Are you enjoying the cold weather? The early days of February brought in chilly temperatures, thanks to the northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized by cold and dry air coming from Siberia or Mainland China. According to PAGASA, the amihan season will last until the third week of the month. But aside from the cool relief the weather brings, it also comes with risks.

 Sipon or Common Colds. Research shows that the cold virus survives and reproduces more effectively during this season, making it easier for it to spread and infect people.  To reduce the risk of getting a cold, observe proper hygiene, such as washing your hands often with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and stay away from people who are sick. 

Trangkaso or Flu. To avoid flu, short for influenza, avoid close contact with people who are sick, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces at home.

Asthma. Cold weather triggers asthma attacks because cold and dry air irritates the airways, causing their muscles to spasm.  To prevent this, outdoor exercise should be limited. 

Sore throat. Cold air usually dries out throat tissues, causing severe irritation. To avoid sore throat, frequently wash hands and sanitize frequently-touched things. Always cover both neck and head when going outside. 

Dry skin. During this season, our skin’s moisture easily evaporates, making skin tight, flaky, and dry. To lessen the dryness, use moisturizers and gentle soap, and avoid bathing in hot water.

Whatever the weather is, make sure to observe proper hygiene, and take precautionary measures to lessen your exposure to viruses that may trigger these illnesses.

In the meantime, enjoy the sweater weather while it lasts! 

Clouds are beautiful to behold, exuding an aura of peace and comfort. How often have we lied down on our backs to watch the sky to form whimsical shapes from these clouds? To me, they represent our lofty dreams, which may remain unreachable if we don’t take the first step to achieve them.

When I was still a Mass Communications student, my dreams were as numerous as clouds. Because I was often confused of which path to take, my father had to constantly remind me to “take one step at a time.”
A step is all it takes to begin a process. But in this fast-paced world, people often get impatient with taking time with the small steps. But these, I realized, teach us the importance of enduring a process.
I’ve been so used to running fast that I almost missed God’s “go-signal” and his full assurance that I would land my first job. Little did I know that all my dreams would converge at one point: being a weather reporter for Panahon TV.

My fist two weeks passed like a storm. I’ve always been passionate about television production, but learning it as an employee made me wonder if I was really cut out for this trade. Failing to instantly grasp the basics of my work, I got frustrated and blamed myself for not adapting easily. Still, God spoke to my heart.
“Yet man is born to trouble,
But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
He provides rain for the earth;
he sends water on the countryside.
The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.”
(Job 5:7-11)

That moment, I came to my senses. I began to think and speak in positive ways, rejecting fear. It helped that my mom reminded me to be like David in the face of Goliath, and not to accept defeat in my mind.

In this ongoing journey, I am blessed to have helpful peers and superiors. They help me navigate this difficult road, teaching me that like gloomy clouds, hardships eventually pass. They remind me that I need to respect the time and effort to learn new skills. Like a diamond in the rough, I need these challenges to release my full potential.

With the help of the whole team, I am now engaging myself fully into the gift of serving people through weather forecasting. And I have to say that there are moments when I feel like a cloud myself—light, worthy of attention, and most important of all, moving with purpose.