Dr. Rafaela Jane P. Delfino is an Assistant Professor and the Head of the Climate and High-Impact Weather Laboratory (CHI Lab) at the UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UP-IESM). She currently serves as Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at UP-IESM and is a Board of Trustees member and Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the Philippine Meteorological Society.

Dr. Delfino holds two PhD degrees - (1) PhD in Atmosphere, Oceans, and Climate from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, and (2) PhD in Meteorology (by Research) from University of the Philippines Diliman. Her research focuses on climate modeling, natural climate variabilities and anthropogenic climate change, climate risks, numerical modeling, and extreme weather and climate events.

Dr. Delfino was recently named a recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Young Scientist Award in Meteorology by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL).

In her downtime, Jane loves getting lost in a good book, snapping photos of the mundane, or out walking and running to clear her mind.

Thesis Title: "Characterizing the Warm Climate of the Philippines in the Biothermal Context"

Wilmer is a weather specialist working in the Impact Assessment and Applications section, Climatology and Agrometeorology Division of DOST-PAGASA.

Thesis Title: "Assessing Large-Scale Climate Drivers of Winter Frost Occurrences in Atok, Benguet"

Hi! Lenarq Barrientos here, a BS Astronomy graduate and now a Master’s student in Meteorology at UP Diliman–IESM. My research focuses on climate drivers, frost, and agricultural meteorology, and I’m also curious about the links between astronomy and meteorology.

Thesis Title: Modeling the Impacts of Climate Change on Sugarcane Production in the Tarlac Province

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Thesis Title: “The influence of Quasi-BiWeekly Oscillation (QBWO) on Tropical Cyclone Track and Intensity in the Philippines”

Analiza C. Clauren-Jorda is a Weather Specialist II at DOST-PAGASA. Her research interests include tropical meteorology, climate variability, tropical cyclones, and extreme weather events affecting the Philippines.

Beyond her professional work, she is a proud mom who enjoys discovering new food spots, trying different coffee and milk tea flavors, and spending quality time with her family. 

Thesis Title: “Lagged Influence of ENSO Flavors on Rainfall Variability in the Philippines”

Jannah Marie Althea Cortez is a registered agricultural and biosystems engineer currently pursuing her master's degree in Meteorology. With her background in agriculture and meteorology, she is passionate about contributing to climate research that supports climate-resilient agriculture.

You can find her enjoying the peace and quiet of her favorite place, getting lost in music or playing her favorite instrument, or staring at the vastness of the cosmos, curious about all that lies beyond what is known.

Thesis Title: “Signal-Constrained Machine Learning for Infrared Satellite Rainfall Estimation using Himawari-9 in the Tropics”

Janus is a BS ECE graduate with nearly three years of specialized training in Web Development, Data Analytics, Cloud & DevOps, Business Process, and Enterprise Solutions from his previous employment. His current research focuses on integrating computational methods with atmospheric science.

Thesis Title: "Influence of ENSO on Marine Heatwaves and Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Philippines"

Karen is a PAGASA Weather Specialist and a licensed ECE pursuing a Master’s degree in Meteorology at UP-IESM. Her research interests include tropical cyclones, climate variability and change, and the impacts these hazards have on communities and sectors. 

Off duty, she enjoys family travels with her husband and their one-year-old—and on quiet days, she’s happiest at home cuddling and playing with her baby.

Thesis Title: “Comparative analysis of the size-intensity relationship among tropical cyclones in the Philippines: A seasonal approach ”

Ivann Carlo S. Danao is a licensed and registered geodetic engineer. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in geodetic engineering from the University of the Philippines – Diliman and is currently enrolled in the same university, taking up an MS degree in meteorology. His fascination with tropical cyclones and their associated hazards dates back to his elementary years, when he often recorded videos of his front yard during stormy days.

Outside the university, he spends most of his time watching fantasy films (particularly Middle-earth themed movies), playing a variety of board games, and being entertained by local and foreign geopolitical events that mostly dominate his news feed.

Thesis Title: “The Influence of Tropical Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperature Variability on Philippine Seasonal Rainfall and Temperature”

Mary Joe Alma R. Escol-Canlas is a Weather Specialist I at the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division of DOST-PAGASA. Fascinated by how everything in nature is connected, she has focused her research on Philippine climate variability, seasonal forecasting, monsoons, and extreme weather and climate-related events.

Beyond her professional work, she is a toddler mom, an art enthusiast, a nature wanderer, and a coffee lover.

Thesis Title:  "Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Activity in the South China Sea"

Christian Mark S. Ison (Xamark) is a BS Meteorology graduate and is currently taking his MS Meteorology at IESM UP Diliman. He is also a climatologist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) since 2014. His lifelong fascination with the sky, stars, and the universe led him towards a career in the sciences. His research interests include climatology, tropical cyclones, climate variability and climate drivers, especially its impacts in the Philippines. 

Outside of his professional work, Xamark is also a hobbyist who enjoys basketball, archery, bowling, hiking, camping, swimming, freediving, astrophotography, running, and playing the piano.

Thesis Title: "Future Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Philippines under ENSO Warming Patterns from HighResMIP GCMs"

Kate Angelene Lupena is an MS Meteorology student at IESM-UP Diliman and an active volunteer in various nonprofit organizations in the fields of weather, astronomy, and the arts. Her research interests include climate change, tropical cyclones, climate drivers, and associated variabilities, as she is endlessly fascinated by how everything from the stars above to the oceans below connects. 

Teleconnections are, in fact, her favorite kind of long-distance relationship.

Thesis Title: "Analysis of the Potential Effects of Future Projected Changes in Temperature and Rainfall on Monthly Streamflow of Panay River Basin"

Brief Profile: Calee started her Chemical Engineering career working at various government agencies, improving the water quality of river systems in the country's capital. Wanting to deepen her knowledge in the field, she took up MS Environmental Science at the IESM. She has since expanded her research interests from environmental pollutants and hydrological modeling to climate studies, and aims to someday bridge the gap between research and governance.

She hopes to one day find the strength to ignore her dogs, as much as they ignore her. She enjoys exploring music, baking, and new places to eat.

Thesis Title: “The Influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on Shear Line occurrence in the Philippines during the Winter Monsoon Season”

Karl Osric R. Mendoza is a BS Astronomy graduate, currently taking up MS Meteorology at UP-IESM. He is also working as a University Research Associate under Doc. Rafaela Jane Delfino in researching shear lines. His research interests include various weather patterns like shear lines and tropical cyclones, climate studies, astronomical events, and wherever his curiosity takes him.

Outside of research, Karl is interested in reading the works of Haruki Murakami, writing poetry, some light gardening, gaming, building dioramas, caring for his cat, Kuro, and solace amplified in silent, blue afternoons.

Thesis Title: “Spatiotemporal Analysis of Nocturnal Heat Index Recovery Rates Across Selected Microclimates in Greater Metro Manila  ”

Roumjer Jomes Mojado, an observatory personnel at DOST-PAGASA. His work includes conducting observations, operating astronomical facilities (including the planetarium), and disseminating Philippine Standard Time. His section frequently travels to different parts of the Philippines to facilitate and conduct astronomical activities. During his official travels, he has experienced different weather conditions in different places, which started his curiosity about meteorology. Since he holds a bachelor's degree in astronomy, he finds meteorology to be a challenge, but its wonders fascinate him and drive him to learn more.

Thesis Title: "Assessing the interconnections between intraseasonal climate variabilities (MJO & BSISO) & the Indian Summer Monsoon with Southwest Monsoon"

Aly is an MS Meteorology student at UP-IESM and a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II at Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Her research interests include natural hazards, urban weather and climate, and extreme weather.

Aly is a homebody. She likes to play games, write, and draw (when she has time).

Thesis Title: “Tropical Cyclone-Heat Stress Compound Events in the Philippines”

Vj is a college instructor at Bicol University, sharing his passion for the atmosphere by teaching core meteorology and science courses. As a BS Meteorology graduate, his research interests lean heavily into the vital areas of heat stress climatology, climate drivers and variability, and disaster risk reduction. On his days off, Vj steps away from the weather maps to travel, explore, and make new memories.

Thesis Title: “Evaluating the Impact of Urban Green Spaces on Urban Heat Island Effect in Quezon City Using Multiple Datasets”

Alyssa Tobias is a full-time MS Environmental Science student. She has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with a major in horticulture and a specialization in landscaping from UPLB. She recognizes that in order to continuously coexist with nature, people should learn how to sustainably utilize their resources. Her research interests are aligned with urban plant conservation, nature-based solutions, and climate-related risks and hazards.

Alyssa loves travelling and taking good pictures, convinced that life would always be better with nature.