Hello, everyone. This is shinee02. :)

I'm writing this blog right now because I would like to express my worries and ask a favor from you, the one reading this right now.

Tomorrow until the next two or three days, my country will be experiencing another super typhoon internationally named as "Hagupit". Locally, it is codenamed as "Ruby". "Hagupit" in our language means "to strike with a whip" or "thrashing", or anything synonymous to  "wreaking havoc". And right now, I and my people are praying that it would not do just that.

Just a little bit of information (you can skip this, if you want):

Super typhoon "Hagupit" just entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this Thursday morning, 4 AM, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. Recently, it has been reported that the winds are 195 kph and gustiness already 230 kph. As it approaches landfall tomorrow at the Eastern part of the country, and with the current speed it is going (only 20kph), it is only going to get stronger.

It has a typhoon diameter of almost 500 km, and as you can see in the picture above, it is going to cover almost every part of the Philippines. Basically, the nation will disappear from satellite images for 2-3 days.

(Edit: As of Thursday, December 4, 2014, 6:30 PM:

Maximum sustained winds: 205 kph

Gustiness: 230 kph

Typhoon diameter: almost 700 km)

Citizens and the local and national governments are doing all that they can to prepare for the super typhoon, but we can never be too sure if what we are doing is enough to be fully equipped for what's to come. Fortunately, people are being more calm this time, compared to the past years  where there was panic- buying in supermarkets and overly- stocking their houses with food and other basic necessities.

That is why I am asking for you and for everyone else to pray for us. I am not forcing anyone to do this; just, if you only have the time. It would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully, it won't be like last year's super typhoon "Haiyan", where it took at least 6,300 lives, and left thousands homeless and injured. I hope the past doesn't come back to haunt us.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Take care and stay safe.

GOD bless everyone.