Manila Observatory

The Manila Observatory (originally the Observatorio Meteorológico del Ateneo Municipal de Manila, and later the Observatorio Meteorológico de Manila) is a non-profit research institute housed on 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.

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History

What led to the establishment of the observatory was an article published in Diario de Manila by Jesuit Fr. Jaime Nonell which described Jesuit Fr. Francisco Colina's observations of the typhoon of September 1865. The article led the public to ask Jesuit Superior Juan Vidal for the observations to be continued. After initial hesitation on the part of the Jesuits because of the primitive instruments available, the Superior yielded upon the promise of a Secchi Universal Meteorograph purchased from the Vatican.

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Thus began the systemic observation of the Philippine weather led by a Scholastic, Fr. Federico Faura. It started issuing warnings on typhoons in 1879, and the next year earthquake observations. In 1884 the Spanish government recognized the observatory as the official institution for weather forecasting in the Philippines. It started its time service in 1885, seismology in 1887, and astronomy in 1899.

The American, colonial government established it in 1901 as the Philippine Weather Bureau, which expanded into 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 destroyed and it ceased to function. A specific government agency was established in its place. The observatory resumed operation in 1951 in Baguio, mainly for studies on seismology and the ionosphere. In 1963 it was transferred to the Loyola Heights campus of the Ateneo de Manila University where it continues its studies into seismology, geomagnetism, and radio physics, among other areas of research.

Organizational structure & activities

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Iono-Geomagnetic study

The observatory is mainly composed of two units, administration and research. Administration is primarily composed of General Administration, Accounting, Human Resource, and Physical Facilities and Supplies. Research programs include: Climate Change Assistance, Geomatics for Environment and Development, Instrumentation and Technology, Regional Climate Systems, Solid Earth Dynamics, Urban Air Quality, and Special Research Projects. The observatory's recent Special Research Projects are: Climate Change Adaptation – Disaster Risk Management and Co-benefits of Climate Change Mitigation.

Scholastics of the Observatory

The observatory was founded by Jesuit scholastics who worked there during their years of study, or more permanently. They came from all over the world. A partial list is given below.

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	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 A.	1901	1904	entomology			1910
Brown, Robert	1902	1906	entomology	1912	1915	1947
McGeary, James	1904	1906	astronomy			1945
Doucette, Bernard	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

External links

• Manila Observatory: A Stellar Legacy by Bamm Gabriana
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