The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has officially welcomed the fourth batch of scholars under its Advanced Degrees for Accelerating Strategic Space R&D and Applications (AD ASTRA) program. The signing ceremony took place in March 2025 at the PhilSA office in Quezon City.
The scholars — Prince Niño Cuizon, Vincent Louie Maglambayan, Mary Rose Mabalay, and Micah Angelo Bacani — will pursue graduate studies in fields related to space science and technology applications (SSTA), joining a growing group of professionals helping shape the country’s future in space research.
Cuizon is pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, majoring in Thermofluidic Sciences, at Mapúa University while Maglambayan is taking a Master of Science in Physics degree at the De La Salle University – Manila. Mabalay is completing her Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences at the Tokyo University in Agriculture and Technology in Japan and Bacani is currently in the UK pursuing his Master of Science in Space Engineering at the University of Surrey.
Pushing forward local space science
“This program is about building the country’s knowledge in space science and making sure we take part in global research,” said Joel Joseph Marciano Jr., Ph.D., director general of PhilSA. “Each scholar adds to our ability to develop real solutions through space technology.”
The latest group comes from different academic and professional backgrounds, showing the program’s focus on collaboration across fields. Scholars will study topics such as satellite systems, earth observation, and data science.
Long-term investment in space experts
Since it started in 2021, the AD ASTRA program has supported 19 Filipinos studying for master’s and doctorate degrees in local and international universities. Four have completed their degrees and are now working in the country’s SSTA sector.
“Our role is not just to send people to study,” said Gay Jane Perez, deputy director general and head of the Scholarship Committee at PhilSA. “We want them to come back, build careers here, and move the space sector forward.”
Also present during the signing were PhilSA officials Reinabelle Reyes, Paul Heherson Balite, Julie Ann Banatao, and John Kristian Lalas.