Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The next image from TRMM was taken at 22:50 UTC 29 November (6:50 am local time) as Durian was bearing down on Catanduanes Island in the central Philippines. Although the center of the storm does fall within the PR swath in this image, it is clear from the TMI that Durian has a well-defined eye surrounded by a symmetric eyewall (green ring). The extreme cyclonic winds in intense storms tend to smear out eyewall features. At the time of this image, Durian was a strong Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds estimated to be 130 knots (150 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Soon after this image was taken Durian's northern eyewall passed over Virac on the southern tip of Catanduanes Island. The center then made landfall along the south- eastern portion of Luzon in the province of Albay before continuing on westward through the central Philippines. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC).Saturday, November 1, 2008
Fiesta Dos and Donts!
 | IT’S FIESTA SEASON AGAIN IN BICOL Celebrating with the locals will be the expected crowds-- both the home coming residents and the first-time visitors. While guests are always treated with warmth and respect, it is still the merrymaker’s responsibility | ||
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Friday, October 31, 2008
TOURISM The municipality is endowed by nature with abundant variety of tourist attractions. Mount Malinao, whose highest altitude is recorded at more or less 1,584 meters above sea level, is declared by the provincial government as a ground for mountaineers and is included in the Provincial Tourism Master Development Plan.Atop Mount Malinao is Danao Lake, a haven for nature lovers. Other natural attractions are the Comagingking Falls in Tanawan, Palale Falls in Diaro, Vera Falls in Bulang, Amater Spring and Aqua Finest Spring Resorts both in Tanawan. Their inland water bodies provide the necessary recreational attractions, which are sought for by tourist, both local and foreign. Moreover, in the coastal barangays of Jonop and Baybay lie long lines of wild and undeveloped beaches that one could swim and marvel at, and the Corangon Reef is considered aa place apropos for diving.
Montane mist forest or Mossy forest type is not extensive on Mount Malinao as that of Mt. Isarog were the single storey, dwarfed 8-10m canopy is not fully engulfed in mosses & other bryophytes. Typical small-leaved stunted tress occue densely only around the peaks at the rim of the crater, marked between 1,300-1,500 masl.
Even at the saddle between the 2 lesser peaks (of the SW slope), broad-leaved trees become more evident and less stunted, more typical of lower montane to mid-montane forest.
Vera Falls, Malinao, Albay | for everyone |
Psst! Did you, once in your life, wanted to swim in some hidden forest waterfalls in your birthday suit with no care in the world except for some nosy shrieking birds, cool breeze, cold water and lots of moss-encrusted trees to cover your nakedness? Well, I discovered that there is still a place in Barangay Bulang, Malinao, Albay, named Vera Falls. I heard a lot about this waterfall from some of my adventurous friends, but sadly, they forgot to carry any cameras, or if they do, the films have never seen the light of the processors (that was still the golden era of films).
Being the info officer of my office, I was assigned to cover and document DAR-initiated projects in our rural communities.
Nestled at the foot of forested Mt. Malinao, this barangay belongs to one of the far-flung and mountainous agrarian reform communities in Albay. After doing my assignment, I had some chika-chika with some residents and somebody mentioned the waterfalls. Well, in my past life I was related to Magellan (though my looks don’t) hehehe, thus an explorer. So with my reliable, ever-present Olympus E-500 camera, I lost no time and went with an excited, lolo-like Barangay Kagawad to guide me around.
Vera Falls can be reached around eight kilometers from Tabaco City, then take a right turn at Barangay Quinastillojan, where Barangay Comun comes next, cross the millions-worth World Bank-DAR-LGU-built concrete bridge and road (ehem, I said I am the DAR-Albay info officer, so I better promote our accomplishments) and upon reaching Barangay Sua, you start negotiating the bumpy, winding road. Although in a year’s time, it will be a smooth ride since paving of the road is afoot. For now, if you want to take your car it should be a 4-wheel drive, but of course I got there with my trusted, office-issued Honda XL125.
Then spare another 1.5 kilometers from the barangay center, with road construction is also in full swing. Upon reaching the end of the road, there goes the hard part. You have to trek another 300 meters downhill and if careless, you’ll reach your destination below in seconds, but with broken bones, if you’re lucky to be alive, hehehe. And please don’t be acrophobic, it’ll be a dizzying height but if you want to step on Tarzan shoes, er, g-strings, there will be lots of vines and vegetations to cling to. I tell you, it will not be a walk in the park. But upon reaching the falls, cool breeze will envelope you, with shrieking birds, cold water and lots of moss-encrusted trees around, then go for your dream, swim! Be in you birthday suit and let nature cover you.
PS. My guide cum model didn’t mind my suit, so I didn’t mind him too, hehehe. Better come now because if the road network is finished, tourists will surely be flocking in and who wants to swim buck naked if hordes of people are around, except if you are an exhibitionist.
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