Philippines experiences longest day of the year

The Philippines and the rest of the world experienced on Thursday the longest daytime for the year, the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) indicated.

Also known as the summer solstice, this event was followed by the start of shorter days and longer nights for countries located in the northern hemisphere of the globe, including the Philippines.

The longest day on Thursday would last until 10:07 GMT, or at seven minutes after 6 p.m. in the Philippines (GMT+8).

GMT said the situation was reversed for countries in the southern hemisphere, as they would experience their shortest day on Thursday.

The shortest day for northerners is around Dec. 21 each year, which in turn will be the longest day for southerners.

Scientists said solstices were caused by the slight difference in the distance of northern and southern hemisphere to the sun.—GABRIEL PABICO LALU