‘Chedeng’ veers, spares Philippines

May 27, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon “Chedeng” (international name Songda) intensified yesterday but changed direction, hugging the eastern seaboard as it moved away from the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Chedeng would still bring heavy rains and gusty winds over the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Benguet,
Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley, Quirino and Aurora until the weekend.
“It has a big radius, so it can affect many areas even if it does not make landfall,” said forecaster Mario Palafox.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm warning signal number 1 was still hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon province, including Polillo Islands, Isabela and Cagayan.
As of 4 p.m., the eye of Chedeng was spotted 260 kilometers north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 300 kms southeast of Casiguran, Aurora packing winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.
Chedeng was forecast to move northwest at 19 kph.
It is predicted to be 320 kms northeast of Casiguran, Aurora or 200 kms east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan this afternoon and about 590 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes or 190 kms southwest of Okinawa, Japan tomorrow afternoon.
PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said the high-pressure area blocking Chedeng’s path had weakened, causing the typhoon to change direction and move from north-northwest to northwest.
PAGASA’s forecasts last Monday and Tuesday showed that Chedeng would make landfall over Isabela-Cagayan area on Friday.
Its Wednesday forecast showed Chedeng would hit the area of Aurora-Isabela on Friday.
“The good news is the typhoon is moving away from the country,” Yumul told a press briefing.
Sawi added Chedeng was expected to dump heavy rains of more than 100 millimeters over the eastern coast of Central Luzon.
Chedeng would also continue to bring rains over the western side of the Visayas and Southern Luzon yesterday, he added.
By Friday morning, heavy rains are forecast over extreme northern Luzon, he said.
Sawi said the southwest monsoon would be the dominant system beginning Saturday and will bring rains over the western section of Visayas and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, on Saturday and Sunday.
Sawi said the prevalence of the southwest monsoon this weekend signals the onset of the rainy season in the country.
On the other hand, Yumul told dzMM radio that the rains being experienced in the western seaboard of Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila, are not due to Chedeng but are due to an active inter-tropical convergence zone.
Yumul said that starting late Friday through the weekend, the area would experience rains due to the southwest monsoon, which will be drawn to the area by Chedeng as it moves towards southern Japan.
Casualty
The rains apparently induced by the southwest monsoon reportedly left a 79-year old man dead, with two more missing in the Bicol region.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Raffy Alejandro identified the lone casualty as Jaime Torrellos, who was swept away while crossing a river in Gigmoto town on Wednesday while storm signal no. 2 was hoisted over the region.
Alejandro said they are verifying reports of two fishermen who went missing in Vinzons, Camarines Norte and in Gigmoto town.
As the typhoon moved away, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda yesterday allowed the thousands of evacuees to go home.
Salceda though ordered 21,000 families from the towns of Oas and Libon to stay put in the evacuation centers, citing the danger posed by landslides in their areas because of the heavy rains.
Salceda earlier sent military trucks to begin moving 250,000 residents from coastal and landslide-prone villages and areas in the path of debris from Mayon volcano. He also offered five kilograms of rice as an incentive for each family that evacuates.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 13,322 families or 63,964 persons from 152 barangays in Albay province were evacuated.
NDRRMC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) chief Benito Ramos said an estimated 49,893 families or 250,425 residents from 497 villages in the province are also being targeted for possible evacuation in the event the typhoon would shift course and hit the region.
Ramos said they would not order a pull out of disaster response teams even if Chedeng would no longer make landfall.
Ramos said the teams would remain in the Bicol region for 12 hours after Chedeng leaves the Philippine area of responsibility.
Government offices in the region were closed and flights were canceled. More than 7,000 people were stranded in ports after the Coast Guard barred sea travel in areas with typhoon warnings.
In other provinces leading up to northern Luzon and Metro Manila, officials have collected rubber boats and food supplies and put rescuers on standby. The Coast Guard also deployed its rescue teams in northern Luzon.
Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino ordered local officials to make preparations and pre-emptive measures against flooding.
The Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has raised warnings against possible landslides in the region with the onset of heavy rains brought by Chedeng.
The MGB stressed Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province are among the top 10 provinces in the country that are prone to landslides and floods.
The province of Benguet is the most affected province in the region, with over 90 percent of its total land area prone to landslides, the MGB said.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also went on “blue alert” in deploying rescue units and equipment as part of the disaster preparations in Metro Manila.
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said they are expecting Chedeng to dump heavy rains in Metro Manila like that of tropical storm “Ondoy” in 2009.
PAGASA said Chedeng could trigger heavy rains in the next few days even as the typhoon had spared the country.
Sawi said Chedeng is expected to move out of the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday but the typhoon would enhance the southwest monsoon and bring heavy rains over the western section of Visayas and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila until Thursday. – With Evelyn Macairan, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera, Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Mike Frialde, Rudy Santos, Eva Visperas, Artemio Dumlao, Cecille Suerte Felipe, AP

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=690165&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com