The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) will celebrate the achievements of the AD ASTRA scholar-graduates on 09 August 2025 (Saturday), from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at the Quantum Skyview, Upper Ground B, Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City.
The event will highlight the academic milestones of ten (10) scholar-graduates who have successfully completed their graduate studies under the PhilSA Advanced Degrees for Accelerating STRAtegic Space R&D and Applications (AD ASTRA) Scholarships Program. Their achievements reflect the program’s mission to cultivate a sustainable pool of trained experts in space science and technology applications (SSTA) that are critical for the country’s space program, global competitiveness, and capability to innovate.
More than a formal recognition, the ceremony also serves as a platform for the AD ASTRA Scholars to share their #KwentongPhilSAScholar—stories of conquered challenges, achieved breakthroughs, and shaped aspirations by their academic journeys—as they reaffirm their commitment to advancing SSTA and contributing to the growth of the Philippines growing space ecosystem.
List of Recognized AD ASTRA Scholar-Graduates:
- Raynell Inojosa
Doctorate in Electronics Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology (Japan)
Batangas State University (Philippines)
Date of Completion: June 2023
- Carla Mae Arellano
Copernicus Master in Digital Earth
Paris-Lodron University Salzburg (France)
Université Bretagne Sud (Austria)
Date of Completion: July 2023
- Fritz Rhaem Olivar
Master of Engineering in Environmental Systems Engineering
Yamaguchi University (Japan)
Date of Completion: September 2024 - Angelo Ryan Velasco
Master of Science in Satellite Data for Sustainable Development
University of Strathclyde, Scotland (United Kingdom)
Date of Completion: November 2024 - Angeline Macasinag
Master’s Degree in Biology of Extreme Environments (Astrobiology Curricula)
University of Naples “Federico II” (Italy)
Date of Completion: August 2025
- Joannarose Congzon
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering – Nanosatellite Track
University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines)
Date of Completion: July 2025
- Nadine Macalalad
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering – Nanosatellite Track
University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines)
Date of Completion: July 2025
- Jonard Jairo Reyes
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering – Nanosatellite Track
University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines)
Date of Completion: July 2025
- John Abiel Villanueva
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering – Nanosatellite Track
University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines)
Date of Completion: July 2025
- Dave Emmanuel Zuñiga
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering – Nanosatellite Track
University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines)
Date of Completion: July 2025
Recognition Ceremony Provisional Program:
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 03:30 PM – 04:00 PM | Arrival and Registration |
| 04:00 PM – 04:05 PM | Opening Preliminaries |
| 04:05 PM – 04:15 PM | Inspirational Message Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr., Ph.D. PhilSA Director General |
| 04:15 PM – 04:35 PM | Recognition Proper |
| 04:35 PM – 04:40 PM | Photo Opportunity AD ASTRA Scholar-Graduates Director General Scholarship Committee |
| 04:40 PM – 05:20 PM | #KwentuhanwithPhilSAScholars |
| 05:20 PM – 05:30 PM | Closing Remarks Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D. Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology Chair of the Scholarship Committee |
Through initiatives like AD ASTRA Scholarships Program, PhilSA continues to reaffirm its commitment to empowering Filipino talents in SSTA and nurturing the next generation of scholars who will help propel the Philippines toward a space-enabled future.
Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported a total of nineteen (19) local and foreign graduate Filipino scholars in pursuing master’s and doctorate degrees at higher education institutions both in the country and abroad.