Philippine Normal University - Astronomical Society is one of the two department base organization of the General Science students, established for a wide study of astronomy and to provide basic knowledge to the students about astronomy in order to stimulate ones interest in science.
VISION
A dynamic, harmonious, research/ leisure-oriented astronomical society in the Philippine Normal University, which is propelling astronomy education toward the achievement of scientific excellence among the students of the Philippine Normal University.
MISSION
PAS commits itself to promote and support the Society’s vision through education, research, out-of-town observations, instrumentation, and science camps throughout the country.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1. Foster widespread interest in the study of Astronomy.
2. Disseminate astronomical information in the Philippines and abroad.
3. Design and construct telescopes and other optical apparatus.
4. Establish and maintain an astronomical center and planetarium in Manila.
5. Provide the public with a basic knowledge of Astronomy in order to stimulate interest in this science.
2. Disseminate astronomical information in the Philippines and abroad.
3. Design and construct telescopes and other optical apparatus.
4. Establish and maintain an astronomical center and planetarium in Manila.
5. Provide the public with a basic knowledge of Astronomy in order to stimulate interest in this science.
PAS HISTORY
The formation of an amateur astronomy club designed to aid the layman had long been idling in the minds of several Filipinos but never definitely realized over thirty years ago. It took an American serviceman T/Sgt. Phillip D. Wyman of the US Air Force to convince some Filipinos in Manila to put up an association patterned after the astronomy clubs in the United States.
The idea caught fire and pretty soon on April 15, 1971, the first stargazing club in the country, the Philippine Astronomical Society, was launched. It was a modest but memorable occasion where seven people gathered in an apartment in Pasay City. The founding members were Phillip D. Wyman, Hans Arber, Adrian Arroyo, Fr. Victor L. Badillo, SJ, Ernesto Damasco, Robert Kaul, and Gertrudes Lucas.
For a start, the members had to content themselves with using the telescope and observatory of Hans Arber, a Swiss businessman and amateur astronomer, who became the Society’s treasurer for that year.
Shortly after the founding and organization, the Society held its first Annual Convention on May 22, 1971 at the Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hall, Herran St., Manila. After a series of organizational meetings, the Society’s membership increased. It adopted its Constitution and By-Laws that set forth as its official address No. 2555 Acacia St., San Miguel, Manila, which was the residence of Gertrudes Lucas, then NSDB Technical Assistant and PAS Treasurer.
The Society’s Constitution stipulated as its main objectives the following:
1. Foster widespread interest in the study of astronomy.
2. Disseminate astronomical information in the Philippines and abroad.
3. Design and construct telescopes and other optical apparatus.
4. Establish and maintain an astronomical center and planetarium in Manila.
5. Provide the public a basic knowledge of astronomy to stimulate interest in this science.
However, in pursuing these aims, the Society had to rely heavily on the assistance given by affiliate bodies in the United States in the form of cash donations and materials. These were used chiefly in building a telescope. In July 1971, a telescope-making class was formed to undertake the delicate task of mounting and assembling the parts of a 6” reflecting telescope kept in the house of one of its members in Pasig City.
The hardest phase involving the grinding of the lens was done using the facilities of the NIST Optics Section and Machine Shop. In a month’s time, the PAS operational telescope of classical Newtonian design was completed. Most of its components were locally produced and available, like the fiberglass tube and steel tripod.
Aside from the main stargazing activity, PAS held convocations and meetings designed to acquaint the public with the advances in astronomy and space travel. Well-known experts in physics and astronomy were invited to address these gatherings frequently held at the Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hall. Movies on space travel and Apollo flights were shown during these meetings, courtesy of the US Information Service and the US Embassy.
Its most ambitious educational project was the holding of a five-month introductory course in Astronomy, which was started on January 1, 1972. The classes were held at the Manila Science High School, Taft Avenue, Manila; and the faculty was headed by Fr. Victor L. Badillo, SJ, the Director of the Manila Observatory at that time. This was supposed to be a yearly program of the Society.
The 2nd Annual Convention of the Society was held on April 29, 1972 at the Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Phillip D. Wyman, PAS President, who gave the opening and closing remarks, was optimistic about the realization of the Society’s objectives in the near future.
He declared that the Society’s main goal is the putting up of an astronomical center and planetarium in Manila. The projected center would serve not only as a research site for astronomy but would also house the facilities and permanent headquarters of the Philippine Astronomical Society. It would be open to the public at all times, especially to teachers and students of science in the Philippines. Indeed, in just few years, the National Museum Planetarium was realized through the efforts of Dr. Godofredo L. Alcasid, with Engr. Maximo Sacro as its first curator.
The Society was formally registered as a nonstock and nonprofit organization with the Securities and Exchange Commission in May 1972. After this occasion, the election to choose the eleven members of the Board of Directors was held on July 23, 1972 in accordance with the approved PAS By-Laws. The following Saturday after the election, the newly elected Board of Directors convened to choose among themselves the five new officers to run the Society’s affairs for the academic year 1972-73.
From then on, for more than three decades, PAS has continued to pursue its main objectives of stimulating, advancing, and propagating Astronomy in the Philippines through its various activities and projects. Aside from pursuing these main objectives, its present Board of Directors and Officers starting in the year 2004 has endowed upon themselves the pursuit of scientific researches in coordination with other scientific communities.
For the first time, in its history, PAS constructed its own 16” and 12” telescopes to be eventually equipped with a spectrometer that will be dedicated to scientific pursuits. The PAS has truly grown stronger and better.
The Society has opened and continues to open its door to everyone regardless of age, sex, religion, or profession and has undergone substantial improvement in terms of its membership, makeup, and activities. Now and as at the start, the driving force in PAS is its people, who are dedicated to the cause and who sacrifice their time and resources to share their interest in the heavens with others, especially the young ones.