By: Butch Galicia
Winter’s onset was one of the mildest and the warmest ever.
The mercury shot up crazy high and fell sanely low through a mix of sun, wind, rain and snow.
No complaints. Canadian winter is at its best. Let’s begin chilling.
Bundle up. Get along with the freeze. Soon, spring will be here.
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The weather is a preferred opening topic of any friendly conversation hereabout and elsewhere. Northerners don’t find it boring to talk about lunar, solar, atmospheric, astronomical, barometric, geophysical, meteorological, seismic and other activity, either man-made or of a divine act.
In fact, those who live up the globe can talk about the weather and all its ramifications all day long.
Canadian basic cable TV has a 24/7 weather network. Moreover, TV news channels regularly report and show onscreen periodic weather patterns and changes. Natural and environmental shifts outside homes are taken very seriously.
Here in the north, the weather is practically a matter of survival. Good weather means a great chance to get a better life. Harsh and vicious weather means a dreadful seasonal battle to endure and arise, safe and alive.
So, when someone asks me how the weather is, I respond ‘I’m living with it,’ quickly adding a routine but respectful “How are you?” When I get ‘good’ for an answer, I know there is nothing to worry about.
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My undivided interest and focus on the weather began a few days after my family and I came to the true North. Landing near the end of fall, we had to deal with cold weather we never had to go through in the past.
With the help of weather news networks and sound advice from kin and friends who have been in Canada long before we did, we quickly learned how to engage and embrace the freeze and the frost, the strong biting wind, the slippery ice and the dirty slush, and all the physical and emotional challenges winter stacked along our way.
Call it adaptability and resiliency, but we faced head-on all the North’s Four Seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn – and what they graciously offered us.
Best of all, we befriended the weather and made it an ally.
Like everyone else, we still consider it a very good habit to keep track of and get along with the weather.
Sure enough, I dislike the weather when it acts up to extremes. The polar vortex of 2013 was one of those pathetic times.
Believe it or not: Unlike love and war, all is not fair in weather.
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Snow, snow, snow! Really wonderful is the sight of snow falling from the heavens, gliding like cotton balls, and resting on the ground in a blanket of white.
These past few days, my grandchildren frolicked under the snowfall, loudly counting the number of snowflakes they caught with the tip of their noses.
Giggling, they would lay flat on snow-covered ground and create angel wings. They always saw in snow and winter all the great opportunities to do fun stuff. Never did they mind if Lolo was also having fun.
Anyways, somewhere on the other side of the globe, Filipinos continue to bask under the warmth of the tropical heat, with fair weather in temperatures ranging from 23 to 33 degrees Celsius.
Add to it the warmth and hospitality of a smiling race, the Philippines is paradise.
This is why I sort of envy Balita publisher-editor Tess Cusipag who is in the Philippines, combining a well-deserved vacation with newspaper work.
Just for clarity: I envy her fun-filled memorable stay in the native country, not the stressful work. LOL!
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Filipinos are not that indifferent to weather.
They also talk about it a lot, particularly when it brings about and spawns a lot of discomforting disturbances like droughts, flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and other risks to life and limb.
Otherwise, weather talk is as simple as “It’s sunny. I need an umbrella.” Or “It’s rainy. I need an umbrella.”
Sometimes, one is wet with sweat or is just plainly wet, and it’s time to change shirts.
At other times, the shade and the shed don’t differ much from each other, whatever the weather.
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Total recall: In the 80’s, PNA chiefs in 17 bureaus and five substations in key Philippine cities were asked to file weather updates before 8 a.m., and regularly henceforth in times when there was forecast or perceived natural disturbances in the offing.
As bureau chief of the PNA Cotabato bureau, I complied, as did my counterparts nationwide. Ten or so years later, as executive editor of the PNA at its Manila Desk, I learned that the 8 a.m. weather update memo was one of the ways the Manila desk came up with to subtly know if bureau chiefs and reporters were in their boots.
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Weather, weather, weather!
The epic cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran is escalating. Tension between the two countries is heating up. Frozen assets? Political and diplomatic sandstorm? Raining bombs and bullets soon? What’s the real weather in the Middle East, guys?
North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. But the California-based Middlebury Institute’s James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) maintained that footage of the submarine-launched ballistic missile test released by Pyongyang was faked. A CNS senior research associate said the heavily-edited footage showed “the rocket ejected, began to light, and then failed catastrophically.” Now, now! What has the weather got to do with a fart?
Back in Toronto, the cases of random and unprovoked stabbings, pedestrian deaths and fatal car crashes are becoming too disturbing and alarming. City and police officials vowed to doubly work harder to minimize, if not eliminate these unfortunate occurrences. Please, please. Blaming these sad incidents on the weather is not helping.
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When actor Leonardo DiCaprio acknowledged the struggle of the First Nations and indigenous people around the world during his acceptance speech at the 73rd annual Golden Globes, he drove home a point clearer than crystal.
DiCaprio said: “I want to share this award with all the First Nations people represented in this film, and all the indigenous communities around the world. It is time we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people out there to exploit them. It is time that we heard your voice and protected this planet for future generations.”
Once more, the sun shone brightly for members of indigenous peoples in the world. Here’s hoping that DiCaprio’s call would be heeded by the film industry. Further, may there be a change of heart among those who continue to shun social responsibility and go on replacing it with corporate greed and power.
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It’s 2016. Here’s an inspiring stanza from a popular 1940’s song to kick in changes for the better. Harold Arlen wrote the music for Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive. Johnny Mercer provided the lyrics.
“You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between.” butchgalicia@yahoo.com
