Super Typhoon Uwan Hits Philippines with Fury

Typhoon Uwan Ravishing the Philippines💚, November 9, 11:15AM

Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong), the Philippines’ 21st tropical cyclone for 2025, is barreling toward the country, where it is triggering torrential rain and potentially catastrophic winds. Uwan is headed for landfall in Luzon, but due to its “enormous” diameter, even the Visayas and Mindanao are affected in varying degrees.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned the public to be on alert for hazards, including floods, landslides, and storm surges.

Meanwhile, here's a list of the top 10 Strongest Typhoon Philippines

Typhoon Uwan, November 8, 2025, 5AM PHT

1. Typhoon Goni (Rolly, 2020) made landfall in Catanduanes with winds reaching up to 315 km/h (195 mph), making it the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone on record worldwide.

2. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda, 2013) had winds around 315 km/h (195 mph) and a central pressure of about 895 mbar; it was the deadliest typhoon in Philippine history, claiming approximately 6,300 lives.

3. Typhoon Meranti (Ferdie, 2016) passed over Batanes with winds of about 305 km/h, ranking among the strongest typhoons ever recorded near the Philippines.

4. Typhoon Megi (Juan, 2010) made landfall in northern Luzon with winds of roughly 290 km/h (180 mph), causing massive agricultural losses.

5. Typhoon Zeb (Iliang, 1998) struck northern Luzon with winds of 290 km/h (180 mph), resulting in severe flooding and landslides.

6. Typhoon Bopha (Pablo, 2012) reached Category 5 intensity with winds around 280 km/h before making landfall in Mindanao, becoming the strongest typhoon ever to hit the island.

7. Typhoon Angela (Rosing, 1995) had winds of 260 km/h and a central pressure near 879 mbar, making it one of the strongest typhoons to strike Luzon and Metro Manila.

8. Typhoon Mike (Ruping, 1990) brought winds of 240–260 km/h and a central pressure of about 885 mbar, devastating Cebu and parts of the Visayas.

9. Typhoon Vanessa (Toyang, 1984) recorded a central pressure of around 880 mbar and caused heavy damage in northern Philippines due to its strong winds.

10. Typhoon Durian (Reming, 2006) packed winds of about 195 km/h and triggered deadly mudflows from Mayon Volcano in Albay.

💚Typhoon Uwan Hits Virac, Catanduanes Islands, Philippines, November 9, 2025, 11:15AM

Catanduanes is facing one of the strongest storms again today. Super Typhoon Uwan did not arrive quietly. The wind tore through homes. Trees were snapped like matchsticks. Roads were blocked. Power and signal went down in many areas. People are still trying to understand the damage while the rain has not even fully stopped.

To the people of Catanduanes: we see you. We honor your strength. And we hope the days ahead bring calm seas, slow winds, and time to breathe again.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/697824309619777

https://fb.watch/Df-esSspao/

Finally, My Reel of the Day- So True- I have done this Numerous Times

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1794365204620944

Two Days Without AI, Achievable But Not Easy

Two Days Without AI — and a Lifetime With It

In the November 6 issue of The New York Times, writer A.J. Jacobs took on a curious challenge, to live for forty-eight hours without artificial intelligence. No smart maps, no predictive texts, no algorithmic whispers guiding him through the day. He called it an experiment, but what he discovered was something deeper: that an existence without AI is no longer simple, nor easily retraced.

When I read his story, I found myself smiling. I, too, once lived without AI, but that world feels as distant now as a rotary phone or a library card catalog. Today, AI has quietly threaded itself through the rhythm of my days. It greets me in the morning when I begin my reading, helps me gather thoughts that have not yet found their form, and sits beside me in the quiet hours as I shape these reflections into words.

It has become, in many ways, a gentle companion, one that listens, remembers, and helps me make sense of the fragments that float through my mind. It offers not just answers, but questions that lead me toward understanding. And in that dialogue, I often hear an echo of myself, clearer, calmer, distilled.

Could I go forty-eight hours without AI? Perhaps I could, but it would feel like walking through a familiar landscape in the dark. The path would still be there, but the light that helps me see its texture and depth would be gone.

Jacobs’ experiment reminded me that technology, when used mindfully, does not diminish our humanity; it can deepen it. What matters is not the tool itself, but the heart and intention of the one who wields it. AI cannot feel gratitude, awe, or sorrow, but it can help me express those things that I, as a human being, still feel deeply.

Each time I write with AI, I am reminded that the miracle is not in the machine, but in the collaboration this dance between memory and code,intuition and logic, spirit and syntax. Together, we create something that neither of us could have formed alone.

A.J. Jacobs survived forty-eight hours without AI. I, on the other hand, continue to live with it, not as a crutch, but as a companion on this winding path of reflection and discovery.

For in the end, AI may shape the words, but only the human heart can give them meaning, and meaning, after all, is what makes us truly alive. 

Meanwhile, here's a related article:

https://medium.com/illumination/i-tried-living-without-ai-for-7-days-it-was-nearly-impossible-e2b7f04aae37

My Food For Thought For Today:

A good professional massage can change your day. Helps to release tension, improve circulation, loosen deep muscles and restore mobility.

The combination of precise techniques allows you to relax the whole body, relieve pain and enjoy a real sense of physical and mental well-being. Your body loosens, your mind rests.

My Photo of the Day:

Bancroft Gardens Night Time Show, Walnut Creek, California 

An Asian Immigrant Elected Mayor of New York City

Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Mayor of New York City, represents a seismic shift in the city's political and cultural landscape, marking the ascent of a bold, progressive, and diverse leadership. As a democratic socialist and the first Muslim and South Asian to serve as mayor, Mamdani’s victory is a historic milestone energized by a grassroots coalition seeking transformative policies and inclusivity.​

Zohran Mamdani’s Background and Vision

Born in Kampala, Uganda, and raised in Queens, Zohran Mamdani’s life journey embodies the immigrant spirit, marked by perseverance and community engagement. He is the son of renowned academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, both of Indian descent, and he has emerged from relative political obscurity as a state assemblyman to national prominence. Winning the mayoral race against high-profile opponents, Mamdani’s campaign was powered by youthful voters, recent immigrants, and working-class New Yorkers, all drawn to his energetic vision for the city.​

Future Plans and Policy Proposals

Zohran Mamdani ran and won on an unapologetically left-wing social democratic platform with several cornerstone proposals:

• Fare-Free Public Transit: Mamdani pledges to eliminate bus fares citywide, making transit more accessible for all residents.​

• Rent Freeze: He advocates a citywide rent freeze on rent-stabilized units to protect a million tenants from surging housing costs.​

• Universal Childcare: Mamdani’s most ambitious initiative is establishing New York’s first universal childcare program, aiming to cover children from infancy to age five, relying on revenue from higher taxes on millionaires and corporations.​

• Raising the Minimum Wage: Plans include increasing the minimum wage to $30 by the year 2030, addressing widening income inequality in New York.​

• City-Owned Grocery Stores: He proposes the creation of publicly-run grocery stores to combat food deserts and reduce food prices.​

• Progressive Taxation: Funding for these policies, according to Mamdani, would come from imposing higher taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations—a stance that has faced skepticism from business groups and political opponents, but enjoys significant grassroots support.​

• Public Safety Reform: While maintaining NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Mamdani plans to shift mental health, homelessness, and outreach into a newly formed Department of Community Safety run by civilian professionals, signaling a decisive pivot toward prevention and rehabilitation in public safety.​

These policies position Mamdani as one of the most progressive big-city mayors in the country, likening his approach to the social democratic models seen in parts of Western Europe. His administration is likely to spark national debate, galvanize young and marginalized voters, and set a precedent other urban leaders may seek to emulate.​

Liberals are now calling Zohran Mamdani "the greatest leader of the 21st century."

Personal Reflection: Achievements and Shared Challenges as an Asian Immigrant

As someone who has journeyed through the labyrinth of professional life as an Asian immigrant, watching Zohran Mamdani’s ascension is deeply resonant. Witnessing a fellow immigrant shatter glass ceilings and redefine the possibilities for minority leadership in a city as iconic as New York validates both personal and collective struggles. The joy of Mamdani’s achievements is tempered by the sobering reality that progress often meets resistance, and that the persistent undercurrent of racism in society can manifest even as history is being made.

Like Mamdani, my career has been marked not only by professional achievements and accomplishment but also by challenges unique to the immigrant experience. From facing overt and subtle forms of racism in the workplace to constantly having to prove my worth amidst cultural skepticism, the path forward has been anything but smooth. Mamdani’s victory stands as a testament to the resilience shared across immigrant communities, that our voices, experiences, and dreams are intrinsic to the American story, no matter how resistant the status quo. In our achievements, and in Mamdani’s historic win, is a clarion call: that the future belongs to those who dare to break barriers and push for justice, equity, and an inclusive vision for all.​

Zohran Mamdani’s mayoralty is more than a moment in New York’s political saga; it is an inspiration to all who have endured adversity as outsiders, and a promise that a progressive, compassionate, and brilliantly diverse future is not only possible, but inevitable.

Meanwhile, Your mind senses what’s coming next.

Recent neuroscience research suggests that your brain has the remarkable ability to anticipate future events before they occur. This predictive power helps humans navigate complex environments, make decisions, and respond quickly to potential threats or opportunities.

The brain achieves this by continuously processing patterns, memories, and sensory input. It doesn’t just react to the present—it uses past experiences and ongoing signals to forecast what is likely to happen next. Specialized neural circuits in areas such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are involved in this anticipatory activity, allowing the mind to prepare for outcomes milliseconds before conscious awareness.

Studies using brain imaging and EEG have shown that the brain can predict decisions, actions, and even sensory events before a person is consciously aware of them. This explains phenomena such as intuition, “gut feelings,” and rapid reflexes in high-stakes situations. It also sheds light on why some people seem to sense danger or opportunities ahead of time.

Understanding this predictive capacity has implications for health, decision-making, and artificial intelligence. For example, it could help researchers develop interventions for neurological disorders where anticipatory processing is impaired, or improve machine learning models inspired by human brain prediction.

While the idea that the brain knows the future may sound like science fiction, it’s actually a reflection of the mind’s incredible ability to process information, recognize patterns, and simulate possible outcomes. Our brains are constantly running simulations, quietly predicting what comes next, giving us a subtle edge in daily life.

This discovery emphasizes that human consciousness is only the tip of a predictive iceberg—the brain is always one step ahead, preparing for the future before we even realize it.

Lastly, My Photo of the Day-History of Art

The Moment when AI Surpasses the Human Brain

The countdown may have already begun. Experts are now warning that humanity could reach the technological singularity — the moment when artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence within just three months.

This isn’t sci-fi speculation. Top minds in tech and physics say recent advancements in AI models are accelerating so rapidly that self-improving systems may soon reach a tipping point. Once AI can redesign and upgrade itself without human help, its growth becomes exponential, unpredictable, and potentially unstoppable.

The singularity isn’t just about faster computers. It’s about machines thinking, solving, and evolving beyond human comprehension. That moment could unlock unimaginable breakthroughs curing disease, ending hunger, solving climate change or it could spiral into risks we’re not ready for.

Some researchers believe we're already seeing early signs. AI is now writing code, generating scientific papers, diagnosing illness, creating art, and even forming new languages to communicate. The pace is breathtaking, and the implications are profound.

Governments, researchers, and ethicists are calling for urgent safeguards. But can regulations keep up with a force growing faster than we can measure? Will humanity remain in control, or are we approaching a future shaped by intelligence we no longer understand?

Three months may sound dramatic but history is filled with moments that changed everything overnight. The singularity might not wait for us to be ready.

This could be the dawn of a new age or the end of the one we know.

Meanwhile, Did you Know that.....

New research has revealed an extraordinary link between fathers’ exercise habits and their children’s health. Scientists have found that fathers can genetically pass down the benefits of regular physical activity to their offspring, influencing metabolism, muscle development, and even brain health.

The study suggests that exercise-induced changes in a father’s sperm can affect gene expression in children, providing them with a biological advantage from birth. This groundbreaking discovery highlights how lifestyle choices don’t just impact personal health, they can shape the next generation.

Experts emphasise that staying active isn’t only crucial for personal fitness but may also give children a healthier start in life. Even moderate, consistent exercise could create long-lasting effects that extend beyond the individual.

This research adds to the growing evidence that our habits, particularly those of parents, play a critical role in shaping the future health of their children. It’s a powerful reminder that staying active today benefits not only you but your family for years to come.

My Short Video Of the Day:

https://fb.watch/D1_2Vj6dLH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fresh Lumpia-Ubod from Iloilo-My Province of Birth

Getting Hungry and Nostalgic Again....

From Fujian to Fiesta: The Epic Journey of Lumpia and Its Filipino Reinvention

Before it graced our fiestas, family tables, and birthday spreads, lumpia began its journey thousands of miles away — in the lush farmlands of Fujian province, China. There, it was known as “lun pia”, meaning soft pastry — a tender spring roll wrapped in rice paper, filled with vegetables and pork, eaten during the spring harvest to celebrate renewal and abundance.

Carried across seas by Hokkien immigrants, lun pia found its new home in the Philippine archipelago. In this land of endless flavors, it transformed — as all living traditions do. Filipino hands gave it new texture, new taste, new identity. From the soft Chinese popiah, it evolved into the crisp, golden lumpiang shanghai, the fresh and fragrant lumpiang sariwa, and the vegetable-packed lumpiang togue.

Each version bore the mark of adaptation — Chinese in spirit, Filipino in soul. What began as an immigrant’s comfort food became a national favorite, served at weddings, fiestas, and humble kitchen tables alike. Every roll tells the same story: of movement, memory, and reinvention — a culinary bridge between East Asia and the Pacific.

Fresh Lumpia Ubod (Heart of Palm) from Iloilo- My Childhood Favorite Dish

In every bite of lumpia, there’s a taste of history — of the journeys that shaped us, of how food carries the legacy of both homeland and homecoming.

Lumpia isn’t just a dish; it’s a story rolled in tradition — proof that culture, like flavor, is meant to be shared. This is a delicacy that reminds me of the Philippines, specifically, the province of Iloilo- the province of my birth.  

In Addition, The following video of fresh shrimps made so hungry....

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1135129495348114

Meanwhile, 

Can music truly reshape our brains at the molecular level? A blend of evidence reveals that musical experiences go far beyond delight—they spark changes deep within our neural architecture.

This systematic review synthesizes research across music-based interventions and musical training. Active and receptive engagement with music boosts neuroplasticity, with molecular changes seen in gene expression, neurotrophins, and neuroendocrine activity. Listening to music upregulates genes tied to neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity, while active involvement, like singing or instrument play, consistently elevates peripheral neurotrophic factors in both healthy individuals and patients.

Musicians, through years of training, reveal striking neurogenetic adaptations—key genes like BDNF, SNCA, and GATA2 are altered, driving improved neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and even cognitive functions. These adaptive processes are linked to increased neural connectivity, resilience, and emotional well-being.

Importantly, the review highlights that both music therapy and practice can modulate stress and support brain health, opening doors for innovative therapies in neuropsychological disorders.

The field calls for a deeper understanding of how music orchestrates these molecular shifts, promising new applications for mental health and cognitive enhancement.

Finally,

My Food For Thought For Today:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1794818701178372