When I was in Grade 1, my favorite subject was Science. I enjoyed listening to my teacher (Ms. Soriano) discuss the 9 planets in our solar system, the relationship of the moon and the tides and the principle behind evaporation and condensation. My Dad always picked me up right after school in our trusted green Volkswagen Beetle and I told him during one of those drives going home that Ms. Soriano said that the earth revolves around the sun and it takes a year to complete its journey. She also said that as it goes through this journey, the earth rotates on its own axis, completing full circle in 24 hours.
I then asked my Dad, "Dad, if the earth revolves around the sun and the earth rotates on its own axis, how come I don't feel the earth turning around?" To which my dad patiently replied, "Because anak, the earth is very big and it turns around very very very slowly kaya hindi mo siya nararamdaman. Kung mabilis ang ikot niya, mahihilo tayo araw-araw and God doesn't want us to experience something horrible like that, right?" Dad explained this fact to me using his fist as illustration for the earth. He promised me that he would bring me to the Planetarium near Luneta so I can learn more about our solar system.
So interested was I in planetary science that at 7 years old, I made up my mind that I was going to be a scientist. Dad said that if I enjoy looking at the planets so much, I should study hard and maybe someday I could get to visit and work for NASA. Soon after that, I was telling everyone that I was going to be an astronomer and that I will leave for NASA when I finish school.
Fast forward to 30 years later. Obviously I didn't end up working in NASA nor am I anywhere near NASA, for that matter. But I still do look up at the sky every so often, getting disappointed when pollution mars the sky and I can't see the stars, but marveling up at it when its very clear. The last time I saw a shooting star was in Boracay in the late '80s. When there's a lunar eclipse, I wait until the moon gets red and I stay out a while longer, looking up at it.
I'm looking forward to witnessing a total solar eclipse next. Hope this phenomena comes again in my lifetime.