Sun, Moon, and the Balance Between the Two

Day and night stood in near-perfect harmony on September 23 as the Autumnal Equinox graced the Philippines.

Long ago, the mighty Sun god Apolaki and the radiant Moon goddess Mayari, children of Bathala, quarreled over who would rule the heavens. In the heat of their battle, Apolaki struck Mayari, blinding one of her eyes. Regretful for wounding his sister, Apolaki agreed to share dominion of the heavens with her. From then on, Apolaki ruled over the day and Mayari reigned over the night, keeping the balance in the heavens.

Read more on the Philippine mythology: https://www.aswangproject.com/apolaki-mayari/  

This Kapampangan myth resembles the balance between day and night, the equinox.

What is an Equinox?
Equinox comes from the Latin words aequus and nox, meaning equal and night, respectively. From these roots, equinox signifies the time of year when day and night are nearly the same length.

This astronomical phenomenon occurs only twice a year, in March and September, when the Sun is aligned directly above the equator, resulting in almost exactly 12 hours of daylight and nighttime across the globe.

The equinox marks the turning of the seasons, either from winter to spring or from summer to autumn. This shift in nature’s cycle brings changes in climate and daylight.

Across the Archipelago
In the Philippines, the first equinox of the year fell on March 20 at 5:01 P.M., while the second occurred on September 23 at 2:19 A.M. At this point, the sun’s path shifts farther south of the equator, causing countries in the Northern Hemisphere like the Philippines to experience gradually shorter days and longer nights. This also signals the approach of Amihan, the northern monsoon, which brings cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and lighter rainfall, marking the end of the wet and humid southwest monsoon, Habagat.

Today, the sun rose in the east at 5:45 A.M. and set in the west at 5:51 P.M., giving Filipinos 12 hours and 6 minutes of daylight. Due to atmospheric refraction, the bending of light causes the sun to appear above the horizon even after it has set, resulting in a slightly longer daytime length.

Just as Apolaki and Mayari found harmony with each other, we are called to find balance within ourselves and with those around us. The equinox, an everlasting pattern of the heavens, reminds us that Filipinos today stand beneath the same sky as our ancestors, connected by the timeless flow of nature.

No matter the time or place, no one stands alone under this shared celestial spectacle.