Ma. Criselda Baldago

Featured on August 11, 2024

She may be down to earth, but her mind is in the stars. This week, we’re joined by Ma. Criselda “Dang” Baldago, a licensed geologist and Science Research Specialist at the Philippine Space Agency.

Dang completed her degree in Geology at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, graduating as Cum Laude. During her undergraduate years, she was a student assistant for the Project NOAH Hazards Team and the head student assistant for the Volcano and Tectonics Laboratory at UP – National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS). After she graduated, she worked as a University Research Associate at NIGS and was a member of the Quick Response Team, studying natural hazards and disasters. She then completed her Master of Science in Geology from the same university in 2022, studying Taal volcano for her thesis. She co-authored several journal articles on the Taal Volcano eruption in 2020 and wrote a book – “A Timeline of Mindanao Disasters” – with her thesis adviser Mahar Lagmay, which was one of the finalists for the Gintong Aklat Awards 2022.

She is now with the Philippine Space Agency where she uses satellite radar data to observe ground movements. This provides insight into ground subsidence, earthquake and volcano deformation, flooding, and urban changes, among others.

Some fun facts about Dang:

• She is a furmom to a really cute black cat!
• She has a pretty good memory! Her grandfather thought she could read at two years old when he saw her “reading aloud” from a book and turning the pages at the right time. But actually, she had only memorized the book since they read it to her so frequently.
• She can draw and paint! She’s mostly self taught and she finds it a good way for her to express and de-stress.