PAGASA monitors LPA near Mindanao - January 3, 2013

Residents of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental area were alerted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) due to a low pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Mindanao on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.

PAGASA said that the LPA has a "very low probability of developing into a tropical cyclone." However, residents in the mentioned areas were advised by the weather bureau to "take all necessary precautionary measures."

According to the latest PAGASA weather forecast:

The LPA is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains (2.5-10.0 millimeters per hour) and thunderstorms to Mindanao and the provinces of Samar and Leyte and may trigger flash floods and landslides.

As of 2 a.m. today, the LPA was located approximately in the area of Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur.

Gale warning was issued by PAGASA as of 5 a.m. on Thursday. PAGASA said:

Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao.

PAGASA Weather Forecast for January 2: 1st Official Working Day of 2013

It's business as usual in the Philippines today, Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Many Filipino employees are expected to be early for work today.

It has been a belief by many, that getting up early for work at the start of the year may bring luck to them.

A lot of business establishments and manufacturing companies are set to resume operations today.

Generally, the whole country will experience a good weather condition, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The weather bureau, however, spotted at 2:00 a.m. today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in the Mindanao area.

PAGASA's latest weather forecast indicates that:

At 2:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated at 1,020 KM Southeast of Mindanao (5.0°N, 136.0°E) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon.

For more Philippine weather updates, you may visit the PAGASA official website or you may follow their Twitter and Facebook accounts. The latest weather news can also be obtained by calling call PAGASA's 24-hour hotline at 433- ULAN (433-8526).

SMART Mobile users can also receive the latest weather announcements and advisories through SMS.

Nonito Donaire: 2012 RING Fighter of the Year

Filipinos getting recognition internationally brings pride to every citizen of the Philippines all over the world.

This is what Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. gave as a gift to Filipinos on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2012, as he was declared as RING Magazine’s 2012 Fighter of the Year.

Nonito Donaire Jr. (center)
Photo credit: Nonito Donaire Jr. Facebook page

Donaire earned the prestigious award for boxers after he was chosen by fans at a RingTV.com year-end polls. The Filipino boxer garnered a dominating 55.2% of the total votes received by the RING website from fans.

Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked out Manny Pacquiao in their fourth bout, was in second place with 27.3% of the votes. Boxing analysts predicted earlier that Marquez victory over Pacquiao may earn him the top spot for the Fighter of the Year.

The four-division champion Donaire has won four bouts in 2012. He won over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce.

According to RING editor Doug Fischer:

The 30-year-old veteran fought four times in 2012 and in the process of doing so the former flyweight and bantamweight titleholder established himself as the best 122-pound fighter on the planet, as well as the Fighter of the Year in the eyes of the fans who took part in RingTV.com’s year-end awards poll

Elite fighters – those precious few who fans and boxing media view as the pound-for-pound best, seldom fight more than twice a year. Donaire was the exception to that rule in 2012.

Donaire, who doesn’t require that his opponents undergo the same testing and makes the results of his drug tests public, was commended by fans and media alike in 2012, the year that performance-enhancing drug use became a hot-button issue in the sport after Lamont Peterson, Andre Berto, Antonio Tarver and Erik Morales were each found to have banned substances in their bodies either prior to or after major fights.

Congratulations to The Filipino Flash.

To my dear readers, do you think Donaire deserves to win the 2012 Fighter of the Year Award? Let your voice be heard by providing your comments below this article.