Silent Garden News
Philippines Storm Update - Wednesday October 7 @ 5:30pm 
Tropical Depression PARMA (Pepeng) has maintained its strength as it remained stationary over North Luzon.
Wind speeds of 30-60km/h are expected in northern and eastern Luzon.

Friends in San Fernando, La Union report rainfall all over the day.

There is a risk that PARMA (Pepeng) "reloads the matrix". The center of the depression is going back on its track. Over the sea it may again gain strength.






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Tropical Storm PARMA (Pepeng) disturbs Philippines' Traffic 
Although downgraded, Tropical Storm PARMA (Pepeng) disturbs traffic in the Philippines. Even the southern parts of the country e.g. Bohol Sea, faced problems today.

The first ferry, a Super Shuttle Ferry, linking Camiguin with Bohol, had to return after some 12km because of the high waves. The second ferry, the PARAS Sea Cat made it to Jagna in Bohol, but could not return to Camiguin and Mindanao in the afternoon.



This photo had been shot at 4 pm on the Beach in Agoho, Camiguin

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Food shortage in the Batanes Islands 
Tropical Storms and Typhoons create havoc when their strong winds and torrential rainfalls come over our Islands.

The heavy rains kill most people by floods and landslides.
But the strong winds make interrupt all supplies either by air or by sea.

Batanes, the Philippines' northernmost island province is crying for help, as food supply for its almost 16,000 residents started to dwindle when Typhoon PARMA (PEPENG) stopped airplanes and ships from delivering food and other basic goods.

There is a dangerous shortage of rice, biscuits, powdered and canned milk, infant formula, sugar, cooking oil, eggs, chickens and bread.

There is hope as winds are slowing down.

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DOT expects 8 million tourists in 2009 
The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects eight million tourists to visit the Philippines’ top 16 destinations this year.

The forecast for this year was zero to two percent growth for foreign arrivals. DOT was even looking at negative (arrivals) as the worst-case scenario. Instead a 6.4 percent growth could be recorded in foreign arrivals in the major destinations in the first semester.

The top tourism destinations are:
Camarines Sur
Cebu
Boracay
Baguio
Davao
Puerto Galera
Bohol
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Ilocos Norte
Masbate
Camarines Norte
Puerto Princesa
Legaspi
Catanduanes
Sorsogon.

The DOT is expecting more tourists to come now that there are signs of recovery in some of the Philippines’ top tourist markets like Europe, Japan and Korea.

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Update: Typhoons on Wednesday October 7 @ 06:00 AM  
Tropical Storm PARMA (PEPENG) is losing strength as it drifts slowly south-southeast across the mountains of Apayao.
Widespread rains and possible flooding are expected.

Signal No.2 (60-100 km/h winds)
Batanes Group of Island
Cagayan
Babuyan
Calayan Island
Ilocos Norte
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Ilocos Sur
Mountain Province

Signal No.1 (30-60 km/h winds)
La Union
Benguet
Ifugao
Isabela
Pangasinan
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino

Typhoon MELOR (QUEDAN) continues to lose strength.
It is now exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

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Update: Typhoons on Tuesday October 6 @ 05:00 PM  

PARMA (Pepeng) comes back!



Tropical Storm PARMA (PEPENG) rapidly moved south-east and is approaching the coast of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

PARMA (PEPENG) is about to make landfall along the boundary of Ilocos Norte and Western Cagayan (estimation: in 1 to 2 hours).



Maximum sustained winds of 105 km/h near center and gusts of up to 135 km/h.

Please observe the Signals from PAGASA:

Signal No.3 (100-185 km/h winds)
Batanes Group of Island
Northern Cagayan
Babuyan Island
Calayan Island
Apayao
Ilocos Norte
Abra
Ilocos Sur

Signal No.2 (60-100 km/h winds)
Rest of Cagayan
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Benguet
La Union

Signal No.1 (30-60 km/h winds)
Isabela
Ifugao
Nueva Vizcaya
Pangasinan



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Update: Typhoons on Tuesday October 6 @ 01:30 PM 
Tropical Storm PARMA (Pepeng) comes back!

It is approaching the western & northern coastlines of Ilocos Norte, deteriorating weather conditions along Extreme Northern Luzon.

PARMA's main circulation remains slightly organized with its core reforming just off the coast of Ilocos Norte. Stormy conditions with winds not exceeding 130 kph can be expected along Ilocos Provinces and the rest of Extreme Northern Luzon. While its inner (rain) bands are now spreading across other parts of Northern Luzon - where deteriorating weather conditions with winds not exceeding 85 kph can be expected today. Northern parts of Central Luzon will be under PARMA's outer (feeder) bands, where cloudy skies, light to moderate rains with winds not exceeding 60 kph can be expected.

Typhoon MELOR (Quedan) is now a Category 4 Typhoon. In the latest track forecast it moves quickly north. If the forecast is right. the storm menaces Japan's capital Tokyo.

And there is a new, still weak 1008 hPa, low pressure zone between Guam and Palau.



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Update: Typhoons on Tuesday October 6 @ 06:30 AM  
Tropical Storm PARMA (Pepeng) slowly moves around.
Its track forecast is changing very frequently. the future moves depend on the interaction with Super Typhoon MELOR (Quedan).

At this moment there is a chance that PARMA (Pepeng) comes back to the North Luzon and then moves south-west near the western cost of Luzon. It may even build up new strength.



Typhoon MELOR (Quedan) lost a bit of strength during the night and is now a Category 4 Typhoon. In the latest track forecast it moves quickly north.



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Update: Typhoons on Monday October 5 @ 10:30 PM 
Tropical Storm PARMA (Pepeng) unchanged. The storms trends to go south-west.

MELOR (Quedan) is still extremely strong. It changed its direction more north. Latest vector is 345 degrees.

Next update tomorrow morning around 6:00 AM

Gud nite.



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Update: Typhoons on Monday October 5 @ 6:00 PM  
Tropical Storm PARMA (Pepeng) does not move and stays near the coast of Ilocos Norte.
PARMA is expected to remain quasi-stationary over the South China Sea NW of Luzon for the next 2 to 3 days as it interacts with Super Typhoon MELOR (Quedan).
PARMA's maximum sustained winds are of 95 km/h near center
and gusts of up to 120 km/h.

MELOR (Quedan) is still extremely strong.

The pressure did fall to 910 hPa!
The moving speed is at 31 km/h at 330 degrees (north-northwest)




PARMA on left and MELOR on the right


MELOR: A dangerous beauty

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