The Philippines » Mt. Arayat

Typhoon Ondoy

Tony Sulat — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:02:23 +0000

Remembering “Ondoy”

Who is among the Filipinos who could not remember “Ondoy”? Ondoy was like a mighty man who cast out all it has on a one Big One Night Stand. Yes, a One Night of heavy spilling and blowing its mighty strength upon the navel of Philippines’ Luzon Island that resulted into massive large flooding and casualties. A one night mighty typhoon that marks on Philippine typhoon history wherein it shatters a lot of Filipinos lives and livelihood and not sparing even Philippine celebrities in just One Night.

Everyone was caught in a surprise by this super One Night typhoon wherein the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA have not exactly forecast its forthcoming and have fore warn the public, thus so it goes, Ondoy stealthily creep in and pour its fury in just one night where everyone is not expecting its forthcoming and escape or slide away after it devastate too much the Luzon part of the Philippines. What a cunning typhoon!

Typhoon Ondoy

This super typhoon also marks a history in Arayat Pampanga Philippines wherein for the first time the town of Arayat have experience a landslide which killed 12 people brought by the typhoon Ondoy. The landslide basically happens near the foot of Mt. Arayat at purok 6 San Juan Bano Arayat, as it was reported. This is just one disastrous effects of the super typhoon Ondoy,for there are a lot of stories to tell like the Philippine celebrities Christine Reyes and Jean Garcia whose house were devastated by the typhoon which cause them to be stranded on their own respective homes.

Typhoon Ondoy effects

Typhoon Ondoy or so-called typhoon Ketsana which was internationally called caught the Philippines at the night of September 25,2009 which reveals its deadly fury the morning after and which caused 464 deaths in the Philippines which up until those who have been hit and traumatized by this typhoon still felt the pain it cause them yet still some never leave their own devastated homes rather they renovate them and added another floor on their house to get ready for another Ondoy in the making in the future. For the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA still could not have such high-tech facilities that could predict another Ondoy because as they complain, according to the reports, there is no too much funds allotted to them by the government and some high learned officials of PAGASA were resigning and transferring into another country because the salary in PAGASA is just low or minimum for the important service they give to the public.

Mt. Arayat in the Philippines

The Philippines — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:53:07 +0000

MT ARAYAT: The Mystic and Majestic Mountain

Mt. Arayat is a 2000 ft. looming land mass that stands majestically against a stark-blue horizon in myhome province of Pampanga. It is known for its beauty as well as for its mystery. Legend has it, that Mariang Sinukuan, the local goddess of nature, lives in the interior of the forest. She is very beautiful as well as kind-hearted. She is generous in giving gifts to the local folks, and she helps lost travellers find their way out of the mountain. But she also punishes those who ravish nature. Many inhabitants of the mountain see her bathing in the river on a clear moonlight. Sometimes, she is seen prominading the hills and glens.

But aside from the legend, Mt. Arayat is often visited by local and foreign tourists. The mountain is very beautiful. A trek to its summit is a delightful adventure. You can view the skyline of the whole province. On its top, one can commune with nature to his heart’s content. The many colorful florals and faunas, the chirping birds atop the branches on sun-drenched, emerald-green, trees, the swaying grass that dances in rhythm with the gentle breeze are a sight to behold. The tranquil forest and the serene mountain lake send bliss to solitude. So, if you want to escape the hussles and bussels of city life, Mt. Arayat is the place to be. In this mountain, you can have everything that nature has to offer.

The goverment has also seen the potential of the mountain. Plans are in the offing to develop it as a nature tourist spot. To plant floras of export quality that will generate income and create jobs for the locals. It will also be developed into a wildlife sanctuary. If plans push through, Mt. Arayat will gain prominence as one of the foremost tourist destination in the Philippines.

Arayat in the Philippines

The Philippines — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:18:39 +0000

Arayat Philippines is a region in Pampanga Philippines where Mt. Arayat seated where residence of it were at the slope of the mountain. Yap, most residence of Arayat in the Philippines or rather Arayat Pampanga Philippines was living beneath the slopes of foot of this inactive mountain. The closest barangay at Arayat Pampanga Philippines to Mt. Arayat is San Juan Bano where the Mt. Arayat National Park is. The park itself have a direct access to mountain itself because it has man-made so called “hundred steps” that will lead you already on the mountain itself once you reach the hundredth step.

Mt. Arayat National Park is the one that makes Arayat Philippines famous or known in the Luzon part of the Philippines as well in Pampanga in the Philippines. It is noted for its very cool swimming pools which of course best during hot weather or summer time. The Park is indeed a very refreshing place due to its natural flora surrounding it. Mt. Arayat National Park is originally a project of the wife of former late Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon during the post war times.

Arayat Pampanga Philippines is located at Central part of Luzon Philippines and is nestled at the foot of Mt. Arayat. Actually, Arayat Philippines is not the only place in the world that has its name, for there is a place in Spain which is also called “Arayat”. Arayat Philippine historians say that it is from this place Arayat Pampanga in the Philippines gets its name.

During the Spanish times, an encomiendero who conquer Arayat whose name is Fernando de Arayat has renamed Arayat which formerly known then as “Alaya” which means “East” and Mt. Arayat was then called Mt. Alaya. And the inhabitants of it were Aetas. It is said it is kind of wilderness ambience at the foot of Mt. Arayat which the Spanish encomienderos has transformed it into a farm land irrigations.

By the way, aside from the Mt. Arayat National Park which some tourist visit, Arayat Pampanga is also well known of its dignitaries who live at early times like Jose Alejandrino (the statue at the Arayat municipal) who is a companion and contemporary of Dr. Jose Rizal (Philippines national hero), who is also my forefather in my mother’s lineage or genealogy. Dr. Emigdio C. Cruz whose name bears a district hospital at San Agustin Norte Arayat Pampanga is known or said to be lived during World War II.

Moreover, Amelito Mutuc and Leoncio Parungao is both secretary during Diosdado Macapagal Government who made also Arayat proud. There are also military dignitaries, like Major General Rene R. Cruz who is former RaCom Commander and PC-INP Commander, Col. (Ret.) Vicente A. Pascual who is former a Deputy Judge Advocate General, and Commodore Lodovigildo L. Gantioqui who of the Philippine Navy.

Another well known at Arayat Philippines is Arayat’s well known organized tricycle association which is the famous New 06 Association, Inc. Wherein, my father is the founder and I too have work as an assistant secretary of the associations during the 1990 and early 2000.