrific letters and numbers, leaving a mark in history with the number of families displaced, the countrymen lost, and the resources that have all been washed away.
REFERENCES:
Arceo, Acor. “Tropical Depression Ulysses develops inside PAR, joining Tonyo.” Rappler. Rappler, 8 Nov. 2020. Online. Internet. 18 Nov. 2020. Available: https://www.rappler.com/nation/weather/tropical-depression-ulysses-tonyo-pagasa-forecast-november-8-2020-11pm.
Baron, Gabriela. “‘Rolly’ survivor recalls typhoon’s wrath in Catanduanes town: ‘we survived’.” Manila Bulletin, 8 Nov. 2020. Online. Internet. 18 Nov. 2020. Available: https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/08/rolly-survivor-recalls-typhoons-wrath-in-catanduanes-town-we-survived/.
Brown, Sophie (2013). “The Philippines Is the Most Storm-Exposed Country on Earth”. Time. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
“Super Typhoon Goni weakens; new storm in.” Online Investing Daily, 1 Nov. 2020. Online Internet. 18 Nov. 2020. Available: https://onlineinvestingdaily.com/super-typhoon-goni-weakens-new-storm-in/.
“Super Typhoon Rolly batters Bicol, leaving at least 7 dead.” INQUIRER.net, 2 Nov. 2020. Online. Internet. 18 Nov. 2020. Available: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355234/super-typhoon-rolly-batters-bicol-leaving-at-least-7-dead.
“‘Ulysses’ becomes typhoon ahead of landfall; Signal №3 up over parts of Luzon.” Philstar.com. Philstar.com, 11 Nov. 2020. Online. Internet. 18 Nov. 2020. Available: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/11/2056161/ulysses-becomes-typhoon-ahead-landfall-signal-no-3-over-parts-luzon.
Vera-Ruiz, Ellalyn De. “Tropical Storm ‘Siony’ likely to intensify into typhoon, may affect Northern Luzon.” Manila Bulletin, 3 Nov. 2020. Online. Internet. 18 Nov. 2020. Available: https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/03/tropical-storm-siony-likely-to-intensify-into-typhoon-may-affect-northern-luzon/.
