Boholanos watch Super Snow Moon, largest supermoon in 2019

Boholanos watched the Super Snow Moon, the biggest and brightest of the three supermoons of 2019, on Tuesday night, Feb. 19, 2019. (Photo by LEO UDTOHAN / Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Some residents here gathered to watch the rise of February’s full moon, the largest and brightest supermoon of 2019.

The full moon — also dubbed the “Super Snow Moon” is the second of three supermoon events in the first three months of the year.

A supermoon happens when a full moon or a new moon when the moon is at its closest to Earth.

Cousins Winzel and Cedrick Olorvida urged their other cousins to look at the skies on Tuesday night.

They used a telescope to get a closer view, as their aunt Sharia cuddled seven-month-old baby Leann see the full moon.

“It was amazing,” said 7-year-old Cedrick, a second grade pupil who is interested in astronomy.

“The moon appeared larger and brighter than the ordinary full moon,” said 10-year-old Wenzel, a fifth grader.

Cedrick and Wenzel both go to the Booy South Elementary School in this city.

The Super Snow Moon was seen visibly in the skies in Bohol province on Tuesday night, Feb. 19, 2019. (Photo by LEO UDTOHAN / Inquirer Visayas)

According to the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” published in 1792, the February moon was called Snow Moon moniker “due to the typically heavy snowfall of February.”

February’s moon has also been called the “Bone Moon” or “Hunger Moon” due to the lack of food available in the winter, added “Old Farmer’s Almanac,” a reference book containing weather forecasts, planting charts, astronomical data, recipes, and articles.

It was not only sky watchers, particularly selenophiles, that were attracted to the Snow Moon.

Local witches

There were also the local witches and other occult practitioners who did their own thing.

In Lila town in Bohol, Eduard Guyano laid his crystals on the surface outside his house in Barangay Poblacion to cleanse them.

Guyano uses crystals for crystal therapy, an alternative medicine technique. It’s believed that crystals and stones can cure ailments.

A psychic healer identified only as Snow Owl, who lives in Barangay Ponong in Siquijor town in Siquijor, said the supermoon would be the best time to cleanse and renew the energy.

Snow Owl said that while Snow Moon wasn’t the extravagant astronomical spectacle that January’s “Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse” was, it was larger and brighter, and it definitely commanded attention to the sky.

“But the moon energy is still potent and powerful,” said Snow Owl, who’s waiting for the seven Fridays before the Holy Week in April for the annual “tang-alap,” or “the gathering of herbs.”

Lady Helen was also meditating in her home in Barangay Booy in Tagbilaran while the moon rose past 6 p.m.

She said the since Tuesday’s phenomenon was rare, she prayed for peace in her province during the May 2019 elections.

She also said the supermoon was also a good time to cast good energy for prosperity and love.

There will be another supermoon March 20, hours after the spring equinox, according to earthsky.org, giving 2019 a total of three supermoons.

In any given year, between two and four full moons could be classified as supermoons. /atm