The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), in collaboration with Embassy of the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of the Philippines, held a reading session for ’Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan!’ children’s book on space treaties at the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Elementary Library this 22 August 2024.
This initiative is part of the celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (National Language Month) and the fulfillment of the space policy, law, and diplomacy activities of PhilSA.
PhilSA Director General Joel Marciano Jr. welcomed the elementary students of UPIS to the event and provided a short introduction of the Agency. He also shared the Agency’s initiatives with the students, including the recently concluded Philippine Space Week celebrations and other space education and awareness activities geared towards the youth, such as the Asian Herb in Space activity and the Ask an Astronaut engagement series.
PhilSA Director General, Dr. Joel Marciano Jr., engaging with the UPIS elementary students, asking them what they know about space
The British Ambassador, H.E. Laure Beaufils, read passages from the book on the journey of Tala as she learns about the United Nations treaties on outer space. Ambassador Beaufils also highlighted the collaboration between the Philippines and the UK, noting that 16 Filipino engineers are in the UK working on the design and development of the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite.
H.E. Laure Beaufils, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of the Philippines, read pages from “Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan!” to grade school students of UPIS
The Ambassador also emphasized the importance of space science and technology activities (SSTA) for education, including space law and diplomacy, for the future generation.
PhilSA also turned over copies of the book to the UPIS, where Professor Anthony Joseph C. Ocampo, UPIS Principal, received them for the UPIS Elementary Library.
PhilSA turned over copies of “Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan!” children’s book to the UPIS Elementary Library. (L-R) PhilSA Space Industry and Strategic Bureau Director, Engr. Rolando P. Martinez; PhilSA Space Policy and International Cooperation Bureau Director, Atty. Noelle Riza D. Castillo; UPIS Principal, Prof. Anthony Joseph C. Ocampo, MA; PhilSA Director General, Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr.; Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of the Philippines, H.E. Laure Beaufils; PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology, Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez
Book reading in Geneva, Switzerland
The book on space treaties has also reached other European shores, as Space Policy and International Cooperation Bureau (SPICB) Director, Atty. Noelle Riza D. Castillo, read the ‘Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan’ last 16 August at the office of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. This was conducted on the sidelines of the 2nd Session of the Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space.
Young members of the Filipino community joined the book reading as part of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa and Philippine Space Week celebration.
Director Castillo presenting Tala’s journey in space
H.E. Carlos Sorreta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, opened the event.
“Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan” children’s book reading event with the Geneva Filipino community on 16 August 2024 (Photo courtesy: Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva).
Check out the online version of the book here: https://philsa.gov.ph/books/si-tala-at-ang-kanyang-lakbay-kalawakan