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The "Super Blue Blood Moon" as seen from
Antipolo, Rizal on January 31, 2018. (PHOTO
BY BERNARD TESTA, INTERAKSYON- MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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MANILA ---The
“super blue blood moon” on Wednesday night (January 31) served as a reminder to
Filipinos that there’s a divine being that made the spectacle possible.
Facebook
users flooded the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA)’s livestream of the phenomenon with prayers,
reflections, and wishes, especially as the moon gained a red luster during the
total lunar eclipse at around 9:30 p.m.
The
United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA explained
on Twitter that the phenomenon was extraordinary because of these simultaneous
lunar events: (1) the super moon being at or near its closest point to Earth;
(2) the blue moon as second full moon in a month; and (3) the blood moon
occurring when the Earth’s shadow casts a red tint on it during a lunar
eclipse.
“Napakaganda (It’s
so beautiful). I can stare at the moon all night long. Thank you Lord for your
wonderful creation,” Facebook user An Ge Lie wrote on PAGASA’s livestream,
which had gained 54,000 reactions, 34,500 shares, and 22,000 comments in three
hours.
“Ang
gandang tingnan (It’s beautiful to look at). (M)y family with the super
blue moon. We’re out here watching the greatness of the universe,” Riony Desuyo
Calleja commented.
“Wow!
Very beautiful. It’s evidence that there is a creator of all the universe. Our
God Jehovah, the greatest creator,” posted Miriam Hernandez.
World
peace, good health for themselves and their families, jobs overseas, academic
prowess, and even lottery wins were on the long list of petitions sent in by
Facebook users tuned in to PAGASA’s three-hour livestream. With Valentine’s Day
drawing near, there were requests for romance, too.
“Lord,
bless our country, the Philippines. Makaahon sana sa kahirapan at wala nang
gulo (May it get out of poverty and conflict). Peace to our country. Make the
Philippines rich and peaceful. No corruption so that we can move on,” wrote
Samantha Sy.
“May
the… moon bring us peace, prosperity, happiness, and a lot of blessings now and
forever. Amen,” commented Marie Arabia.
“We
are blessed to witness your creation oh God. I wish for my family always (to
have) good health, and happy living,” said Mhadz Taguicana-Dela Cruz.
There
were also those who quoted ominous Bible passages that told of Jesus’ second
coming, particularly Revelation 6:12 – “I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth
seal, and there was a great earthquake. The Sun became as dark as black cloth,
and the Moon became as red as blood.”
“It’s
a sign that God will come back, and very soon,” wrote Angelo Vinarao Pedro.
But
Debbie Vital Add turned to the Bible to express her wonder, citing Psalm 8:3 –
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the
stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?”
In
the end, Yehlen Sc marveled at how such a vision could unite people together.
“It’s
a good feeling that we are all staring at the same moon,” she wrote. “Unity in
awe.”(Tricia Aquino, InterAksyon &
Jeff Caparas, News5 - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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