February 16, 2009 IYA 2009
Opening Ceremony Report
by: James Kevin
Ty
Images by James Kevin Ty & Dr. Armando Lee
Last February 16, the local opening
ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy was held
at SM Mall of Asia Foyer 1 area. Around 200+
participants from various schools, agencies and astronomical
organizations attended the said event, with Ms. Venus Valdemoro
as the emcee. The program started with PAGASA Sining Amihan leading the
prayer invocation as well as singing of the National
Anthem. This was followed by the opening remarks from
Ms. Anni Garcia, president of Shopping Center Management
Corporation, then followed by messages coming from Ms.
Yolanda Berenguer of Space Education Programme
Coordinator, UNESCO as well as DOST Secretary Estrella
Alabastro. The event's guest speaker, Senator Edgardo
Angara, was not able to attend due to his hectic
schedule, so RTU President Dr. Jose Macaballug led the
closing remarks to end the opening ceremony.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was
then led by PAGASA Director / IYA NOC Chairman
Dr. Prisco Nilo and Ms. Yolanda Berenguer, together with Dr.
Jose Macaballug, Sec. Estrella Alabastro, IYA
Philippines SPOC Dr. Cynthia Celebre, Ms. Anni Garcia
and Mr. Yoshikatsu Chikira of Sun East Asia Corporation,
to open the IYA Photo Exhibit outside the Science
Discovery Center (SDC). Lunch buffet was served to
the guests before the IYA-NOC held a press conference at
the lecture room of SDC.
Ms. Venus Valdemoro was the
master of ceremonies for the IYA Philippines opening
ceremony. |
Ms Anni Garcia , President of
Shopping Center Management Corporation leads the
opening remarks of the IYA opening ceremony. |
Ms. Yolanda Berenguer of Space
Education Programme Coordinator of UNESCO leads the
first congratulatory message to the IYA-NOC. |
DOST Sec. Estrella
Alabastro leads the second congratulatory message to
the IYA-NOC. |
Dr. Jose Macaballug gave the
closing remarks for the opening ceremony to start the IYA 2009 activities. |
More than 200 participants
attended the opening ceremony. |
ALP President James Kevin Ty
together with ALPers Dr. Armando Lee and Christopher
Go |
IYA NOC Chairman Dr. Prisco Nilo , DOST Sec. Estrella Alabastro, UNESCO Yolanda Berenguer & Dr. Jose Macaballug
leads the ribbon cutting ceremony to formally open the IYA 2009
activities. |
(L-R) Dr. Jose Macaballug &
Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres of RTU enjoyed viewing the
photo exhibits. |
ALP President James Kevin Ty
together with Dr. Merle Tan of UP-NISMED and IYA
Philippines SPOC Dr. Cynthia Celebre. |
IYA-NOC members as well as ALP
lecturers Dr. Armando Lee and Christopher Go
attended the press conference for IYA 2009. |
Ms. Yolanda Berenguer of UNESCO
with ALP President James Kevin Ty and ALP NAW
Chairman Dr. Armando Lee |
After the press conference, the
2 scheduled lectures of the event were presented by ALP
member Christopher Go and ALP NAW Chairman Dr. Armando
Lee. Christopher gave an interesting talk on
Jupiter and Red Spot, Jr. while Dr. Armando Lee ended
the event with a similarly interesting lecture on the New
Solar System and Search for Habitable Worlds. The
event ended around 3:00pm. Both
Christopher and Armand were given certificates of
appreciation by Dr. Cynthia Celebre after their lectures.
(L-R) Dr. Armando Lee, Dr.
Cynthia Celebre, Ms. Venus Valdemoro & James Kevin Ty |
ALPer Christopher Go gave an
interesting talk on Jupiter and Red Spot, Jr. |
The 2 lecture series were
attended by more or less 200 partcipants. |
ALPer Christopher Go receives
a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Cynthia
Celebre for his talk on Jupiter and Red Spot, Jr. |
ALPer Dr. Armando Lee gave a
interesting talk on New Solar System and Search for
Other Habitable Worlds. |
ALPer Dr. Armando Lee receives
a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Cynthia
Celebre for his talk on New Solar System and Search
for Other Habitable Worlds. |
|
