From typhoon survivor to TV meteorologist: Ariel Rojas brings lived experience to every forecast

Raised in storm-battered Catanduanes, Rojas now juggles TV, digital, and real-time reporting while helping Filipinos plan daily life around the weather.

Ariel Rojas learned about storms long before he began explaining them on television.

He grew up in Catanduanes, where typhoons are a regular part of life. Some of his earliest memories are tied to destructive weather events that disrupted daily routines for months at a time.

“I personally experienced typhoons Rosing and Loleng,” he said. “You don’t have electricity for six months, you go to a makeshift school, and you eat relief goods.” Those experiences stayed with him into adulthood.

Rojas initially took up food technology at the University of the Philippines but reconsidered his path at 26. “There are too many food techs in the Philippines,” he said. “That’s when I decided that I want to be a meteorologist.”

At the time, he was also aware of a shortage of forecasters at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. Many were leaving for better-paying jobs abroad, creating a gap in local expertise. “That’s where I thought I was needed,” he said.

Inside the forecast

His work now spans multiple platforms and responsibilities. On a typical day without severe weather, Rojas begins with a newsroom briefing.

“When there’s no storm, it’s a bit more relaxed,” he said. By the afternoon, he prepares graphics and scripts for broadcast.

“Usually, the action is in the afternoon,” he said. “That’s when I start to choreograph the graphics.”

Rojas handles much of the technical side himself. “I learned how to do the graphics so that I’m not too dependent on the graphics operator,” he said. “There are times when they’re not there, I can already manipulate it.”

The visuals inform how he writes and delivers his reports. “That’s also the basis of writing my script for ‘TV Patrol,’” he said, referring to the evening newscast produced by ABS-CBN.

His responsibilities extend beyond a single broadcast. He contributes to ABS-CBN News Digital, produces vertical video content, and appears on “TV Patrol Express.” During major weather events, the workflow shifts quickly.

“When there’s a storm, we’ll go to Body 1,” he said. “In the first three takes, they’ll give a weather update.”

Reading more than the weather

In the studio, Rojas works in front of a green screen, relying on monitors and spatial awareness to guide his delivery.

“I can’t see anything in my background,” he said. “But in front of the monitor, I can see the graphics.” With experience, he has learned to visualize the layout. “Sometimes, I’ll just stand here and use the spatial awareness,” he added.

His interest in geography also plays a role in how he interprets data. “Being a nerd in geography helped me when I was young,” he said, noting how terrain influences flooding, rainfall, and other weather impacts.

When forecasts hit home

For viewers, the questions he receives are often practical and personal.

“People will ask if they can do their laundry, or if it’s safe to travel,” he said. Some inquiries are tied to major life events. Friends planning weddings reach out to ask about conditions on specific dates. “They’ll ask, ‘Uulan ba sa kasal ko?’” he said.

In provinces such as Cagayan and Isabela, forecasts guide decisions in farming and fishing, where timing can directly affect income.

He also addresses common misunderstandings. “Sometimes people think that if there’s heavy rain, it’s already a typhoon,” he said. Part of his role involves explaining the differences between weather systems and broader patterns such as El Niño.

Rojas approaches each report with the memory of what it felt like to wait out a storm without clear information. Having lived through that uncertainty himself, he now uses his knowledge and experience to give Filipinos something he once needed as a child: clear, timely information to help them prepare for whatever the weather brings.

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