Pinoy in Alaska shares experience with 'midnight sun'

A Filipino living in Utqiagvik, Alaska shared his experience with the "midnight sun" phenomenon, or when the sun does not set for 84 days.

According to Kuya Kim Atienza's report on "24 Oras," William Reyes Ditona has been living in Alaska for more than 10 years.

"Twenty-four hours nga, walang gabi rito. Na-shock ako. Kahit midnight na, lumalabas kami para makita 'yung liwanag sa labas," William said.

"Minsan nakakalimutan namin na gabi na pala. Magugulat ka ngayon, kailangan ko na matulog dahil may pasok ako bukas," he added.

William said that they have strategized how to sleep, like putting thick curtains on their windows and cardboard on their mirrors.

"'Yung pamumuhay namin masaya naman. Nasanay na rin kami," he said.

The last sunset happened on May 10 and the sun will not set again until August 2.

The midnight sun happens because the Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees as it revolves around the sun. During the hotter seasons in the northern part of the world, the North Pole is facing the sun.

And since Utqiagvik is inside the Arctic Circle, the sun does not hide under the horizon, so the sun is still visible even though it is already nighttime.

Meanwhile, the opposite happens during the winter season. The North Pole is not facing the sun so the sun does not rise for several weeks—a phenomenon called polar night. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA News