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6.8 EARTHQUAKE

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Early this morning, I received this sms saying that a 6.8 earthquake is predicted by the US GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY in Hawaii to hit Philippine plates tonight, 15 May 2008. Although I do not discount the possibility that the Philippines will experience a strong earthquake sooner or later (our country lies on an earthquake belt), I have some apprehensions about the 6.8 earthquake prediction.

First, I think that the agency in the United States that is considered to be the authority on earthquakes is the US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. This actually is the US counterpart of our very own PHIVOLCS. I did not know that a certain US Geological Society exists.

Second, I took up a few Geology major subjects under my B.S. Geology program at NIGS  and we were taught that nobody can predict earthquake as we can predict storms and typhoons. Hence, this US Geological Society prediction about the 6.8 earthquake is something new to me. I thought that even the most advanced USGS cannot predict earthquakes but here is the US Geological Society predicting not just the occurence of an earthquake but also the time as well as the magnitude of it. If ever the US Geological Society really exists, I believe that the person who started this 6.8 earthquake prediction should be held accountable.

One good thing that this sms brings us, though, is that people are becoming more aware and alert on the possibility of the occurence of a destructive earthquake in the Philippines. Most of us actually might not be aware but since January 2008 until 14 May 2008, the Philippines has experienced more than eighty earhquakes with magnitudes ranging from 1.9 to 6.5 (PHIVOLCS, Latest Earthquake Information, see the list). 

There is no need to panic. Let’s just be more alert and be always prepared because the occurence of a strong, desctructive earthquake in the Philippines is not remote. And, let us all wait for the clarification and announcement from PHIVOLCS officials. 

Posted by enpgamboa at 6:30 am | permalink | Add comment

"ANG DAGAT AY BUHAY"

I visited the website of oneocean.org, which is sponsored by the USAID and I got this music file, which is appropriate for the celebration of the Month of the Ocean. The song is entitled "Ang Dagat ay Buhay" from the music and lyrics of Vehnee Saturno and vocals by Chris Villongco.

ANG DAGAT AY BUHAY

Music and lyrics by Vehnee Saturno/Vocals by Cris Villongco

Courtesy of BMG Records, Inc.

Karagatan ay buhay, pagyamanin mo

Mga ilog at dagat, ito’y bigay sa’yo

Bakit natin hahayaan na sila’y masira pa

Ang kulay asul na tubig, paiitimin mo ba?

CHORUS

Ating pagyamanin ang bigay sa atin

Ang asul na tubig ay buhay

Huwag nang sayangin pa

Ang lahat ng dagat, ilog at ang lawa

Ito’y dapat na mahalin, ito’y dapat na sagipin

Pagka’t ang dagat ay siyang buhay natin

Ang yaman ng dagat di pang habang-buhay

Ngayo’y halos wala na, ang yaman niyang taglay

Mahalin natin ang dagat, tulad ng mga pangarap

Dahil ito ay buhay ng lahat

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE

Ang buhay ng dagat ay nasa atin

Pagka’t ang dagat ay siyang buhay natin

 

ang dagat ay buhay

Posted by enpgamboa at 6:06 am | permalink | Add comment