Alert Level 3 – Increased Tendency Towards Eruption

Main Criteria
Relatively high unrest.
Volcanic quakes and tremor may become more frequent.
Further increase in SO₂ flux.
Occurrence of rockfalls in summit area.
Vigorous steaming / sustained crater glow.
Persistent swelling of edifice.

Interpretation/Recommendation
Magma is close to the crater.
If trend is one of increasing unrest, eruption is possible within weeks.
Extension of Danger Zone in the sector where the crater rim is low will be considered.

Source: http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/vmepd/vmepd/mayonAlert.htm

Check out this Mayon Volcano Bulletin (July 28, 2006 9:00 AM) from PHIVOLCS to verify. I’m sorry I’m not super-updated, but at least I posted.

So, now that you know about this, what do you do?

First of all, of course, if you’re living in Greenland, Canada, Paris or anywhere way beyond the area that’s likely to be affected, then I don’t think this is for you. You’ve got other things to worry about. But I’m not stopping you. After all, who knows, this could really come in handy.

Now, if you’re living in the Philippines, specifically in Luzon, and more specifically in Albay, then you should read this.

What to do before:

• Get some information on the volcanic hazards which will likely affect you in your location. Residents of Barangays Mabinit, Miisi, Bonga, Matanag and Buyoan should assume that they may have to deal with volcanic eruption and its effects. Also be informed of community warning systems and emergency plans. Prepare for these possible volcanic hazards: mudflows and flash floods, landslides and rockfalls, earthquakes, ashfall and acid rain, and tsunamis.
• If you’re living near Albay and find out you might be affected by lava flow, learn a quick and safe route to get to secure ground beforehand. And be sure to have a backup, just in case the first one doesn’t work.
• It is easy to get separated from your family when an emergency occurs, so ask someone from out-of-town (maybe a relative or a friend) who the family could get in touch with if ever you are separated. Take note of the person’s name, address and phone number.
• Pack your emergency kit. Make sure it has the following supplies: flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit and manual, emergency food and water, non-electric can opener, essential medicines, dust mask (goggles and breathing mask in case of ashfall) and sturdy shoes.
• Be updated. Listen to the news on the radio or on TV, read the newspaper. Just know what’s going on. If a Civil Defense Emergency is declared because of a life-threatening eruption, evacuate immediately and follow the instructions of authorities and experts.
• Generate enough supply of water since there is a possibility that it may become polluted.

If despite doing everything above, you still find yourself caught in the middle of a volcanic eruption, then read on.

What to do during:

• Be wary of falling rocks, trees and debris. Protect your head by rolling into a ball. Watch out for lava. Move to high ground if you see the water level of a stream or river begin to rise.
• Never sit or lie on the floor or ground. You may inhale volcanic fumes, especially carbon dioxide. It collects near the ground because of its density.
• Evacuate the area only if the authorities tell you to do so. Be quick and use your car. Otherwise, stay indoors.
• Wear your mask and goggles if you go outside. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Clear your gutters and roof of ash since it could collapse the roof. Be careful. Close all windows and doors. Keep car engines off. Bring your machinery to the garage, don’t keep it outside, and take your pets indoors with you.
• Keep volcanic ash out of your house. Take off your clothes if you come from outside to avoid spreading ash indoors.
• Take your emergency kit if you leave. Turn electricity and gas off. (Make sure to check it properly before turning it on again.)
• The hills can offer some protection from flying volcanic debris. Avoid low-lying areas and river valleys downstream of the volcano.
• Carry around with you a battery-operated radio, TV or at the very least, a cell phone for the latest emergency information.

Hopefully, you survive the volcanic eruption. What then?

What to do after:

• Stay away from volcanic ashfall areas. Still wear your mask and goggles when going outside. Keep your skin covered.
• Avoid driving especially if there is ashfall. Ash can clog engines and stop vehicles.
• Stay indoors until local health officials advise it is safe to go outside, particularly if you have a respiratory ailment.
• And lastly, don’t think only of yourself. Help other people who may need assistance, too, like elders, infants and the disabled.

[Derived from different internet sources]
 
Hope this helps.

Here I go again. I’ve done this before and I’m doing this again. Posting videos of my debut. I can’t help it. Those were great times.  Just click to watch.

They certainly could have done better…but what’s done is done. They all still rock, though. A bunch of thanks to the people in pink-and-blue/black-and-blue.

It’s hippy-hoppy dance time. See the hurriedly-practiced dance prepared for my debut. Once again, thanks to the hiphoppers in the video.

Living here in Manila, away from home has its consequences. Homesickness? That’s a given. Feeling lonely? Well, don’t we all. No. This particular effect would be classified as disturbingly weird. Watching fires has developed into one of my pastimes. What with the nice, open view of buildings in the Metro. The sirens of firetrucks have become a signal for me to go to the balcony and watch for smoke. Sometimes, you see it right away. Sometimes, you have to squint to see even just a trace of the blaze. Sometimes, it’s way out there, far from the building. Sometimes, it is IN the building. (Yep. There was once a fire here in the first tower.) Sometimes, the fire goes out right after I step into the balcony. Sometimes, it lasts the whole night. Like that one, big fire I spotted near Makati. It was about two in the morning when I spotted it.  Today, there was a fire right across the street. It was nothing big because I couldn’t actually see the flames. But there were a lot of firetrucks and the noise once again lured me to go fire-watching. Even without the fire. Just wailing sirens and blinking lights. So, this pastime of mine continues, creating for myself - a spectacle: sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Still fixing up the site. Have a few (or a lot) of things to patch up. Honestly, I don’t know a lot about CSS and that’s why it’s taking me some time to figure things out. I’m not the type of person to hunt for long, boring tutorials on the net. I prefer to painstakingly understand it myself. Even if it takes me forever. Apologies on my stubborness. I AM a Taurus.
This is for my Technorati account: Technorati Profile

Ang SONA ni Gloria. Imagine that being sung over and over again on the radio. AM station. How utterly irritating. It’s sort of anti-PGMA (or you could say anti-SONA-ni-Gloria) But the lyrics ARE funny . It’s not just criticizing, it’s insulting. Just can’t remember the exact words.

SONA Excerpts with [comments]:
"To my friends in Congress who … passed some of the most severe and critical fiscal reforms … You are the true friends of the Filipino people [If you count ‘makes life unbearable‘ a quality in a friend. Fiscal reforms could be effective IF there were no tax evasions and thieves within the government.] … sa wakas may pondo na tayo, hindi lamang para ibayad sa interes [That’s a comforting thought. If it were true. Which I hope it is. But isn’t. Or is it? Labo.] … Now, we have the money to pay down our debt and to build up our country. [And the money should continue to be used for those two things. And not find its way in the hands of another corrupt official.]
//insert long plans for nation building here//
[It would be a great (repeat 7,777 times) achievement if the government could actually impose those projects and plans (and finally achieve their goals) that PGMA stated in her SONA] … We have scaled the heights of Mount Everest, dominated the Southeast Asian games, we have won international beauty titles, and of course punched our way to triumph in the boxing world. Our people compete and win every day in every imaginable job throughout the world. Individually, we’ve taken the world on and won; together, we must take on the challenge of creating a new, peaceful, humane and competitive nation and prevail … [This last one is actually kind of uplifting. Filipinos ARE a great people. But why do we refuse to believe that?]"

I woke up really late today and that test I was telling you last night? I missed it. Be glad I wrote this after I’ve cooled off. Or else you’d be reading something like: @#$%^&*()*&^#$%^&*()!!!!!!! And it goes on and on. It would have been very delightful if school was called off today. But that would have been too good to be true. Three days straight of suspended classes? Come on. This is the real world where fate is rarely on your side. Today is proof.

Now, how many new beginnings have I had with blogs? Hmm. Nah. I’m too tired to think about that. I think I have a RELSTWO test tomorrow, but I haven’t studied everything yet. It’s already past the hour of one and I’m still here in an internet cafe enjoying their DSL privilege. Yup, yup. No DSL for me, yet. My dad said I should apply for SmartBro instead of PLDT myDSL. The difference is that SmartBro is wireless. Even better. But a downside is that it uses signals from cellular networks and we all know that they can be very frustrating sometimes.

You might ask me, why did I let go of my Xanga blog? Well, I’m not exactly sure. For a change, I guess. I hate monotony. (But you’ll soon see how sometimes I can be a real hypocrite.) And also because I decided to clean things up and sort them into an organized manner. Okay. I don’t think you’re getting me. But that’s not important. Few people do. So, if you don’t mind, I really have to sleep now. (Test! )

I’m just starting out so it’s still a little cluttered. Cut me some slack.