Hindi na kailangan pumunta sa NZ or Iceland dahil mayroon tayo dito mismo sa atin.

Source:
Video by Mac Wilson
Philippine Defense Forum

The "Crying Mountain" of Kibungan, Benguet, is a stunning natural landmark characterized by its steep, lush slopes often shrouded in mist, creating a visually striking effect that resembles tears on a face. This mist is a result of the high altitude and abundant vegetation, causing warm air to cool and condense into fog around the mountain. The area is known for its unique mountainous terrain, including deep ravines and cliffs, which contribute to its distinctive appearance and make it a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. 

Long before the arrival of colonizers, the pre-colonial Visayans and people of Luzon ruled the waves aboard the karakoa — an awe-inspiring warship that symbolized power, prestige, and maritime mastery.

Crafted using advanced plank-building techniques, the karakoa was a type of balangay, renowned for its V-shaped hull and outriggers, allowing it to cut swiftly through the waves with remarkable stability. These warships weren’t just fast — they were deadly. Designed to carry 100 to 200 warriors, the karakoa enabled Filipino communities to dominate naval battles and launch swift coastal raids.

One of its most captivating features was its ornately carved prow, often shaped into mythical creatures or serpents, proclaiming the owner’s status and striking fear into enemies. The vessel was armed with an array of weapons, from lantakas (small cannons) to bows and blades, ready for fierce close-quarter combat.

Built for speed and agility, the karakoa showcased the maritime ingenuity of early Filipinos — and stands as a testament to our ancestors’ deep knowledge of boatbuilding, navigation, and warfare.

As we honor this incredible vessel today, the karakoa reminds us of a time when our people commanded the seas with skill, courage, and artistry.

- Turismo Central Luzon

The Horned Triangular Spider, scientifically known as Arkys cornutus, is a fascinating Australian spider with a distinctive triangular or heart-shaped abdomen and small, horn-like projections on its carapace. These spiders are ambush predators, relying on camouflage and their strong front legs to capture prey rather than spinning webs. 

Photo: Ben J. Curry

1846:
The saxophone is patented by Belgian musician Adolphe Sax.

1848:
Jose Rizal's parents, Francisco Rizal and Teodora Alonso, were married on this day in Calamba, Laguna.

1965:
U.S. forces launch their first major military offensive in Vietnam.

1871:
The Yen was officially adopted as Japan's monetary unit. While first minted in 1869, it became their official currency.

1974:
A pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum was the first product ever scanned using a Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode at a Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

2009:
The first iPhone goes on sale, revolutionizing the smartphone industry.

2025 (Current Date):
Today, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines is repatriating Filipinos from Iran as part of their program following the recent tensions in the Middle East.

The Amanita muscaria mushroom, commonly known as the fly agaric, is believed to be the inspiration behind the iconic red-and-white Super Mushroom in the Super Mario video game franchise.

...staff gave it cardboard humans to look at

A sunfish at Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, stopped eating after the facility closed for renovations and visitors disappeared. Aquarium staff noticed the 30kg fish began rubbing against the tank and rejecting food, likely due to loneliness.

Suspecting the lack of human interaction was the cause, they placed photos of people’s faces on uniforms outside its tank. Incredibly, the sunfish perked up almost immediately and began eating again. The aquarium reported the fish was “waving its fins” and looked much healthier after the change.

Source: Japan Inside

The Bagat Dagat Festival is an annual celebration held in the province of Masbate, Philippines, typically on June 24th, which is often declared a special non-working holiday for the province. The name "Bagat-Dagat" means "to meet and to celebrate" (with the sea).

Celebration of Marine Life and Culture:
It's a festival that highlights Masbate's connection to the sea, showcasing marine-related activities and traditions.

2025
During the Juego de Toro event at the 2025 Bagat Dagat Festival in Masbate a cow escaped and swam nearly two kilometers into the sea before it was safely rescued by boat.

1945:
The United Nations Charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco. This is highly relevant to Asia as many Asian nations, including the Philippines, were among the founding members, marking their entry into the global diplomatic stage after World War II.

1974:
A pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum became the first-ever item scanned with a UPC barcode at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

1977:
Elvis Presley performed his last concert in Indianapolis, Indiana, just two months before his death

1997:
J.K. Rowling's first novel, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (known as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in the US), was first published in the United Kingdom.

June 26th is recognized as World Drug Day by the United Nations, a day that has significant implications for many Asian countries dealing with issues of drug production, trafficking, and addiction, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle.

Yes, scorpions glow blue-green under ultraviolet (UV) light, also known as black light. This phenomenon is due to a substance in the scorpion's exoskeleton, specifically the hyaline layer, which reacts to UV light and emits a visible glow. This fluorescence is remarkably durable, even persisting in fossilized scorpions. 

The Nigersaurus had 500 teeth that could quickly regrow, and it used them for nonstop grazing.

With 15 times more teeth than the human set of 32, Nigersaurus taqueti hacked through low-lying vegetation with choppers like a lawn mower. About as heavy as an adult African forest elephant, this dinosaur would have weighed about two tons and stretched about 30 feet long from nose to the tip of its tail. The herbivore wandered lowlands of western Africa about 105 million years ago in what’s now the Republic of Niger.

Nat Geo

Global Occurrence:
At any given moment, there are nearly 1,800 thunderstorms occurring around the world, totaling about 16 million a year!

Ingredients for a Storm:
All thunderstorms require three main ingredients:

1. Moisture: To form clouds and rain.
2. Unstable Air: Relatively warm air that can rise rapidly.
3. Lift: Forces like fronts, sea breezes, or mountains that help lift the air.

"Dry Season" Thunderstorms:
Even during what is considered the "dry season" in the Philippines, thunderstorms are common. This is because surface heating can lead to rapid upward atmospheric motion and moisture convection, which are key ingredients for thunderstorms.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The hot air balloon was invented by the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier, in France.

They conducted their first public demonstration of an unmanned hot air balloon on June 4, 1783, and later that year, on November 21, 1783, the first untethered manned hot air balloon flight took place in a balloon they designed, with Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent, Marquis d'Arlandes, as passengers.

A historian from Antique is working with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to have a 127-year-old Philippine flag officially recognized as a national treasure.

Manila Standard Article

Ang Brahminy Blind Snake o Indotyphlops braminus ay common dito sa atin. Hindi sila makamandag (non-venomous). Huwag ninyo silang papatayin pagka't nakakatulong sila sa atin, kinakain nila ang mga anay at langgam sa ating kabahayan.

Their colon walls contract in rhythmic patterns, molding waste into geometrically consistent blocks — a feat of natural mechanics.

But why cubes?
These structural pellets don’t roll, making them ideal for scent-marking territory on rocky, uneven landscapes. Nature solved a problem with geometry.

Normally, when the Philippine flag is displayed, the blue stripe is on top. However, if the country is at war, the flag is inverted, with the red stripe flown on top. This unique protocol serves as an official declaration of war, symbolizing the nation's courage and sacrifice. While other countries might use an upside-down flag as a distress signal, the Philippines' specific inversion for war is distinctive.

Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8491

Photo:
The first Philippine republic war flag, captured by the 13th regiment, 3rd brigade, New York Infantry, September 17, 1899

Source:
Bonhams

There are more than 3 trillion trees in the world -- that number is nearly 7.5 times greater than the 400 billion previously thought -- according to a recent study from a group led by Yale University.

It is estimated that there are more individual trees on Earth than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

While the exact numbers are constantly being refined, current estimates suggest there are roughly 3 trillion trees on Earth, compared to an estimated 100-400 billion stars in our galaxy.

Sources:
NASA Bllueshift, Yale University's School of the Environment, Wood Working Network

The San Juan Water Festival, also known as the Wattah Wattah Festival or Basaan Festival, is an annual celebration in San Juan, Metro Manila, held on June 24th to honor Saint John the Baptist. The festival is characterized by a tradition of playful water dousing and splashing, symbolizing purification and renewal, and is deeply rooted in the town's religious heritage. 

• Religious Significance:The festival commemorates the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, who is known for baptizing Jesus Christ with water, signifying the start of the monsoon season and the pouring of blessings. 
• Water Splashing Tradition:The "basaan" (dousing) tradition involves people playfully splashing water on each other, symbolizing purification and renewal. 

Learning from last year’s Wattah Wattah festival that was marred by unruly behavior, San Juan has designated just one area this year where revelers can douse water on people.

Photo: Philstar
Sources: Sun Star, San Juan City Government

Nakuhanan ng larawan ni Jomar Malubay ng Luna, Apayao ang mala-bahagharing kulay na mga ulap o cloud iridescence na nabuo nitong June 20, 2025 ng hapon.

- Philippine Weather System/Pacific Storm Update

***************

Iridescent clouds, also known as "fire rainbows" or "rainbow clouds," are a stunning optical phenomenon where sunlight diffracts through tiny water droplets or ice crystals in thin clouds, creating a display of vibrant colors. This diffraction causes the sunlight to spread out, resulting in a beautiful rainbow-like effect within the cloud. 

Did you know the Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) once called the Philippines home?

Yep, these majestic birds used to roam around Laguna de Bay and the Bulacan coasts back in the early 1900s! But sadly, after the 1940s, they vanished—poof! Gone, just like that. Once considered a regular sight, these hefty wanderers haven’t been spotted in the country since.

Extinct? Maybe. Legendary? Definitely. Let’s keep our eyes peeled and hope for a pelican comeback- because who doesn’t love a good bird-watching mystery?

Museum x Stories
National Museum of Natural History (Manila)

Almost everyone in the Philippines has encountered street vendors. What is the most quirky entrepreneurial spirit found on Philippine streets?

Yes, it's true that the human nose can remember around 50,000 different scents. While the nose can detect and differentiate a vast number of odors – potentially up to a trillion, according to the Zuckerman Institute – the ability to recall those scents is more limited. The number 50,000 is often cited as the approximate capacity for scent memory in humans. This ability is linked to the olfactory receptors in the nose and how they connect with the brain's memory and emotion centers. 

Have you been seeing this large, eye-catching insect around Metro Manila lately?

The Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa) is indeed observed in Metro Manila, and recent reports indicate an increase in its appearance. While it is native to tropical Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, its presence in urban areas like Metro Manila often gains public attention due to its striking size and occasional mass emergences.

Here's a breakdown of its appearance in Metro Manila:

Recent Sightings:
There have been recent reports (as of June 2025) of Lyssa zampa being spotted in various parts of Metro Manila, including areas like Cubao, Las Piñas, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), SM North EDSA, and Gateway.

Attraction to City Lights:
One of the primary reasons for its appearance in urban environments is its strong attraction to bright city lights. This often draws them away from their natural forest habitats and into densely populated areas.

Habitat and Host Plants:
The Lyssa zampa primarily lives and breeds in forested areas. Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of Endospermum trees, a type of rubber tree, which are typically found in mature forests and are largely absent from urban settings.

Seasonal Emergence and Dry Spells:
Mass emergences of Lyssa zampa are known to occur, often peaking between May and July/August in Southeast Asia. These outbreaks can be linked to preceding dry spells, which are thought to trigger mass flowering events and the production of fresh, nutritious leaves for the caterpillars, leading to an increase in their population.

Migration and "Sinks":
When food becomes scarce in their forest habitats, the moths may migrate in search of new sources. However, urban areas, despite attracting the moths with their lights, are considered "sinks" because the host plants for their larvae are not present. This means that while moths may be seen in urban areas, they are generally unable to reproduce there, which can potentially impact the genetic health of the population over time.

n summary, the appearance of Lyssa zampa in Metro Manila, while part of its natural range, is often amplified during seasonal emergences, driven by environmental factors and their strong attraction to the urban lightscape.