President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed optimism regarding the future of Philippine space exploration, stating that he looks forward to the day when Filipinos can live and work in outer space.
The President shared his vision after meeting with a delegation of Filipino analog astronauts at Malacañang Palace. These researchers participate in Earth-based simulations that replicate space conditions to test life-support systems, equipment, and crew dynamics for deep-space missions.
“It is not every day that I get to talk about space in Malacañang. Our Filipino analog astronauts are already testing here on Earth what it takes to live and work beyond it. I look forward to the day when a Filipino takes that science all the way to space,” Marcos posted on social media following the meeting.
The delegation included analog crew members Kristine Jane Atienza, Dr. Mark Angelo Purio, Florence Pauline Basubas, and Dr. Marvic Alcantara. They were accompanied by Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Dr. Gay Jane Perez and Danielle Mari Rieza-Culangen to discuss local space science initiatives and human spaceflight preparations.
During the courtesy call, Atienza presented Marcos with her completion certificate after becoming the first Filipino to undergo training and earn a commercial spaceflight certification at the National AeroSpace Training and Research Center. A nutritionist-dietitian by profession, Atienza became the nation’s pioneer analog astronaut through a Mars simulation conducted by the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS).
The delegation represents a range of scientific disciplines supporting spaceflight research:
Dr. Marvic Alcantara: A public hospital physician who served as a medical officer and stands as the country’s second analog astronaut.
Dr. Mark Angelo Purio: The Philippines’ first engineer analog astronaut.
Florence Pauline Basubas: A space biologist and nutritionist.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, discussions highlighted key PhilSA programs like the Analog Habitat Waypoint (ANAHAW), a university-based mission aimed at developing local capabilities in human spaceflight research and operational testing.