Manila Observatory
Encyclopedia
The Manila Observatory is a non-profit research institute housed in the campus of the Ateneo de Manila University
in Quezon City
, Philippines
.
Founded in 1865 by the Jesuits, it has served many purposes over the years including weather forecasting and earthquake research. Today it continues to carry out research in seismic and geomagnetic phenomena as well as radio and solar physics.
by Father Jaime Nonell, a Jesuit, which described observations of the typhoon of September 1865 done by Father Francisco Colina, another Jesuit. The treatise attracted the attention of the public who asked the Superior Juan Vidal for the observations to be continued. There was initially hesitation on the part of the Jesuits due to the primitive instruments available but later agreed when the needed instrument, the Secchi Universal Meteorograph, was promised to be purchased from the Vatican
.
Thus began the systemic observation of the Philippine weather led by a Scholastic
, Father Federico Faura. It started issuing warnings on typhoons in 1879. Earthquake observations by the observatory started the next year. The Spanish government
finally recognized the observatory as the official institution for weather forecasting in the Philippines
in 1884. In 1885, it started its time service; its seismology section put up in 1887 while astronomical studies began 1899.
During the American period, realizing the vitality of the observatory, it was re-established by the colonial government in 1901 as the Philippine Weather Bureau. The bureau continued its works expanding its fields of works to include meteorology
, astronomy
, and geomagnetism. The work of the bureau was interrupted by the Second World War. During the Battle of Manila, all of the instruments and important documents of the bureau were completely destroyed. Also, it ceased to function as a specific government agency was established for the same purpose. The observatory began again its operation in 1951 in Baguio mainly for studies on seismology and ionosphere. It was later transferred in 1963 to the Loyola Heights campus of the Ateneo de Manila University
where it continues its studies on seismology
, geomagnetism, and radio physics, among other areas of research.
Administration is primarily composed of:
Their Research programs include:
1) Climate Change
Assistance
2) Geomatics
for Environment and Development
3) Instrumentation and Technology
4) Regional Climate Systems
5) Solid Earth Dynamics
6) Urban Air Quality and
7) Special Research Projects.
The observatory's recent Special Research Projects are:
1) Climate Change Adaptation – Disaster Risk Management and
2) Co-benefits of Climate Change Mitigation
.
also worked part-time to the observatory.
Listed below are some of the identified of the scholastics designated to the Manila Observatory. Also indicated were the years when some of them return to the observatory as well as the years of their passing away.
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Founded in 1865 by the Jesuits, it has served many purposes over the years including weather forecasting and earthquake research. Today it continues to carry out research in seismic and geomagnetic phenomena as well as radio and solar physics.
History
The establishment of the observatory originated from the article published in Diario de ManilaDiario de Manila
Diario de Manila was a Spanish language newspaper published in the Philippines, founded on October 11, 1848, and closed down by official decree on February 19, 1898, after the colonial authorities discovered that its installations were being used to print revolutionary material.The Diario was...
by Father Jaime Nonell, a Jesuit, which described observations of the typhoon of September 1865 done by Father Francisco Colina, another Jesuit. The treatise attracted the attention of the public who asked the Superior Juan Vidal for the observations to be continued. There was initially hesitation on the part of the Jesuits due to the primitive instruments available but later agreed when the needed instrument, the Secchi Universal Meteorograph, was promised to be purchased from the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Thus began the systemic observation of the Philippine weather led by a Scholastic
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
, Father Federico Faura. It started issuing warnings on typhoons in 1879. Earthquake observations by the observatory started the next year. The Spanish government
Spanish Government
Spain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978...
finally recognized the observatory as the official institution for weather forecasting in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1884. In 1885, it started its time service; its seismology section put up in 1887 while astronomical studies began 1899.
During the American period, realizing the vitality of the observatory, it was re-established by the colonial government in 1901 as the Philippine Weather Bureau. The bureau continued its works expanding its fields of works to include meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, and geomagnetism. The work of the bureau was interrupted by the Second World War. During the Battle of Manila, all of the instruments and important documents of the bureau were completely destroyed. Also, it ceased to function as a specific government agency was established for the same purpose. The observatory began again its operation in 1951 in Baguio mainly for studies on seismology and ionosphere. It was later transferred in 1963 to the Loyola Heights campus of the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
where it continues its studies on seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
, geomagnetism, and radio physics, among other areas of research.
Organizational structure and activities
The observatory is mainly composed of two units: the administration and the research unit.Administration is primarily composed of:
- General Administration
- Accounting
- Human ResourceHuman resource managementHuman Resource Management is the management of an organization's employees. While human resource management is sometimes referred to as a "soft" management skill, effective practice within an organization requires a strategic focus to ensure that people resources can facilitate the achievement of...
and - Physical Facilities and Supplies.
Their Research programs include:
1) Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
Assistance
2) Geomatics
Geomatics
Geomatics is the discipline of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering geographic information, or spatially referenced information.-Overview and etymology:...
for Environment and Development
3) Instrumentation and Technology
4) Regional Climate Systems
5) Solid Earth Dynamics
6) Urban Air Quality and
7) Special Research Projects.
The observatory's recent Special Research Projects are:
1) Climate Change Adaptation – Disaster Risk Management and
2) Co-benefits of Climate Change Mitigation
Mitigation of global warming
Climate change mitigation is action to decrease the intensity of radiative forcing in order to reduce the potential effects of global warming. Mitigation is distinguished from adaptation to global warming, which involves acting to tolerate the effects of global warming...
.
Scholastics of the Observatory
The observatory was found by the Scholastics and the Manila Observatory was one of the institutions to which they could possible be sent for mission. A prerequisite for such a mission was their formation in the Society. Scholastics being assigned to the observatory came from different Provinces but some Scholastics from the Ateneo de ManilaAteneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
also worked part-time to the observatory.
Listed below are some of the identified of the scholastics designated to the Manila Observatory. Also indicated were the years when some of them return to the observatory as well as the years of their passing away.
| Scholastic | Start | End | Field | Return | End | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colina, Francisco | 1865 | 1867 | meteorology | 1893 | ||
| Nonell, Jaime | 1865 | 1870 | meteorology | 1922 | ||
| Ricart, Juan | 1868 | 1870 | astronomy | 1915 | ||
| Faura, Federico | 1866 | 1871 | meteorology | 1878 | 1897 | 1897 |
| Doyle, Juan | 1885 | 1891 | geomagnetism | 1896 | 1901 | 1918 |
| Cirera, Ricardo Ricardo Cirera Ricardo Cirera Salse was a geomagnetist who conducted the first geomagnetic survey of the Philippines and who founded the El Ebro Observatory in Roquetes , Catalonia, Spain. He was also involved in the founding of the scientific journal Ibérica.-External links:*... |
1888 | 1894 | geomagnetism | 1932 | ||
| Saderra-Maso, Miguel | 1890 | 1896 | seismology | 1901 | 1932 | 1939 |
| Tsuchihachi, Yachita | 1894 | 1895 | geomagnetism | 1965 | ||
| Coronas, Jose | 1894 | 1900 | meteorology | 1907 | 1931 | 1938 |
| Sola, Marcial | 1897 | 1903 | seismology | 1960 | ||
| Stanton, William | 1901 | 1904 | entomology | 1910 | ||
| Brown, Robert | 1902 | 1906 | entomology | 1912 | 1915 | 1947 |
| McGeary, James | 1904 | 1906 | astronomy | 1945 | ||
| Doucette, Bernard Bernard Doucette Bernard F. Doucette was a meteorologist, whose contributions included his observations of the 1939 Pacific typhoon season.He became one of the scholastics at the Manila Observatory , returning there later .... |
1925 | 1927 | meteorology | 1933 | 1974 | 1974 |
| Welch, Leo | 1930 | 1932 | astronomy | 1990 | ||
| Heyden, Frank | 1931 | 1934 | astronomy | 1971 | 1991 | 1991 |
| Guzman, Pablo | 1942 | 1943 | seismology |