The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Philippine American Educational Foundation (PAEF), also known as the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, officially awarded seven (7) scholars under the Fulbright-PhilSA Program Award in SSTA.
The signing ceremony was held at the PhilSA office in Quezon City in June 2025, formally marking the start of the scholar-awardees’ academic journeys in the United States. Through this engagement, they will pursue advanced degrees and conduct research in fields vital to the advancement of the Philippines’ space sector.
The Fulbright-PhilSA Program Award in Space Science, Technology, and Applications (SSTA) is a flagship partnership between PhilSA and the Fulbright Commission, launched in 2024. The program offers Filipinos the opportunity to pursue graduate studies, conduct non-degree doctoral dissertation research, or engage in advanced research in SSTA-related fields at leading institutions in the United States. These opportunities fall under two tracks: the Program Award in SSTA for graduate and doctoral research, and the Visiting Scholar Award in SSTA for advanced research. More importantly, the program contributes to building a sustainable pool of Filipino space scientists, engineers, researchers, and other experts who can drive national innovation and strengthen global competitiveness.
The inaugural cohort—comprising four (4) graduate students under the Foreign Student Program in SSTA and three (3) visiting researchers under the Visiting Scholar Award in SSTA—will pursue specializations in diverse fields, including spacecraft systems development, engineering, robotics, space science, and multidisciplinary space applications. Each scholar’s research will contribute to advancing PhilSA’s key development priorities, supporting the agency’s mission to strengthen the Philippines’ space capabilities.
PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology Gay Jane Perez, Ph.D. highlighted the vital role of the scholar-awardees in advancing the Philippine space ecosystem during her opening remarks.
“The Fulbright-PhilSA Program is not merely an academic opportunity—it is a national investment, and you as our pioneering scholars are its first stewards. Your journey represents the long-term vision of this partnership: to build a critical mass of highly skilled, globally engaged Filipino professionals who will shape the future of our space sector. We are confident that you will represent the Philippines with excellence, integrity, and humility,” said PhilSA Deputy Director General Perez.
“You are not just being sent abroad to grow individually—you are being called to take part in something larger than yourselves.. . . You are not just learners; you are catalysts. You are also our ambassadors for innovation, for collaboration, and for inclusive development,” PhilSA Deputy Director General Perez emphasized.
PAEF Executive Director Julio Amador III emphasized the importance of this partnership, describing it as a collaboration with PhilSA as one of the country’s newest and most important government agencies in advancing space science and technology applications.
He also expressed Fulbright’s commitment to sustaining the program by working closely with PhilSA to generate more resources, with the shared goal of making it a recurring, yearly endeavor.
Spotlight on the scholars
Mr. Frederic James Espiritu (center) is pursuing his MS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. An instructor at UP Los Baños, Mr. Espiritu is passionate about spacecraft systems and hopes to jumpstart aerospace manufacturing in the Philippines, including developing homegrown payloads and launch vehicles.
Mr. Rau Lance Cunanan is pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Central Florida. He serves as a Senior Science Research Specialist and part-time instructor at Cebu Technological University – Main Campus. His work focuses on intelligent robotic systems, with the goal of enhancing the Philippines’ capabilities in satellite autonomy and robotic space operations.
Mr. Joseph Patrick Cristobal (center) is taking his MS in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Currently a Project Development Officer at San Miguel Holdings Corporation, Mr. Cristobal specializes in airport infrastructure planning and development, and seeks to integrate satellite data into the development of future-ready and efficient Philippine airports.
Dr. Mary Donnabelle Balela is conducting her research on “SULFIDECATS: Defect Engineering of Transition Metal SULFIDES for CATalytic Space Applications” at North Dakota State University under the Visiting Scholar Award in SSTA. A professor at UP Diliman, Dr. Balela works on iron sulfide-based electrocatalysts for clean energy and aims to develop sustainable, space-ready energy systems that support future space missions.
Dr. Nikki Heherson Dagamac (center) will spend four months at the University of Texas at Tyler conducting research on the “Development of Remotely Sensed Space Data Analysis: Transferable Computational Pipelines in Conservation and Agricultural Systems of the Philippines.” A researcher at the University of Santo Tomas, Dr. Dagamac aims to harness remote sensing and satellite data to support biodiversity conservation and advance precision agriculture in the country.
Dr. Wenyville Galang (center) is conducting her research on “Geospatial Analysis for Bioenergy Estimation of Agricultural Residues in the Philippines” at Harvard University’s Center for Geographic Analysis. An Associate Professor at Holy Name University, Dr. Galang specializes in remote sensing and machine learning, focusing on geospatial analysis for energy sustainability using satellite data.
The Fulbright-PhilSA Program Award in SSTA is part of PhilSA’s Education and Scholarships Program which seeks to empower future generations of highly-skilled Filipino space professionals and deepen public appreciation for SSTA as drivers of national progress.
PAEF Execeutive Director Amador III gives his message to the attendees of the Fulbright-PhilSA Program Award in SSTA.
