February 23, 2013 ALP NAW Closing Activity Report

February 23, 2013 ALP NAW Closing Activity Report
by James Kevin Ty, Christopher Louie Lu, Custer Deocaris , Peter Benedict Tubalinal.
Images by James Kevin Ty & Christopher Louie Lu

Last February 23, 2013, The Astronomical League of the Philippines in cooperation with the Rizal Technological University and the RTU Astronomy Society celebrated the closing ceremony of this years National Astronomy Week. ALPers plus RTU AstoSoc members together with BS Astronomy students assembled in the "Blue Room" of the RnD building of the Rizal Technological University in Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong Ciy at around 1:00pm. ALPers who attended were ALP President James Kevin Ty, Andrew Ian Chan, Peter Benedict Tubalinal, John Ray Cabrera, Arnel Campos, Christopher Louie Lu, Ronald Sison, Mike Enage, Vincent Gella, Mark Ian Singson with Cris Tina, Marv Gulapa, Jerome Clemente and new member Jason Kristopher Comia.

Activities officially started at around 1:30pm with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem followed by Opening Prayer. RTU AstroSoc President John Christian B. Lequiron delivered his Opening Remarks to welcome guests and participants. The second Opening remarks is then given by Christopher Louie Lu who gave a brief summary of the NAW activities during February 17 and February 20. Then gave honor to this years Fr. Victor Badillio Astronomy Service Awardee Dr. Dante Abrosio by giving another brief talk on his achievements in the field of Philippine Astronomy.

This is then followed by the first lecture of the day by Dr. Custer Deocaris who talks about the Philippine Space Agency Bill (HB6725) submitted to congress last December 2012. Summary of his lecture are as follows:

Application of researches in astronomy and space science presents enormous economic and social benefits. While space technologies have an impact on various fields such as environment and disaster management, aviation and shipping, national defense, among many others, the Philippines is yet to develop a sustainable technological base for exploiting outer space. In 2005, the Science and Technology Coordinating Council – Committee on Space Technology Applications (STCC-COSTA) held a National Congress on Space Technology Applications and Research (NC-STAR) to gather stakeholders and to formulate a medium-to-long term road map for space S&T. In the same year, the National Advisory Committee on Space Science Education was created under the Department of Science & Technology (DOST). Rizal Technological University started offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs on astronomy, the first-ever formal course in the Philippines and Asia, except Japan. Such developments in space science education are expected to generate the critical mass of scientists and technicians that will spearhead local space S&T development. In 2007, a proposal for the establishment of a Philippine Astronomy and Space Science Administration (PASSA) was submitted yet did not receive critical leverage. Building upon the past efforts, in 2012, the Philippine space movement was revived with the filing of House Bill 06725 legislating for the creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PSA). Given the challenges for a developing country to create a space program, the importance and benefits of capacity-building and creation of a coherent network among academic institutions and private or commercial entities are emphasized. Given the needed public and political support for this proposed space program, there is the need to bring a embark on a strategic lobbying by scientists, academics and amateur astronomers within the next 2-3 years until the proposed bill is passed into law. This was then followed up by a brief open forum where Dr. Deocaris answered questions concerning his talk / lecture.

Second lecturer for the day was, RTU own, Jerome Feliciderio. He shared his knowledge on Space and how the it has influenced the people of the Earth, Culturally and Socially. Entitled Space: Connecting Earth, Jerome described how from the Space race in the early 60's to Galaxies and Stars, how engineering the future could be dictated by knowing how the Universe works and how we are all connected not just to each other but also to the Universe at large. He then also answered questions about his talk/lecture during the open forum.

A 15 – 20 minutes break then followed. During the break, members ALP and RTU AstroSoc co-mingled with each other especially around Dr. Deocaris who has more interesting thoughts to share on the Philippine Space Agency Bill.

After the brief break, ALPers and RTU AstroSoc members reassembled in the Blue Room to listen to Peter Tubalinal's lecture on How to Survive the Messier Marathon. Summary of his lecture are as follows:

Stargazing sessions are fun, especially when one only plans to observe outdoors for a very short while. However when we talk about the Messier Marathon, we are referring to the visibility of the all 110 messier objects in one night. And we dedicate at least 8 to 9 hours searching for them as much as we can. With such a long time, there is a tendency when we get stressed out, drained, and eventually don't survive completing the event. This lecture focuses on how to cope up with the usual problems faced by doing messier marathons. Peter had experienced a lot in his 10 years of doing this event, and he would like to share his strategies of surviving the long hours hunting down the Messiers. There are other factors that also affects us in staying up the whole night for this activity. Thus this lecture will help one prepare for situations I had encountered, and help you not just to survive the Messier Marathon... It will build one's attitude towards patience, strengthen observing skills, and develop your own method of Messier marathon survival. Once again, just after the lecture proper, an open forum followed. Where Peter answered questions not just by fellow ALPers but by RTU AstroSoc members as well.

At this point, sponsors Cutting Edge and Celestron made their own presentation by demonstrating Celestron Sky Prodigy 90mm. Just as before, they too answered questions after the product presentation.

This is then followed by the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation and Honorariums for the lecturers of the day. This is presided over by ALP President James Kevin Ty, RTU AstroSoc President John Christian B. Lequiron and NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu. ALP President James Kevin Ty then gave his closing remarks and gave thanks to the following sponsors for their support and assistance in this years National Astronomy Week. They are as follows:

Astronomical League of the Philippines

President James Kevin Ty

ALP Board of directors, Officers & Members

National Museum

Director Jeremy Barns

3^rd Director Dr. Ana Maria Theresa Labrador

National Museum Planetarium

Curator Bel Pabunan

National Museum Planetarium Staff

Rizal Technological University

President Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres

Colleague/Assistant Ruby Ann Dela Cruz

RTU Astronomy Society

President John Christian B. Lequiron

RTU Astronomy Society Officers & Members

Astrocamp Observatory Services

Owner & Proprietor Dr. Armando Lee

Astrocamp Staff

SM by the Bay

Asst Mall Manager Egan Jed Marcelo

Engr. Karl Ian Tuazon

Cutting Edge/Celestron

Irene Garcia

Cynthia Jason

Special mention is also given to the following:

University of the Philippines Department of History

Dr. Bernadette Abreira

University of the Philippines Press Bookstore

Jhorie Arciga

This was then followed by the customary group picture taking by both ALP members and RTU AstroSoc members before the days activities is then concluded.

RTU AstroSoc President John Christian B. Lequiron delivered his Opening Remarks to welcome guests and participants	RTU Astrosocstudents and ALPers were there to support the last NAW activity event.
Dr. Custer Deocaris who talks about the Philippine Space Agency Bill (HB6725) submitted to congress last December 2012.	RTU Astrosoc students and ALPers listens to the various lectures during the closing activity event.
Jerome Feliciderio shares his knowledge on Space and how the it has influenced the people of the Earth culturally and socially.	ALP director Peter Benedict Tubalinal share his tips and experiences on How to Survive the Messier Marathon.
Representative of Cutting Edge and Celestron made their own presentation by demonstrating Celestron Sky Prodigy 90mm.	A Certificate of Appreciation and gift token courtesy of Cutting Edge are presented to Dr. Custer Deocaris for his lecture by ALP President James Kevin Ty, ALP NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu and RTU AstroSoc president John Christian B. Lequiron .
A Certificate of Appreciation and gift token courtesy of Cutting Edge are presented to ALPer Peter Benedict Tubalinal for his lecture by ALP President James Kevin Ty, ALP NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu and RTU AstroSoc president John Christian B. Lequiron .	A Certificate of Appreciation and gift token courtesy of Cutting Edge are presented to Jerome Feliciderio for his lecture by ALP President James Kevin Ty, ALP NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu and RTU AstroSoc president John Christian B. Lequiron .
A Certificate of Appreciation is presented to RTU AstroSoc president John Christian B. Lequiron by ALP President James Kevin Ty, ALP NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu .	ALP President James Kevin Ty thank all the lecturers, audience, sponsors for their supports to make the 2013 NAW a successful event!
ALP President James Kevin Ty thank all the lecturers, audience, sponsors for their supports to make the 2013 NAW a successful event!	ALP NAW Chairman / Secretary Christopher Louie Lu thank all the lecturers, audience, sponsors for their supports to make the 2013 NAW a successful event!
ALPers had a heavy dinner after the conclusion of the NAW 2013!	Happy ALPers after a successful conclusion of the NAW 2013!