In this inspiring episode, we feature Pauli Basubas, a Filipina Gen Z space biologist chasing her dream of becoming the first Filipino astronaut. From her humble beginnings in Cebu, where nights under the island sky sparked her curiosity, to her groundbreaking research in space biology, Pauli’s journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and purpose.
Recently featured in the documentary To the Moon and Back at the prestigious Visions du Réel International Film Festival in Switzerland, Pauli shares how she carries her island roots proudly into the global stage of space science. She explains why space exploration matters to our everyday lives, from satellites that help predict typhoons to technologies like water purification and phone cameras that originated from space research.
Finally, she reflects on her journey, her mission to inspire Filipino youth, and her vision of creating opportunities so that more island kids can dream beyond survival and reach for the stars.