Pagasa: Yesterday was hottest All Saints’ Day

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Mactan Cebu recorded a 32 degrees Celsius temperature yesterday, one of the hottest in this supposed to be cold “ber” months.

But this did not stop people from going to the cemeteries to pay respects to their departed loved ones.

Carreta cemetery, one of the biggest cemeteries in the city, was crowded early in the morning but decreased in number by noontime until afternoon. 

Visitors said the scorching heat of the sun was unbearable and even unexpected.

Alilia Tenerio, 33, from Mabolo Cebu City, admitted she planned to go early to the cemetery to visit her relatives since she knew that it would be congested by late morning until the afternoon. But she said she woke up late and arrived in Carreta by lunchtime.

“Maypa nisayo ko. Karon init na kaayo. Bag-o pa gani ko naabot, mapugos na ko og uli kay dili gyud madala ang  init. Makuyapan gyud ta (I should have come early because the heat of the sun is unbearable). ”

She said she saw someone earlier who was having trouble breathing, possibly because of being exposed too long under the heat of the sun.

Luzviminda Gabuya, 58, said she initially planned to stay in the cemetery from morning until evening, so she can bond with other family members. But she said they needed to bring home her grandchildren since it was too hot.

“Abi man gud namo dili kaayo init run. Gadala mi og payong pero andam ni sa uwan, dili sa init. Ingon man gud to mag-uwan kuno karon (we thought it would not be as hot as it is today. We were prepared for the rain but not for the heat of the sun).”

Last month, with the presence of tropical storm “Ofel,” PAGASA Mactan forecasted the possibility of another weather disturbance by the start of November, possibly making it a wet All Saints and All Souls Days.

Ella Cumahig of PAGASA Mactan explained that a weather disturbance was earlier sighted but was absorbed by the outgoing force of Ofel. So far, there have been no other weather disturbances sighted.

Further, Cumahig explained that the weather yesterday was a normal temperature in Cebu during summer. However, since we are currently in the “ber” months, it was considered as one of the hottest days in the season. So far, she said they have recorded 33 degrees Celsius as the hottest temperature during the months of September to December.

Meanwhile, some vendors in cemeteries yesterday felt the frustration of low sales.

Jun Sumiban, an ambulant candle vendor, shared that he does not stay in one cemetery since the number of visitors in cemeteries vary from time to time.

He said that for some cemeteries, there may be a lot of people but would not mean it would be more sales for them.

Although, he said that early in the morning, he was grateful for being able to make a reasonable amount but was having trouble maintaining his sales by lunch. He said he hopes to have more by evening until today. — (FREEMAN)