Typhoon Ulysses is giving us Ondoy feels, and I don't like it

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There's currently a storm going through NCR and Calabarzon of the Philippines.

The winds are so angry and it hasn't stopped raining since early in the afternoon. Not to mention, the electricity has been going on and off.  Hopefully the Internet powered by Converge here in Montalban (Rodriguez), Rizal will remain up.

Parang Ondoy lang ulit shuta!

Walang tulugan!! 

It feels like I'm back during the first days of Ondoy here way back in 2009. This is so scary!

Never been this scared of storms until Ondoy came. Now Ulysses feels like Ondoy. Traumatizing because we got caught in the flood where our rented business establishment got totally submerged under water. Only the roof was left showing. All our computers and other equipment (since it was a computer gaming center and Internet cafe) all got soaked in water for a few days. 

The brown coffee-with-creamer-like flood waters just went up really fast and it became difficult to evacuate. Even our car was totally under water for days. We sold that car eventually since it never ran as good as it was before, and all those signs of the flood just brings back traumatizing memories.

My daughter got sick for a month afterwards. Even the doctors in the hospital couldn't figure out what's wrong with her. Only to leave the hospital after exerting all efforts for cure. My wife even approached an "albularyo" since the doctors exhausted all laboratory tests and medicines already.

These rain and winds are bringing back some serious typhoon anxiety. Ondoy made me shift my fear to flooding, and these middle-of-night howling winds are reminding me why our typhoon warning signals are based on wind speed.

Ondoy-mentality: you don't sleep during a storm because Ondoy was as real as things get.

Trying to calm down because my head is panicking. Traumatic na yung Ondoy. Tama na, please stop!

It's already 1 am as of this writing but the rain and wind is still strong, and seems going stronger every hour now.

Just like Ondoy, the rains started late afternoon until early morning the next day. I just hope all our flooding systems as well as pumping stations will work without any flaws. 

While both our residence are at safer areas now since our Pasig home is on the 5th floor of a building, while our residence in Montalban is on relatively high ground. Our eldest child was left alone in Pasig while the four of us are here in Montalban. Ondoy flood submerged the streets around us back then making our roof an island back in 2009). 

Water level at the Marikina river reached close to 16 meters as of 11:14pm last night. The water level may have already reached 16m, which means voluntary evacuation already happening, while a 17m water level triggers forced evacuations. No updates sen posted yet.

Now, that the Marikina river is rising again and is now at critical levels, if this rain won't stop, we might be experiencing another flood like what Ondoy caused.

So I guess there's no sleeping tonight until daybreak.

Just please stop complaining about getting the NDRRMC alerts. Just appreciate the effort NDRRMC is doing. Because we didnt have that when Ondoy and Yolanda happened. 

Every other day we get news about a flood or an extreme weather event ravaging a town. This didn't used to happen this often. Ondoy was considered a phenomenon. It seems relatively ordinary now. I don't understand how people can still deny climate change.

Ondoy happened Sept 2009 and now all the typhoons are happening during November. Climate change is real. 

The power fluctuations is making me nervous. Please don’t be another Ondoy.

Stay safe everyone.

Manila RTC Judge allegedly shot dead by her own court clerk

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Judge Ma Theresa Abadilla of Manila Regional Trial Court was shot inside her chamber. The suspect is her branch clerk, lawyer Amador Rebato, according to Manila Police District.

Capt. Henry Navarro, Manila Police District Homicide Chief gave an initial update on the death of Judge Abadilla, who says the gunman was depressed while tendering his resignation. It is still unclear what triggered him to use his firearm. 

Judge Abadilla had to be taken down the stairs from the fifth floor while on a chair because the elevator was not working, police said. 

A doctor from the Medical Center Manila has declared Judge Abadilla dead while undergoing treatment at 3:15pm today, according to the Manila police.

According to a city hall security force report given to Mayor Isko Moreno, the suspect was "seen feeling uneasy and shuddering while being questioned by Judge Abadilla and without question shot her at point blank range to the head."  

The alleged gunman has also died after shooting himself, and was still inside the office of the judge.

The body was eventually brought down from the crime scene. Authorities then coordinated with the relatives of the judge and the clerk of court. 

Rumor has it that Judge Abadilla discovered an anomaly involving the suspect.

It is worthy to note that Judge Abadilla, acting as a Pairing Judge, presided over the bail hearing of Rappler's CEO Maria Ressa last year due to Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa's absence.

Judge Abadilla's gunman shot himself dead as well? I can't help but think something's fishy here.

Proven na ba na yung court clerk talaga ang pumatay? Who was the witness? There was no mention of names of the witnesses. Pwede kasing setup yan.

According to a source, "Judge Abadilla, who is described by her colleagues as kind but straightforward, has called the BCC, Atty. Rebato, to her Chambers to explain serious irregularities being committed by him."

Source adds: "He then shot the Judge then turned the gun on himself. Clerk of Court has a number of admin cases in Supreme Court.

We still do not know the real story behind such tragedy, but from what I gather, I hope they will also take notice that mental health is also something we need to consider for the members of the Bar.

Judge Abadilla previously worked in the office of then Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and Teresita De Castro. 

Ex-Chief Justice Bersamin says he is saddened by her senseless death and condoles with the family.

She is the daughter of the late Metrocom General Rolando Abadilla. 

The case of Norman Mangusing aka Francis Marcos for trafficking and estafa was recently re-raffled to her sala after the former judge inhibited from the case due to death threats. 

Judge Abadilla is the 8th judge to be killed since the Duterte administration in 2016, the 51st in the legal profession (which includes both prosecutors and lawyers).

The President himself stated live on national TV his wish to legalize gunning people down.

And this is what happened hours after his statement: Judge Abadilla was shot inside the Manila City Hall. 

What a sad day for the legal profession today. It's was also a race to the bottom in the reporting of the incident involving Judge Abadilla. 

Some media outfits uploaded the video of her being brought to the hospital, unedited, in full color, without blurring her face, body, etc.

Konting respeto naman po.

Condolences to the bereaved families of CoC Atty. Rebato and Judge Abadilla. 

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta says passing of Judge Abadilla, whom he knows to be an “upright and highly competent magistrate,” a big loss to Judiciary. He condoles with family who comes from same province. Says he instructed Court Ad Midas Marquez to employ stricter measures. 

Sale or Scam: Online Shopping has become something else

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Potang 11.11 Sale lang hiya, as if andaming pera no? Eh pandemic pa rin. Pa-KPop at Kris Aquino pa more, sigeeeee. 

Last thing I want while I'm working is being auditorily assaulted by "sHoPEE 11.11 SHOP NAA". And it's not even my phone! My neighbor won't turn off her notifs at rinig hanggang dito sa amin eh umuulan pa ng malakas yan.

.. HAHAHA

I still mark myself safe from the 11.11 SALE. Kakaunti na lang yata making disiplinado at malakas ang fighting spirit to go against an obvious brainwashing to buy what we don't really need.

Besides, pandemic nga. Better na gumastos only on necessities. 

But if you're among those who believe they bought only the necessities, think again about the real meaning of necessity.

Sorry sa rant. Sobrang yabang kasi nung iba. Hindi naman sila si Heartless Evangelista.

I tried checking the Lazada and Shopee sales...kaso hindi naman pala sale kundi scam.

A certain product that was previously around P800 is now around P1200+

So when you apply the voucher and/or free shipping, parang ganoon din ang final price.

Meron namang mga bumaba pero mga hindi ko kailangan at priority....which makes the statement below a big false for me:

"shoppers undoubtedly took advantage of the big discounts to stock up on these essentials"

I don't think there are "essentials" that are a must that could only be bought on these online shopping portals. There have been many instances that I bought items only to find out they are sold cheaper outside if you know where to look....even during non-sale conditions.... especially if you buy in bulk.

Lazada and Shopee should also check for those instances when sellers purposely jack up the prices when sales are nearing so they could lower them on the day of the sale.

Also, no matter how low or almost free some items are, if you don't really need them, then they are practically useless and worthless. They will just accumulate at our home gathering dust....or expire if it's food.... especially when my kids do not like them or have moved on to something else...or something better.

The only advantage is you don't need to haggle for the price compared to other "market" sites where the sellers would say "PM for details" before you could get the price.

However, if you're great in haggling, you could even get the items at a much lower price.

So we are left with just convenience. ..since we could comfortably shop on our mobile phones or laptops while sitting pretty at our homes...not really challenging for me.