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Stargazers hope looking up at the heavens opens new world for Pinoys

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Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/06/11/20190613-star1.jpg"/><figcaption>Students and enthusiasts peek through telescopes during One Starry Night, a stargazing event put together by the European Union delegation to the Philippines at SM Aura in Taguig, on Monday, June 10. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>It was not the magnificent photos of nebulas or a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut that made Christopher Lu appreciate astronomy.Instead, he found inspiration from a film where the hero talked about how “a real sailor only needs the stars to navigate.”“That simple statement began my curiosity in astronomy,” Lu recounted during his lecture at the European Union (EU) Delegation’s first stargazing event Monday. “I wondered how that was possible.”Astronomy enthusiasts, students and curious mallgoers gathered at the skydeck of a mall in Taguig on Monday night, hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon and possibly Jupiter through the 4 or 5 large telescopes set up for the event.While it started to drizzle, the crowd listened intently at Lu and other speakers invited to talk at the event by the EU delegation.Lu, who earns a living through his family’s hardware shop, said he became an avid reader of astronomy books. And because he could not afford to buy a telescope at that time, he learned how to use his father’s binoculars to identify constellations and heavenly bodies.It took him several years to get his own telescope, which was gifted to him by his uncle living in the United States.Today, he is part of the group Manila Street Astronomers, which aims to educate and inspire Filipinos about astronomy.<div>FREE SCIENCE FOR FILIPINOS</div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/06/11/20190613-star2.jpg"/><figcaption>Christopher Lu of the Manila Street Astronomers Society demonstrates how to use a telescope during One Starry Night, a stargazing event put together by the European Union delegation to the Philippines at SM Aura in Taguig, on Monday, June 10. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Lu said his group recognizes that most Filipinos could not afford to buy a telescope that is why they do not charge a membership fee and would regularly conduct free telescope viewings for the public.“Whenever we do free telescope viewings, they (passersby) ask us about astronomy, about science. We become adhoc teachers along the street,” he said in a separate interview with ABS-CBN.“It’s better that we understand nature. Because there are still people who believe that when there is an eclipse, it is the Bakunawa (a mythical dragon in Philippine folklore) that eats it. There are still people who believe in a flat earth,” Lu added. “We can explain it with science.”Ralph Tiburdo, another volunteer of Manila Street Astronomers, said that as a small child, he used to think that he was special because the moon seemed to follow him around, learning later on about optical illusion. He ended up studying astronomy at Rizal Technological University and is now a weather analyst for Makati’s disaster risk reduction and management office.He said sharing such knowledge makes attending free telescope viewings worth it.“Just seeing the people, especially kids and the elderly, view the sky using a telescope is worth it. Even if we end up standing for hours and carrying heavy equipment,” Tiburdo said, recalling how excited people get when they see the moon up close for the first time.On Monday, Lu’s group joined the Philippine Astronomical Society setting up telescopes for the EU Delegation’s free stargazing event.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/06/11/20190613-star4.jpg"/><figcaption>Professor Jun Cajigal of the Philippine Astronomical Society speaks during One Starry Night, a stargazing event put together by the European Union delegation to the Philippines at SM Aura in Taguig, on Monday, June 10. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Representing the Philippine Astronomical Society was Jun Cajigal, a professor who teaches earth science and biology at San Beda University.Cajigal said it was the television series “Star Trek” that made him want to become an astronaut.“When I was growing up as a teenager, I would go up the roof of our house. I would make homemade telescopes out of magnifying glasses,” he said.But because it was impossible to study astronomy in the Philippines back then, he ended up going into biology. Now, he encourages his students to join astronomy groups and be more inquisitive when it comes to science.<div> LIFE AND THE UNIVERSE</div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/06/11/20190613-star3.jpg"/><figcaption>check out a telescope during One Starry Night, a stargazing event put together by the European Union delegation to the Philippines at SM Aura in Taguig, on Monday, June 10. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>As a biologist, Cajigal is interested in knowing if there is life outside Earth.“Is it really just us? Or are there living things similar to us out there?”During his lecture, Cajigal talked about the requirements of life – water, energy and organic compounds such as carbon. He talked about finding traces of water in Mars but also of organisms that can exist in extreme environments such as bacteria and the tardigrade.Meanwhile, Lu recalled his experience back when he was just starting to learn about astronomy. He said the first time he saw the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades, he knew that he would be hooked to stargazing.At the end of his talk, after discussing the elements present in stars and in the human body, Lu said: “The universe is not just out there. The universe is in you. You are made of star stuff.”Sales associates Marney Zerna and Roqcan Almacen, who passed by the event and ended up staying, said the statement made them more curious about the universe.“I am a part of the big universe,” Zerna said. “Sometimes we need to realize that there are other planets and a whole universe out there. There is a lot to learn about them.”<div>NOT SO STARRY NIGHT</div>Almacen said he really wanted to see the moon using a telescope because he wants to see with his own eyes what its surface looks like.“I want to know what those shadows are on the moon,” he said. “I’m also curious if we’re the only ones living in the universe.”Unfortunately, even when the rain stopped, the moon and the stars remained hidden behind the clouds.Applied physics students Katrin Pascua and Martine Irog from University of Santo Tomas said they were disappointed that they weren’t able to use the telescopes but that going there was worth it just for the lecture.“I really want to travel in space someday and it’s very inspiring to learn from talks like these,” Irog said.Pascua added: “The universe is so vast and there is still a lot that we don’t know. If many people are inspired to study astronomy, we can discover more and contribute.”Giovanni Serritella, program manager of the EU delegation for environment and climate change said that, while the group wasn&#x27;t able to gaze at the stars, they were still able to reach their aim, which is to make people more interested in astronomy.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/06/11/20190613-star5.jpg"/><figcaption>EU program manager Giovanni Serritella poses for pictures during One Starry Night, a stargazing event put together by the European Union delegation to the Philippines at SM Aura in Taguig, on Monday, June 10. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>“I think astronomy and space is the future. So many applications of space technology are important for everyday life even if we’re not familiar with it,” said Serritella, an astronomer.Asked what he loves most about stargazing, Serritella said: “Astronomy in my case . . . stimulates a sense of humbleness. It makes us realize how small and fragile we are when we look at ourselves in comparison with the vastness of the cosmos, and the complexity of the cosmos. It makes us reflect and appreciate even more what we have here – this beautiful planet, this incredible gift that we have a planet that sustains life.”The event “One Starry Night” was organized in support of EU’s Copernicus Earth observation program, which was brought to the country earlier this year. The program uses satellites and sensors all over planet to monitor the effects of climate change, natural disasters and other phenomena.

A recent stargazing event in Taguig organized by EU representatives aims to make more Filipinos aware and interested to learn astronomy.

A recent stargazing event in Taguig organized by EU representatives aims to make more Filipinos aware and interested to learn astronomy.

Stargazers hope looking up at the heavens opens new world for Pinoys

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Stargazers hope looking up at the heavens opens new world for Pinoys

Kristine Sabillo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 13, 2019 10:52 PM PHT

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Updated June 14, 2019 07:32 AM PHT

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