Balatik

Balatik: A Symposium on Philippine Ethnoastronomy

The UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) Folklore Studies Program, together with the UP Astronomical Society, UP Departamento ng Kasaysayan, and UP Department of Linguistics, warmly invites everyone to “Balatik: A Symposium on Philippine Ethnoastronomy” on 21 November 2025, 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM, at Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall, Palma Hall and the University Amphitheater, UP Diliman.

The symposium will serve as a venue to honor the legacy of Filipino historian Dante L. Ambrosio, hailed as the “father of Philippine ethnoastronomy,” as well as to encourage interdisciplinary conversations on Philippine ethnoastronomy and related fields through research presentations, roundtable discussions, and an outdoor astronomical activity.

Join us by answering the registration form: https://tinyurl.com/balatikreg

Program

Pagpupugay kay Dante L. Ambrosio, Ama ng Etnoastronomiyang Pilipino

2:10 – 3:30 PM | Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall

Nilalayon ng panayam-talakayan na ito na bigyan ng pagpupugay si Prop. Dante L. Ambrosio, PhD, historyador ng bayan at kinikilalang “Ama ng Etnoastronomiyang Pilipino,” sa pamamagitan ng pananariwa sa kaniyang buhay at alaala. Makakasama sa panayam-talakayan na ito sina Maria Bernadette L. Abrera, PhD at Francis M. Navarro, PhD.

Si Dr. Abrera ay retiradong propesor ng kasaysayan at dating dekano ng Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman. Si Dr. Navarro ay katuwang na propesor ng kasaysayan at kasalukuyang direktor ng University Archives sa Ateneo de Manila University. Siya rin ay komisyoner sa National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Padadaluyin ito ni Emmanuel Jayson V. Bolata, katuwang na propesor ng UP Departamento ng Kasaysayan at affiliate ng UP CSSP Folklore Studies Program, na magbibigay ng pambungad na presentasyon, “Ambag at Pamana ni Dante L. Ambrosio sa Etnoastronomiyang Pilipino.”

Mga Bagong Pananaliksik sa Etnoastronomiyang Pilipino

3:30 – 4:50 PM | Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall

Tampok sa bahaging ito ang mga bagong pananaliksik sa etnoastronomiyang Pilipino, partikular sa mga pamayanan sa hilagang Pilipinas – Ibaloi, Pangasinan, at ang lalawigan ng Cagayan.

Padadaluyin ito ni Patricia Anne Y. Asuncion, teaching associate ng UP Department of Linguistics.

Katutubo at Modernong Agham

4:50 – 5:50 PM | Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall

Nais palitawin sa bahaging ito ang talaban ng katutubo at modernong agham sa nakalipas at kasalukuyang lipunang Pilipino. Tampok dito ang pananaw at pagturing ng mga siyentista at mag-aaral ng siyensya hinggil sa halaga at bisa ng maituturing na “agham ng bayan”.

Padadaluyin ito ni Vincent Christopher A. Santiago, katuwang na propesor ng UP Department of Linguistics at affiliate ng UP CSSP Folklore Studies Program.

Outdoor Astronomical Activity: Stargazing *

Sa pangunguna ng UP Astronomical Society
6:00 – 7:00 PM
University Amphitheater

*Tala: Nakaayon sa panahon at kalangitan ang pagdaraos ng stargazing sa University Amphitheater.

Mga Bagong Pananaliksik sa Etnoastronomiyang Pilipino

Kabitëwënan: Indigenous Astronomical Knowledge in Pangasinan Culture*

Melchor E. Orpilla, PhD

This presents the unique way Pangasinan ancestors named and understood the heavenly bodies above—from the constellations and planets to the signs seen in comets and meteors. Even before formal science, our elders already recognized Balaís (Orion or Sagittarius), Maopó or Siete Cabrillas (Pleiades), and Baba’y Buayá (thought to be Cetus) among others. They described the sky with everyday words—Bëtuag a Simbangan as the balance, Bitëwën Balutó resembling a ship, and even called the Milky Way Dalan na Biong nën Noe, the path of Noah’s Ark. Morning and evening stars, signs from comets (Nan-ikol a Bitëwën) and meteors (Taí Bitëwën), as well as Venus (Bitëwën Babúy) were all part of Pangasinan knowledge handed down through generations.

Especially important are Baggacan (red star) and Macuyót (big white star), which old folks observed for clues about the coming weather, the harvest, and the fate of their rice fields. All these show that Pangasinan ethnoastronomy is a mix of practical wisdom and cultural story, teaching us how much our people valued the harmony of the earth and sky. This study pushes for appreciation and deeper research of local astronomy traditions, not just to honor our heritage, but also to draw lessons for the future.

Si Melchor E. Orpilla, PhD ay Associate Professor III at Direktor ng Research and Development Center sa Pangasinan Polytechnic College, at Komisyoner para sa Pangasinan sa Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

*Ito ay nasa anyo ng isang recorded presentation.

Nu Anni i Azza Ta Langi, Azza Gafa Ta Davvun (What is in Heaven, is also on Earth): A Preliminary Exploration of Cagayan Indigenous Astronomy

Joshua Jewel Lim Palolan

This presentation emphasizes and enumerates the compilation of recorded indigenous astronomy of the past and present people of Cagayan. This study explored the relationship between astronomy and culture. It sought the connection and impact of celestial observation, beliefs, and phenomena on the lives of the diverse ethnolinguistic groups of Cagayan province in the Philippines.

The study adopted a multi-disciplinary approach using historical, anthropological, sociological, and astronomical perspectives to understand how astronomy was conceptualized and has affected Cagayano belief systems, folklores, rituals, and daily practices. Data was gathered from literature on Filipino and Austronesian indigenous astronomy and historical accounts from Spanish sources such as the compilation of indigenous Ibanag words by 17th-century Dominican priest Fr. Jose Bugarin, which was later published in 1854 as Diccionario Ibanag-Español. Additionally, interviews were conducted with Ilokano and Ibatan fisherfolk from the island municipality of Calayan and with the Agta-Atta people of the municipalities of Sanchez Mira and Ballesteros, who rely on the movement of celestial bodies to conduct activities throughout the year, particularly fishing and hunting. The paper also connects Cagayan indigenous astronomy with the wider cultural astronomy of Southeast Asia, highlighting shared beliefs and practices of the region. It also addressed the challenges and opportunities in preserving and revitalizing indigenous knowledge and practices in the face of modernization, globalization, and cultural assimilation.

Si Joshua Jewel Lim Palolan ay tubong Aparri, Cagayan at kasalukuyang Museum Technician II ng National Museum of the Philippines – Cagayan. Kasapi rin siya ng SpaceKonek, na bahagi ng organisasyong pangkabataan, ScienceKonek.

Above Us, Only Sky: A Reconstruction of Some Astronomical and Meteorological Terms in Pre-Ibaloi

Bea Rose P. Barra, Allerah Mejan C. Quinto, Mario D. Olayres Jr.

Twenty-four (24) lexical items belonging to the astronomical and meteorological domains were collected from four Ibaloi varieties—namely Atok, Bokod, Daklan, and Kabayan—with the aim of reconstructing a hypothetical Pre-Ibaloi (PIBL). Through phonological analyses and internal reconstruction, the cognates yielded twenty-five (25) reconstructed proto-forms. Moreover, nineteen (19) pre-phonemes constitute the PIBL phonemic inventory. Kabayan was also deemed phonetically to be the “closest” to PIBL, concurring with Himes’s (1998) and Ruffolo’s (2004) conclusions that Kabayan was the Ibaloi communities’ “dispersal point.” This study provided a glimpse into the rich cross-cultural commonalities that go beyond geographical boundaries for these cultural communities. Furthermore, the semantic domains were chosen for the reason that astronomical and meteorological phenomena have a significant influence on the largely agricultural communities of the Cordilleran mountains. The lexical repository for these domains was bound to be remarkable when what is over and above, and the most consequential to their way of life, is the sky.

Si Bea P. Barra ay nagtapos ng BA Linguistics sa UP Diliman at kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho bilang data annotator. Interes niya ang paksa ng edukasyong multilinggwal at ugnayan ng wika at ekonomiya. Si Allerah Mejan C. Quinto ay mag-aaral ng BA Linguistics. Kasalukuyan siyang nananaliksik tungkol sa Cebuano ethnosemantics at discourse pragmatics, at nag-aaral din ng mga wikang Thai at Indonesian. Si Mario D. Olayres, Jr. ay nagtapos kamakailan ng BA Linguistics sa UP Diliman, at kasalukuyang nananaliksik hinggil sa anger-related lexemes sa Tagalog gamit ang balangkas na Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM).

Katutubo at Modernong Agham

Exploring Rainbow and Culture in Physics Education

Percival F. Almoro, PhD

This presentation highlights how integrating folklore and cultural perspectives can enrich physics education through interdisciplinary, active learning. Centered on the rainbow, known as bahaghari, balangaw, or bangaw in Philippine languages, the talk demonstrates how everyday materials and smart technologies can help students explore light and measurement in accessible, engaging ways. It also examines how oral histories, local terminologies, and environmental narratives rooted in culture can deepen understanding of physical phenomena. By connecting optics with cultural context, learners are encouraged to view physics not just as abstract equations, but as stories shaped by environment, language, and tradition. This approach promotes place-based education and broadens scientific literacy, especially in settings where cultural identity and environmental awareness are essential to science engagement.

Si Percival F. Almoro, PhD ay propesor sa National Institute of Physics, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman. Kabilang sa kaniyang mga larangan ng pananaliksik ay pisika, optics, lasers, holography, speckles, interferometry, phase retrieval, at coherent metrology. Si Dr. Almoro ay senior member ng Optica, isang internasyonal na organisasyon para sa optics at photonics, at kasalukuyang section editor para sa optical metrology at interferometry ng Optik: International Journal for Light and Electron Optics.

Mga Bituing Kumukutikutitap: Etnoastronomiya sa Pananaw ng Kabataang Pilipino

UP Astronomical Society, na kinakatawan ni James Oidem

Tatalakayin ng presentasyon ang pag-uugnay ng pag-aaral ng etnoastronomiya at ang pagpapalaganap ng pagpapahalaga ng astronomiya sa mga kabataan. Sa partikular, ang pagtatanghal ay tututuon sa papel ng organisasyon sa pagdadala ng etnoastronomiya sa radar ng kabataan, ang paglalakip ng etnoastronomiya sa mga primaryang tungkulin ng organisasyon, at ang kahalagahan ng paggawa ng mga ganitong bagay.

Ang University of the Philippines Astronomical Society (UP AstroSoc) ay isang scientific, educational, at non-profit na organisasyon na may layuning tipunin ang mga indibidwal na interesado sa astronomiya at kampeonin ang astronomiya para sa publiko. Kakatawanin ito ni James Oidem, mag-aaral ng MS Physics na kasalukuyang may interes pampananaliksik sa geophysics. Mahigit anim na taon na siyang miyembro ng organisasyon at parte ng Education and Research Cluster ng UP AstroSoc.