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Imbensyon ng mga Siyentista sa UP kayang ibaba ang presyo ng Terahertz Antenna Device

Imbensyon ng mga Siyentista sa UP kayang ibaba ang presyo ng Terahertz Antenna Device

Published: July 17, 2025
By: Eunice Jean C. Patron
Translated by: Dr. Eizadora T. Yu

Nakabuo ng bagong semiconductor structure ang mga syentista ng UP Diliman College of Science na pwedeng magbigay-daan sa mas abot-kaya at mas reliable na Terahertz (THz) technology. Isa sa mga layunin ng THz research ay palawakin ang paggamit ng THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS).  Nalutas ng imbensyong ito ang pangunahing hadlang na teknikal at ekonomikal sa paggamit ng THz technology, na maaring magamit sa mga aplikasyon tulad ng medical imaging at high-speed wireless communication.

 

The Riber 32P MBE equipment that was used to grow the THz emitter comprising of p-InAs epitaxial layers over an Ang Riber 32P MBE equipment na ginamit upang palaguin ang THz emitter. Ang THz emitter ay binubuo ng p-InAs epitaxial layers na nasa ibabaw ng patong-patong na InGaAs/GaAs superlattice at GaAs buffer na nasa ibabaw ng growth-interrupted GaAs region at n-GaSb substrate. (Photo credit: Dr. Cyril Salang)

Nagpakilala ng bagong disenyo ng semiconductor sila Dr. Cyril Salang ng Materials Science and Engineering Program (MSEP), kasama sina Dr. Arnel Salvador, Dr. Armando Somintac, at Dr. Elmer Estacio ng National Institute of Physics (NIP), at Dr. Joselito Muldera ng RIKEN (ang RIKEN ay isang pambansang institusyong pang-agham sa Japan). Tampok ng bagong disenyo ang isang substrate, isang buffer layer at isang epitaxial layer sa ibabaw. Ang epitaxial layer ay isang manipis na layer ng kristal.

 

Ang katangi-tangi sa kanilang disenyo ay ang paggamit ng isang “mismatched buffer layer” na isang materyal na may atomic structure (o lattice constant) na ibang-iba kumpara sa substrate sa ibaba at itaas ng epitaxial layer. Bagama’t karaniwang nagdudulot ng mga depekto o mahinang performance ang mismatches, nakakagulat na ang kombinasyong ito ay nakabuo ng mga layers na mataas ang kalidad, at kasing husay o mas mahusay pa sa mga tradisyunal na materyales na ginagamit sa THz emitters.

 

Nagdagdag din sila ng “growth-interrupted  region” at isang superlattice, isang istrukturang gawa sa pinagpatong-patong na mga manipis na layer, para palakasin ang kapit sa pagitan ng mga sangkap kahit na may lattice mismatch. Isang layer ng p-type indium arsenide (p-InAs) ay pinatubo sa ibabaw ng isang superlattice, na siya naming dineposito sa taas ng pangunahing buffer layer na siya naming nasa itaas ng isang “growth-interrupted region” sa itaas ng isang murang substrate, gallium antimonide (n-GaSb).

 

Nagpakita ng kahanga-hangang resulta ang imbensyon na ito sa mga test. Ang performance nito ay katulad ng tradisyunal na bulk materials kapag gumagamit ng 0.80 μm laser, at mas mahusay pa kapag gumamit ng 1.55 μm fiber laser. Lumalabas na mas mura at praktikal para sa karaniwang paggamit ang imbensyon nila kaya’t maaari itong maging game-changer para sa THz-TDS systems.

 

Ibinahagi ni Dr. Salang na umabot ng labing isang taon mula sa unang idea noong 2013 hanggang sa pagbigay ng patent noong 2024.  “Na-publish ang aking papel noong 2015, na sinundan ng isang invention disclosure sa parehong taon. Sa tulong ng UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD), naisumite ang aplikasyon para sa patent noong Pebrero 2016 at opisyal na naaprubahan noong 2024,” aniya.

 

Sa pagkakaloob ng bagong patent, mas malakas na ang posisyon ng pangkat nila Dr. Salang upang makapag-ambag sa lumalaking industriya ng Terahertz. “Ang pagtanggap ng isang pambansang patent ay nangangahulugan na kinikilala ang orihinalidad ng aming trabaho. Hinihikayat ako nitong magpatuloy sa paggawa ng mga bagong inobasyon,” dagdag niya.

 

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UPD scholars win best presentations in 13th ASTHRDP Graduate Scholars’ Conference

UPD scholars win best presentations in 13th ASTHRDP Graduate Scholars’ Conference

Published: September 25, 2025
By: College of Science DOST-ASTHRDP Staff
Edited by: Eunice Jean Patron

Four scholars from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) took home the award for best presentations in the 13th Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) Graduate Scholars’ Conference, held on September 18-19, 2025 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

 

The winners were awarded a P10,000 cash prize and certificates of recognition in multiple categories and types of presentations:

 

Marsden Badlisan, an MS Physics student, won the best Oral Presentation in Physical Sciences for his thesis on “Electrically Controlled Goos-Hänchen Shift of a Light Beam due to a ZnO-GaAs Structure.”

 

Nicole Joy Datu received recognition for the best Oral Presentation in Mathematical and Computational Science. Her dissertation as a PhD Mathematics student was titled “On Strongly Φ-Reversible Elements of the Symplectic Group.”

 

Miguel Revilla claimed the best Oral Presentation in Environmental Sciences for his doctoral dissertation in Meteorology on “Spatio-temporal and Surface-level Analysis of Tropical Cyclones Maintaining or Intensifying in the Philippines.”

 

Wendell Manuel, an MS Materials Science and Engineering scholar, won the best Poster Presentation in Physical Sciences for his thesis entitled “Tuned FeO/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Superclusters for Enhanced Magnetic Hyperthermia.”

 

Marsden Badlisan: “I would like to acknowledge and thank the DOST-ASTHRDP for the opportunities and support they provided. The DOST-ASTHRDP is not just a scholarship — it uplifts a nation through science and innovation.”
Nicole Joy Datu: “I am deeply grateful to DOST-SEI for supporting young researchers like me. Growing up, I was told math was only for the naturally talented, but I’ve learned that hard work and the right support can take you just as far. I hope this inspires others, especially women, to pursue mathematics and science.”
Miguel Revilla: “Thanks to the DOST-ASTHRDP scholarship, it has become easier for aspiring meteorologists to do research that not only expands our knowledge of the environment but could also help the country in disaster preparedness.”
Wendell Manuel: “Our study shows how small (nano) things can potentially make a big impact. This would not have been possible without the support of my adviser, our international partners, and of course, DOST.”
(L-R) UPD awardees Wendell Manuel, Miguel Revilla, ASTHRDP Project Leader Dr. Cynthia Saloma, Nicole Joy Datu, and Marsden Badlisan proudly display their certificates of recognition and cash prizes.

Organized annually by the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) in collaboration with the National Science Consortium, this year’s conference was hosted and chaired by the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), with Central Luzon State University (CLSU) serving as co-chair.

 

With the theme “Advancing Climate Action and Environmental Stewardship for the Well-being of Every Filipino,” the conference provided a platform for scholars to present their thesis or dissertation outputs to fellow scholars and academics. Furthermore, it aimed to promote research collaboration opportunities and the exchange of knowledge and experiences on the latest trends and developments in science and technology.

 

Attending the prestigious two-day conference were 200 scholars, scientists, and project leaders from across the country. Among these were 21 scholars from UPD who were slated to showcase their research outputs across the five presentation categories. The university’s delegation was led by Dr. Cynthia Saloma, the ASTHRDP project leader and Dean of UPD-CS.

 

UPD scholars, faculty, and ASTHRDP project leader and staff represent the university at the 13th ASTHRDP Graduate Scholars’ Conference. Front row, L-R: Dr. Genevieve Macam, Dr. Eizadora Yu, Dr. Cynthia Saloma, Dr. Giovanni Tapang, Dr. Alvin Acebedo.

The event commenced with an opening program featuring the Integrated Performing Arts Guild and the singing of the national anthem and a doxology led by the MSU-IIT OCTAVA Choral Society. Welcoming remarks were delivered by MSU-IIT Chancellor Prof. Alizedney Ditucalan, JD, LLM and DOST Regional Director Engr. Romela Ratilla, followed by opening remarks from DOST-SEI Director Dr. Jayeel Cornelio.

 

The keynote address was delivered by DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., who urged scholars to conduct their research beyond classrooms and laboratories and bring science-informed solutions directly to communities that need them the most. This was followed by a message of support from DOST Undersecretary for Science and Technology Services Ms. Maridon Sahagun. The conference proceedings were officially kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony and the unveiling of the scholars’ poster exhibits.

 

Scholars presented their thesis or dissertation outputs in five thematic categories: Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Biological and Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Mathematical and Computational Science. Oral and poster presentations were evaluated by a panel of academic experts, which included UPD faculty members Dr. Alvin Acebedo, Dr. Eizadora Yu, Dr. Gennevieve Macam, and Dr. Giovanni Tapang.

 

Plenary lectures featuring calls to action on climate change were also delivered by distinguished scientists such as Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J. Ph.D. of Ateneo de Manila University and Dr. Ronilo Jose Flores of UP Los Baños. The second day featured equally insightful talks from Dr. Laura David of UPD and Dr. Hernando Bacosa of MSU-IIT.

 

A lively fellowship dinner capped off the first day, showcasing song and dance numbers and a spoken word and multimedia presentation by the scholars.

 

The conference concluded with the awarding of winners in each presentation category. Certificates of appreciation were also given to all participants and speakers. Finally, the program ended with closing remarks from Dr. Elaida Fiegalan, conference co-chair and ASTHRDP project leader in CLSU.


ASTHRDP is a graduate scholarship program implemented by DOST-SEI in collaboration with the National Science Consortium, which is composed of eleven member universities all across the country. The program aims to accelerate the production of high-level human resources needed for research and development in priority Science and Technology areas. By supporting Master in Science and Doctorate students, ASTHRDP seeks to help improve the country’s global competitiveness and capability to innovate through Science & Technology. More information about the DOST-ASTHRDP Scholarship can be found here: https://science.upd.edu.ph/dost-asthrdp/.

 

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UP Scientists Pinag-aralan ang Kontribusyon ng Duktor at Katipunerong si Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD

UP Scientists Pinag-aralan ang Kontribusyon ng Duktor at Katipunerong si Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD

Published: September 19, 2025
By: Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr.
Translated by: Dr. Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla

Ang mga katulad nina Dr José Rizal, Heneral Antonio Luna, Juan Luna, at Marcelo H. del Pilar ay pamilyar sa maraming Pilipino. Taliwas nito, di gaanong tanyag ang karera ni Dr. Francisco Tongio Liongson.

Kilala ang buhay at karera ng mga Ilustradong Pilipino sa Madrid nitong huling dalawang dekada ng ika-19 na siglo. Ang mga katulad nina Dr José Rizal, Heneral Antonio Luna, Juan Luna, at Marcelo H. del Pilar ay pamilyar sa maraming Pilipino. Taliwas nito, di gaanong tanyag ang karera ni Dr. Francisco Tongio Liongson. Tulad ni Heneral Luna, nagsanay si Liongson bilang isang siyentista sa Universidad Central de Madrid, kung saan nakuha niya ang kanyang doktorado, at nagpatuloy ng postdoctoral training sa Institut Pasteur sa Paris. Tulad ng maraming siyentistang Pilipinong nag-aral sa ibayong dagat, bumalik siya sa layuning magtatag sana ng mga laboratoryo at magturo ng mga medical student, kung hindi lang nangyari ang rebolusyon at nakamit ang kasarinlan ng Pilipinas.

 

Si Dr. Francisco Tongio Liongson ay isa sa mga siyentista na, matapos ang pag-aaral ng doktorado, ay sumapi sa Katipunan at nakipaglaban sa Rebolusyon. Ang mga siyentista mula sa UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS)—Dr. Benjamin M. Vallejo Jr. ng Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, at mga kapwa may-akda na sina Dr. Rodrigo Angelo C. Ong at Raymundo Pascual Addun—ay naglathala kamakailan ng isang papel tungkol sa karera ni Dr. Liongson.

 

Nirebyu ng kanilang papel, na batay sa doctoral thesis at clinical notes ni Liongson, kung paano na-conceptualize ni Liongson ang kanyang pag-unawa sa immunology—na isang umuusbong na larangan noong unang bahagi ng 1890s. Gamit ang primary scientific research material na sinagguni ni Liongson—gaya ng mga pag-aaral nina Metchnikoff, Toussaint, von Behring, Pasteur, Roux, at Héricourt—nailarawan ng mga mananaliksik ang pag-usad ng medical at clinical theories ni Dr. Liongson, lalo na sa pagbuo ng bakuna laban sa anthrax.

 

Nakagawa si Dr Liongson ng mga haka-haka at konklusyon na na-anticipate ang marami sa advances sa immunology noong ika-20 siglo, tulad ng humoral theory. Sa pamamagitan ng pananaliksik, mariin niyang itinaguyod ang pagbabakuna bilang isang paraan upang labanan ang mga nakakahawang sakit at iligtas ang milyun-milyong buhay. Sa unang 15 taon ng ika-20 siglo, 18 milyong Pilipino ang nabakunahan. Bilang resulta, bumaba ang mga namatay mula sa mga sakit na kayang puksain ng bakuna—mula 40,000 noong 1902 hanggang 823 na lamang noong 1913.

 

Si Dr. Liongson ay nagsilbi bilang military doctor ni Heneral Luna noong Rebolusyon. Pagkatapos na mapasailalim ang buong Pilipinas sa mga Amerikano noong 1902, siya ay naging doktor ng probinsiya ng Pampanga; kalaunan ay pumasok siya sa pulitika at nahalal bilang Senador ng Pampanga noong 1916, kung saan nag-akda siya ng mga panukalang batas ukol sa public health at vaccination. Namatay siya noong 1919 sa edad na 49 dahil sa anthrax—na sa kabalintunaan ay naging paksa ng kanyang doctoral thesis. Ang kontribusyon ni Liongson sa immunology ay humantong sa unang matagumpay na clinical trial ng isang anthrax vaccine noong 1935.

Ang papel nina Vallejo, Ong, at Addun, na pinamagatang “A Filipino Doctor at the Birth of Immunology and National Revolution: The Career of Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD,” ay inilathala sa Journal of Research in the History of Medicine ng Shiraz University of Medical Sciences sa Iran.

 

References:

Vallejo Jr., B., Ong, R.A.C., Addun, R.P., 2025. A Filipino Doctor at the Birth of Immunology and National Revolution: The Career of Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD. Res Hist Med, 14(3), pp. 239-252. doi: 10.30476/ rhm.2024.103717.1239.

https://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_51035.html

 

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UP Scientists Study the Contributions of Katipunero Physician Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD

UP Scientists Study the Contributions of Katipunero Physician Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD

Published: September 19, 2025
By: Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr.

Figures such as Dr José Rizal, General Antonio Luna, Juan Luna, and Marcelo H. del Pilar are familiar to many Filipinos. However, the career of Dr. Francisco Tongio Liongson is less so.

The lives and careers of the Filipino Ilustrados in Madrid in the last two decades of the 19th century are well known. Figures such as Dr José Rizal, General Antonio Luna, Juan Luna, and Marcelo H. del Pilar are familiar to many Filipinos. However, the career of Dr. Francisco Tongio Liongson is less so. Like General Luna, Liongson trained as a scientist at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he earned his doctorate, and pursued postdoctoral training at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. As with many Filipino scientists who studied overseas, he returned home with the intention of establishing laboratories and teaching future medical students, had the revolution not occurred and Philippine independence been secured.

 

Dr. Francisco Tongio Liongson was one such scientist who, after completing his doctoral studies, joined the Katipunan and fought in the Philippine Revolution. Scientists from the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS)—Dr. Benjamin M. Vallejo Jr. of the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, and co-authors Dr. Rodrigo Angelo C. Ong and Raymundo Pascual Addun—recently published a paper on the career of Dr. Liongson. 

 

Their paper, which was based on Liongson’s doctoral thesis and clinical notes, reviewed how Liongson conceptualized his understanding of immunology—which was an emerging field in the early 1890s. Using the primary scientific research material which Liongson consulted—such as those of Metchnikoff, Toussaint, von Behring, Pasteur, Roux, and Héricourt—the researchers were able to describe the development of Dr. Liongson’s medical and clinical theories, particularly in developing an anthrax vaccine.

 

Dr Liongson came out with hypotheses and conclusions that anticipated many of immunology’s major advances in the 20th century, such as the humoral theory. Through his scientific work, he strongly advocated vaccination as a means to combat infectious diseases and save millions of lives. In the first 15 years of the 20th century, 18 million Filipinos were vaccinated. As a result, deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases dropped—from 40,000 in 1902 to just 823 by 1913.

 

Dr. Liongson served as General Luna’s military doctor during the Philippine Revolution. After the American occupation in 1902, he became the provincial doctor of Pampanga, later entering politics and being elected as Senator of Pampanga in 1916, where he authored bills on public health and vaccination. He died in 1919 at the age of 49 due to anthrax—which ironically, was the subject of his doctoral vaccine research. Liongson’s contribution to immunology led to the first successful clinical trial of an anthrax vaccine in 1935.

 

The paper by Vallejo, Ong, and Addun, titled “A Filipino Doctor at the Birth of Immunology and National Revolution: The Career of Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD,” was published in the Journal of Research in the History of Medicine of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran.

 

References:

Vallejo Jr., B., Ong, R.A.C., Addun, R.P., 2025. A Filipino Doctor at the Birth of Immunology and National Revolution: The Career of Francisco Tongio Liongson, MD. Res Hist Med, 14(3), pp. 239-252. doi: 10.30476/ rhm.2024.103717.1239.

https://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_51035.html

 

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Unang Bungo ng Sinaunang Stegodon Natagpuan sa Cagayan, Pilipinas

Unang Bungo ng Sinaunang Stegodon Natagpuan sa Cagayan, Pilipinas

Published: September 12, 2025
By: Eunice Jean C. Patron
Translated by: Dr. Eizadora T. Yu

Nakadiskubre ang isang lokal na mamamayan ng Solana, Cagayan (Hilagang Luzon) ng pinakaunang fossil ng bungo ng Stegodon. Ang Stegodon  ay isang extinct na animal na malayong kamag-anak ng mga modernong elepante. Ang natuklasang milyong-taong-gulang na bungo ay ang paksa ng isang pagsusuri ng mga paleontologist mula sa UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) at University of Wollongong sa New South Wales, Australia.

Grapikal na abstract ng pag-aaral. (Photo credit: Tablizo et al., 2025)

Sina Meyrick U. Tablizo at Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando ng UPD-CS National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), at si Dr. Gerrit D. van den Bergh mula sa University of Wollongong ay naniniwala na ang natuklasang Stegodon ay malamang isang “teenager” pa lamang, at posibleng bahagya lang na mas matangkad kaysa sa karaniwang Pilipino. Tinatantya nila na ang isang ganap na nasa hustong gulang na Stegodon mula sa populasyong ito ay maaaring bahagyang mas maliit sa karaniwang nabubuhay na Asian na elepante. 

 

 “Ang mga katangian nito ay kapareho ng mga Stegodon na mula sa mga isla ng Indonesia tulad ng Sangihe, Sulawesi, at Flores,” ayon kay Tablizo. “Ibig sabihin nito, mahusay na manlalangoy ang mga sinaunang elepanteng ito, at may kakayahang tumawid ng dagat at mag-island-hop, dahil wala namang mga tulay-lupa na nagdurugtong sa mga islang ito.”

 

Pambihira ang pagkakatuklas ng bungo ng Stegodon. Karaniwang mas mahirap matagpuan ang mga fossil ng malalaking hayop kaysa sa maliliit, at kadalasan, bahagi na lang nga mga matitibay na buto tulad ng ngipin at tusk ang natatagpuan kaysa marurupok na bungo. “Ang mga bungo ay malaki, malukong, at madaling mabasag bago o habang nagiging fossil, kaya bihirang-bihira ang mga ito na manatiling buo sa loob ng libo hanggang milyong taon,” paliwanag ni Tablizo. “Kaya karamihan ng mga fossil ng Stegodon mula sa Pilipinas ay mga hiwalay na ngipin o piraso ng tusk, at paminsan-minsan ay mga bone fragments.”

 

Ang natuklasang bungo ng Stegodon ay natatangi—bagama’t durog at deformed, nakapreserba ang kumpletong ngipin at dalawang maliit na tusk. Ayon kay Tablizo, may mga lumang ulat ng mga bungo ng Stegodon sa Luzon, ngunit wala ni isa ang maayos na pinag-aralan o itinago sa mga museo. Kaya’t ang tuklas na ito ay ang kauna-unahang pormal na paglalarawan ng bungo ng Stegodon mula sa Pilipinas.

 

Ang pagtuklas na ito ay nagbibigay sa atin ng mas malinaw na larawan ng sinaunang wildlife sa Pilipinas. “Matagal na nating alam na may Stegodon dito, mula pa noong huling bahagi ng 1800s, pero hanggang ngayon, mga ngipin at piraso lang ng tusk ang napapag-aralan,” dagdag ni Tablizo. “Mas marami tayong natutunan mula sa isang bungo dahil nakatutulong ito upang matukoy kung aling mga populasyon ng Stegodon ang kauri nito at kung paano ito nakarating sa mga isla ng Pilipinas.”

 

Minumungkahi ng kanilang pagsusuri na maaaring hindi bababa sa tatlong iba’t ibang anyo ng Stegodon sa Luzon: isang malaki ang katawan, isang mas maliit o “dwarfed” na uri, at ang bagong intermediate form. Nagpapakita ito na mas komplikado at mayaman ang kasaysayan ng mga sinaunang elepanteng ito sa Pilipinas kaysa sa dating inaakala.

 

Binigyang-diin ni Tablizo na bukod sa mismong fossil, mahalaga rin ang konteksto nito—kung saan ito natagpuan, saang layer ng lupa ito nanggaling, at kung anong iba pang labi ang nasa paligid. Dahil kakaunti lang ang mga paleontologist sa bansa, napakahalaga ng mga pagkakataong makatuklas ng mga fossil ang mga lokal. “Kung sakaling makatagpo ng fossil, ang pinakamainam na gawin ay makipag-ugnayan sa Nannoworks Laboratory, Paleontological Society of the Philippines, o National Museum of the Philippines. Sa ganitong paraan, masisiguro na ito’y maayos na mapreserba at mapag-aralan, at maaari pa maging mahalagang susi sa pag-unawa ng ating likas na kasaysayan,” pagtatapos niya.

 

Ang kanilang pananaliksik na pinamagatang “Island-hopping across the Wallace Line: A new Pleistocene Stegodon fossil skull from Luzon (Philippines) reveals dispersal links to Wallacea” ay nailathala sa Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, isang journal na nagtatampok ng dekalidad na pag-aaral sa larangan ng palaeoenvironmental geoscience.

 

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First Skull of Extinct Elephant Relative Found in Cagayan, Philippines

First Skull of Extinct Elephant Relative Found in Cagayan, Philippines

Published: September 12, 2025
By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The first-ever fossil skull of a Stegodon—an extinct relative of modern elephants—in the Philippines was discovered by a local in Solana, Cagayan (northern Luzon) and described by paleontologists from the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) and the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.

 

Graphical abstract of the study. (Photo credit: Tablizo et al., 2025)

Meyrick U. Tablizo and Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando of the UPD-CS National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), and Dr. Gerrit D. van den Bergh from the University of Wollongong have recently published a study describing the million-year-old Stegodon skull.

 

The paleontologists believe that the Stegodon was likely a “teenager”, possibly slightly taller than the average Filipino. A fully grown Stegodon from this population may have been slightly smaller than the living Asian elephant. “Its features match those of Stegodon from Indonesian islands like Sangihe, Sulawesi, and Flores,” shared Tablizo. “This means that these ancient elephants were strong swimmers, able to cross open seas and island-hop, as there were no land bridges connecting these islands.”

 

Finding a Stegodon skull is extremely rare. Large animal fossils are generally much harder to find than small ones, and among these, sturdy parts like teeth and tusks survive far more often than fragile skulls. “Skulls are large, hollow, and easily broken before or during fossilization, so they almost never make it through thousands to millions of years intact,” he explained. “That’s why most Stegodon fossils from the Philippines are just isolated teeth or tusk fragments, with occasional bone fragments.”

 

The uncovered Stegodon skull is one of a kind—despite being crushed and deformed, it still preserves a complete tooth and two small tusks. Tablizo said that while there were old reports of Stegodon skulls in Luzon, none were ever properly studied or kept in museums, making this find not only rare but also the first formally described Stegodon skull from the Philippines.

 

This discovery gives us a clearer picture of the ancient wildlife of the Philippines. “We’ve known about Stegodon being here since the late 1800s, but until now, only teeth and tusk fragments had been studied sparsely,” added Tablizo. “A skull is much more informative because it helps us determine which other Stegodon populations this animal was related to and how it might have reached the Philippine islands.”

 

Their findings suggest that Luzon may have hosted at least three different forms of Stegodon: a large-bodied type, a smaller “dwarfed” type, and the new intermediate form—indicating that the Philippines had a richer and more complex history of these ancient elephants than previously thought.

 

Tablizo emphasized that apart from the fossil itself, its context—where it was found, what layer it came from, and what other remains were nearby—is just as important. With few paleontologists in the country, chance discoveries by locals are especially valuable. “If someone happens to encounter a fossil, the best step is to contact the Nannoworks Laboratory, the Paleontological Society of the Philippines, or the National Museum of the Philippines. This ensures the find is properly studied and preserved, and it might even become a key piece in understanding our natural history,” he concluded.

 

Their research paper, titled “Island-hopping across the Wallace Line: A new Pleistocene Stegodon fossil skull from Luzon (Philippines) reveals dispersal links to Wallacea,” was published in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, a journal that features high-quality studies in the field of palaeoenvironmental geoscience.

 

References:

Tablizo, M. U., Van den Bergh, G. D., & Fernando, A. G. (2025). Island-hopping across the Wallace Line: A new Pleistocene stegodon fossil skull from Luzon (Philippines) reveals dispersal links to Wallacea. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 677, 113186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113186

 

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Bird poop to the rescue: Paggamit ng mga dapuan ng ibon sa pag-regenerate ng kagubatan

Bird poop to the rescue: Paggamit ng mga dapuan ng ibon sa pag-regenerate ng kagubatan

Published: September 02, 2025
By: Dr. Jelaine L. Gan
Translated by: Dr. Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla

Karaniwang inuugnay ang mga reforestation activity sa pagtatanim ng mga puno sa mga degraded o nasirang lugar. Gayunpaman, marami pa ring kailangang intindihin sa pagtatanim ng mga puno, mula sa mismong gawain ng pagtatanim hanggang sa sa pag-aalaga ng mga punla, na maaaring magastos at nakasalalay sa suplay ng binhi o buto. Bukod dito, kailangang tanungin din kung tama nga ba ang species ng halaman (katutubong halaman sa halip na hindi katutubo ngunit economically important) na itatanim upang pakinabangan ng biodiversity o saribuhay.

 

Sa kabutihang palad, may mga built-in na proseso ang mga kagubatan upang maka-regenerate o pagalingin ang kanilang sarili kung hahayaan natin. Maaaring gumana ang reforestation activities kaansabay ng mga natural na sistema sa pagpapabilis ng natural recovery ng mga kagubatan sa pamamagitan ng Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR). Isang diskarte sa ilalim ng ANR strategy ay nakatuon sa pagtaas ng suplay ng binhi sa mga nasirang lugar.

 

Simple lamang ang ideya: magdagdag ng mga perch o dapuan ng mga ibon sa mga nasirang lugar malapit sa kagubatan at akitin ang mga ibong kumakain ng mga bunga. Habang nasa dapuan, nagdudumi sila ng mga binhi na magiging bagong kagubatan! Madaling pakinggan, ngunit talaga bang epektibo ito?

 

Clipping mula sa comic “How birds can help farms and forests in the Philippines”, ni Jelaine Gan at Jessica Stutman. Basahin ang comics dito: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/marionpfeifer/2024/07/19/how-birds-can-help-farms-and-forests-in-the-philippines/

 

Mula sa mga naunang pag-aaral ay may nakitang iba’t ibang resulta sa pagiging epektibo ng mga dapuan sa pagsapit ng binhi at pagtatag ng seedling o punla. May mga resultang nagpapakitang epektibo nga, may iba namang hindi. Upang matuldukan ito, naglayon ang aming international team ng mga siyentipiko, sa pangunguna ni Dr. Jelaine Gan mula sa Institute of Biology – Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, kasama ang mga mananaliksik mula sa UK Universities (Newcastle University, University of St Andrews) at Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, na magsagawa ng isang sistematikong pagsusuri ng mga pag-aaral at pinagsama ang datos mula rito upang makahanap ng konsensus sa pamamagitan ng isang paraan na kung tawagin ay meta-analysis.

 

Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ng pangangalap at maingat na pagsusuri, nakahanap kami ng 396 na pag-aaral upang lalo pang kilatisin. Napansin namin ang iba’t ibang uri ng artificial, semi-natural, at natural na mga dapuan (Figure 1 sa ibaba). Ang mga artificial na dapuan (i.e., gawa ng tao) ay kadalasang gawa sa mga tuwid na posteng yari sa kahoy o PVC pipe na may mga horizontal bar at crossbar, habang ang ilan naman ay mga live fence o buhay na bakod (o mga buhay na punong pinagtali ng alambre) at mga tambak na kahoy. Samantala, sinuri rin ang mga natural na dapuan, na may iba’t ibang uri mula sa mga shrub o palumpong, mga puno, tree islands, pati na rin mga batuhan. Ang mga nakakalat na puno sa mga sakahan ay itinuturing ding mga natural na dapuan. Napansin din namin ang mga semi-natural na mga dapuan, na ginawa mula sa mga patay na sanga/snags na itinukod ng iba’t ibang uri ng suporta.

 

Figure 1. Mga ilustrasyon ng tatlong uri ng tungtungan ng ibon na sinuri sa mga pag-aaral. Ginawa ang mga ilustrasyon gamit ang artificial intelligence sa Canva (Magic Studio™), batay sa paglalarawan ng may-akda.

Ang hatol

Lahat ng tatlong uri ng dapuan (natural, artificial, at semi-natural) ay nagdudulot ng makabuluhang positibong epekto ng pagtaas ng bilang ng mga binhi na dumarating sa mga nasirang lugar. Mas maraming binhi mula sa mas maraming species ang natagpuan sa ilalim ng mga dapuan kaysa sa mga control site (i.e., mga lugar na walang dapuan), na nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang pagiging epektibo.

 

Gayunpaman, hindi sapat na dumating ang mga binhi sa lugar. Kailangan din silang tumubo at maging mga punla. Kung susuriin natin ang epekto ng mga dapuan sa pagtatatag ng punla, ang natural na dapuan lamang ang nakitang may malaking epekto sa density at dami ng uri ng punla. Samakatuwid, ang pagkakaroon ng natural na dapuan ay nagdaragdag hindi lamang ng bilang ng mga punla sa lugar, kundi pati na rin ng pagkakaiba-iba ng mga species ng punla.

 

Inirerekomenda naming pangalagaan ang mga natural na dapuan, tulad ng mga palumpong at nakakalat na puno sa mga sakahan. Sa mga lugar na kulang ng mga natural na dapuan, kailangang pag-isipang subukan ang paggamit ng mga artificial at semi-natural na dapuan upang madagdagan ang pagsapit ng binhi at sundan ito ng mga karagdagang gawain, tulad ng pag-aayos ng lupa at pagtabas ng damo, upang mapabuti ang pagtatatag ng mga punla.

 

References:

Comics – Nakipag-partner kami sa Massachusetts College of Art and Design para makabuo ng isang comic book na pinamagatang How Birds Can Help Farms and Forests in Northern Philippines. Maganda ang pagkakagawa ng art ni Jessica Stutman at ito ay binuo kasama si Dr. Caroline Hu. Tingnan ang buong comic dito:  https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/marionpfeifer/2024/07/19/how-birds-can-help-farms-and-forests-in-the-philippines/

Journal article – https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-025-00363-8

Blog post – https://about.conservationevidence.com/2025/07/23/can-we-use-perches-to-attract-birds-and-increase-seed-dispersal-in-degraded-areas/

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

Bird poop to the rescue: Using bird perches for forest regeneration

Bird poop to the rescue: Using bird perches for forest regeneration

Published: September 02, 2025
By: Dr. Jelaine L. Gan

Reforestation activities typically involve planting trees in degraded areas. However, tree planting is resource-intensive, requiring labor for the planting and more importantly nurturing of the seedlings, and may be expensive and limited by seedling supply. Moreover, there is always a question of whether the right plant species (i.e., native rather than non-native economically important species) are being planted to benefit biodiversity. 

 

Thankfully, forests have built-in processes to regenerate or heal if we let them be. Reforestation activities can work with natural systems to accelerate natural forest recovery through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR). One strategy under the ANR approach targets the increase of the seed supply to the degraded areas. 

 

The idea is simple: add bird perches to degraded areas near the forest and attract the fruit-eating birds. While on the perch, they poop out seeds and plant the future forest! Easy, but is it really effective? 

 

Clipping from the comic “How birds can help farms and forests in the Philippines”, by Jelaine Gan and Jessica Stutman. Read the comics here: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/marionpfeifer/2024/07/19/how-birds-can-help-farms-and-forests-in-the-philippines/

 

Previous studies found varying results on the effectiveness of perches to increase seed arrival and seedling establishment. Some say it is, some say not. To resolve this, our international team of scientists, led by Dr. Jelaine Gan from the Institute of Biology – University of the Philippines, with researchers from UK Universities (Newcastle University, University of St Andrews) and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, conducted a systematic review of the literature and combined the data from different studies to find a consensus through a method called meta-analysis.

 

After months of searching and carefully screening studies, we found 396 relevant publications to review. We noted different types of artificial, semi-natural, and natural perches (Figure 1 below). Artificial perches (i.e., man-made) were mainly straight poles made from wood or PVC pipes with horizontal bars and crossbars, while some examined live fences (i.e., living trees tied with wire), and wood piles. Meanwhile, natural perches were also examined, which came in a variety of types from shrubs to trees to tree islands, as well as rock. The scattered trees in agricultural fields are also considered natural perches. We have also noted semi-natural perches, which are those made from dead branches/snags propped up with support.

 

Figure 1. Illustrations of the three different perch types examined in the studies. Illustrations were made with the use of artificial intelligence on Canva (Magic Studio™), guided by author description.

The verdict

All three types (natural, artificial, semi-natural perches) had a significant positive effect of increasing the number of seeds that arrive in the degraded areas. More seeds from more species were found under perches than the control sites (i.e., areas without perch), signifying their effectiveness.

 

 

However, it is not enough that seeds arrive in the area. We need them to germinate and grow into seedlings. When we examine the effect of perches on seedling establishment, only natural perch was found to have a significant effect on seedling density and richness. Hence, the presence of natural perches increases not only the number of seedlings in the area, but also the diversity of seedling species.

 

We recommend that natural perches be preserved, such as those shrubs and scattered trees in the agricultural farms, but in areas lacking these natural features, to explore the use of artificial and semi-natural perches to increase seed rain and follow it up with additional treatments, such as soil amelioration and weeding, to improve seedling establishment.

 

References:

Comics – We partnered with the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to develop a comic book entitled How Birds Can Help Farms and Forests in Northern Philippines. Art beautifully designed by Jessica Stutman and co-developed with Dr. Caroline Hu.Check out the full comic here: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/marionpfeifer/2024/07/19/how-birds-can-help-farms-and-forests-in-the-philippines/

Journal article – https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-025-00363-8

Blog post – https://about.conservationevidence.com/2025/07/23/can-we-use-perches-to-attract-birds-and-increase-seed-dispersal-in-degraded-areas/

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

UPD Study Uses AI Model to Predict Tropical Cyclone Rainfall

UPD Study Uses AI Model to Predict Tropical Cyclone Rainfall

Published: August 28, 2025
By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Graphical abstract of the AI-based accumulated tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall model. (Photo credit: Mesias & Bagtasa, 2025)

The Philippines is often hit by tropical cyclones (TCs), which bring heavy rainfall that can cause floods and landslides. More often than not, the patterns of TCs repeat. For instance, if a typhoon with a certain amount of rainfall passes through Central Luzon, a similar typhoon that will pass through Central Luzon again in the future is likely to have the same amount and distribution of rainfall.

 

This piqued the interest of Cris Gino Mesias and Dr. Gerry Bagtasa of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM), who developed an AI model that links past TC tracks to recorded rainfall. The AI model still uses the same information about Philippine typhoons, but can spot patterns more quickly and efficiently.

 

“Most predictions of TC rainfall rely on dynamic models, which are very difficult to run as they take a lot of computational resources and require high-performance computing,” Dr. Bagtasa shared.

 

Compared to previous models, the AI model developed by the UP scientists can run within minutes on a laptop. “When we assessed the AI model, its predictive skill was comparable to a dynamic model that we regularly use. The AI model had better skills for extreme rainfall from tropical cyclones,” he added.

 

Dr. Bagtasa explained that the distance of the TC and its duration are the parameters that most influenced the AI model’s rainfall predictions, and these mainly determine who will be affected by heavy rains and how much rain the country will experience. For instance, a typhoon near Batanes would not be expected to cause heavy rains in Mindanao. Slow-moving TCs that spend more time over land also tend to bring more rainfall overall.

 

“This AI model, admittedly, is not perfect. But it can add to the suite of rainfall forecast models available to equip our disaster managers with more information on impending hazards,” he said. The model can also be updated with fresh data, allowing it to relearn and improve its accuracy.

 

The AI model developed by Mesias and Dr. Bagtasa is different from AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are known as large language models (LLMs). Dr. Bagtasa emphasized that not all AI systems are the same, making AI literacy an absolute necessity. “Some AI models, such as those for weather forecasting, can be useful and more efficient than conventional methods. But there are also some, like LLMs, that consume so much energy, leading to environmental impacts that are harmful to the planet,” he cautioned.

 

The study, titled “AI-Based Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Forecasting in the Philippines Using Machine Learning,” is published in Meteorological Applications. The research was also supported by the Department of Science and Technology–Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP) and the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

 

References:

Mesias, C. G., & Bagtasa, G. (2025). AI‐based tropical cyclone rainfall forecasting in the Philippines using machine learning. Meteorological Applications, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70083

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

UP Scientists Uncover Influence of Reflected Shock Waves on Plasma Behavior

UP Scientists Uncover Influence of Reflected Shock Waves on Plasma Behavior

Published: August 12, 2025
By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Scientists around the world have extensively studied the expansion of laser-produced plasma (LPP) and the shock waves it generates in a background gas. However, little attention has been given to how the reflected shock wave—one that bounces back from a surface—affects the expanding plasma, despite its potential impact on LPP behavior.

 

Number density maps of copper and background gas species (helium and argon) at maximum plume compression under different background gas pressures. The times at which maximum plume compression occurs are indicated in the maps. (Photo credit: Emperado et al., 2025).

Dr. Rommil Emperado, Dr. Myles Allen Zosa, and Dr. Wilson Garcia of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP), together with Dr. Lean Dasallas of the UPD-CS Materials Science and Engineering Program (MSEP), analyzed the interaction of copper LPP with surrounding gas through the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, which simulates particle behavior using random numbers.

 

Simulating Copper LPP Behavior

 

Using the DSMC method, the researchers modeled how the plasma plume—a cloud of hot, charged particles that rapidly expands from the target surface, similar to a tiny, high-speed explosion—behaves in a vacuum and in noble gases used for film deposition. They also simulated how shock waves form and propagate under different background gas pressures.

 

Collisions between the shock wave and the plume significantly affected the energy and shape of the LPP even before it reached the substrate—the surface where the thin film is formed—sparking the researchers’ interest. “When the shock wave collides with the plume that produced it, I only expected the plume energy to further decline when it loses energy to collisions,” Emperado said. “It’s surprising how the effect of plume-shock collisions also depends on the choice of background gas species.”

 

Emperado shared that, in the simulation, collisions between the copper plume and the shock wave in argon slightly increased the plume’s mean kinetic energy, while the opposite effect was observed when the plume collided with the shock wave in helium. This shows that reflected shock waves impact the LPP’s behavior.

 

Real-world Applications of LPP

 

LPP has interesting applications, from fabricating superconducting thin films to detecting trace elements on Mars. While many experiments have explored laser-produced shock waves in surrounding gas, this is the first study to ask: What if these shock waves reflect off a substrate? What happens when the reflected shock collides with the very plume that created it? This research also opens up more possibilities for real-world applications of LPP.

 

“Our findings could help improve how nanofoams and nanoparticles are created using pulsed laser deposition. Knowing how the plume interacts with reflected shock waves would help predict the plume’s behavior even before it reaches the surface to form nanostructures,” Emperado added. This could lead to more precise control over the size, shape, and quality of nanomaterials used in advanced technologies.

 

References:

Emperado, R. B., Allen, M., Dasallas, L. L., & Garcia, W. O. (2025). Direct simulation Monte Carlo modeling of shock-plume interactions during laser-produced plasma expansion in a background gas. Physics of Fluids, 37(3). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0256724

 

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