A Low Pressure Area (LPA) was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was last located at 1,560 kilometers east of Mindanao. In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, as of now, the said weather disturbance has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, but its trough is expected to dump rains over Mindanao.
The trough refers to the extended part of the LPA, which is composed of convective clouds. In the next hours, the regions of Caraga and Davao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon or Hanging Amihan remains dominant. This will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. The remaining parts of the archipelago can expect generally fair weather apart from the isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
No gale warning was issued today but fisherfolk and those with small seacraft are still advised to be vigilant as moderate to rough seas will be experienced mostly in Luzon and Visayas. The coastal waters in the rest of the country will be slight to moderate.
Despite the prevailing Amihan, rising temperatures are already observed in some parts of the country. On Friday, residents of Iba, Zambales endured a scorching temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius. Here are some of the highest temperatures recorded yesterday:
Iba, Zambales – 36.5°C
Cotabato – 34.7°C
Dagupan City – 34.0°C
San Jose del Monte, Occidental Mindoro – 34.0°C
General Santos City – 34.0°C
As temperatures escalate and the weather gets warmer, many people have asked about the end of the Amihan season. One of them is Panahon TV follower Rodrigo Alarde Gregorio Jr., who sent his question on our facebook page.
Quitlong said the Amihan may be terminated anytime next week or probably by the end of March. The termination of the Amihan is a significant event in the Philippines because it signals the official start of the Hot and Dry Season in the country.
Just like Rodrigo, we’d like to hear from you too! Send us your weather-related questions through our social media accounts:
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According to the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), our climate is defined by relatively high temperatures, high humidity and abundant rainfall. However, even if high temperatures and high humidity are dominant in most parts of the country, cool weather can still be experienced in some places.
The City of Pines, Baguio City, is one of the coldest cities in the Philippines. In fact, Baguio City hit an ultimate low of 7.3 degrees Celsius last February 15, 2017. Aside from the tourist spots the city offers, remember to enjoy its cool weather, especially since it has these literally cool benefits:
It makes you fall asleep quickly.
For some people, temperature plays an important role in the onset of sleep. Research says that the cooler the surroundings, the faster a person falls asleep. This is because the cold temperature supports the body’s natural deep sleep process. The ideal room temperature to sleep in is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on personal preferences, clothing, and beddings.
It helps you enjoy a better night’s sleep.
In a Huffington Post article, Professor Michael Decker, Ph.D., spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, discusses temperature and rest. “As we sleep, our body acclimates to the room temperature,” he says. ” If we lower our body temperature a little bit in a cooler room, we tend to sleep better.” In addition, Dr. Christopher Winter went into more detail in another article, saying that the sleep cycle is typically initiated when our core body temperatures drop, and that people with higher internal temperatures (like athletes) may have trouble sleeping when the room is not cool enough to allow this to occur.
It helps you look younger.
Sleeping in cooler temperatures allows your body to release more melatonin, one of our best anti-aging hormones.
It makes your skin glow.
A Harvard Health Letter from 2010 includes the following interesting info: “… moderately cold temperatures could be good for the vasculature because it trains blood vessels in the skin to be responsive.” This means glowing and pinkish skin during cool weather.
It decreases your risk for diabetes.
In a study conducted in the course of four months, it was determined that sleeping in a 66-degrees Fahrenheit room burned more calories, and also increased the amount of “brown fat” (or good fat) in the body. Brown fat allows your body to burn calories, not store them. Over time, this dual-benefit of cold weather could help lower the risk for metabolic diseases like diabetes.
References:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rosie-osmun/sleeping-with-the-seasons-see-how-weather-influences-your-sleep_b_7269960.html
http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/blogs/how-cold-weather-is-good-for-you
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/19/health/your-brain-on-winter
-By PanahonTV Intern Jenny Grace Fernandez
Temperatures are beginning to rise in most parts of the country but the Northeast Monsoon, locally known as Amihan, has yet to end its dominance in Luzon.
This midweek Wednesday, Amihan has again intensified, affecting Northern and Central Luzon. As an effect, cloudy skies with light rains are expected in the Batanes Group of Islands. It will also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies to the Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Central Luzon and rest of Cagayan Valley. In Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, down to Visayas and Mindanao, generally fair weather will prevail only with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Despite the increasing temperatures in the country, PAGASA has yet to declare the commencement of the Hot and Dry season.
“’Yung warm and humid air ng Easterlies ang isa sa mga pangunahing characteristics para mag-declare po tayo ng tag-init. Hindi lang tayo makapag-terminate ng Amihan sa kadahilanang bumabalik ito.” (The warm and humid characteristics of Easterlies are one the factors before declaring the Hot and Dry Season. We can’t still announce it because Amihan has yet to be terminated.)
It can be recalled that PAGASA announced the termination of Amihan on March 18 last year, signaling the start of the Hot and Dry Season or tag-init.
Photo credit to Anna Carpio
One of the anticipated events on the third day of Global Peace Convention was the One K Global Peace Concert that was held at the Mall of Asia Arena last March 2, 2017. The concert, featuring Korean performers such as CNBlue, SHINee and PSY, was part of the One K Global Tour with Manila was its first stop. These groups performed to support the One K Global Campaign, which aims for the reunification of South and North Korea.
The night kicked off when delegates from different countries release balloon doves—which signifies unity. Before the concert officially began, a video was shown to explain what the Global Peace Foundation was all about. The concert was hosted by Seolhyun and Minho from Kpop groups AOA and SHINee, respectively.
Photo credit to Anna CarpioThe opening act was B.A.P. who lived up to their name (Best Absolute Perfect) by performing their hit songs Skydive, One Shot and No Mercy.
Photo Credit to @jongupf
Meanwhile, B1A4 taught the crowd how to say kyeopta (cute in Korean) and captured the fans’ hearts with their cute performances, including their legendary “sprout dance” from their 2011 hit song Beautiful Target.
Photo Credit to BANALIYA
AOA, a girl group known for its charm and charismatic dance moves, performed their famous songs Excuse Me, Miniskirt and Heart Attack. 
Halfway into the concert, a video of famous Korean dramas here in the Philippines was shown. The crowd swooned as idols from different groups performed the official soundtracks of the dramas Descendants of the Sun, Love in the Moonlight and Boys Over Flowers.
BTOB gave such swag performances with pumped-up melodies that even non-fans jammed to their songs I’ll Be Your Man, Beep Beep and Wow.
Photo Credit to Liel Maquera Reyes
CNBlue, a Korean band, wowed the audience with their instrument-playing skills and vocals. When its member, Yonghwa, said “Manila, you’re so sweet like vanilla!” before playing their hit song, You’re So Fine, the crowd went wild.
But the performance stage that really stunned the audience was when Cesar Montano, BTOB’s Hyunsik and Eunkwang performed Anak by Freddie Aguilar. Many were surprised at how the Korean performers sang in flawless Filipino.
Yet it seemed that the most anticipated group of the night was SHINee, one of the longest-running boybands in Korea. With their precise choreography and seasoned performance, the five boys made the audience feel as if the event were their very own concert.
Photo Credit to SHINee World PH
International sensation PSY hyped the crowd with his hit songs Gentleman, Napal Balji and Daddy. He rocked the whole arena when he performed his most famous song Gangnam Style that made him popular across the globe.
The concert ended with all the artists gathering for their final number wherein they sang One Dream, One Korea. But the concert did more than express their desire to unite Korea, it also united the audience which came from different parts of the world. Indeed, music is a universal language that can unify people to advocate peace.
— By PanahonTV Intern Gem Lat
Far from the rainy days last weekend, fair weather is expected to prevail in most parts of the county today.
This is caused by Easterlies, warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean, bringing slightly humid temperatures in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon has slightly weakened, affecting the extreme Northern Luzon.
Today, the Batanes Group of Islands will experience cloudy skies with light rains induced by Amihan. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, down to Visayas and Mindanao, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
“Makakaranas pa rin tayo ng mainit at maalinsangan panahon sa nakararaming bahagi ng bansa maging sa Metro Manila. Wala naman tayong inaasahang bagyo sa susunod na dalawa hanggang tatlong araw.” (We will still experience warm and humid weather in most parts of the country including Metro Manila. We’re not expecting a tropical cyclone within the next 2-3 days.)
They looked like beings from another world. Fish that’s almost ten times the average Filipino height.. An unidentified hairy carcass washed ashore.
Such sea creatures are not only mysterious-looking, but are said to hold the key to the mystery of predicting earthquakes. How? Since these animals live in the deep sea, some believe that they feel the shifting of the ground before we do, and that when they suddenly pop into shallow waters or the surface, it means that their habitat was disturbed—indicating an impending earthquake.
Here are some of the alleged instances:
OARFISH
Weeks before a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Surigao, sightings of oarfish were observed in Agusan del Norte. A 10-foot long oarfish was found in Carmen, Agusan del Norte, approximately 168 kilometers away from Surigao City.
The oarfish, considered as the world’s longest bony fish, usually stays in depths between 1,000 to 3,000 feet below the sea surface. This type of fish can grow up to 50 feet long. According to some scientists, these deep-dwelling species may crop up occasionally due to strong currents.
After the strong earthquake in Surigao, other sightings of oarfish also happened in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Occidental.
SUNFISH
On the 22nd of February this year, a sunfish was seen in the shore of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. The locals who have first witnessed the fish said it was still alive when they saw it but had later weakened and died.
In February 27, a sunfish measuring 147 centimeters long and 85 centimeters wide was spotted in the waters off Barangay Sangali, Zamboanga City.
Something unusual on the first of March welcomed the residents of Marinduque. A very large sunfish was found in the town of Boac. Local officials will have to investigate further due to the deep wound found on the sunfish, which might have been caused by parasitic worms.
According to the National Geographic, the sunfish is the heaviest bony fish and are generally found in the deep waters.
Speculations that the emergence of the sunfish is related to the ground shaking in Mindanao caused the residents to become a bit agitated.
GLOBSTER
A lifeless hairy blob or globster was found on the Dinagat Islands on February 22. A globster is an unidentified organic mass that washed up on the shoreline. The large sea creature could not be identified because it was already at its decomposition stage but some believed that the carcass is likely to be that of a sea cow.
Because of the proximity of Dinagat Islands to where the recent magnitude 6.7 earthquake transpired in Surigao,locals speculated this huge white beast went ashore because of the powerful tremor.
Quake Country
Apart from an average number of 19 to 20 tropical cyclones each year, the Philippines is also prone to earthquakes because it’s within the Pacific Ring of Fire. The most recent massive tremor in the country is the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that jolted several parts of Mindanao at around 10:03 PM on February 10, 2017. At a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, the epicentre was located at 16 kilometers offshore northwest of Surigao City.
The ground shaking was felt in Surigao City and San Francisco, where Intensity 7 was recorded. The rest of the municipalities in Surigao del Norte experienced Intensities 4, 5 and 6. To date, more than 200 aftershocks have beenrecorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The largest of these rocked the same location on March 5, 2017 at 8:08 AM. With a depth of 10 kilometers, the epicentre of the magnitude 5.9earthquake was plotted at 80 kilometers west of Surigao City.
As of March 8, the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed a total of 38, 245 persons affected in 82 barangays of Surigao del Norte. Eight people died from the recent powerful earthquakes while more than 230 people were injured. More than 7 thousand houses and 47 school facilities were damaged.
Surigao Earthquake Explained
According to PHIVOLCS, Eastern Mindanao, including Surigao del Norte, is a seismically active area because of the Philippine Fault and Philippine Trench.
This is not the first time that Surigao experienced enormous earthquakes. A magnitude 7.4 tremor rocked the Surigao segment of the Philippine Fault on July 1, 1879. This was considered the largest historical earthquake in Surigao where ground shaking was felt in the entire province, causing huge damage to infrastructure, widespread liquefaction and landslides.
Can we predict earthquakes?
These strange deep-sea creatures that are recently surfacing in shallow waters have created quite a stir among the residents, sparking discussions on social media. Many people feared that the mysterious sea creatures were omens of horrendous events.
Is it true that the appearance of these sea creatures point to an impending disaster? Here are what the experts have to say:
“Kung pag-uusapan ang recent sea creatures na natagpuan sa bansa, walang basehan na kaya nitong magpredict ng lindol. Totoong minsan ay may kakaibang kilos ang mga hayop pero dapat pinapakita ito ng marami at dun mismo sa panggagalingan ng lindol. So, hindi lahat ng animal behaviour ay mairerelate sa earthquakes.”
Ang kailangan natin ngayon ay paghahanda. Makakaligtas ka sa lindol kung una, sisiguraduhin mong matibay ang iyong bahay. Pangalawa, alam mo kung ano ang gagawin kapag tumama ang lindol. ‘Yung duck, cover & hold. At ikatlo, alam mo at ng mga tao sa iyong komunidad kung paano ang mabilis at tamang pag-respunde gaya ng evacuation at first aid…mahalagang mapag-aralan ‘yan.”
(There is no scientific basis that animals, particularly sea creatures, can predict earthquakes. Animals may have unusual behaviour but not everything is related to the occurrence of earthquakes.
What we need to do now is to be fully prepared. To survive an earthquake, make sure that your house is strong enough to withstand huge earthquakes. Second, you must know what to do during an earthquake. Always remember the duck, cover & hold. Lastly, educate yourself with the proper response and rescue procedures.)
– Dir. Renato Solidum
PHIVOLCS Director / DOST Undersecretary
“This is not a way to predict earthquakes,” Dukes said. “It’s just a way to warn that the Earth is moving and something — an earthquake, or a landslide or something else — might follow.”
– Catherine Dukes
Researcher, University of Virginia
“Animal behavior is not always predictable — for the earthquake forecasting side of things we would still need to have geophysical measurements in combination with animal measurements.”
– Dr Rachel Grant,
Lecturer, Animal and Environmental Biology (Anglia Ruskin University)
“These are just old superstitions and there is no scientific relationship between these sightings and an earthquake.”
– Hiroshi Tajihi
Kobe Earthquake Center
So the next time you hear about the appearance of such creatures, remember that panic is not the right response. What we must constantly do is preparation; even without the surfacing of these mysterious-looking sea animals, we must be always be ready for the possibility of disasters.
Sources:
PHIVOLCS – DOST
BFAR
NDRRMC
Live Science
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/03/tech/mci-earthquake-animals/
Sunstar Cagayan De Oro
Rains caused by the Low Pressure Area (LPA) are likely to continue in several areas in the southern parts of the country today.
At 11:00 AM today, the LPA was spotted at 135 kilometers southeast of General Santos City. Compared to previous days, the effects of this weather disturbance have already weakened. However, it will still bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms in Visayas and Mindanao.
In an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Sheila Reyes said that the LPA has slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone or “bagyo.”
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Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon still persists in Northern Luzon. It brings partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms also prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
The Low Pressure Area (LPA), which currently prevails within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was last spotted at 270 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, the LPA has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, but will definitely bring rains in Mindanao.
Monday comes with rainy weather in some parts of the country. Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms may be experienced in the regions of Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN. Same weather condition is expected in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. Residents of these areas are advised to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides. Light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms may affect the rest of Mindanao.
Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail n the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos. Metro Manila and the rest of the archipelago can enjoy generally fair weather aside from solated rain showers or thunderstorms.
As the Northeast Monsoon or Hanging Amihan remains dominant in Northern Luzon, fisherfolk in Luzon are still advised to take extra caution in venturing out into the sea as coastal waters will be moderate to rough. The remaining seaboards will be slight to moderate.
Mendoza also mentioned the factors that should be observed before terminating the Amihan. “Bago ma-terminate ang Amihan, kailangan makita na natin ‘yung prevailing wind natin ay Easterlies o nagmumula sa Dagat Pasipiko…at ‘yung pagtaas pa rin ng temperature lalo na sa Luzon.” (Before we terminate Amihan, the prevailing wind should be the Easterlies. Another factor is the rising temperatures in Luzon.)
Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/tjW5wCA4lsM
PAGASA terminates La Niña Watch
The weather bureau has announced the termination of its La Niña Watch after analyses showed that La Niña conditions are no longer present in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific (CEEP). In a press statement, PAGASA said the sea surface temperatures continue to return to neutral values.
The ENSO Alert System Status of PAGASA is now inactive. Thus, La Niña nor El Niño is not expected to develop in the equatorial Pacific within the next three months. The neutral conditions are likely to last from March to May 2017. However, all are still advised to monitor updates and further development.
Known as the “Baguio Flower Festival”, the Panagbenga is a month-long annual celebration that is one of the biggest and most- visited festivals in the country. Among the various activities that showcase the city’s culture, the festival’s highlights include the Grand Street Dancing Parade on February 25, 2017 (Saturday) and the Grand Flower Float Parade on February 26, 2017 (Sunday).
Despite its popularity and extensive media coverage, there’s always room for you to learn something new about the Panagbenga. Here are some of them:
1. Just like in any other town or city, the Panagbenga festival was created to help promote Baguio and attract tourist. But because the city was created during the American period and did not start as a town when colonized by the Spaniards, Baguio City does not celebrate its feast day with a patron saint.
2.The festival was created in 1995, to help reclaim the city’s reputation as one of the country’s best vacation destinations and to boost tourism after the massive earthquake in 1990 that devastated the city.
3. The idea was approved by the directors of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation and was strongly supported by the community. They decided to hold a festival every February because of the ideal and it gives people a reason to visit the city between the Christmas season and Holy Week.
4. The festival was initially held over a period of 10 days. But due to its popularity, it was extended to two weeks then three weeks—up until it was finally held for a month.
5.The festival was first named as the Baguio Flower Festival in 1995. Two years later, the archivist and curator of Saint Louis University Museum, Mr. Ike Picpican suggested changing its name to Panagbenga. The term Panagbenga comes from Kankanaey which means “a season of blooming”.
Travelling from Manila to Baguio is very convenient since there are several buses that offer excellence service and comfortable ride. However, a trip to Baguio for the annual festival is a big challenge since there are only a limited numbers of guests that Baguio City can accommodate. Here are some tips:
• Do your Research.
Research doesn’t only mean knowing which places to visit, but also knowing where these spots are located. Mapping out your itinerary will help you maximize your stay in Baguio. Here are some of its famous tourist attractions:
• Book your accommodations ahead of time.
Thousands of people flood the city during Panagbenga so we strongly recommend that you book your accommodations not later than January. Wide selections of hotels, lodges, hostels, and inns, guest/pension houses ranging from affordable to high quality accommodations in Baguio City are available for you to enjoy the yearly celebration of Panagbenga Festival.
• Book your bus tickets online.
Same thing goes with the bus tickets—make sure to book them ahead. Being a chance passenger will only add to your stress.
• Plan for the Parade.
Wear comfortable clothes and make sure you secure your viewing spot as early as possible before the area becomes crowded. Be mindful of your belongings. Make sure to leave your expensive belongings behind.
• Be adventurous foodie!
Travel with an adventurous appetite. Baguio is teeming with restaurants and eateries that suit whatever budget you have. Be willing to try new local food and who knows—you might find your latest favorite dish!
By: Angela Guia C. Bajan – Panahon TV Intern