These beautiful sun halos amazed residents when they were seen across the Philippines last Sunday (28/04) morning.

The stunning natural phenomenon was caused when ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere were refracted, resulting in colored or white rings around the sun.

Locals across the region watched the extraordinary sight for several minutes as the sun halo, or fire rainbow, materialised in the sky.

Mark Deluna, 30, was able to capture the phenomenon showing a clear 22 degrees radius rainbow ring around the sun in the city of Zambales.

He said: ‘’This isn’t something I’ve seen before and I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was a rainbow around the sun. It was so beautiful I had to film it and show everybody.’’

A second video, shot in the same region, shows the same phenomenon with a full rainbow enclosing the sun as bright rays cascade outwards.

Onlooker Eironn Nabua added: ‘’I was at the back of our house, trying to get some air, when I saw the sun looking like that.’’

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) explained the phenomenon. They said in a statement: ‘'Halos around the sun or moon happen when high, thin cirrus clouds are drifting high above your head.

''Tiny ice crystals in Earth’s atmosphere cause the halos. They do this by refracting and reflecting the light.’’