Doomsday is out, Christmas is in

RTU student showing a piece of asteroid.

Can coronal mass ejections (CMEs or solar flares) generated by the sun destroy the world this December 21 2012? Taken by astronomers of Rizal Technological University (RTU), these are huge bursts of solar wind and electromagnetic radiation ejected from the Sun into space. As solar particles strike Earth, they cause geomagnetic storms disrupting the planet's magnetosphere---our protective shield from the lethal radiation in outer space. RTU is the only Philippine university that offers both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs in astronomy.

The end of life as we know it on Dec 21?

“[Walang delubyo, tuloy ang Pasko] There is no doomsday. Christmas will come!” says physicist and astronomer Norman Marigza of RTU. Even with massive solar flares, migratory birds, dolphins and other animals that are sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field might feel a little odd, but other than that, Marigza commented, “it might just be a wonderful day to stay alert for Aurora Borealis at the Northern Hemisphere”, a lacy splash of color and hues in the sky made up of ionized air particles. In outer space, it can be very dangerous for astronauts as large doses of solar radiation can be fatal.

Meanwhile, the website of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory reports a recently detected coronal hole in the sun last Dec. 17. This said coronal hole is located down in the sun's Southern Hemisphere, so that the Earth will not be hit directly by a stream of high-speed solar wind. It is estimated that we will experience a 20% chance of geomagnetic storms.

During a press conference last Dec. 14 in Quezon City, top astronomers and planetary scientists debunked all other possible scenarios associated with the end of a cycle in the ancient Mayan calendar.

Planets, meteors and celestial alignment

Frederick Gabriana, a mathematician and astronomy teacher, described a “galactic alignment” in the Milky Way that is set to occur Dec. 21, when the winter solstice point crosses the galactic equator.

“This chance alignment occurs every 26,000 years, and the earth is about 4 billion years old, so if it brings about the end of the world, the Earth would have ended thousands of times already.” Gabriana said.

“Planetary alignment is a different issue.” Gabriana calculates that even if all the planets, including the sun, were to lie on a single line to influence the Earth, the sum of all the tidal forces would only be 1/10,000 of the tidal force of the moon. "Besides, they are not going to align this weekend," he adds.

Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres, the president of RTU, said any large object, like a rogue planet like Nibiru on collision course to Earth would have been seen by astronomers years ago. It would also be one of the brightest objects in the sky next to the sun and moon in the past weeks. Therefore, it's just a hoax.

Scientists might know what to do if these were all true. Unlike in the movies, according to Marigza, "firing a nuclear bomb in space to destroy a huge meteor that is bound for Earth will not work. Fragments from the meteor can hit the planet and cause devastation. We can just send a space object to deflect its trajectory."

A historic space program

“Instead of fearing the end of the Mayan calendar, it is time to celebrate the country’s long-awaited entry into the Space Age,” according to DOST Balik Scientist and astrobiology professor Dr. Custer Deocaris of RTU's Office for Space Science Innovation and Cooperation (OSSIC).

A copy of the proposed draft of the “Philippine Space Act” was distributed to the media. The legislation is part of a national initiative to push for the establishment of a space agency that would be the Philippines’ version of NASA, a centralized office that will explore high-impact applications in space technologies for environment and disaster monitoring, communication, national defense, smart farming, among many others.

Indonesia had successfully launched its locally-developed rocket into space from a launch pad in West Java province in 2009. The government is preparing to bring its own satellite into orbit by 2014. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is sending two satellites into orbit by next year. Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia have all overtaken the Philippines in terms of space science, based on a presentation during the press conference given by Dr. Edgardo Aban.

Dr. Aban attempted to initiate a space program in 2007 yet he was unable to get support from government. Aban, who left the country, is now a professor at the University of Brunei Darusallam.

Deocaris and his peers laments that while the country was among the most scientifically advanced some decades ago, the Philippines is now "biting the (space) dust of her neighbors."

House Bill 6725 also known as the Philippine Space Act was filed by Rep. Angelo Palmones on Dec 3, 2012 and went into First Reading on Dec 5, 2012. Philippine astronomers and concerned scientists have turned to social media to gain support for this historic space initiative. The public is urged to visit and “like” the Facebook page "I Support the Philippine Space Agency Bill". (RTU-OSSIC)

Pinoy astronomers cite benefits of space program, call for creation of PSA

By Dino Balabo

MALOLOS CITY—Filipino astronomers called for the creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PSA) citing the benefits of space science that will usher in further development in the country.

The call came during the launch of the initiative for the creation of PSA in Quezon City on Friday where copies of a House Bill submitted to Congress by Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones were handed to journalists.

Dr. Jose Edgardo Aban of the University of Brunei Darussalam said that creation of the PSA will lead to development of technologies that will help the country address the effects of climate change and disasters.

As former head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Committee on Space Technology Applications, Aban said through the PSA, the country can have its own satellites that can be used in mapping the entire archipelago.

He said that satellite-based images can also be used in addressing post-disaster situations in the country along with proper identification of the country’s territorial boundaries to avoid international disputes.

“It has been a long time dream for Filipino astronomers and space scientists to someday have a single agency on the country, just like NASA that will navigate the country’s space science research and development that will spur development of applications that can generate wealth to the nation,” said Aban.

He said that other countries in Southeast Asia had long embarked on their own space program, and the Philippines is lagging behind.

As one of the leading proponents of the PSA while he was with DOST, Aban said that they first introduced it in 2006 after a study conducted a year before.

He said that at the same time, other countries in South East Asia were also gearing up for their own space program.

“They move forward while our space program remains a proposal,” Aban said.

This was affirmed by Dr. Custer Deocaris of the Rizal Technological University (RTU) who said that “we are now behind Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.”

Deocaris said that these Southeast Asian countries will soon benefit from their space program.

“We should not forget that most of today’s modern conveniences like cellular phones, internet, cloud computing, LEDs and solar panels are spin offs from investments in space technology,” Deocaris said.

He added, “Countries that have some control on those technologies are able to develop even faster as they break the vicious cycle of technological parasitism and are able to compete in the global market.”

Deocaris added that patriotic impacts of a Philippine space program would be immeasurable.

He cited the impact of the US space program when it sent men to the moon in July 1969.

This is also true for Filipinos who are currently rooting for boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

According to Deocaris, Filipinos are always proud of themselves and are willing to relate with fellow Filipinos who are successful.

He cited that after Miss Gloria Diaz won the Miss Universe title in 1969, it created a “pageant culture” in the country.

“Pati noong makasama sa Miss Saigon si Lea Salonga, marami din ang nahilig kumanta,” he said.

Deocaris said that there are other Filipino scientists abroad who already pledged to help develop the PSA.

BulSU to defend SCUAA-III title for the 17th year

By Dino Balabo

MALOLOS CITY—The Bulacan State University (BulSU) will defend their 17th over-all championship in the annual State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) in Central Luzon.

The annual sports competition that started Sunday is hosted by the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University in Iba, Zambales. It will end on Friday.

As reigning over-all cham-pions for the past 16 straight years, the BulSU Gold Gears will be challenged by athletes from Aurora State College of Technology (Ascot), Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), Bulacan Agriculture State College (BASC), Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Pampanga College of Agriculture (PAC), Tarlac State University (TSU), Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA).

Also competing are athletes from Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) in Pampanga, Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU) in Zambales, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in Bataan, Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija, and the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilsCA) in Pampanga.

“We are ready to defend our title because our athletes are working hard all year round,” said Dr. Mariano De Jesus, the president of BulSU.

He said that BulSU owes its strong performance in the annual SCUAA-III to its sports program.

De Jesus said that many years ago they started recruiting  athletes and placed them under a scholarship program and even provided a dormitory for members of the BulSU Gold gears.

The program was hailed by Dr. Danily Hilario, BulSU vice president for external affairs, research and extension.

He said that the BulSU Gold Gears has dominated the SCUAA-III by winning at least 140 gold medals.

BulSU’s dominance is only challenged by the BPSU which used to place second, harvesting some 20 gold medals during the five-day meet.

Also, football is expected to take center stage during the games as the sport continues to gain popularity.

Emmanuel Robles, the head coach of BulSU’s football team said they expect stronger competition this year.

“Every team wants to dethrone us defending champions,” said Robles who also coached the FutBulakenyos that won the first Central Luzon Football League (CLFL) championship last July.

This champion team has retained at least nine of its players last year, and is expected to provide a stiff challenge to the other participating teams this year.

Pinoy astronomers to launch initiative for the creation of Philippine Space Agency

By Dino Balabo

MALOLOS CITY—Top Filipino astronomers and planetary scientists will launch Friday the historic initiative for the creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PSA), the country’s version of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States.

Part of the launch is a forum that will discuss scientific evidences debunking the Mayan doomsday prediction for December 21.

Dr. Custer Deocaris of the Rizal Technological University (RTU) said that a copy of the proposed draft of the Philippine Space Act will also be distributed on Friday.

“Instead of fearing the end of the Mayan calendar, it is time to celebrate the country’s long-awaited entry into the Space Age,” Deocaris said in an email to Punto.

As head of RTU’s Office of Space Science Innovation and Cooperation (OSSIC), Deocaris said the launch is a historic step towards a legislation that will create the PSA.

The launch is expected to be graced by top Filipino astronomers and planetary scientists like Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres, president of RTU, Dr. Jane Punongbayan of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Dr. Cynthia Celebre of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, Dr. Jose Edgardo Aban of the University of Brunei Darussalam and former head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Committee on Space Technology Applications, and Frederick Gabriana, a mathematician and expert in positional astronomy of the DOST.

Deocaris said that aside from the forum on the Mayan calendar, they will also install specialized solar telescopes for first hand solar activity.

Viewers will be guided by volunteer astronomers from the RTU, the only institution in the country that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in astronomy.

Deocaris added that the forum was designed to prevent confusion and panic over the ”December 21, 2012" Mayan apocalypse.

There will be discussions on the science behind the cataclysmic scenarios from collision with asteroids, meteors and orphan planets; planetary alignment with the Milky Way; magnetic pole reversal; mega-volcanic eruption or severe solar flares.

Earth models and fragments of meteorites will also be shown.

PNoy, CHR hit on Human Rights Day

By Dino Balabo

MALOLOS CITY—A lawyers’ group accused the Aquino administration and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for condoning more violations as they observed the International Human Rights Day on Monday.

The number of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearance, torture, illegal arrest along with political, civil economic, social and cultural violations has increased halfway into the current administration, the group said.

“President Aquino completely missed the point with half-hearted and ill-advised approach to human rights,” said Lawyer Edre Olalia, spokesperson of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).

Olalia was interviewed after the hearing of the kidnapping case against retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan.

As a lawyer for human rights victims, he said that the current administration has laid down an environment that emboldens perpetrators, and allowed them to get away.

“The non-arrest of Gen. Palparan is a chilling reminder that government security forces are still stolidly untouchable,” he said noting that it is capped by the promotion to higher positions of military officers accused of grave human rights violations.

Among the military officers he mentioned are Generals Eduardo Ano, Aurelio Baladad and George Segovia.

Olalia said that promotions of said officers belie any pretense at accountability.

With regards to the CHR, Olalia said that the creation of an inter-agency task force through Administrative Order No 35, is a public acknowledgement that the commission is inutile.

“The President has cleverly transformed the CHR into practically no more than a defender of his administration and whitewasher of even the most abominable violations in plain view,” he said.

Olalia added, “This is a time when victims and their families are clamoring for effective investigation and proactive, speedy and dogged prosecution, things which the President has by and large yet to deliver.”

“Obviously, there is nothing to celebrate on the International Human Rights Day, not while the administration continues to show appalling lack of will, foresight, ability and sensitivity in addressing persistent Philippine human rights concerns amid cries for justice of the victims and their families,” Olalia said.

Bulacan mobilizes relief efforts for Mindanao

By Dino Balabo

MALOLOS CITY—Bulacan officials along with non-governmental organizations are now gathering donations that will be sent to victims of typhoon Pablo in Mindanao.

This came as President Benigno Aquino III declared a state of national calamity yesterday following the onslaught of the typhoon that left hundreds dead and widespread devastation in the southern part of the country.

Citing assistance they received from different organizations in the past calamities suffered by his town, Mayor James De Jesus of Calumpit, Bulacan said they will send donations to Mindanao typhoon victims.

He said that it is like repaying what they received in the past.

In 2011, Calumpit and Hagonoy towns in Bulacan suffered from week-long flood due to heavy rains brought by typhoon Pedring.

Last August the same town s along with other cities and municipalities of Bulacan suffered from widespread flooding caused by the heavy southwest monsoon rains that led the provincial government to place the province under the state of calamity for the second time in two years.

In Bustos town, Mayor Arnel Mendoza vowed to send sacks of rice to typhoon Pablo’s victim.

Mendoza said they will also ask contributions from his constituents.

For his part, Mayor Christian Natividad of this city said that they are also preparing relief goods for Mindanao.

As this developed, Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado formed a task force that will handle donations from Bulakenyos and other organization.

In his weekly radio broadcast over Radyo Bulacan yesterday, the governor said that Bulacan has been the recipient of donations in the past years after the province was struck by calamities.

He even said that as of Friday, the province received a donation worth P300,000 from the provincial government of Cebu.

“It is time that we do the same not only to repay what we received, but as an expression of sympathy with the victims,” Alvarado said in Filipino.

The governor also ordered offices of the provincial government to observe austerity in the conduct of annual Christmas parties.

He said that savings from the said parties will be included in the donations that will be sent to Mindanao.

Bulacan light house repair underway

SMP members and Pugad officials

HAGONOY, Bulacan—Repair of the 80-year old lighthouse in this coastal town of Bulacan is expected to be completed before Christmas.

This came after old equipment of the solar power lighthouse were pulled down last week and are being analyzed by technicians and electrical engineers of the Sigla Movement of the Philippines (SMP), the non-government organization that vowed to lead the repair.

Grossman Dax Uy, chair of the SMP-Bulacan chapter told the STAR yesterday that they are planning to inaugurate the lighthouse before December 15.

“We are hopeful that we can install it back by December 15,” Uy said.

He said that a week after they visited the lighthouse on November 24, a team of technicians and electrical engineers climbed the lighthouse and pulled the old equipment with the help of residents and officials of Barangay Pugad.

He said that all equipment are being analyzed and noted that the lighthouse’s lamp changer flasher, day light control and light bulb needs to be replaced.

The lighthouse’s electrical cables and other connectors also needs replacement.

With regards to the solar panel and solar batteries, he said that both are still being analyzed by technicians.

“We are hoping that some parts can still be used but we already placed an order for parts that will be replaced,” Uy said.

Standing on the mouth of the Hagonoy river fronting the Manila Bay, the 80 year old lighthouse served as guide for fishermen at night.

Local residents said that in the 60’s it is lighted by an alcohol powered lamp, and when electricity reached the coastal village in the late 70s, the lighthouse’s was lighted by electric powered lamp.

However, during typhoons, the lighthouse usually fail to function as strong winds used to cut power line to the lighthouse.

In the late 90s, officials decided to upgrade the lighthouse with solar powered lamps.

However, the solar powered batteries of the lighthouse expired seven years ago and since then, fishermen in Manila Bay lost their guide at night.

SMP members and Pugad officials

Last year, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado took notice of the lighthouse after a local newspaper published as story and picture of it.

Alvarado submitted a proposal to the Central Luzon Regional Development Council for the repair and it was approved in October last year.

The RDC endorsed to Malacanang the repair of the lighthouse along with the construction of additional lighthouse along the coast of the Manila Bay.

But more than a year after, nothing has been done until SMP took the initiative last November.  (Dino Balabo)