Newsletter: Satellite data show landslide in Lanao del Sur and flooded areas in Cotabato, Maguindanao del Sur, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA due to Typhoon Inday

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) analyzed available satellite data following the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) due to Typhoon Inday and released landslide and flooded area maps to concerned stakeholders.

Newsletter: UP Meteorologists Study How Storms Evolve Near PH Coasts, Highlighting Urgent Preparedness Needs

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Landfall distribution according to latitude. (Photo credit: Racoma & Bagtasa, 2025)

An analysis of 45 years’ worth of Philippine tropical cyclone (TC) data reveals insights into how storms behave as they approach and make landfall in the country—considered as one of the world’s most cyclone-prone regions.

Newsletter: Hot days make for icy weather, Philippine study finds

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The Philippines, like other tropical countries, is known more for its balmy climate than for hailstorms. But a new Philippine study—the first of its kind—has found that the country’s hottest days are, in fact, more likely to produce hail.

The largest hailstones ever recorded in the Philippines fell in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, on May 8, 2020. An infrared image from the HIMAWARI-8 weather satellite taken at the time shows the convective system associated with this hail event. The inset panel on the upper right shows the corresponding radar reflectivity scan suggesting high amounts of precipitation in the area. In the lower right are photos of hailstones recovered from the event. SOURCE: Ibañez et al., 2025

Hailstorms are so few and far between in the Philippines that, even in an age of pervasive social media updates, they are still met with amazement and astonishment.

Newsletter: UPD Study Uses AI Model to Predict Tropical Cyclone Rainfall

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Graphical abstract of the AI-based accumulated tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall model.

(Photo credit: Mesias & Bagtasa, 2025)

The Philippines is often hit by tropical cyclones (TCs), which bring heavy rainfall that can cause floods and landslides. More often than not, the patterns of TCs repeat. For instance, if a typhoon with a certain amount of rainfall passes through Central Luzon, a similar typhoon that will pass through Central Luzon again in the future is likely to have the same amount and distribution of rainfall.

Newsletter: Scientists warn vs. ‘indirect’ effect of tropical cyclones during the monsoon season

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

Tropical cyclones hundreds of kilometers away from the Philippines are often more responsible for heavy rainfall than those that hit the country directly during the annual “Habagat” or southwest monsoon season from July to September, according to new research.

Newsletter: Ateneo scientists improve prediction of sunny days

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

These pyranometers installed at the Manila Observatory on the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City, Metro Manila, are used to measure actual solar radiation for comparison with forecast projections. Using a mathematical algorithm, Ateneo researchers were able in some cases to minimize the discrepancy between forecasts and actual observations down to just 6%. CREDIT: Lyndon Mark P. Olaguera 

Directly benefiting the Philippines’ solar power, agriculture, and other industries, an international team of researchers led by the Ateneo de Manila University and the Manila Observatory has pioneered a way to improve sunny weather forecasts by as much as 94%.

Newsletter: Ingredients in chewing gum help tilapia survive cold climates

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

Researchers inspect blue vats containing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings fed with varying levels of Arabic gum and lecithin to see what effect these have on the fishes' survivability in cold climates. Photo credit: Benha University / National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt 

Two common ingredients in ordinary chewing gum – Arabic gum and lecithin – have been found to help improve the overall health of tilapia, helping these fish survive better even in cold climates. This discovery paves the way for raising tilapia for food outside of the tropical regions where they are commonly farmed.

Maulan Kagad?!

05/18/2016 09:24:18 PM

Hindi mo na masisisi ang mga tao. Hindi na kataka-taka kung bakit na lang sila mapapraning kagad eh. At paano ba naman eh, nagbabago na ang klima, umi-extreme na nga e.

Kaya ganun na lamang ang pagkabahala nila kung matapos ang isa o dalawang oras ng pag-ulan – kahit hindi naman malakas yun – ay bigla na lamang masasabi nila na “Ay, shet, tag-ulan na!”

Mga Bagay Na Dapat Mong Gawin Kapag Wala Kang Pasok

7/15/2014 11:58:14 PM

Sa buhay ng isang batang-isip, walang mas sasaya pa kesa sa masuspinde ang pasok mo sa eskwelahan. Aminin!

Pero hindi porket no classes ka na dahil sa bagyo ay magpapakatambay ka na lang. Maawa ka naman sa magulang mo, kaya narito ang dapat mong gawin sa mga ganitong klaseng panahon.

Pag May Baha, May…

7/27/2013 2:36:32 PM

Dahil tag-ulan na naman ulit, uso na rin ang mga pagbaha. At usong uso rin sa mga uri ng panahon ang tila kaakit na nitong sari-saring serye ng mga reaksyon na napapansin natin. Kunyaring halimbawalang, pag umaaaraw, uso rin ang panaon ng tagtuyot. Tapos, uso rin ang mga pagkain tulad ng ice cream, halo-halo, at iba pa. Parang domino effect o chain rection ang datingan nga lang. Sanga-sanga ang epektong maidudulot ng isang karampot na sanhi.

Dahil tag-ulan na nga, usong-uso ang baha. At pag may baha, may mga lalangoy. Siyempre, hilig ng mga bata ang magtampisaw sa tubig e. Wala nang pakelamanan kung galing ba sa imburnal ng bahay mo yan, sa malapit na creek, o sa ilog mismo. basta, gusto lang nilang maligo. Period. Tapos!

Sa Sobrang Init Ngayon…

5/22/2014 7:32:15 AM

Ang init nga naman, ano? Abot singit, ika nga ng isang pauso linya noon.

Pero, grabe lang. As in napapamura ka na lang ng malutong sa pagkainis mo. As in “Putangina naman! ANG INIT!!!!” Siyempre, nagiging intense ka rin.

Hindi makakaila na iba na talaga ang panahon noong sa panahon ngayon. Parang nung ilang summer lang ang nakalipas ay hindi naman ganito kasukdulan ang nararamdaman mong init di ‘ba?

Ang init! Sobra!

Cafe Scientique Talks: Why Should We Bother With Science? (And Climate Change As Well)

‎12/‎15/‎2013 1:50:04 PM

Poster of Cafe Scientique. (Photo credit: http://sailorstarcatcher.net/)

Let's face it: one of the least interesting topics we used to have in our respective everyday lives is "science." And with the advent of climate change issues, most of us tend to ignore everything that we may need to know. But the even worst scenario is if all else fails, I mean everything around us are totally ravaged due to our own share of indolence, unawareness and failure to prepare, we blame the government.

Tirada Ni Slick Master: Fuck Your Religion and Logic!

11/10/2013 11:47:17 AM

“Maraming namatay dahil hindi nagdarasal palagi? Fuck your logic and your religion.”

Ito lang ang nakakairita sa mga tao pagdating sa ganitong sakuna eh. At hindi yung mga racist na comment ang mga tinutukoy ko (as if naman mai-spell nila ang “Philippino” ng tama, ano?). alin? Ang mga ganito: yung mga tao na hinahaluan ng relihyon ang mga bagay-bagay. Pag may hindi magandang nangyari, sinisisi ang pagiging hindi madasalin.

Nag-Uulat Sa Gitna Ng Delubyo

11/10/2013 8:55:50 AM

Define JOURNALIST.

Hindi biro ang mag-ulat ng ganito. Delikado, malaking sugal sa kalusugan, at kung mamalas-malasin ay baka ‘di pa maganda ang kakahitnatnan mo, possible ka pang mapahiya kung sakaling pumalpak ka na magiging trending ka sa internet dahil dun. ‘Yan ay kung hindi ka mag-iingat sa gitna ng isang napakapeligrosong sitwasyon.

Ano ang ibig kong sabihin? Ang serye ng mga ulat noong nakaraang Biyernes ng umaga – sa kasagsagan ng bagyong Yolanda sa Leyte – ay isa sa mga tila “defining moment” ng role ng media sa kasalukuyang kabihasnan.

Habang tinitignan ko ang mga special coverage ng mga news channels mula pa nong Biyernes ng tanghali hanggang kagabi, at ang pag-aanalisa ng mga video nila sa YouTube, aba, par aka naman yatang nakikipagpatintero kay Kamatayan kung ika’y napapalibutan ng matinding buhos ng ulan at sorbang bilis ng bugso ng hangin.

Tag-Ulan Na Naman. E Ano Ngayon?

7/27/2013 2:13:50 PM

Panahon na naman ng pagtulo ng luha ng kalangitan. Yung tila gaganti na naman sa atin si Inang Kalikasan. Ang kalamidad na mas nararamdaman natin.

Lagim ng Isang “Buhawi.”

4:36:29 AM | 5/25/2013 | Saturday

Naalala ko ang isa sa mga recent episodes ng palabas na Rescue. Ilan sa mga lalawigan sa Luzon, ang Ilocos Sur at Tarlac ay minsan nang binulabog ng isang “buhawi.” Bagamat sa kabutihang palaad ay walang buhay na nawala, sinira naman nito ang ilang ari-arian at hanapbuhay. Nag-iwan pa rin ng matinding pinsala at trauma para sa karamihan na ang hanap buhay ay nasa bukirin ng mga probinsya.

Napakabihira para sa isang tropical na bansa na tulad ng Pilipinas ang maranasan ang isang malagim na kalamidad na kung tawagin ay buhawi. Kung magkaroon man, tiyak na hindi ito singlakas ng mga tornado o twister sa mga bansa sa kanlurang hemisphere tulad ng Estados Unidos. And speaking of which, mas nagiging evident yata ang balita ukol sa buhawi kapag ito’y parte ng sirkulasyon abroad, tulad ng nangyari sa Oklahoma nitong nakaraang araw lamang.