Longest Night in the Philippines

The country will have the longest night and shortest day of the year when winter solstice occurs on Dec. 22.

Winter solstice is an astronomical term that marks the time when the sun lies at its farthest point south of the equator.
According to Pagasa, the sun will reach the winter solstice at 1:38 p.m. on Dec. 22.  The Philippines will experience total darkness beginning at 5:32 p.m. until 6:16 a.m. the following day, which is equivalent to 12 hours and 46 minutes of nighttime.

The weather bureau added that winter solstice signals the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere as the sun is slightly directed towards the southern hemisphere.

Although the Philippines, which is located in the northern hemisphere, does not have winter, it will experience colder than usual weather during this period.

The winter solstice also means that the earth has completed another annual circuit around the sun, Pagasa said.

21 December 2011: Students is seen watching sunset at SM by the Bay SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Four days before Christmas, students spend time with their friends after the class Christmas party.

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/