'Hagibis' is the international name of a typhoon still outside of PAR. How did that happen?

Typhoon Hagibis is still outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

According to PAGASA’s 4pm weather bulletin on Tuesday, it is expected to enter the extreme northeast end of the PAR on Friday.

To spell it out, it means Hagibis is still in international waters. Which means Hagibis is the typhoon's international name.

So how did a typhoon get a super Filipino name?

According to GMA’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz, the name Hagibis is a contribution by the Philippines to the international community.

“So all countries being affected by tropical cyclones, nagbibigay ng pangalan, lalo na tayo dito sa Eastern Pacific — China, Vietnam, Japan, the US territories, the Philippines — nagbibigay tayo ng pangalan. ”

“We submit a list of names to the Typhoon Committee Secretariat, which is part of the World Meteorological Organization. All countries give contributions to name typhoons there. PAGASA ang nag-submit noon,” he continues. 

Mang Tani adds it’s not a yearly thing, this submission of names.

And like sports jerseys, typhoon names get decommissioned. “Haiyan and Yolanda, retired names na ang mga yun,” he adds.

Interestingly enough, the Philippines is the only country to give typhoons local names. “Other countries only use the international name. That’s because we have 20 cyclones a year. And of course, yung mga tao sa far-away places, mas madali yung [napipiling] local names.”

Let's go back to Haiyan and Yolanda. Haiyan was the international name, Yolanda was the local name.

The same is true with Hagibis. When it enters PAR it’s going to be renamed Perla. “And it’s going to be the 15th tropical cyclone for the year,” Mang Tani said.

Our weatherman is particularly concerned about the confusion the name may bring. “Nalilito na ata ang mga tao, iniisip nila, nasa loob na ng Pilipinas. Mga Kapuso, hindi pa po yan ang local name. Hindi pa po pumapasok sa PAR ang bagyo.”

His need to issue the clarification stems from dire observations. Hagibis looks to be a big typhoon. “With its present circulation, kaya niyang takpan ang Pilipinas. Sobrang laki, but we don't want to be alarmist about it.”

But according to Tuesday's 4pm weather bulletin, Hagibis may only stay inside PAR for one day.

For up-to-date weather bulletins, stay tuned to GMA News Online. — LA, GMA News