{{Short description|Filipino meteorologist (born 1960)}} {{Philippine name|Augustin|Cruz}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use Philippine English|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Nathaniel Cruz | image = | caption = | birth_name = Nathaniel Augustin Cruz | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|2|22}}<ref name="familysearch-mangtanibirth">{{cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ5-MF4T|title=Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1984|website=FamilySearch|accessdate=November 16, 2020}}</ref> | birth_place = Manila, Philippines | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Mang Tani | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * Gregorio Araneta University * University of the Philippines Diliman }} | occupation = {{hlist|Meteorologist| television host| radio host}} | years_active = 1982–2022 | spouse = Gloria Cruz | employer = {{Plainlist| * PAGASA (1983–2010) * Bureau of Meteorology (2010–2012) * GMA Integrated News/GMA Public Affairs (2012–2022) }} | website = }}
'''Nathaniel Augustin Cruz''' ({{IPA|tl|ˈkɾus|lang}}; born February 22, 1960), more popularly known as '''Mang Tani''', is a Filipino meteorologist who formerly served as a meteorologist for PAGASA from 1982 to 2010. Cruz is also the former resident meteorologist of GMA Integrated News and a co-host of the network's morning show, ''Unang Hirit'', from 2012 to 2022.
==Early life and education== Nathaniel Agustin Cruz was born in Manila on February 22, 1960, to Ernesto de la Merced Cruz and Cecilia Sanchez Agustin.<ref name="familysearch-mangtanibirth"/>
He studied agricultural engineering at the Gregorio Araneta University and later graduated in 1981.<ref name="manilatimes-mangtani">{{cite news |last=Angeles|first=Iza|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/08/19/weekly/the-sunday-times/nathaniel-mang-tani-cruz-unpredictable-journey-top-meteorologist/345492/ |title=Nathaniel 'Mang Tani' Cruz and his unpredictable journey as top meteorologist|date=August 19, 2017 |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |newspaper=The Manila Times}}</ref> After his graduation from the Gregorio Araneta University in 1981, Cruz earned a Master of Science degree in meteorology at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1999.<ref name="philstar-mangtani">{{cite news|last=Raquel|first=Butch|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2013/09/12/1199431/hows-weather-mang-tani|title=How's the weather, Mang Tani|newspaper=The Philippine Star|date=September 12, 2013|accessdate=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ccp-mangtani">{{cite web|last=Labor|first=Jonalou|url=https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/8/69/4791/|title=Cruz, Nathaniel|website=Cultural Center of the Philippines|accessdate=May 14, 2021}} {{Subscription required}}</ref>
==Career== After his graduation from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1982, Cruz joined the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as meteorologist and spokesperson; he also worked for the agency's hydrology division. Cruz was later promoted in 2004 as officer-in-charge of the Office of the Deputy Administratator until his retirement in July 2010.<ref name="manilatimes-mangtani"/><ref name="philstar-mangtani"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/270616/mang-tani-up-close-and-personal/story/|title=Mang Tani: Up close and personal|website=GMA News|date=August 21, 2012|accessdate=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
In 1989, Cruz went on a temporary leave from PAGASA for the first time and worked for Arab-American Oil Company in Saudi Arabia.<ref name="ccp-mangtani"/>
In 2008, Cruz temporarily worked for the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) in Bangkok, Thailand as a climatologist.<ref name="ccp-mangtani"/>
Cruz went to Darwin, Australia in July 2010, to join the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) as a meteorologist, but left the country in 2012 due to the illness of his wife Gloria Cruz.<ref name="gmanews-mangtaniwife">{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/pinoyabroad/219355/ex-pagasa-spokesman-s-wife-awakes-from-coma/story/|title=Ex-PAGASA spokesman's wife awakes from coma|website=GMA News|date=May 2, 2011|accessdate=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-a-cruz-27b35734|title=Nathaniel A. Cruz|website=LinkedIn|accessdate=November 10, 2020}}</ref>
On June 4, 2012, Cruz returned to the Philippines and joined the weather department of GMA News as the network's resident meteorologist, mainly appearing on the flagship news programs ''Unang Hirit'' and ''24 Oras''; occasionally he appears on other GMA News programs when typhoons within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is expected to make landfall. Cruz presented the science magazine program ''Hamon ng Kalikasan'' on GMA News TV, from September until December 2012; and also the radio program ''I.M. Ready sa Dobol B'' on DZBB, since 2017.<ref name="philstar-mangtani"/>
In an exchange during the weather segment of ''Balitanghali'' on July 21, 2018, news anchor Jun Veneracion asked Cruz about further updates regarding Tropical Depression Josie, on which Cruz responded and mistakenly called Veneracion "Josie" and noticeably struggled to contain his laughter afterwards.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed9pABN3UBg|title=BT: Bagyong Josie, weather update as of 12:10 p.m. (July 21, 2018)|publisher=GMA News and Public Affairs|date=July 21, 2018|accessdate=May 14, 2021|via=YouTube}}</ref> The clip went viral after the incident, and in an Instagram post by ''Unang Hirit'' anchor Arnold Clavio, Cruz responded and explained that he was concentrated on the storm and got confused with the names.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2018 |title=Mang Tani explains to Arnold Clavio the 'Yes Josie' incident |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/hashtag/content/661503/mang-tani-explains-to-arnold-clavio-the-lsquo-yes-josie-rsquo-incident/story/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref>
In 2021, Cruz went on a temporary leave from both ''Unang Hirit'' and ''24 Oras'', as he went on vacation in Melbourne, Australia, while he still does some remote work as the weather forecaster of GMA News.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/161022/mang-tani-kim-atienza-a724-20210929|title=Mang Tani Cruz trends amid Kim Atienza's transfer to GMA-7|website=Philippine Entertainment Portal|date=September 29, 2021|accessdate=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/805274/where-is-mang-tani-24-oras-anchors-give-shout-out-to-resident-meteorologist/story|title=Where is Mang Tani? '24 Oras' anchors give shout-out to resident meteorologist|website=GMA News|date=September 30, 2021|accessdate=November 5, 2021}}</ref> <!-- Remove this comment only when there is official confirmation from GMA regarding his status. -->
==Personal life== He married Gloria Cruz.<ref name="gmanews-mangtaniwife"/> As of 2021, Cruz and his family resides in Melbourne, Australia.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rz8QZQxLMw|title=Cash Landing on You|series=Eat Bulaga!|network=GMA Network|date=September 2, 2021|accessdate=September 30, 2021|via=YouTube}}</ref> His life story was featured on the GMA drama anthology shows ''Magpakailanman''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2023 |orig-date=2013 |title=#MPK: The Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz Story (Full Episode) - Magpakailanman |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/tv/magpakailanman/183078/mpk-the-nathaniel-mang-tani-cruz-story-full-episode-magpakailanman/video |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=www.gmanetwork.com |language=en}}</ref> and ''Wagas'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2014 |title=Love story of GMA-7's resident meteorologist in 'Wagas' |work=The Freeman |url=https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/the-freeman/20140517/282235188688712 |access-date=May 5, 2023}}</ref> where both highlighted how his wife survived a brain tumor despite doctors describing the situation as a "hopeless case"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalumpines |first=Suzette |date=May 2, 2011 |title=Ex-PAGASA spokesman's wife awakes from coma |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/219355/ex-pagasa-spokesman-s-wife-awakes-from-coma/story/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref>
==Credits== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Notes !{{Abbr|Refs.|References}} |- | rowspan="2" | 2012–2022 || ''Unang Hirit'' || Co-host, weather presenter |<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2013 |title=UH: Happy Birthday, Mang Tani! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F72km3sBVRU |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=GMA News}}</ref> |- | ''24 Oras'' |Weather presenter |<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2021 |title=Potential first storm of 2021 to enter PAR Wednesday —PAGASA {{!}} 24 Oras |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBQPQsvuZIQ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=GMA News}}</ref> |- | 2012|| ''Hamon ng Kalikasan'' || Host |<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Hamon ng Kalikasan (September 20, 2012) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOF_3uYX5Jw |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=GMA Integrated News}}</ref> |- |2013 |''Magpakailanman'': ''The Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz Story'' | rowspan="2" |Featured guest |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2014 |''Wagas'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 19, 2014 |title=How mang Mang Tani's wife, Gloria, survived from brain tumor {{!}} Wagas |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAg9AQN1pLY |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website= |publisher=GMA Public Affairs}}</ref> |- |2016 |''Sunday PinaSaya'' |Guest |<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2016 |title=Sunday PinaSaya: Boobsie and Chuchay meet Mang Tani |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6p_deR7VNk |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=GMA Network}}</ref> |- |2017 |''Eat Bulaga!: Jackpot en Poy'' | rowspan="3" |Contestant, guest |<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2017 |title=UB: Mang Tani, inilampaso ang kanyang mga nakalaban sa 'Jackpot En Poy' segment ng Eat Bulaga |trans-title=UB: Mang Tani defeats opponents in 'Jackpot En Poy' segment of Eat Bulaga |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CzBc3y1hAE |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=GMA News}}</ref> |- |2020 |''Eat Bulaga!: Bawal Judgmental'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2020 |title=15 years old na nag-imbento ng I-NOSE {{!}} Bawal Judgmental |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlYQ2ooS0aQ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=Eat Bulaga!}}</ref> |- |2021 |''Eat Bulaga!: Cash Landing On You'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2021 |title=LIVE FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, MANG TANI NASA CASH LANDING ON YOU! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rz8QZQxLMw |access-date=May 5, 2023 |publisher=Eat Bulaga!}}</ref> |}
=== Web === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes !{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- |2014 |''Magtanong Kay Mang Tani'' |Host | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2019 |title=GMA News strengthens Facebook engagement among users via exclusive content |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/54295/gma-news-strengthens-facebook-engagement-among-users-via-exclusive-content/story |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=GMA News Online}}</ref> |- |2022 |''Weather Update with Mang Tani'' |Host |}
== Radio == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Notes !{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- |2017–2021 |''I.M. Ready sa Dobol B'' |Host |<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2017 |title=I M Ready sa Dobol B |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzs5qTdRHt4 |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=YouTube |publisher=GMA Network}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=5701999|name=Nathaniel Cruz}} * {{Twitter|mang_tani}} * {{Instagram|mangtanicruz}}
{{24 Oras}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Nathaniel}} Category:Living people Category:1960 births Category:Filipino meteorologists Category:Filipino television weather presenters Category:GMA Network (company) people Category:GMA Integrated News and Public Affairs people Category:People from Manila Category:University of the Philippines Diliman alumni Category:PAGASA people Category:Filipino science communicators