Lakbay with UP AstroSoc

The UP Astronomical Society (UP AstroSoc) frequently organizes public astronomy activities to inspire people with the wonders of the universe. Among these events, a member-favorite is the “Lakbay.” During Lakbays, schools—usually high schools—invite us to share our knowledge of astronomy with their students. All the busy days of planning activity stations and rehearsing lecture topics feel worthwhile once we get to interact with the students and talk with them about the stars and the universe.

I remember my first Lakbay at the Manila Waldorf School. The lecture session had been finished for a while when a student asked me about white holes—a concept I could only vaguely explain based on a book I had read once. They surely have the most curious questions. That Lakbay ran late into the night, and the students started to doze off and we ended up having the most random conversations under the stars. That night, along with many others spent with the organization, are the nights I’ll always remember fondly from my college days.