TS 'Nyatoh' to enter PAR soon; rains over northern, central Luzon due to 'amihan' — PAGASA

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continues to monitor a tropical storm, with an international name “Nyatoh,” as it may enter the country’s area of responsibility between Wednesday afternoon and evening, Dec. 1.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the center of Nyatoh was located 1,330 kilometers east of southern Luzon at around 3 a.m., Wednesday.

It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.

Aurelio said Nyatoh will be assigned its local name “Odette” once inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Wednesday afternoon or evening.

He added that the storm is only expected to stay briefly inside the PAR and may have no direct effect on the country in the next few days.

However, Aurelio said PAGASA will continue to monitor this weather disturbance for a possible change in the scenario.

PAGASA said the northeast monsoon, locally called “amihan,” will be the dominant weather system, particularly affecting Luzon.

In the next 24 hours, cloudy skies and rains may prevail over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Aurora.

PAGASA warned those in these areas to stay vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides, particularly in the event of moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will only have partly cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated light rains due to the amihan.

Meanwhile, Visayas and Mindanao may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

Those in Visayas and Mindanao should also remain vigilant as severe thunderstorm activities may sometimes trigger flash floods or landslides, PAGASA said.

From intention and words to deeds

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          “Not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into

the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is

in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 7,21)

          With these words of Christ, we are clearly reminded that we

should not only have good intentions and beautiful words of promise,

but rather the strong conviction to bring those intentions and words

into action. What is important is that we do the will of God, and not

just wish and promise to do it. This is what to be a true Christian

is, and not just a Christian in name.

          Let’s remember also that parable Christ said about the two

sons who were asked their father to work in the vineyard. (cfr. Mt

21,28-32) One said ‘yes’ but did not go, while the other said ‘no’ but

actually went. The conclusion of that parable, of course, was that the

one who initially said ‘no’ but went to the vineyard was the one who

did the will of his father.

          Obviously, the ideal is that what we intend, what we say and

promise, should be carried out into deeds. St. Paul has something very

relevant to say about this. “Not the hearers of the law are just

before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (Rom 2,13)

St. James says something similar: “Be doers of the word, and not

hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (1,22)

          Christ himself lived by this principle, even at the expense

of his own life. “I do nothing of myself, but as the Father has taught

me...” (Jn 8,28) And in the agony in the garden, he expressed that

most eloquent submission to his Father’s will, “Not my will but yours

be done.” (Lk 22,42)

          We need to understand that our whole life is a matter of

conforming ourselves to God’s will, the very seat of our ultimate

identity as persons and children of God. This would involve the stages

of knowing that will, believing it, then professing it and putting it

into action. In short, receiving our faith, then turning it into life

itself.

          All saints and the parade of holy men and women all through

the ages have done nothing other than this. They had their ups and

downs, their wins and losses, but they always stood up after each fall

or loss, they repented, and went back to action again.

          Of course, the epitome among the saints is Our Lady, who was

praised by Christ himself to high heavens. When someone in the crowd

told him his mother was around, he said: “Behold my mother and my

brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in

heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12, 29-50)

          We should see to it that we are good not only in words and

in intentions, but also and most especially in deeds. Our usual

problem, given our human nature and the current condition of our

woundedness, is that we tend precisely to be very good in words and in

intentions but really poor in performance and consistency.

          We have to remember that what is truly important is that we

always live by God’s will. This is how we become truly human and

Christian, image and likeness of God as he wants us to be.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

roycimagala@gmail.com