Be ready for a longer time of fun under the sun as the summer solstice sets in on June 22, 2015.
This annual astronomical event pertains to the longest daytime in the northern hemisphere and the opposite in the southern hemisphere where Winter Solstice will take place.
According to Engr. Dario dela Cruz, Chief of the Space Sciences and Astronomy Section of PAGASA, Summer Solstice in the Philippines will begin at 12:38 AM (Philippine Standard Time).
The said phenomenon marks the start of summer in the United States and other countries situated in higher latitudes. However, the opposite happens in the Philippines where the rainy season is just about to begin since it is near the equator.
During the Summer Solstice, the sun attains its greatest declination of +23.5 degrees and passes directly overhead at noon at a latitude of 23.5 degrees north, which is known as the Tropic of Cancer. This event marks the start of the apparent southward movement of the Sun in the ecliptic, dela Cruz added.
At this time, the sun appears at its highest elevation caused by the Earth’s tilt on its axis and its motion in orbit around the sun. This is when the northern hemisphere leans nearest to the sun.
Aside from the solstices that occur during June and December, we also experience equinoxes in the months of March and September, which result to an approximately equal duration of night and daytime. (link to past article re equinox)
The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol, which means “sun,” and sistere meaning to “stand still.” Therefore, solstice literally translates into “the sun stands still.”
This day, in the year 1861, a hero was born. His name was Jose Protacio Rizal-Mercado y Alonzo-Realonda, a man we simply know as Dr. Jose Rizal.
This year, we commemorate the 154th birth anniversary of our national hero by dishing out 19 things you need to know about this remarkable freedom fighter:
1. He was born in Calamba, Laguna, which enjoys a special non-working holiday today.
2. He was the second son and the seventh out of eleven children born to parents Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.
3. He manifested exceptional intelligence from a young age while being tutored by his mother.
4. He could read and write by age 5.
5. He spoke multiple languages including Tagalog, English, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Dutch and Latin.
6. He had knowledge of several dialects and languages such as Ilocano, Visayan, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, among others.
7. Dropping the family surname Mercado, he enrolled in Ateneo Municipal de Manila as Jose Protacio Rizal. He graduated with honors under a degree in Land Surveying and Assessment in 1877.
8. A year later, he pursued his passion for the arts with a degree in Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas, but later on, switched courses.
9. With his mother’s impending blindness, he studied Medicine specializing in Ophthalmology at the same university. However, he left the medical program and went to Spain.
10. He finished both degrees in Medicine and Philosophy at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He also pursued further studies in France.
11. He is also a sportsman, practicing eskrima, a Filipino martial art similar to fencing.
12. He wrote articles for reform in the propaganda newspaper La Solidaridad under the pen name Laong Laan and Dimasalang.
13. He founded La Liga Filipina, a short-lived association that aimed to unite Filipinos and encourage them to be educated.
14. He was the author of two controversial novels – Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which exposed the injustice done by Spanish colonizers.
15 Rizal was romantically linked with different women during his travels in different countries. These women include:
- O-Sei-San of Japan
- Gertrude Beckett of England
- Nellie Bousted of France
- Susanne Jacoby of Belgium
- Consuelo Ortiga of Madrid
- Leonora Valenzuela of Intramuros
- Leonor Rivera of Tarlac
- Segunda Katigbak of Batangas
- Josephine Bracken whom he married two hours before his death.
16. He wrote the poem Mi Ultimo Adios translated as My Last Farewell prior to his execution.
17. He was arrested for treason and purported involvement in the rebellion, and was exiled to Dapitan in Mindanao.
18. He was sentenced by the Spanish Government to execution by a firing squad in Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896 at 7:00AM.
19. Rizal Day is annually celebrated on December 30.
If you think the rains yesterday was a random occurrence, think again. Expect thunderstorm formation later and more rains as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) remains situated across the Visayas.
The axis of the ITCZ is where two different winds converge, bringing cloudy skies and precipitation. It is also known to be the breeding ground of Low Pressure Areas and possible tropical cyclones.
Based on PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, this weather system will bring cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas and Mindanao. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will still experience isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Despite the looming rainy weather condition, the archipelago’s coastal waters remains slight to moderate.
Meanwhile, commuters were stranded due to heavy rains and flooding experienced in Metro Manila yesterday in the late afternoon.
The top three highest rainfall amount recorded are as follows:
State Meteorologist Jori Loiz said that evidently, Metro Manila experienced a high amount of rains, encompassing a big berth of area in the metro.
Everyone is advised to bring umbrellas and to monitor weather updates as we expect another rainy day today.
In other news, today is the beginning of the Ramadan.
Rainy season in the Philippines is expected to commence before June ends.
Among its indicators is the presence of the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat. This word is derived from bagatan, which means southern in Ilocano. State Meteorologist Gener Quitlong explained that the habagat is characterized by warm and humid air blowing from the southwest. Most of its affected areas are in the western sections of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The habagat is capable of bringing heavy rain showers from three days to one week. This year, it is expected to prevail by the end of June up to the month of September.
Rains will still be experienced over Mindanao, Visayas and Palawan due to the prevailing ITCZ or intertropical convergence zone. Cloudy skies will dump light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over these areas. Meanwhile, the rest of the country will have generally fair weather with chances of isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
During the past months, the ITCZ did not affect any part of the country, but when June came, it became one of the dominant weather systems. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, the axis of the ITCZ moves northward and southward depending on the seasons and the orientation of the sun.
Now that the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere is just a few days away, the ITCZ is expected to oscillate or move northward, affecting the Philippines this June. Its axis can reach, not only the provinces of Mindanao, but also the Visayas area. This weather system is also dubbed as the breeding ground of low pressure areas (LPA), which may develop into tropical cyclones.
Meanwhile, Mendoza added that due to the expected El Niño intensification in the coming months, stronger tropical cyclones are also possible. During the years when the country experienced El Niño, the number of cyclones decreased but the intensities were much stronger than the usual.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is in need of 8,000 volunteers for the Metro Manila Rescue Volunteers Corps to be deployed in case of earthquake. The group’s primary commitment is to serve as additional manpower to the existing 6,000 MMDA rescuers.
Eligible volunteers must be 18 years old and above and willing to undergo a three-day earthquake response and rescue training facilitated by the MMDA. Volunteers must be physically fit to fulfill search and rescue duties if and when the West Valley Fault moves. Volunteers will be grouped according to expertise and will be coached by batch of 30s.
Students whose families live in provinces that will not be affected by The Big One and those who live in the University Belt are encouraged to join the corps.
Aspirants will be screened by MMDA upon filling out the form at www.bepreparedmetromanila.com/ .
Though we are already halfway into the month, there is still no trace of southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat” within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). According to PAGASA, habagat is characterized as warm and moist air that affects the country, particularly the western section. This is also one of the “tag-ulan indicators.”
It was on June 10 last year when the weather bureau announced the onset of rainy season. But as of now, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong said that the habagat has not yet been observed in the country. Though we are about to step into the 2nd half of June, the onset of rainy season might come a little late compared to the previous year.
Quitlong added that the ridge of the high pressure area (HPA) and the influence of the weak El Niño are just some of the factors for the delay of “tag-ulan.” He also explained that a low pressure area or tropical cyclone is needed to generate or direct the southwesterly winds towards the Philippines.
Today, the ridge of HPA continues to extend over Northern and Central Luzon while the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is expected to affect Mindanao. This weather system is an area where winds coming from the northern and southern hemispheres meet. As winds converge, clouds are formed, bringing rains over the affected areas.
ITCZ is also considered as the breeding ground of low pressure areas that may develop into tropical cyclones. However, Quitlong said that as of now, no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country within the week.
Based on the 24-hour weather forecast of PAGASA, this weather system will dump light to moderate rains and thunderstorms, not only in Mindanao, but also over Palawan and Visayas. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have generally fair weather with the chance of isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. All are advised to bring umbrellas and monitor updates from PAGASA.
Watch the interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong:
During the first week of June, PAGASA announced that the onset of rainy season will be on the second week of the month. However, today, the ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) continues to affect Northern and Central Luzon. This will bring hot and humid weather in most parts of the country. State Meteorologist Jori Loiz said that the late onset of the rainy season is primarily the effect of the El Niño phenomenon.
This afternoon or evening, some parts of the country may still experience isolated rain showers.
With continuous heat, it is necessary to protect ourselves from the effect of hot and humid weather. Heat Exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke are among its dangerous consequences. Read more at: Staying Cool this Hot Season
Today, the Ridge of High Pressure Area once again extends over Northern and Central Luzon. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said that consequently, hot and humid weather is expected today and tomorrow.
Isolated rains and thunderstorms are still possible during the latter part of the day.
Keep yourself hydrated this hot and dry season by eating up instead of drinking up!
Read more at: Fruits that Beat the Hot Weather