Chapter II: Climate, Typhoons, Volcano

Next day I met the Padre. He was seated on a cane chair under a clump of whispering bamboos, which are giant grasses as tall and as strong as trees.

We had hardly exchanged morning greetings, by saying "Buenos dias (boo ai'nos de'as)," before we heard the children running along the white shell path, between the parklike tropical woods.

"Every one awakens early in this wonderful climate, yet no one seems to be fully awake," I said.

The good Padre replied: "We are situated so near the Equator that the sun rises into full and bright daylight at once."

"I seem to half dream all day. Is it the balmy warm air, or the scents of new flowers, or the equatorial sun?" I asked.

The Padre explained it by saying: "The sun throws more direct rays here; and they pierce through thin hats, and especially through black clothes. It is best to wear thick, white paper helmets. Moreover, our climate is more damp than is America's climate.

"That is why you feel somewhat dreamy; and that is why everything in Nature, such as trees, fruits, flowers, ferns, and even animals and birds, grow so richly; and why the flowers shed influences and perfumes on the air. It all appeals to the warmth, color, and dreaminess in your happy imagination.

"You think of stories of Eden or Paradise perhaps, where one imagines no hard winter, no bare trees or lawns, no whiteness. Everything is more beautiful to look upon here. The birds and winds and rains drop seeds; and at once lavish plants grow up. You will soon become used to our warmer climate, because you will need to eat less meat and butter, which is the fuel that keeps you warm. Instead you will eat more rice and fruit, which will give you strength, without heating you."

At this moment, our little friend Moro pursed out his cheek and made a sound like a howling siren or a storm.

"That noise reminds me of your awful typhoons. I passed through one of those whirling storms, just as I approached these islands of beauty," I exclaimed. "Can you explain that great wonder?" I asked.

"It is God, the Creator's, magnificent but terrible act, such as you read about in the Book of Job or in the Psalms," said the Padre, who crossed himself and bowed in piety. The good children, except Moro, all made the holy sign.

Then the wise Padre continued: "Like great characters, for a long time gentle,--like peace which has covered the earth for years,--so, in our still, summer seas, suddenly in September, everything seems to contradict and be in rebellion, with a force unknown and unexpected before,--a force all the greater, because it was accumulating quietly for many months.

"The heat becomes unbearable. The winds arise and sweep all one way, for a time. Then comes the black rain. The heavy typhoon soon begins to howl and to turn in a circle for two or three days. The wheeling storm moves from place to place, and finally dies down at sea."

Filippa inquired: "Why is such a circular storm of the Oriental tropics, called a typhoon?"

The Padre explained: "It is a word that we have taken from the Chinese, who live not many hours away from us, across the water to the northwest. 'Tai' means great. 'Fung' or 'phoon,' means a wind. These storms sweep all the way from the Philippine Islands, across the seas to China. We like the expressive word which the Chinese have given these wind storms."

"We have another natural wonder here, the volcano," said Favra.

"Yes," replied the Padre, "the Taal (Tae'al) and Mayon (Mae y[+o]n') volcanoes once were smoking and fiery mountains, shaped like a cone. Years ago fire and lava, which is molten rock that has cooled, poured from their hot, pointed tops, ran down the sides, and destroyed everything in their path."

"What is lava?" asked Fil.

The Padre replied: "Even a volcano produces some good. This melted rock, when it becomes cold, forms a light, porous stone, which is used for polishing. You use it in your bathroom, to rub ink off your hands. Lava stone is easily ground into powder. When mixed with soap, this ground lava becomes a useful cleaning and polishing powder."

"Nature is always useful, as well as grand and beautiful," remarked Fil's father, who, dressed in a white silk suit and abaca hat, had just then come up the path.

"Where did you get that hat?" I laughingly asked Fil's father.

"I'll tell you some other time. It is made from reeds, woven under water to keep them damp and pliant. The hat, therefore, is light, durable, and cool," he replied.