RTU VP Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres leads the ribbon cutting ceremony with ALP president James Kevin Ty as well as  ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando Lee (R) and ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real (L) .

ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real was the emcee of the convention. She is shown here leading the prayer invocation to signal the start of  the event.

RTU VP Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres did the welcome remarks in place of RTU President Dr. Jose Macaballug who was absent because of bad cold.

One of the rooms in the plenary hall housed the ALP Astrophotography Gallery  Exhibits.

The Astrophotography Gallery Exhibit showcased the beautiful astrophotos done by ALPers.

The whole room was needed to fill in part of the numerous astro images that were available for use at the convention.

ALP banner as well as 100 Hours of Astronomy and Starry Night Sky Map were also displayed at the room.

RTU Astro Tech student Pauline Pearl Divinagracia gave a beautiful account of her experience as one of the delegates chosen to attend on behalf of the Philippines during the opening ceremony of International Year of Astronomy in Paris.  She also give a full discussion of the mission of IYA2009 to the audience.

PAC  programme of activities

RTU VP Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres gave an interesting talk on Course Offerings In Astronomy In The Philippines.

The Plenary Hall was full packed with students as well as  astro enthusiasts from many astro organizations.

Another side of the Plenary Hall showing almost full crowd.  Not bad for the 1st Philippine Astronomy Convention event!

The Astrophoto Exhibit Room was filled with students who enjoyed viewing the beautiful images.

PAS member Fritz Barroquillo (center in white polo) was also present at the convention to enjoy the astrophoto images.

PAS member Fritz Barroquillo was also at the convention to view the Astrophoto exhibits as well as had some conversation with ALP President James Kevin Ty on IYA 2009 matters.

Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (SPP) President Dr Perry Esguerra  was also at the convention and here showing some students and astro enthusiasts his computer model on galaxy collision.

More viewers at the Astrophoto exhibit room.

Students and enthusiasts were impressed by the works of the astro-imagers of the ALP.

ALP director Edward Tan and his fiancee Kaye was there amid his busy schedule to support the event.

Astro Camp members were also there to help setup the telescope exhibit

Different telescope types and models were on display at the convention.

ALPers as well as guests Bamm Gabriana (3rd from left, back row in grey shirt) ,wife Rochelle (middle left) and daughter Alrescha used the lunch break time to chat with each other.

Dr. Dante Ambrosio gave an interesting talk on Ethno-Astronomy in the Philippines.

Dr. Dante Ambrosio explained why the need to study Ethno-Astronomy.

ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real also gave a short talk on how she got started in astronomy and her astro outreach programs in Palawan during  the NAW week.

ALP president James Kevin Ty together with  some of the speakers of the convention.

Dr. Dante Ambrosio received a Certificate of Appreciation from ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando Lee together with ALP President James Kevin Ty and ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real.

ALP President James Kevin Ty congratulated Dr. Dante Ambrosio for his great lecture.

RTU Astro Tech student Pauline Pearl Divinagracia received a Certificate of Appreciation from ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando Lee together with ALP President James Kevin Ty and ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real.

IYA-NOC 100 Hours of Astronomy Overall Coordinator Bamm Gabriana gave a short talk on how the 100 hours of Astronomy will be implemented here in the Philippines as well as around the world.

ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando Lee, who is also the Sidewalk Astronomers' 100 Hour of Astronomy Philippine Coordinator gave a talk on how the Sidewalk Astronomers as well as ALP will celebrate the event this coming April 2-5, 2009.

Dr. Armando Lee received a Certificate of Appreciation from ALP President James Kevin Ty and ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real.

ALPer Raymund Sarmiento gave a talk on how he was able to make a computer program called EQMOD which helps make the Chinese made EQ-6 and HEQ5 equatorial mount into a good astrophotographic mount.

ALPer Raymund Sarmiento received a Certificate of Appreciation from ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando Lee together with ALP President James Kevin Ty and ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real.

ALPer Christopher Go gave an interesting talk on Jupiter and how he was able to make a discovery of the Red Spot, Jr.

ALPer Christopher Go become the talk of the astronomy community with his discovery of the Red Spot, Jr. way back in February of 2006.

ALPer Christopher Go received a Certificate of Appreciation from ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando Lee together with ALP President James Kevin Ty and ALP PRO Alice Villa-Real.

ALP President James Kevin Ty made the closing remarks as he thanked all those who made the 1st Philippine Astronomy Convention a success!  See you all next year again!!!

ALPer Christopher Go was like a movie celebrity as many students and enthusiasts didn't waste an opportunity to have a photo taken with the astro celebrity!

ALP President James Kevin Ty (L) and ALPer Christopher Go (R) were all smiles after a successful event!!!

(L-R) Dr. Dante Ambrosio, ALPers James Kevin Ty, Christopher Go and Antoinette Icot.

ALP director Brian Davis setup his 127mm refractor while the students waited for their chance to get a peek of the night sky through the telescope.

(L-R) ALPers Nathaniel Custodio and Irving Raymundo posed beside Nathaniel's WO Zenithstar 80 II refractor on EQ-4 mount.

RTU students couldn't resist the telescope's appeal as they took time to image with each of the numerous scopes that were setup in the school grounds.

RTU Students posed with Dr. Armando Lee as well as his telescope.

Students and astro enthusiasts gathered around the RTU school grounds as they waited for darkness to start their stargazing session.

ALPer Henry So manned the TV-101 refractor on Vixen GP-D mount.

Benci Lee of Astro Camp manning the 80mm Orion ST80 refractor.

(L-R) ALPers Dennis Buenviaje and Vincent Lao handled the ALP's 8" Meade SCT.

Astro Camp's Wilbert Palma manning the Orion 130mm Newtonian reflector.

More than 12 scopes were setup at the RTU school grounds to let the participants get a chance to view the night sky.

An Orion 5" Apex Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope was also setup at the session.

RTU Astro Tech  student Lordnico Mendoza manned the Celestron 80WA refractor.

(L-R) ALPers Dennis Buenviaje , Irvin Raymundo, Nathaniel Custodio, Henry So and Vincent Lao.

ALP President James Kevin Ty posed with students beside his TV-101 refractor on Vixen GP-D mount.

It's Chowtime again!!! Yummy!