A prayer for rain

As temperatures continue to rise, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged the people to turn to prayer.

He did not issue an oratio imperata, or mandatory prayer for deliverance from calamities. But he urged priests to lead the people in praying for rain.

The 65-year-old prelate interceded for rain after saying Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer in Bogo City, north Cebu last Wednesday. The prayer, which he said in Cebuano, was broadcast over DYRF.

Temperature in Cebu reached 35.3 degrees Celsius at 2:30 p.m. on May 21, the highest recorded in May.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said temperatures could still climb higher as the El Niño phenomenon continues to prevail.

“Yes, it is possible because we still have a few days left before the month ends,” said weather specialist Jhomer Eclarino.

The weather bureau predicted the rainy season this year would be delayed and would start in the middle or third week of June yet.

Low rainfall values are also expected. In May, the normal amount of rainfall is 103.1 millimeters. As of yesterday, Pagasa recorded only 13.9 millimeters of rain.

The rains experienced in the past few days are effects of the local convective clouds or localized thunderstorms.

Eclarino said the El Niño weather pattern, currently characterized as weak, could turn into a moderate one.

“It depends on the sea surface temperature anomalies. As of now, the temperature is 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius. Once it reaches 1.1 to 1.8 degrees Celsius, then it will turn into a moderate El Niño,” he said.

PRAYER

In the absence of an oratio imperata, Palma led this prayer:

“Ginoong Dios, among amahan, nasayod kami sa dakong gugma nimo kanamong tanan. Dugay nga adlaw nagpaabot kami ug ulan ug daghang mga dapit nga init ug walay ulan, mga tanom natuyo na ug nanginahanglan ug tubig (God, our

Father, we know you love us immensely. For several days, we’ve been waiting for rain. Many places have been suffering from too much heat. Several plants have dried up and need rain),” he said.

“Ginoong Dios namo, diha sa imong kalooy, iampo namo ipadala ang imong ulan, sama niadto nga gipadala nimo imong ulan aron magamit sa kaayohan sa lumulopyo nimong mga anak. Ginoong Dios kung kini naayon sa imong plano, kini among pag-ampo ipadangat namo nimo sa dakong pagsalig sa imong gugma, isip among amahan ug sa imong gugma kay kami imong mga anak diha ni Kristo (Lord, in your mercy, we beg you to send us rain for the good of your children. In accordance to your will, we entrust our supplications to you for you are our Father, and we are your children in Christ). Amen.”

The last time Palma issued an oratio imperata was in December 2013, as supertyphoon Yolanda was barreling towards the Visayas.

The oratio imperata is a Catholic tradition where the bishop leads the community in prayer for a special intention. It is to be recited in all Masses in Cebu.

In previous years, it was used in Cebu to seek divine protection for peaceful elections and peace in the Middle East, safety from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bird flu virus, dengue, the influenza A (H1N1) virus as well as the success of the 2007 ASEAN Summit hosted in Cebu.

The Cebu Provincial Board declared last Monday a state of calamity in the entire province of Cebu due to declining water supply. The effects of the El Niño are feared to last until January next year.

Officials said, however, there is still no dry spell in Cebu. A dry spell occurs when rainfall values fall below normal levels for three consecutive months. There is drought if much lower rainfall levels persist for three months.