WHEN CHICKEN FLIES

All animal life is endowed with mysterious instinct

For its own well being and one of these is the ability

To sense a change in the weather

-Jacob M. Braude

In the 50’s, the former weather bureau, now PAGASA, did not have their instruments as sophisticated as today.  My region was said to be the typhoon path of the country as no less than nineteen typhoons pass through it every year.

Typhoons before were named after female Americans, such as typhoon Trix, Lorna, Jane, etc.

Since the then weather bureau could not be very well relied upon by the people, they turned to natural signals.

By nature, chicken walk.  They scratch for their food.  They were not similar to ducks which swim in the water nor birds that flies.  They are, however, classified as birds.

Ancient China bared that animals are keen to natural calamities.  They said that horses become restless when there was an impending earthquake.  Ants would climb to higher grounds before the rains and floods come. Eggs which were intended to be hatched become barren, etc.

The old folks believed that chicken flew above their homes or above the rice fields, typhoon would come.  So they would prepare their houses from the havocs of typhoon.  Weak houses are even tied to tress so they will be firm to the ground.