'Warm' 1st Simbang Gabi looms in Metro Manila

A relatively warm 25 degrees Celsius looms over Metro Manila as Catholic residents troop to churches to attend on Thursday the first of the nine Simbang Gabi (predawn Masses) leading to Christmas Day. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday indicated the temperature on Thursday will be between 25 to 32˚ C. But the extended weather forecast indicated the temperature range in Metro Manila may eventually go down to between 23 and 31˚ C by Sunday in Metro Manila. Simbang Gabi is a Filipino tradition where Catholics attend predawn Mass for nine days leading to December 25, when they celebrate the birth of Christ. PAGASA forecasters earlier said the warm weather in Metro Manila was due to the cold front still in the country's northern part, adding the weather condition will eventually move down. On the other hand, temperature ranges for the first Simbang Gabi in other places, especially in the north, will be cooler. Temperatures on Thursday will be between 15 and 23˚ C in Baguio City; 20 and 32˚ C in Tuguegarao City; 25 to 33 ˚ C in Metro Cebu; 25 to 33˚ C in Metro Davao; and 21 to 33˚ C in Zamboanga City. Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong northeasterly surface wind flow will be prevailing over Northern Luzon on Wednesday. "Northern Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. — LBG, GMANews.TV