Simplify the weather alert system

AS flood calamities go, the sodden weekend experienced by Metro Manila and the surrounding area was not a tremendous disaster. By and large, the population endured the situation, and while it is still far short of anything that could be considered exemplary or even adequate in most cases, government monitoring and response is better than it used to be, and so, the human toll was minimal. The twin earthquakes early Saturday morning were an unpleasant addition to the already stressful conditions but luckily, did not cause much damage other than to already frayed nerves.

The aplomb with which Filipinos withstand and then quickly forget about natural disasters is simultaneously impressive and alarming. Yes, there is something to be said for the "resilience" that people here are quite proud of and never fail to miss an opportunity to praise; Filipinos do what they have to do to manage situations that would turn other, better-equipped people into helpless crybabies.