BLAZING LEGACY

Fire rages through historic Manila Central Post Office

Firefighters were at the scene as the historic Manila Central Post Office was engulfed by flames late Sunday, May 21 in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at 11:41 p.m. and set off the first alarm until it was raised to the sixth and highest alarm at 5:54 a.m.

The Manila Central Post Office has been declared as an ‘Important Cultural Property’ by the National Museum in 2018, and houses everything from mail, parcels, and special stamp collections, on top of the historical significance the building houses.

The BFP said that the fire was put under control at 7:22 a.m. the following day, however the fire was only declared out at 6:33 a.m. on Tuesday. They also estimated the cost of damages to be worth around P300 million.

Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan said that the post office would be restored to its previous state before the fire, as the post office was declared a national heritage zone.

“The City of Manila will work with the national government to jointly help restore the original structure of the Manila Central Post Office where it once stood,” she said.

BITE-SIZED

Did you know that the Manila Central Post Office building was designed by Juan M. Arellano, Tomás Mapúa, & Ralph Doane?

Heat in Metro Manila has reached a “dangerous” level for the fifth day in a row, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, May 15.

Metro Manila has risen to a heat index of 43 degrees Celsius,

Metro manila heat index hikes to ‘danger’ level for 5th straight day

RALPH compared to the 42 degrees last May 11 to 13.

The heat index is the perception of what combined effects of the temperature and air humidity has on humans. According to PAGASA, a temperature of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius would put it under the ‘danger’ category of the heat index.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Obet

Mawar creeps closer to PH after Guam wreck

Derek Puertollano

Typhoon Mawar left havoc in Guam this Thursday bringing raging wind speeds of up to 225 kph as it left their government to focus on recovery from the damage.

About 170,000 affected residents of Guam expressed that their situation was improving.

“I want to thank you all for taking all the safety precautions issued and have once again weathered the storm,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero on her Instagram post.

The US National Weather Services notes that Mawar is now heading towards the Philippines or Taiwan with maximum sustained wind speed of 240 kph as it continues to intensify into a super typhoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted that the typhoon will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this Friday evening or Saturday morning.

“…Mawar will decelerate on Sunday as it begins to move closer towards the waters east of extreme Northern Luzon. The center of Mawar’s eye is forecast to be within 300 kilometers of the Batanes-Babuyan archipelago by early next week during the slowdown period,” PAGASA emphasized.