IMPORTANCE

OF STARS IN
DETERMINING
THE RIGHT
TIME TO FARM
Pauleen Grace D. Bumanlag
9 - Mahogany
 Star is an astronomical object consisting of a
luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its
own gravity. 

 A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere

 in which a group of visible stars forms a perceived
outline or pattern, typically representing an animal,
mythological person or creature, or an inanimate
object.
INTRODUCTIO
N
Thousands of years ago, people would gaze at the night
sky for hours. They discovered that by connecting the stars
like dots, patterns resembling animals, humans, and objects
appeared.

Star patterns are now referred to as constellations.

Eventually, 88 different star patterns were discovered. The
patterns, which appeared in various parts of the sky
depending on the day and year, helped people navigate on
land and at sea as well as say time. (The stars aren't
moving.) The Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours
and revolves once a year around the Sun.
 How do farmers use
 stars?
Agriculture was a more realistic use for constellations. People had no
means of knowing when to sow or harvest until there were proper
calendars, so they had to rely on the stars.

Constellations helped people remember the patterns of the stars. When

the constellation Orion became completely apparent, for example,
ancient peoples realized that winter was approaching.

They might also use the Summer Triangle to determine when Summer
or Spring would arrive. Farmers were able to plan ahead and shape
agriculture thanks to the stars, and constellations made it easier to
identify and perceive sky patterns.
Early Filipinos governed their lives in unique and
interesting ways. Much has been written about our different
ethnolinguistic groups and the ways that they have built
their lives and expressed their culture, yet not much seems
to be known about our interest in astronomy.

We mustn’t look down on them — “It must be regarded

as an important part of our culture. Those indicate that our
ancestors’ practice of astronomy was part of their daily
lives and embedded in their traditions.” Indeed, these
beliefs encompass the use of the heavenly bodies in
farming .

Listed below are interesting ways early Filipinos allowed

astronomy to play a part in their lives:
- referenced from Dr. Dante L. Ambrosio’s
book, “Balatik: Katutubong Bituin ng mga
Pilipino.”
How do Filipinos use stars in
determining the right time to farm?
 For the Bagobo, the
The Planetarium’s appearance of Balatik in The Teduray also turned to
ethnoastronomy Orion, or Seretar, to
the night sky in
determine when they could
exhibit houses a December signaled the
start planting, but they
beginning of kaingin —
small section on needed more than simply an
the slash and burn appearance. The group
the ways our method of preparing believed that the highest
different groups land for farming. Then point in the sky was called
turned to the stars in April, when they'd “kemuda,” or “riding the
see Marara, another horse.” They imagined a
for help in their constellation which they circle of about 20 degrees in
livelihood, from describe as resembling a diameter surrounding the
farming and man with only one hand kemuda, which was referred
and one foot, it would to as “ranga” or “chicken’s
hunting to fishing nest.” When Seretar enters
mean that the planting
and seafaring. season may commence. the ranga, this signifies the
beginning of farming season.
Thank you!!!