On 23 May 2015, I saw once more the signs of approaching rainy months in our rainforest barangay Dapdap hovering in the sky – the cumulonimbus clouds.

In my eight years of residency in the farm with my wife, I learned how to understand/predict the behaviour of weather here.  You may laugh, but it happened.

• My thin hair becomes rigid as rain approaches. 
• Black, red, white and hantik ants' odd activities during the day means there’s an upcoming rain. 
• Insect eating birds feed lower and sometimes quickly disappear when a rain is approaching. 
• When the smoke in the burning pit of collected weeds starts swirling, light rain or locally known as “tikatik” is coming. 
• The smell of plants becomes more distinct prior the coming of rain.

·   The most reliable weather signs are the clouds. Gray afternoon sky means rain is forthcoming; however, a rainbow in the late afternoon is a sign of good weather.  Low nimbus clouds that form dark blanket are a sign of rain, usually lasting several hours. 

Large cumulus clouds are capable of producing sudden heavy showers, but widely separatedcumulus clouds indicate fair weather.

High weightless cirrus clouds can be seen in fine weather.

·         A coloured circle around the moon will expand for a fair weather, and will shrink when rain is impending.

During the past four days, my predictions about an impending rain became vivid; moderate rain poured twice during the day accompanied with thunder, for approximately an hour each.

Essentially, Tayabas climate is characterized by the absence of a distinct dry season; the rainy season occurring between the months of June and January with pronounced maximum rain period occurring from November to January.

For your info, my home garden is in Tayabas, Quezon province, a 3-hour drive from Manila, resting at the foot of the mystical Mount Banahaw.  It is bounded on the north by Lucban where Kamay ni Jesus church is located and ministered by the healing priest Rev. Fr. Joey Faller; Pagbilao to the south-east; Lucena City to the south; and Sariaya to the west.

Tayabas is basically an agricultural town with major activities in coconut, rice and livestock production.  And quite fascinating, Tayabas from 1779-1910, was the center or “cabecera” of the older Tayabas Province which is now called Quezon Province.  At present, asphalt and concrete road construction/widening is in progress connecting the towns of Tayabas-Mauban-Sampaloc-Lucban.  My home garden is along the main Tayabas-Lucban highway.

Rain, rain you are welcome any day my drying greens need your radiant shower.