It’s the last day of October and this means Halloween for a lot of us. Barring any devastating effects of new Supertyphoon Santi (scheduled to hit most of Central and Southern Luzon – with Metro Manila unfortunately sandwiched between the two areas – this weekend), children will surely be dressed in their most creative costumes to go trick-or-treating in neighborhoods and villages around the country. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this annual kiddie tradition won’t get spoiled. My niece, Ishi, has been looking forward to this day when she can wear her pink qipao (cheongsam) with matching pink chinese shoes and chopstick-clipped long hair. Hopefully, the weather cooperates.

Anyways, here is part of the latest weather report from PAGASA and GMANews.tv which threatens to hit Luzon right smack Saturday morning (I prepared this blog yesterday when there was still no sign of the typhoon in the horizon):

Pagasa: Typhoon Santi to hit Central Luzon Saturday morning

Typhoon “Santi” (international name: Mirinae), the fourth cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility in October, is expected to hit provinces in central Luzon on Saturday morning and may bring heavy rains and winds to Metro Manila, the state weather bureau said Thursday night. In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Santi was last spotted 800 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora province and is moving westward towards central Luzon at 20 kph. Santi maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. Based on the current Pagasa forecast, Santi’s center is expected to hit Aurora province by Saturday morning, and in the vicinity of Nueva Ecija or at 90 km north of Metro Manila by Saturday afternoon. Public storm signal no. 2 was hoisted over Aurora province, Northern Quezon and Polilio Island. Under storm signal no. 1 are the provinces of Isabela, Ifugao, Quirino, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, the rest of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes. Although no storm signal warning was raised over Metro Manila, Pagasa warned of heavy rains and winds that might be experienced over the area. “Kahit ang sentro ni Santi ay dito dumaan sa pagitan ng central at northern Luzon, mararamdaman natin ang ulan at hangin na dala nitong si Santi dito sa Metro Manila,” said Pagasa spokesperson Nathaniel Cruz. (Although Santi’s center would pass somewhere between central and northern Luzon, we will feel here in Metro Manila the rains and winds brought by Santi.)

Bummer!

Just the same, Happy Halloween everyone!