Astronomy: A Pivotal Step in Nation Building

This was my essay during the National Astronomy Week in the Philippines, which was held at the Rizal Technological University. It won first place. My father established the first astronomy course in the country, and is now the president of the university. I'm a proud daughter, alright. :)

“Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies.” This is, and always has been, the most widely used and accepted definition of this science. When this is taught to the public, the general idea that they get about astronomy is that its purpose is to merely acquire information about the objects that exist in our Universe. Though this fact holds true, astronomy helps us, whether as individuals or a whole nation, in more ways than we can imagine.

The Philippines has experienced wars and being colonized in its past. And although we have been set free from their chains, our country is still in need of nation building. Astronomy is one of the many keys in achieving this. With the number of astronomers rising, our government cannot always allow them buy the telescopes and equipment that they need in their observations from foreign investors. Sooner or later, local establishments should be set up in manufacturing astronomical equipment. This will help the economy in one way or another, especially when foreign countries start importing what our country has manufactured.

On a global scale, which also affects individual nations, our world is facing environmental problems that can lead to the death of our Earth. Though Astronomy may yet prove to have the solution, it provides us with the knowledge that, with our current inability to seek further into our Universe, we have only one planet. Knowing this, people will soon start to realize that unity is needed in preserving our planet; turning the nation’s chaos into order.

In the words of the writer Og Mandino, “I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.” We must remember that simply knowing that there are stars in the sky, we already know a small thing about astronomy. And when our nation seems to fall into darkness, we look at those stars and there we find hope; hope that someday, not only will we reach those points of light in the sky, we will climb the highest peak of the country’s development.