Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres Translates English Version of Balatik

Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres, an ALP 2017 Father Victor L. Badillo, SJ Astronomy Service awardee, together with Dr. Ruby-Ann dela Cruz , were able to successfully after 4 years to finish the translation of another fellow 2013 ALP Father Victor L. Badillo, SJ Astronomy Service awardee Sr. Dante . Ambrosio ‘s Balatik, an Etno-Astronomy Book. The translation project began in March 2017 when Dr. Torres  attended a lecture-seminar of the History and Heritage Working Group of the Southeast Asian Astronomy Network held in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

As a student-participant,  he knew almost nothing about the topics which were all about Archaeastronomy and Ethnoastronomy. Professor Wayne Orchiston talked to him during one breakfast if he could translate the book Balatik by Professor Dante Ambrosio because he said “we want to read it too!”

Wayne had a copy with him.  Jesus looked at the pages, read a few paragraphs, and he  knew the work will be difficult. Nevertheless, he said he would do the translation, and when he returned to the Philippines,  he worked on it right away.

But administrative work in two big State Universities gave him little time for the translation. The work of Professor Ambrosio, however, began to grow on him and he looked forward to the time in the evenings when he could lose myself to the world of Filipino beliefs and knowledge about the heavens and the phenomena in the sky.  He got so lost in the work that he did not notice the months and years passing. Right in the beginning, he sought the assistance of Dr. Ruby-Ann Dela Cruz whose research in the technical indigenous terms which had became so indispensable that it would be just fair if she was included as a co-translator to his project.

Professor Mayank Vahia of India, and Professor Duane Hamacher of New Zealand informed him also that it would be best if Balatik can be read by interested astronomers in the world.

Dr. Torres knew that he had a noble task of translating the work of Professor Ambrosio, an important aspect of Filipino culture as well which the work expounds, known to the world. Thus after 4 years, the project was finally done and is now ready for publication.

2017 ALP Father Victor L. Badillo, SJ Astronomy Achievement Awardee Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres with ALP President/ Chairman James Kevin Ty.  Credit: Angelito Sing

 

July 12, 2020 ALP Zoom Monthly Meeting

Last July 12th, Members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines hold a zoom online monthly meeting at 1:30pm. Members who attended were ALP President James Kevin Ty, directors Peter Benedict Tubalinal and Ronald Sison; Val Thomas Abapo, Mark Ian Singson, Dexter Cruz and Joyce Gonsalves. 

Meeting started at around 1:45pm with normal cordial chats on current events happening as well as discuss astro topic on Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE which has brightness outburst this week between magnitude 0 to 1.5 and was visible on the esrly morning time before sunrise. The comet will now sink further below the horizon and will become an early evening object ager sunset with an estimated magnitude between magnitude 3 to 4 till end of July 2020.

Afterwards, a discussion on astro equipment pursued with ALPers hoping fellow ALPer Val Thomas Abapo buy or fabricated a rail system for his Celestron Evolution 8 SCT scope. The meeting was fun filled as well as all attendees brought out their big guns for a beautiful group shot before ending the meeting at around 4:30pm.

 

June 7, 2020 ALP Zoom Meeting

Last June 7, members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP), held their online zoom monthly meeting. Members who participated were ALP President James Kevin Ty and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty, director Ronald Sison, members Alberto Lao, Val Abapo, Mark Ian Singson and Joyce Gonzalves.

Meeting started at around 1:30pm with members discussing on the just concluded June 6, 2020 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. The Penumbral being only 57% was very subtle and hard to notice compared to the last January 11, 2020 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse which covers a Penumbral Phase of around 90%.

ALP President James Kevin Ty then discussed on the June 21, 2020 Partial Solar Eclipse that will be visible in the Philippines. An ALP Eclipse Expedition Team would have went to Chiayi, Taiwan for this event but had to be cancelled due to the Covid 19 travel restrictions. Hopefully, ALP will send another eclipse expedition in 2023.

The meeting ended at around 3:30pm.

May 31, 2020 ALP 1st Zoom Monthly Meeting

Last May 31, some members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP), participated in their 1st Zoom meeting since its inception. Members who participated were ALP President James Kevin Ty and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty, VP Jett Aguilar, Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan and wife Secretary Justine Guillerma Garcia Chan, director Peter Benedict Tubalinal, members Mark Ian Singson, Alberto Lao, Vincent Gella, Rodel Inclan, and Joaquin Fajardo.

This was the first meeting since February that was held after the whole country was placed under quarantine due to the Covid 19 pandemic last March 16.

It was a special meeting as some inactive or busy members got a chance to join and it was made very informal so as to make the ambience light and easy.  Meeting started at around 1:30pm with ALP President James discussing on data and informations of the 2 upcoming astro events being the June 6, 2020 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse as well as June 21, 2020 Partial Solar Eclipse that are both visible in the Philippines.

VP Jett Aguilar, on the other hand discussed some safety precaution on how to protect oneself from getting infected by this virus.

The meeting ended at around 4pm. VP Jett Aguilar also mentioned that online monthly meeting will probably be made till the end of the year or perhaps till next year until a vaccine for Covid 19 virus will be made available to the public.

ALP Suspends Monthly Meeting and Stargazing Session Amid Covid-19 Spread

In light of the Enhanced Community Quarantine being implemented by the Philippine Government in the entire Luzon region including Metro Manila to curb the fast spreading of the Covid-19 virus infection, Astronomical League of the Philippines Inc (ALP) will tentatively suspend all upcoming monthly meetings and stargazing sessions until this crisis and quarantine implementation is lifted by the government.  Stay Safe and please help support by staying indoors as much as possible. Thank you.

September 8, 2019 ALP Anniversary Party Meeting

Last September 8, members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) held their simple anniversary party meeting at Alice’s Residence in Quezon City. Members who attended were ALP President James Kevin Ty, son Kendrick Cole KC Ty and wife Charito Ty ; VP Jett Aguilar, Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan, Secretary Justine Garcia, PRO Alice Villa-Real, directors Ronald Sison and Adi Bontuyan ; Jennifer Gutierrez, Mike Enage, and Per Edman.

Event started at around 1:30pm and ended at around 5:00pm. Astro discussion of forthcoming December 26, 2019 annular and partial solar eclipse as well as Ronald’s Skywatcher Sky Adventurer portable mount were discussed.

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