After nearly three weeks of heavy rain from the southwest monsoon (habagat) and back-to-back storms, Metro Manila finally caught a break on August 20. Tropical Depression “Neneng” is pulling away over the waters east of Taiwan, and the state weather bureau PAGASA confirmed in its 11:00 AM bulletin that no tropical cyclone wind signals are up. Floodwaters are receding, and getting around at night is easier than it was yesterday.
That said, tonight is not quite “business as usual.” The habagat is still strong enough to bring gusty, on-and-off rain across Luzon through Friday and Saturday. If you are heading out in Makati, P. Burgos, Malate or BGC tonight, plan around sudden downpours rather than assuming a dry evening.
Area-by-area at night
Makati / P. Burgos: The low intersections that were flooded yesterday have drained during the daytime lull, but the narrow side streets with poor drainage can go knee-deep fast in a sudden shower. If you go into a venue on P. Burgos Street, it is smart to keep your night within one area instead of hopping across the city.
Malate / Ermita: The stretch along Roxas Boulevard is exposed to wind-driven spray and street flooding when gusts pick up. If you are walking along Mabini Street, check the rain radar before leaving your hotel.
BGC: Its planned layout handles flooding better, but traffic flowing in from EDSA and the Kalookan side keeps night-time congestion hard to predict.
Getting around after dark
Ride-hailing supply drops sharply and prices spike right at the peak of the rain. Move while it is only drizzling, or wait out the peak before booking, and you will keep wait times down. Jeepneys and tricycles detour around flooded roads, so travel time is less predictable than usual. Leaving a little earlier than normal is the safe call.
On the official side, the government placed Metro Manila and other areas on alternative work and class arrangements on this day. Foot traffic in the business districts is harder to read, and some venues may open, fill up or close at different times than usual. It is worth confirming a bar’s hours by phone or social media before you head over.
Today’s official update
Here is PAGASA’s latest tropical cyclone bulletin issued on the morning of August 20, showing Neneng’s track and where the rain is expected to fall next.
Looking to the weekend
Even though things have calmed down today, forecasters expect a new tropical system to approach over the weekend and bring heavier rain again. The short version for your plans: tonight is doable, but recheck the forecast before making weekend plans. Stay flexible, keep safety first, and enjoy the city at your own pace.