Why local names for typhoons?

In Italy, the word “Filippina” means cleaning woman. This has angered the 80,000 OFWs in that country. The insult is clear. It’s clean cut.

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E-mail from someone who simply gave the name “Pinoy”: “Why does our weather bureau people give local names to typhoons that already have international names? The foreign press use the original name. We are confused.”

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When typhoon Ondoy hit the Philippines and did untold destruction, Pinay nurse Nellie P. working in Vietnam texted her parents in Cebu: “Typhoon Ketsana hit Vietnam. They say it’s as strong as Ondoy that hit Luzon.”

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See? That’s what “Pinoy” meant in his e-mail. It’s confusing, indeed, because Ondoy and Ketsana are one.

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A broadsheet columnist says: “The new generation Filipinos have grown and continue to grow taller.” Which is good because the floodwaters have also been growing higher.

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“Time was when the street floods were only knee-deep. The photographers had fun taking photos of women lifting their skirts above their knees,” a retired policeman said to me. “Now with the floodwaters reaching the neck, there’s no more skirt to lift and the photographers no longer have fun.”

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After listening to the radio about the floods in Luzon, a taxi driver said: “Baha sa tubig, baha sa lapok, sunod baha sa kuwarta sa mga politiko nga managan sa eleksiyon, ug unya baha sa luha sa mga tawo nga midawat sa baha sa sapi.” He ended his discourse with: “Ha! Ha! Ha!”

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There was no rhyme in the driver's statement. But there was reason if you read between the lines.

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My Manila-based Cebuano friend Daido Ramos Angel texted me: “Nalipay ko nga buhi pa diay ang kaso sa lamppost... Ampo ko dunay mapriso samtang buhi pa ko.” (Ako sab, Do. — JVJ)

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Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Carding Blas of Mabini St., Cebu City, for the “get well soon” card they sent me. God bless you.

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