ORION, Bataan – Teachers and students of the Orion National High School here on Wednesday felt excited, amazed and considered themselves lucky for witnessing with the use of a telescope the transit of Venus.
“Suwerte kami dahil sa pagpapahiram ni Ezekiel Rodriguez ng telescope, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga teachers at estudyante na makita ang pagdaraan ng Venus sa araw,” said Science Department Head Jhennie Agustin.
The public high school in Orion can be considered as the only school in Bataan and the only organized big group witnessing the transit of Venus with the use of a telescope. Students and teachers also used welder’s glasses.
Miguela Cayabyab, master teacher, said their townmate Rodriguez lent them the telescope “so we will have the rare chance to observe the transit of the planet.”
“Nakaka-amaze! Masuwerte kami dahil umabot kami sa taon na nagpakita ang Venus,” said teachers and students when asked what they felt.
At 7:45 a.m., teachers and students said they saw a black dot representing Venus at the lower left portion of the sun. “Nakita ko araw na nandoon ang Venus sa kaliwa sa ibabang bahagi nito,” said School Principal Zulita Villones after looking at the telescope past 8:00 a.m.
Agustin and others said they do not believe in superstition that after the phenomenon, disasters, famine or war will follow. “These are natural phenomena like people getting bald. Huwag mag-isip ng negative, magtiwala sa Diyos,” Agustin said.
Students from the Science department started assembling the telescope as early as 7:00 a.m. Their enthusiasm did not waver despite the many disruptions like the sun hidden by clouds and then the rains at past 9:00 a.m.
