Editorial Writing

Topic: Marcos: Crucial to empower PH vs. external threats

FLORIDABLANCA—President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday stressed the need to

continue the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines citing terrorism and external security
threats.

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"While we strive to live in peace with others, it is still crucial that our Armed Forces be modernized so
that it is ready for all eventualities," Marcos said during the joint acceptance, turn-over and blessing
ceremony of the ground-based air defense system and C-295 medium lift aircraft at the Basa Air Base

"It is for this reason, that we strengthen our country’s capabilities in territorial defense, counter-
terrorism, and internal security," he added.

"With terrorism and external security threats brought by geopolitical tensions looming around us,
around the Asia Pacific region, and around the world, it is imperative that we continue to equip and
empower ourselves in whatever capacity we are able," Marcos said.

According to Marcos, keeping the country's defense systems updated with the latest technology also
means fortifying our capabilities in order to provide humanitarian assistance and to respond
immediately during calamities and disasters.

"It is also worth noting that, for government and business operations to continue without fault or
interruption, there is a need to protect all our critical infrastructure — and our modernization addresses
such a need," Marcos said.

The President recognized the sacrifices of the men and women of the military force in preserving peace
and security for the Philippines, noting that his administration will remain their steadfast partner in
accomplishing their duties and responsibilities to ensure peace and stability.
"This is a day that is a momentous event for all of us, especially of course the Philippine Air Force, as our
reason for gathering is a significant stride to our ability to shield our territories from aerial threats of
different kinds, whether from inside or outside the country," Marcos said.

"So allow me to congratulate you for the successful acquisition of the new Ground Based Air Defense
Systems and the C-295 Medium Lift Aircraft. These, and the delivery of the FA-50PH in the prior years,
will certainly make a very big difference in uplifting our Air Force’s capabilities to promote our security,"
he added.

The GBADS (ground based air defense system) or the SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System, the first
modern surface-to-air missile in the country, is a land-based medium range air defense missile system,
which is capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones, and precision-guided
munitions.

According to the Philippine Air Force, its purpose is to protect vital installation from aerial attack,
surveillance threats, and create a secondary air defense cover after manned fighter aircraft.

The GBADS is an acquisition project under the Armed Forces Modernization Horizon Plan 2.

On the other hand, the C-295 medium lift aircraft is a twin-turboprop transport aircraft manufactured by
Airbus Defense and Space of Spain. The aircraft is noted for its short take-off and landing capability on
semi-prepared runways and for its payload capacity of 9,250 kg.

This will be used to provide transport of personnel and logistical supplies for projecting military force, as
well as provide air mobility for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

PAF commanding general Lieutenant General Connor Anthony Canlas told reporters that the assets
would be deployed to strategic locations.

"It forms part of the core competency of the Air Force that we are developing sa aming Flight Plan 2028
and 2014... so this is part of the core competency of integrated air defense system and kaunting
improvement pa sa components like the multi-role fighter, and that is also in the pipeline already para
tumaas ang level, maging credible at dependable ang ating Philippine Air Force," Canlas said.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines Miguel Utray Delgado turned over the
documents of C-295 medium lift aircraft to the Department of National Defense while Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to the Philippines Ilan Fluss gave the documents of the
GBADS to the agency.

Marcos expressed gratitude to Israel and Spain for helping the Philippines bolster its defense systems,
which, according to him, is a clear testament of "strong defense relations." —NB, GMA News

Tags: news, nation, Bongbong Marcos

Column Writing

Topic: Marcos: We must commemorate uncounted dead from Yolanda

The uncounted fatalities from Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) should never be forgotten, President
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.

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Marcos was in Tacloban City, Leyte to attend the 9th-year commemoration of the devastation caused by
the super typhoon.

“I come here because I must commemorate those uncounted dead that up to now we do not know how
many that number is. We must come to these commemorations so that we will remember those who
we were told not to remember,” Marcos said in his speech.

“If you remember, during the count of the casualties, the count was stopped and we knew that there
were still thousands out there and for those thousands… those countless thousands… we come here, we
commemorate. Because if we no longer commemorate, their memory dies and it is only up to us to keep
that memory alive," he added.

According to Marcos, the commemoration was also a demonstration and a manifestation of the strength
and courage of Filipinos.

“To remind ourselves that Filipinos are brave, that Filipinos are kind, and that Filipinos will conquer all
especially if it is for their community, and for their families, and for the land that they love,” Marcos
said.

Years after the destruction of Yolanda, Marcos said that Tacloban City had been rebuilt. He noted that
even in times of calamities, Filipinos will surely recover.

"And it is a wondrous sight to see. And it always gives us hope that even if there are tragedies and
disasters in other places, we know the Filipino spirit will never be quelled. The Filipino spirit will always
burn bright and bring back normal life to their communities. That is what we commemorate," Marcos
said.
"So these are the different elements that we were thinking of as we were going through the relief and
rescue process during — just after Yolanda. Is that what happens to all these people? How will we ever
recover from this? Well, again, because of that Filipino spirit, that is how we have recovered from this,"
he added.

In 2013, Yolanda hit the Eastern Visayas bringing massive damage in most parts of the region and
leaving more than 6,000 people dead and over 28,000 injured.

The super typhoon was estimated to have caused P89 billion in damage. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

Tags: news, Super Typhoon Yolanda, Haiyan, Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr, Tacloban Leyte
Editorial/Column Writing

Topic: Philippine inflation rate soars to nearly 14-year high of 7.7%

(2nd UPDATE) The 7.7% inflation rate posted in October 2022 is the highest since December 2008's 7.8%

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ inflation rate spiked to a nearly 14-year high of 7.7% in October,
as a confluence of global shocks and gaps in domestic policies trigger a consumer crisis.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said on Friday, November 4, that the 7.7% posted in October 2022 is
the highest since December 2008’s 7.8%, when the world suffered a financial crisis.

The latest figure tops the 6.9% posted last September. It is also well above the average of around 4%
since the start of the new millennium, and nearly double the high end of the government’s current
target range of 2% to 4%.

Year-to-date, average inflation stands at 5.4%.

The inflation rate of food and non-alcoholic beverages accelerated to 9.4% in October from 7.4% in
September, as a result of external price pressures, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disrupted
global supply chains, and the lingering impact of recent storms.

Mapa said there is a high probability that October’s 7.7% is not yet the peak, given recent storms
pushing up food prices.

Inflation flaring up to this level was expected by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which estimated the
rate falling between 7.1% and 7.9%.

Targeted relief

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan emphasized the need for continued targeted relief
to tame inflation and investment in climate-smart agriculture technologies for food security.

He said those affected by recent storms should immediately be given aid.

“Our immediate priority is to continue supporting the most vulnerable sectors of the economy, hence,
the cash transfers and fuel discounts will continue. This will alleviate the effects of the sustained
increase in commodity prices as a result of global headwinds as well as the recent typhoons which
damaged our domestic production and disrupted food supply,” Balisacan said.

The country’s chief economist added that it is “high time” to boost support for agriculture.

Inflation is among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s stickiest economic issues, with a Pulse Asia survey
showing 42% of Filipinos disapprove of his administration’s performance in cooling prices.

While inflation has hit most countries, experts have repeatedly emphasized that Marcos could take
various steps to address it, including shifts in import policies or addressing domestic supply constraints.
Editorial Writing

Topic: Hontiveros wants Senate inquiry on PH maritime education amid risk on 50K seafarers’ jobs

Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought an inquiry into improving the standards of maritime education in the
country over fears that around 50,000 Filipino seafarers are at risk of losing their jobs.

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These came about after findings showed that the Philippines did not comply with the European Union's
standards on seafarers' education, training, and certification.

In filing proposed Senate Resolution 279, Hontiveros said the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
has been flagging the Philippine maritime training since 2006.

She added that EMSA had reported that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) did not ensure that all training and assessment met the standards provided
under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers (STCW) Convention.

"Labing-anim na taon na pala tayong binibigyan ng warning. It’s high time we summon MARINA and
CHED to the Senate, para maaksyunan na itong mga reporma. They need to show Congress that they are
taking definite steps to resolve this issue," she said in a separate statement.

"One of the shortcomings listed was that kahit program design ng maritime courses hindi pa na-finalize
ng CHED. This is one of our most important industries, dapat may sense of urgency. We need to honor
our commitments under the STCW Convention. This will also help us maintain our status in the
[International Maritime Organization] whitelist," she added.

Hontiveros said that if the EU decides not to recognize the Certificates of Competencies obtained by
Filipino seafarers and prohibits them from being deployed to EU-flagged vessels, it "risks not only
substantial economic disruption, but also substantial damage to the reputation of the Philippine
maritime industry."

The lawmaker also said that ship owners and operators might look elsewhere for seafarers to crew their
vessels and the resulting lost ground might prove very hard for the country to regain.
Hontiveros emphasized the contribution of seafarers to the Philippine economy, having remitted
US$6.54 billion in 2021 based on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data.

In line with this issue, Hontiveros reiterated the need to pass the Magna Carta for Seafarers, particularly
the provisions on government support for their educational advancement and training at reasonable
and affordable costs.

"Long term reforms will ensure better job security and employability of our seafarers. With all the
sacrifices marinos make doing this dangerous job far away from their families, we also owe them up-to-
date training that can save their lives and those of their passengers," Hontiveros said.

She mentioned a recent work trip where she consulted with seafarers who are going to Aberdeen and
from Montenegro.

"Iniinda nila ang ibinabayad nilang buwis sa ibang bansa dahil pakiramdam nila hindi nila
napapakinabangan ang kinakaltas sa kanila. On top of this, sobra sobra ang fees para sa skills
development na kailangan nila to remain competitive and protected," Hontiveros narrated.

"May nakasama din akong babaeng seafarer, at sang-ayon siya sa gender-responsive provisions ng
Marino bill. Madaming isyu talaga ukol sa welfare protection nila, kaya dapat ng gawing prioridad ang
pagpasa ng batas na ito,” she added.

(They are complaining about the taxes that they pay in other states because they feel that they are not
benefitting from it. On top of this, there are other fees for their skills development which they need to
remain competitive and protected. I also talked with a female seafarer and she is in favor of gender-
responsive provisions in our bill. There are a lot of issues in terms of their welfare protection. That is
why we need to prioritize the passage of this law.)
Editorial Writing

Topic: The first 100 days of Marcos: Where is our transportation heading?

MANILA, Philippines — At his first State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. outlined
an ambitious yet succinct directive for the transportation sector: "Full speed ahead."

Short of concrete proposals, Marcos said he would continue and expand infrastructure programs started
by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. He also said that the government has been missing a “great
opportunity” to develop the country’s railways.

RELATED STORIES

Commuters urge Marcos gov't to provide immediate relief, long-term solutions to transport crisis

Commuter group: Most Filipino commuters say waiting time too long, PUV supply lacking

But have his plans for the sector actually left the station? Here’s a look at the transport policies of
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his first 100 days in office.

READ: Marcos mum on ‘short term’ plans for commuters, mobility groups say

Rail transport

When it came to rail, Marcos largely pushed for continuity of the policies of the Duterte administration.
Almost immediately after he entered office, the chief executive announced free rides for students on
the metro's rail lines would be extended until December of this year.

Duterte's transport policy had everything to do with Build, Build, Build: Transport would get smoother if
its capacity were given a jolt via newly-opened rail lines. These would also put the country's transport
system at par with its international counterparts.

Under the latest Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines ranked 102nd out of 141 countries in
terms of transport infrastructure. The same report also saw Philippines with the lowest rated railway
service in Asia, ranking 86th out of 101 countries.

Marcos has largely pushed for continuity in the sector, starting with the sustained rehabilitation of the
Metro Rail Transit-Line 3. As of writing, the number of overhauled light rail vehicles or wagons of the line
has reached 65, after the Department of Transportation announced it completed another one on
September 28. In total, only seven of the 72 MRT-3 wagons remain scheduled to undergo general
overhauling by the line's maintenance provider Sumitomo.

RELATED: DOTr says 50 MRT-3 train cars now newly-overhauled

The Japan International Cooperation Agency also signed off on the extension of the Philippine Railways
Institute Technical Assistance Project, which the DOTr said was meant to boost the development of
various policies, laws and regulations, provision of curriculum and training.

The DOTr on October 6 also signed the contract for the North-South Commuter Railway, which Bautista
said “will bring back the culture of rail transport in the Philippines."

“I cannot over-emphasize the economic and social benefits this new railway will bring to residents of
Central Luzon and the Calabarzon area...This railway will offer safe, affordable, convenient, and
comfortable transport to Filipinos, while accelerating the country’s economic rebound,” Bautista said.

In the twilight years of his administration, then-President Rodrigo Duterte, who earlier promised to
solve Metro Manila's traffic woes within six months, chalked the unfinished works up to lack of time. As
it currently stands, the completion dates of the former-Build, Build, Build projects are still far off:

North-South Commuter Railway: March 2029

Metro Rail Transit-Line 7: Full completion in 2023

Metro Manila Subway: Full completion by 2028

Mindanao Railway Project: Full completion by 2028, if funding source is identified

Of the Subic-Clark Railway Project, the Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul Project, and the
Davao-Digos segment of the Mindanao Railway Project, Bautista in an interview aired over ANC's
Headstart was quoted as saying: “Six years may not be enough, but I think if we start it and we do it
right, we should be able to substantially complete the project before the term of President Bongbong
ends."

Road transport
Since the onset of the Marcos administration, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
has since allowed the re-opening of a number of pre-pandemic bus and jeepney routes while
greenlighting fare increases across all road-based public transport.

The LTFRB under Marcos also expedited the payments for drivers and operators along the EDSA
Carousel, which severely effected supply after many opted not to ply their routes for fear of operating at
a loss.

However, many routes that once plied along EDSA — the busiest thoroughfare in the Metro — have
since been redirected to other routes, many of which lead to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal
Exchange.

RELATED: LTFRB approves fare hikes across public transportation

At the DOTr’s budget hearing in late September, Transport Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said that
the department will continue to push for funding for its public utility vehicle modernization program in
2023.

The PUVMP was a flagship program of the previous administration. It envisions a “restructured, modern,
well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have
stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and
comfortably,” the LTFRB said in a briefer published on its website.

But transport workers have long called for a better transition in the modernization program, with some
opposing it altogether.

Much of the backlash from the program comes from the fact that drivers feeding poor families refuse to
shoulder the P2.4 million price tag of a modernized jeepney, with many of them calling for a just
transition instead of leaving them to shoulder the cost on their own. During the pandemic, the
government doubled its subsidy for these to P160,000, but the prices of units also doubled and now cost
P2.4 million.

Meanwhile, proposals to privatize the EDSA Busway Carousel have since been floated by the
Management Association of the Philippines. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista was largely
receptive to these but highlighted the need for a feasibility study first.
READ: 'Proposals to privatize EDSA Busway Carousel still far off'

Where are we now?

Where pre-pandemic transport workers held strikes to declare the situation as a crisis, advocates say the
Marcos administration inherited something worse than that.

Fares increased while supply in major cities largely stayed stagnant. Demand is also on the uptick with
students and workers alike trooping back to on-site classes and work.

All the while, social media is flooded daily once more with scenes of congested stations and transport
terminals, with commuters bemoaning long lines even at the wee hours of the morning each day.

“When Filipinos are compelled to shift to using private motor vehicles as soon as they can afford to, we
are on a downward spiral of worsening traffic, pollution and climate change,” transport economist
Robert Siy of the Move as One Coalition told Philstar.com in an online exchange.

Julius Dalay, who chairs the Commuters of the Philippines, says the biggest problem is supply — which
the free rides and higher fares, while helpful, fall short of addressing.

"These are stopgap measures, but later on we have to admit that the economy might go into a recession
sooner or later...we are just starting to bounce back and it might not be sustainable. There should be a
better solution besides looking at a select few to receive Libreng Sakay," Dalay said in a phone call.

"It's definitely still a crisis...Considering the rising cost of living, we've even seen people concerned about
how much this cost of living has even impacted their lives."

Dalay added that the route rationalization under Duterte "does not reflect the demand needed" by
commuters and operators alike, which was reversed when Marcos' DOTr allowed the opening of over 30
pre-pandemic routes for the first time since 2020.

Both Dalay and Siy also said that the DOTr under Marcos has been generally receptive to suggestions,
with the later saying it was observing the situation "with cautious optimism."
READ: DOTr hopes for continuity in transport infra projects under Marcos Jr.

Where do we go from here?

Ahead of the Marcos administration, Siy also said that transport authorities should put in place a long-
term roadmap for the transformation of road-based transport to deliver improvements for commuters
while offering transport workers and vehicle owners a just transition.

"We need to think of the Filipino without a car as the main client and focus our resources on improving
his/her mobility. This means prioritizing walking, cycling and public transportation in all our cities and
making these safe, sufficient and attractive, even for those who own motor vehicles," he said
Wednesday night.

Commuters have long pointed out that most destinations require multi-modal transport to get to. Siy
said the current priorities are a sort of "putting all the eggs in one basket": of the DOTr's proposed
budget of P167.12 billion, the rail sector will get P112. 85 billion, or over a 400 percent increase in
allocation compared to its budget from a year ago.

READ: Senators want more railways, but transport crisis doesn't end — or start — there, expert says

Dalay questioned the proposed budget of the Department of Transportation in the recently-passed
General Appropriations Act presented to both chambers of Congress, which still focus largely on the
development of rail infrastructure.

"There seems to be a mismatch between the priorities of this government versus what has been laid out
in the first 100 days...Budget for road transport is minimal as opposed to new transport and rail-based
projects. This has been a point of contention," he said.

He added that proposals to privatize the EDSA Busway were too much, too soon, with better short-term
solutions still available to the government: "It's not yet the ultimate solution [because] there are still so
many things we need to iron out... Commuters would be the one on the losing side given that this would
be a protracted legal battle."
Commuters of the Philippines recommended transport solutions "within the existing framework" of
transportation: "We need to bolster our road-based public transport for the short-term."

Siy also highlighted the importance of the president's rhetoric in influencing the country's transport
policy.

"A timely message from Malacanang could be an instruction to all agencies to prioritize moving people,
not cars. It would be important to hear this coming from the top," he said. “Business as usual is not an
option. We need to recognize that our traditional strategy of expanding roads and bridges for private
cars is not working."

However, Dalay conceded that with the priorities outlined by authorities, transportation for commuters
may get worse before it gets better.

"This is without 100 percent of the workforce going out and not all students in schools. We're expecting
that if the government doesn't tweak its programs, we might see a worse scenario in the coming
months."
Editorial and Column Writing

Topic: Angara: Marcos admin’s 2023 nat’l budget follows a recipe for sure economic recovery

The Marcos government’s P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 is very much aligned to the
administration’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF), which would serve as the country’s blueprint
to full economic recovery, Senate Finance Committee chief Senator Sonny Angara said on Tuesday,
November 8.

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Angara made the assurance when he sponsored Committee Report No. 10 on House Bill No. 4488 or the
General Appropriations Bill (GAB) during the Senate’s plenary session in the afternoon.

“As maiden budgets of new administrations go, this one was expedited, delivered to us in an impressive
seven weeks after inauguration day. But it would be wrong to say that its components were mostly
salvaged from the fiscal workshop of the past administration,” Angara said during his sponsorship
speech.

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“Naturally, the National Expenditure Program (NEP) follows the MTFF closely—with the President
writing his budget message that the budget his government has proposed for next year will usher in an
economic transformation towards inclusivity and sustainability,” he said.

Next year’s proposed appropriation has factored in the debilitating effects of the long COVID-19
pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the increasing intensity of natural calamities and disasters happening in
the country and inflation.

“Hence, (the) committee has done its best to make sure that every item in this budget we are proposing
aligns fully with the MTFF,” the senator said.
ADVERTISEMENT

One of these foremost priorities under the MTFF, he said, is food security, and the Senate finance panel
has put a premium on funding for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) national programs for rice, corn,
high-value crops development, organic agriculture, livestock and urban and peri-urban agriculture.

Next year’s spending would also prioritize social protection measures such as the giving of additional
funding for the implementation of the 4Ps, emergency employment programs and other projects.

Angara also said the Senate finance panel affirmed or increased the appropriations proposed for the
Quick Response Funds (QRFs) of the DA, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education
(DepEd), Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of
National Defense’s (DND) Office of Civil Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“We have also assured the resources devoted to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Fund or NDRRMF. This includes the appropriations for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund,”
Angara said.

Angara also said the proposed budget follows through on the ongoing drive for local communities to
have a more direct role to play in their own development through devolution and decentralization.

The 2023 national budget is also putting premium on the reopening of the Philippine tourism industry,
which was among the hardest hit throughout the pandemic.

Next year’s budget, he also said, supports the government’s initiatives for digital transformation to
ensure faster and more improved delivery of social services.

At the same time, he said the budget bill also ensures the continuation of the Duterte administration’s
“Build, Build, Build” program in the next six years under the Build Better More (BBM) initiative to hasten
the completion of infrastructure programs which is “key to the economic transformation the
administration aims to achieve.”
Science Writing

Topic: Lunar eclipses 2022: When, where & how to see them

he next and final lunar eclipse of 2022 will occur on Nov. 8 and will be visible in parts of Asia, Australia,
North America, parts of northern and eastern Europe, and most of South America. You can watch the
total lunar eclipse on Space.com for free, courtesy of several webcasts from observatories across the
United States that start at 3 a.m. EST (0800 GMT).

The first total lunar eclipse of 2022 occurred on May 15-16 and was visible in total phase from portions
of the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, Africa and the East Pacific.

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow across
the surface of the moon. They can only occur during a full moon and make for an interesting
skywatching target.

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Related: Solar eclipse guide 2022: When, where & how to see them

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Daisy Dobrijevic

Reference writer

Daisy is Space.com's reference writer since February 2022. She has written numerous skywatching
reference articles including our lunar eclipse reference page and how to see and track the International
Space Station.

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There are three types of lunar eclipses depending on how the sun, Earth and moon are aligned at the
time of the event.
Total lunar eclipse: Earth's shadow is cast across the entire lunar surface.

Partial lunar eclipse: During a partial lunar eclipse, only part of the moon enters Earth's shadow, which
may look like it is taking a "bite" out of the lunar surface. Earth's shadow will appear dark on the side of
the moon facing Earth. How much of a "bite" we see depends on how the sun, Earth and moon align,
according to NASA(opens in new tab).

Penumbral lunar eclipse: The faint outer part of Earth's shadow is cast across the lunar surface. This type
of eclipse is not as dramatic as the other two and can be difficult to see.

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE MAY 15-16

The first lunar eclipse of 2022 occurred overnight on May 15-16. Here, the full Flower Moon experienced
a total lunar eclipse as the moon moved into the shadow of the Earth. The total eclipse was visible from
portions of the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, Africa and the East Pacific.

A penumbral eclipse (where the edge of Earth's shadow falls over the moon) was visible in New Zealand,
eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Shadow diagram of a lunar eclipse showing the moon turn from gray to red and back to gray.

This infographic shows the stages of the May 15-16, 2022 total lunar eclipse in Universal Time, or GMT.
(Image credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio)

(opens in new tab)

According to TimeandDate.com(opens in new tab), the partial eclipse phase of the moon eclipse began
on May 15 at 10:28 p.m. EDT (0228 GMT on May 16). It got to the red-hued Blood Moon peak on May
16 at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT). Then ended at 1:55 a.m. EDT (0555 GMT).

Related: Super Flower Blood Moon of 2022, longest total lunar eclipse in 33 years, wows stargazers

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE NOV 7-8

RELATED STORIES:

— How to photograph the moon using a camera: techniques, kit, and settings

— Full moon names for 2022

— What is a blood moon?

The next lunar eclipse will happen on Nov. 8, 2022.

Exactly when the lunar eclipse will be visible depends on where you are located but TimeandDate.com
says(opens in new tab) the partial eclipse phase of the moon eclipse begins Nov. 8 at 05:09 a.m. EST
(0909 GMT). It will get to the red-hued Blood Moon peak on Nov. 8 at 06:19 a.m. EST (1016 GMT). Then
the event ends at 07:41 a.m. EST (1141 GMT). Note the penumbral eclipse will begin about an hour
earlier and end about an hour after the partial eclipse.

According to TimeandDate.com, at least some parts of the next lunar eclipse should be visible in
North/East Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, most of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian
Ocean, Arctic and Antarctica.

To find out if the next total lunar eclipse (Nov. 8) is visible from your location check out this interactive
map from TimeandDate.com(opens in new tab).

If you're clouded out or unable to see the event in person, there will be several livestreams of the lunar
eclipses from various observatories around the world. Our How to watch the Blood Moon lunar eclipse
for free online guide details several of the livestream options.

Our Beaver Blood Moon 2022 lunar eclipse guide tells you everything you need to know about the final
lunar eclipse of the year, including where, when and how you can see it.

HOW TO SEE A LUNAR ECLIPSE

Lunar eclipses are among the easiest skywatching events to observe.

TOP TELESCOPE PICK!

Celestron Astro Fi 102

(Image credit: Celestron)

Looking for a telescope for the lunar eclipse? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102(opens in new
tab) as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide.

To watch one, you simply go out, look up and enjoy. You don't need a telescope or any other special
equipment. However, binoculars or a small telescope will bring out details on the lunar surface —
moonwatching is as interesting during an eclipse as it is at any other time. If the eclipse occurs during
winter, bundle up if you plan to be out for the duration — an eclipse can take a couple of hours to
unfold. Bring warm drinks and blankets or chairs for comfort.

If you hope to snap a photo of a lunar eclipse, here's our guide on How to photograph a lunar eclipse
with a camera. And if you need imaging equipment, our best cameras for astrophotography and best
lenses for astrophotography have recommendations to make sure you're ready for the next eclipse.

A blood-red moon above a building.

A lunar eclipse over the European Southern Observatory's Headquarters in Garching, near Munich,
Germany, on June 15, 2011. (Image credit: ESO/H.H. Heyer)

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UPCOMING LUNAR ECLIPSES

After the Nov. 8 eclipse, we will not experience another total lunar eclipse until Mar. 14, 2025. There will
however be partial and penumbral lunar eclipses to keep us occupied in the meantime.

Upcoming lunar eclipses according to NASA:

Year Date Type of eclipse Visible locations

2022 Nov. 8 Total Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas

2023 May. 5 Penumbral Africa, Asia, Australia

2023 Oct. 28 Partial E. Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia

2024 Mar. 25 Penumbral Americas

2024 Sept. 18 Partial Americas, Europe, Africa

2025 Mar. 14 Total Pacific, Americas, W. Europe, W. Africa

2025 Sept. 7 Total Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia

2026 Mar. 3 Total E. Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas

2026 Aug. 28 Partial E. Pacific, Americas Europe, Africa

Science Writing

Topic: COVID-19 put science in the spotlight, but public understanding is still limited

The pandemic accelerated open science and cemented social media as a place for scientists to discuss
their research. But 32% of researchers in a new survey said they or a colleague faced online abuse after
posting their findings

By Thomas Brent

Scientist looking through a microscope

The COVID-19 pandemic increased public interest in science but has not led to a better understanding of
how it operates, according to a survey of 3,144 researchers around the world.

This has led to concerns by around half of those polled that their research is being over-simplified by the
public on social media and by established media outlets, leading to its politicisation.

The study draws attention to the role world leaders such as former US President Donald Trump, former
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and current Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador have
played in undermining science and research.

The report found the increased attention given to science has had an impact on how researchers see
their role in society, with 78% of those polled saying they believe the pandemic increased the
importance of science bodies and researchers in explaining research findings to the public.

Whilst being thrust into this role, only 18% of respondents said they feel confident explaining their
research findings on social media, and 32% said they have experienced or know a close colleague who
experienced abuse after posting research online.

Despite this, there is a greater willingness on the part of academics and researchers to counter
misinformation, with 23% saying they now see this as their primary role in society, compared to 16%
who said this was the case before the pandemic.

The survey, Confidence in research: researchers in the spotlight, carried out by Economist Impact, part
of the Economist publishing group, and the science publisher Elsevier, polled researchers in 100
countries between May and August 2022 and also held six regional roundtable discussions.
The pandemic increased public attention on researchers like never before, presenting opportunities for
open science and policy influence, but also challenges around higher volume, speed and demand for
simple stories, said Jonathan Birdwell of Economist Impact.

This raises the question of whether researchers have the confidence to embrace a more public-facing
role and if their support structures and incentives are fit-for-purpose in this changing context.

“Our research finds that many researchers want to solve societal problems, influence policy and boost
public understanding of research. But to do so confidently, they need more time to devote to
communication, support in the face of online abuse and recognition of their public-facing contributions,”
Birdwell said.

The report suggests several measures to help scientists and researchers, including formal training to
help them effectively and ethically communicate their work and providing them with support if they face
online abuse.

It also recommends researchers and scientists adopting more easy-to-understand formats when writing
up their research, to avoid confusing policymakers, journalists and the general public and to prioritise
consistent spending on research and development.