59. SUPER BLUE BLOOD LUNA

SUPER BLUE BLOOD LUNA

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

01 February 2018

Last night the second full moon for the month of January 2018 passed through Earth's shadow in a Super Blue Blood Moon eclipse. According to space.com, “This rare lunar sight was visible to millions of observers around the world. The lunar eclipse was the first to coincide with a Blue Moon – a second full moon in one month and in North America in over 150 years. It was also the second "supermoon" of 2018, with the moon appearing slightly bigger and brighter than usual due to its closeness to Earth. To top it, the supermoon passed through Earth's shadow casting a reddish hue on the lunar surface for more than four hours”. This lunar eclipse was visible in all 50 U.S. states as well as Australia and eastern Asia.

In the Philippines, the "super blue blood moon" was observed for about two hours, between 8:51 p.m. and 10:07 p.m. According to the chief astronomer of the state weather bureau PAGASA, Dario Dela Cruz; "The greatest part of the eclipse was seen at about 9:29 p.m.” around the country. The last time this phenomenon was observed in the Philippines was in December 30, 1982. The last time this was seen in the US was in 1866”.

A "supermoon" is a full moon that appears 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the usual full moon. It appears when the moon orbits closest to Earth during its full phase. A blue moon is the second full moon in a month, while a blood moon is seen when a full moon temporarily turns red during a total lunar eclipse due to the "refraction of sunlight."

The adjective lunar is used to describe something that is related to the moon. Lunar comes from the Latin word luna, meaning “moon”. Surfing the net reveals: “In ancient Roman religion and myth, Luna is the divine embodiment of the Moon. She is often presented as the female complement of the Sun (Sol) conceived of as a god. Luna is also sometimes represented as an aspect of the Roman triple goddess (diva triformis), along with Proserpina and Hecate. Luna is not always a distinct goddess, but sometimes rather an epithet that specializes a goddess, since both Diana and Juno are identified as moon goddesses. In Roman art, Luna attributes are the crescent moon plus the two-yoke chariot (biga ). Luna's Greek counterpart was Selene. In Roman art and literature, myths of Selene are adapted under the name of Luna.

There are other terms which use the word lunar such as: lunar eclipses, a lunar calendar, lunar tides and lunar orbits. “Lunar” can be seen in the word lunatic for they used to think that insanity was related to the cycles of the moon. In the Philippines, the word “luna” is synonymous to the great painter Juan Luna (1857-1899), his brother General Antonio Luna (1866-1899) and four towns in Luzon island.

Last November 14, 2016, I scribbled an article entitled “Luna After 68 Years” describing the “supermoon” which highlighted the skies that evening, Luna - the movie starring John Arcilla, etymology of the town of Luna in Isabela and the Luna statue formerly positioned in Cauayan City, Isabela. Aside from Luna, Isabela, there are three other local government units (LGU) in the country bearing the name “Luna” situated in the provinces of Apayao, La Union and Quezon. Each LGU were christened after the surname of General Antonio Luna y Novicio, an Ilocano born in Manila who fought on the Philippine-American War, regarded as one of the fiercest generals of his time and who became Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The municipality of Luna in Apayao province, formerly known as “Macatel” which means “itchy water” in the Ibanag dialect, was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 200 dated September 6, 1929 issued by American Governor General Dwight F. Davis. “Macatel” was changed to “Luna” by the town's founding father, the Ilocano explorer Antonino Barroga from Dingras, Ilocos Norte, to honor General Antonio Luna.

The municipality of Luna in Isabela province was originally named “Antatet” derived from the combination of the name of a sturdy tree called “anteng” where under its leafy boughs the Kalingas held their special celebrations and the “tet tet tet” sound of the ganza, a metal instrument the natives use during rituals. A municipal district in 1928, it was created as a regular municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 267 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on September 28, 1949 and rechristened to “Luna” to honor General Antonio Luna.

The municipality of Luna in La Union province, once called “Namacpacan” which means "one who feeds" in Ilocano, was recorded in 1587 as a visita (satellite mission) of Purao (now Baloan town). On October 18, 1906, during the terms of Governor Joaquin Luna and Mayor Primitivo Resurrección Novicio, the town was renamed "Luna" through Philippine Commission Act No. 1543 in honor of the famous Luna brothers: Revolutionary General Antonio and painter Juan. Their mother, Doña Laureana Novicio Luna, was a native of Namacpacan.

The municipality of General Luna in Quezon province was formerly known as “Hingoso” from the phrase “Hinging Suso” referring to the permission needed before gathering edible shells locally known as “suso”. A sitio of Macalelon, Tayabas (now Quezon province) Hingoso was created a town and was named “General Luna” to honor Antonio Luna by virtue of Executive Order No. 207 dated November 1, 1929 issued by American Governor General Dwight F. Davis.

Macatel, Antatet, Namacpacan and Hingoso were native names of four localities in the country’s biggest island. The names were changed not because they sometimes sound unpleasant but because the locals decided to honor Antonio Luna on his contribution to our independence. My researches revealed that the town of Luna in Isabela was not only rechristened to its present name because the founders idolized the revolutionary general but also because during the conceptualization of the district of Antatet as a regular town, the moon was shining brighter and larger than normal. This was the perigree full moon of January 26, 1948.