S7E13: The War and the Weatherpriests
From The Colonial Department by Lio Mangubat
December 20, 2025 · 17 min · Season 7 · Episode 24
About this episode
This episode discusses the Manila Observatory's role in monitoring typhoons and its unpreparedness for the Second World War.
Ever since its founding in the 1860s, the Manila Observatory had stood watch against the typhoons and hurricanes that threatened to strike the Philippines. But decades later, they were unprepared for a different kind of approaching storm: the Second World War! Cover photo from the Illustrated London News. Additional audio from British Pathe. Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Follow us on TikTok: @thecolonialdept Email us: thecolonialdept@gmail.com References: Warren, James Francis (2024). Typhoons: Climate, Society, and History in the Philippines. Ateneo de Manila University Press. Hidalgo, Angel (1967). “Miguel Selga, 1879-1956: Priest and Scientist.” Philippine Studies , 15 (2), pp. 307-347. Bocar, Efren Cyril (19 November 2024). “‘Signs of disaster’: How weather lore holds up against typhoons and science.” Rappler. Biolong, Fr. Raymundus Rede, SVD (1996). “The Ivatan Cultural Adaptation to Typhoons: A Portrait of a Self-Reliant Community from the Indigenous Development Perspective.” Ribera, Pedro; García-Herrera, Ricardo; Gimeno, Luis (2008). “Historical deadly typhoons in the Philippines.” Weather, 63 (7), pp. 194-199.
People in this episode
Host: Lio Mangubat
Topics covered
- Manila Observatory
- typhoons
- Second World War
- weather lore
- Philippines history
Keywords
- Manila Observatory
- typhoons
- Second World War
- weather lore
- Philippines history
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Manila Observatory
Books & works: Typhoons: Climate, Society, and History in the Philippines, Miguel Selga, 1879-1956: Priest and Scientist, 'Signs of disaster': How weather lore holds up against typhoons and science, The Ivatan Cultural Adaptation to Typhoons: A Portrait of a Self-Reliant Community from the Indigenous Development Perspective, Historical deadly typhoons in the Philippines
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- S8E4: Edison’s Cameras, Manila’s Trenches · May 9, 2026 · 16 min
- S8E3: Nobody Expects the Philippine Inquisition! · April 25, 2026 · 18 min
- S8E2: Riding a Tram in 1911 Manila · April 10, 2026 · 18 min
- INTERVIEW: Exploring the food history of the Philippines · April 4, 2026 · 38 min
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