March 4, 2012 ALP Monthly Meeting Report
by James Kevin Ty  and Christopher Louie Lu
 

Last March 4, members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) held their monthly meeting at Manila Planetarium.  Members who attended were ALP President James Kevin Ty , Charito Ty and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty ,  VP Jett Aguilar, Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan and Iah Serna; Secretary  Christopher Louie Lu , directors  John Ray Cabrera & Peter Benedict Tubalinal ;   Bel Pabunan,  Nel Lagda, Norman Marigza, Gary Andreassen with wife Irma & son Steinar Andreassen; Anthony Guiller Urbano, Mark Vornhusen, Mike Enage and Henry So.

Meeting proper started at around 3:00pm with ALP Secretary and NAW chairman Christopher Louie Lu who presented the highlights of  activities  by ALP for this year's National Astronomy Week.  He also thank National Museum Planetarium , Rizal Technological University  and Astrocamp Observatory for hosting this year's NAW / PAC activities.  He also thank Cutting Edge for supporting and sponsoring the honorarium as well as food packs provided to ALPers who helped out during the NAW.  He also thank ALPers for supporting the event that led to its success!

ALP director and Messier Marathon chairman Peter Benedict Tubalinal then presented a very educational and interesting topic on how to be successful in the upcoming Philippine Messier Marathon Open.  He touched on how the event is all about as well as share some of his experiences on how he was able to completely get all the Messier objects!  Lastly, he also gives some important notes on what to bring on the event .

ALP NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu presented the highlights f activities done by ALP on the just concluded National Astronomy Week / Philippine Astronomy Convention.	ALP NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu presented to RTU Astronomical Society (received by Norman Marigza on behalf of RTU AstroSoc) a certificate of appreciation for their participation in the closing NAW activity held at RTU Boni.
ALP director and Messier Marathon chairman Peter Benedict Tubalinal then presented a very educational and interesting topic on how to be successful in the upcoming Philippine Messier Marathon Open.	ALP President James Kevin Ty shares some final instructions on where to meet up on March 24 for the event.

Lastly, ALP President James Kevin Ty shares some final instructions on where to meet up on March 24 for the event.  This event is open to all astronomy enthusiast regardless of astro organizations and affiliations and the goal for each participants is to use the event to t learn the night sky by identifying the Messier deep sky objects using star hopping techniques thus GOTO enabled telescopes should be turned off during the event.  Binoculars and telescopes can be used during the event and official Messier Log Sheets will be distributed during the event.  For those who wants to join the Messier Marathon event, please contact ALP Messier Marathon chairman Peter Benedict Tubalinal at (0917) 2446019 , ALP Secretary / Observation Chairman Christopher Louie Lu at (0919) 3057176 and ALP President James Kevin Ty at (0917) 8559863 for more details on how to join the event.

James also use the opportunity to thank fellow ALP founder / director Alfonso Uy for donating a LCD projector for ALP for its use specially during the monthly meeting.  Thank you Sir Alfonso Uy!

The meeting ended at around 5:45pm and some ALPers proceeded to Rajah Sulayman Park in the evening to participate and promote the Hello Mars activity which is hosted by Astronomy Without Borders and participated  by various astro communities around the world!