The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) invited students to become part of the country’s next generation of space professionals through a scholarships roadshow held on 19–20 February 2026 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna.  

The two-day event introduced participants to educational opportunities such as the Advanced Degrees for Accelerating Strategic Space R&D and Applications (AD ASTRA) Scholarships Program and the Fulbright-PhilSA Program Award in Space Science and Technology Applications (SSTA).  

The roadshow featured an information session and career talk that provided a comprehensive overview of the scholarship programs, application process, and scholarship benefits. UPLB complemented the activity by presenting its available graduate programs relevant to SSTA, highlighting pathways for students interested in pursuing advanced studies in space-related fields.  

Ms. Angeline Macasinag, a PhilSA AD ASTRA scholar-graduate, shared her #KwentongPhilSAScholar as a master’s student in Biology of Extreme Environments at the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in Naples, Italy. Her research explored the response of pigment-producing bacteria under simulated Mars conditions and implications for habitability. Beyond her thesis work, she also highlighted the opportunities made possible through the AD ASTRA Scholarships Program, including participation in international conferences and access to research dissemination grants. 

The PhilSA AD ASTRA Scholarships Program provides financial support to outstanding Filipinos who have completed their Bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue advanced studies in SSTA at local or foreign institutions. Since its launch in 2021, the program has empowered Filipinos in undertaking postgraduate studies in fields aligned with national space development. To date, 12 scholars have completed their degrees and are now contributing to the advancement of SSTA in the Philippines. 

For more information about PhilSA AD ASTRA Scholarships, visit this link.