El Nino

It's February a month shy  from official summer season, which is March but already we are sweating like pigs. News on TV and virtually everywhere say it's because of El Nino Phenomenon.

Though not yet "the worst" El Nino said the PAGASA bureau director Frisco Nilo, our body temperature and the unbearable heat in the air scream otherwise.

(photo from mindoropost.com)

In Manila, where I'm at, it's hotter than usual. But as I observed, the nights are actually a little colder, which seemed to make this hot season a little bearable. However, this makes one a little lazier to do some outdoor activities because of the humidity. We are more inclined to stay cool during free days at the mall to watch the latest romance flick.

However, because of the hot climate, isn't El Nino the best reason to gear up for a spontaneous quick beach trip in Batangas or Zambales?


However, on a larger scale, if the El Nino has been unkind to us city dwellers, the damage is worse in key agricultural provinces like Cagayan Valley and Isabela.  The irrigation has dried up in those provinces and the once rich and fertile lands have been replaced by arid soil. Corn and rice production will be close to impossible the next few months and this will affect the livelihood of our kababayans.

Other areas affected by El Nino are Benguet, Batanes, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, Mindoro, Negros Occidental and Capiz.

It is sad to note that some of the provinces affected by El Nino now were the same provinces greatly affected by typhoon Pepeng last year. Sad how nature cruelly subjects the country to an extreme seesaw of climates. Our fault? It's time to think of the environment. We've seen how she gets mad.