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Ang mga kabog (Flying fox) at malalaking paniki na kumakain ng mga bunga at bulaklak ng mga puno. Sila ay may kakayanan lumipad ng malayong distansiya sa paghahanap ng makakain. May mga kabog na lumlipad ng 20 km mula sa kanilang mga hapunan sa loon ng isang gabi para maghanap ng bungang makakain. Kaya nila lumipad at tumawid ng karagatan para marating ang malayong pulo hanggang 6000 km at maaring tumawid sa mga hangganan ng mga bansa. Dahil dito sila ay makikita sa malaking bahagi ng daigdig. Mabilis sila lumpipad at mahirap ma-sundan ang paglipad nila.

Para lalong maunawaan kung paano lumalarga ang mga kabog at kung paano nila ginanagamit ang mga likas na tirahan, ang mga biologo mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, Linangan ng Biolohiya kasama ang ibang mananaliksik ay nanghuli ng 9 na kabog at sinoutan sila ng magaan na GPS collars para sundan ang kanilang galaw sa kaligiran.

Flying foxes are large fruit bats that primarily feed on fruits and flowers. They are highly mobile, traveling long distances in search of seasonal food sources. Some have been recorded flying more than 20 kilometers from their roost (sleeping area) in a single night to forage, easily crossing islands and even international borders. Over the course of a year, flying foxes can travel more than 6,000 kilometers, making them among the most far-ranging bats in the world. They often fly too far and too fast for humans to accurately follow their movements.

To better understand how flying foxes move and use different habitats, biologists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB), along with other researchers, captured nine flying foxes from three species and fitted them with lightweight GPS collars to track their movements.

Hindi lamang mga laboratoryo ang palaruan ng mga siyentipiko—maaari rin nilang gawing makabagong solusyon ang kanilang mga karanasan upang direktang makatulong sa mga komunidad na kanilang pinaglilingkuran. Mula sa kanyang pagtatrabaho sa isang pampublikong ospital, personal na nakita ni Mikee Chua ang mga kakulangan sa sistema ng pagpapatakbo na kinakaharap ng mga tagapangalaga. 

Ito ang nagtulak sa kanya upang katuwang na itatag ang CP Health Innovations noong 2019 at binuo ang CareGo Health Suite, isang platform na nagpapadali sa mga pagpapatakbo ng klinika upang mas maraming oras ang mailaan ng mga doktor at nurse sa pag-aasikaso ng mga pasyente. Mula noon, nakikipagtulungan na sila sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga yunit ng pangangalagang pangkalusugan. 

“Naaalala ko pa noong kailangan naming gumawa ng aming business planning [para sa isang undergraduate project] at maghanda para sa mga pitch—talagang mabibigat na panahon ang mga iyon. Kung lilingunin ko, hindi ko naisip noon na mapupunta ako sa linyang ito. Sa tingin ko, doon din nagsimula ang interes ko sa pagtatayo ng isang negosyo,” ani Chua, habang binibigyang-diin ang kanyang paniniwala na ang bawat isa ay may potensyal na maging tagapagtatag (founder). 

Ibinahagi ni Chua na matapos siyang makapagtapos sa University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology  (UPD-CS NIMBB), nagtrabaho siya sa mga laboratoryo. Ang kanyang paglipat mula sa paggawa ng mga eksperimento araw-araw patungo sa pagiging tagapagtatag ng health tech ay nagpapakita na ang inobasyon ay maaaring magmula kahit saan—lalo pa’t hindi niya kailanman naisip na tatahakin ang ganitong landas. 

Sa nagdaang “Innovation Impact Stories: A Webinar Series on the Societal Impacts of Science Innovation” ng UPD-CS Innovation Program na ginanap noong nakaraang Abril 22, 2026, tinalakay ni Chua kung paano maisasalin ang siyentipikong pag-iisip tungo sa mga solusyong pang-sistema (systems-level solutions). 

Ang Innovation Impact Stories ay isang serye ng webinar na nagpapakita kung paano nagdadala ng tunay na epekto sa mundo ang agham, teknolohiya, at inobasyon. Itinatampok ng proyektong ito ang mga paglalakbay, hamon, at tagumpay sa likod ng mga inobasyong nakabatay sa pananaliksik na nag-ambag nang makabuluhan sa iba’t ibang larangan. Layunin nitong magbigay ng kaalaman at magsilbing inspirasyon sa mga mag-aaral, mananaliksik, at guro upang itaguyod ang isang kultura ng makabuluhan at nagtutulungang inobasyon na nag-uugnay sa teoryang akademiko at praktikal na aplikasyon. 

Para sa mga katanungan tungkol sa Innovation Impact Stories, mangyaring magpadala ng mensahe sa cs.innovation_committee@science.upd.edu.ph. 

Laboratories are not the only playgrounds for scientists—they can also turn their experiences into innovations that directly impact the communities they serve. Drawing from her work in a public hospital, Mikee Chua saw firsthand the operational gaps faced by care teams. 

This led her to co-found CP Health Innovations in 2019 and develop CareGo Health Suite, a platform that streamlines clinic operations so providers can spend more time on patient care. Since then, they have worked with local governments and healthcare units.

“I remember when we had to do our business planning [for an undergraduate project] and prepare for pitches—those were really stressful times. Looking back, I didn’t realize then that I’d be going down this path. I think that was also when my interest in building a venture started,” Chua said, emphasizing her belief that everyone has the potential to become a founder.

Chua shared that after graduating from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB), she worked in laboratories. Her transition from conducting experiments daily to becoming a health tech founder shows that innovation can come from anywhere—especially since she never imagined herself taking this path.

During the recent “Innovation Impact Stories: A Webinar Series on the Societal Impacts of Science Innovation” of the UPD-CS Innovation Program held last April 22, 2026, Chua discussed how scientific thinking can be translated into systems-level solutions.

Innovation Impact Stories is a webinar series that explores how science, technology, and innovation drive real-world impact. This initiative highlights the journeys, challenges, and successes behind research-driven innovations that have made meaningful contributions across various fields. It aims to inform and inspire students, researchers, and faculty to foster a culture of purposeful and collaborative innovation that bridges academic theory with practical application.

For inquiries about Innovation Impact Stories, please message cs.innovation_committee@science.upd.edu.ph

Ang kahusayan ng ROAM ay maihahambing sa mga makabagong kagamitang pangmonitor ng aerosol na  ginagamit sa industriya at ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental  Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). Nakipagtulungan si Dr. Lim kay Engr. Paul Alexander Darvin ng  Department of Electrical Engineering ng UP Los Baños sa proyektong ito, na nagsimula bilang isang  simpleng ideya para sa pagsukat ng kalidad ng hangin at kalauna’y naging isang mahalagang makabagong  teknolohiya. 

“Sa isang banda, ang ROAM ay parang microscope para sa hangin. Kung nakagamit ka na ng microscope dati, gaya ng pagbibilang ng mga cell sa ilalim nito, halos ganoon din ang prinsipyong ginagamit dito. Ang  kaibahan lamang ay mga particle sa hangin ang ating binibilang, hindi mga cell,” paliwanag ni Dr. Lim sa  ikaanim na webinar ng Innovation Impact Stories ng UPD-CS Innovation Program. Binanggit din niya na  ang mga kagamitan at kabuuang pagkakaayos nito ay hindi nakadepende sa paghubog ng napakaliliit na  bahagi. 

Ang unang pangmatagalang aktuwal na paggamit ng Project ROAM ay isinagawa sa Cauayan, Isabela.  “Nanatili roon ang yunit nang humigit-kumulang anim hanggang walong buwan. Wala namang kakaibang  nangyari rito, maliban sa inilagay ito sa isang maalikabok na kapaligiran,” aniya. Ipinaliwanag pa niya na  ang monitor ng kalidad ng hangin na ginagamit ng DENR-EMB ay hindi maaaring ilagay kung saan-saan,  lalo na sa mga lugar na matindi ang polusyon, sapagkat nangangailangan ito ng pagkukumpuni o  maintenance pagkalipas ng ilang panahon. 

Nang maibalik ang yunit, inakala noong una na ito ay nasira na. Gayunman, matapos itong suriin, napag alamang maayos pa rin itong gumagana. 

“Kahanga-hanga ito dahil inaasahan kong tuluyan na itong mababarahan. Napakarumi na ng panlabas na  bahagi ng yunit, ngunit gumagana pa rin ito. Iyon ay dahil hindi ito umaasa sa isang maliit na butas o  pinhole, gumagana ito tulad ng isang microscope,” sabi ni Dr. Lim. “At dahil ito ay gumagana na parang  isang microscope, mas mataas ang hangganan nito bago maabot ang saturation kumpara sa karaniwang  mga kagamitang pangmonitor ng hangin.” 

Bukod sa Isabela, ang pinakamalayong lugar na pinaglagyan ng kanilang yunit ay sa South Cotabato, kung  saan nanatili itong gumagana kahit naiwan nang halos anim na buwan nang walang regular na  pagmomonitor. Mura rin ang pagkukumpuni ng ROAM, kaya nahirapan ang ilan na maniwalang isa itong  de-kalidad na kagamitan.

“Sa ngayon, napag-alaman naming ang pinakamainam na gumagamit ng teknolohiyang ito ay ang mga  local government unit o LGU. Sa katunayan, ganoon namin ipinuwesto at pinalawak ang Project ROAM.  May mga lumalapit na lamang sa amin, at hindi pa nga namin alam kung sino ang nagrekomenda sa  kanila,” pagtatapos ni Dr. Lim. 

Ang Innovation Impact Stories ay isang serye ng webinar na nagpapakita kung paano nagdudulot ang  agham, teknolohiya, at inobasyon ng tunay na pakinabang sa lipunan. Itinatampok ng programang ito ang  mga kuwento, hamon, at tagumpay sa likod ng mga inobasyong nakabatay sa pananaliksik na may  makabuluhang ambag sa iba’t ibang larangan. Layunin nitong magbigay-kaalaman at magbigay 

inspirasyon sa mga mag-aaral, mananaliksik, at guro. Panghuli, layon nitong isulong ang kolaboratibong  inobasyon na nag-uugnay sa teorya at praktika. 

Para sa mga katanungan ukol sa Innovation Impact Stories, mangyaring magpadala ng mensahe sa  cs.innovation_committee@science.upd.edu.ph

References:

Air quality monitoring for enhanced understanding of health impacts and beyond. (2026, February 20). World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/B09646#:~:text=Overview,and%20Policy%20Summaries%20(SPS)

ROAM’s performance is comparable to contemporary aerosol monitoring devices used in industry and by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). Dr. Lim collaborated with Engr. Paul Alexander Darvin of UP Los Baños – Department of Electrical Engineering on this project, which started as a simple air quality measurement idea and evolved into an innovation.

“In a sense, ROAM is an air microscope. If you’ve experienced microscopy before, like cell counting under a microscope, this is very similar. The difference is that instead of cells, what we are counting are particles in the air,” Dr. Lim shared during the sixth Innovation Impact Stories webinar of the UPD-CS Innovation Program. He also noted that the equipment and the device setup are not dependent on machining very small parts.

Project ROAM’s first real long-term deployment was in Cauayan, Isabela. “The unit stayed there for about six to eight months. There wasn’t anything particularly dramatic about it, except that it was placed in a dusty environment,” he said. He further explained that the air quality monitor used by the DENR-EMB cannot just be placed anywhere, especially in very polluted environments, because after some time it would need maintenance or repair.

When the unit was returned, it was initially assumed to be damaged; however, upon inspection, it was found to still be functional.

“It was impressive because I really expected it to be completely clogged. The outside of the unit was so dirty, but it was still working. That’s because it doesn’t rely on a pinhole—it functions like a microscope,” Dr. Lim remarked. “And since it works like a microscope, its saturation limit is much higher than normal air monitoring equipment.”

Aside from Isabela, their farthest deployment was in South Cotabato, where the unit remained functional after being left unattended in the area for nearly six months. Repairs for ROAM were also inexpensive, which made it difficult for people to believe it was high-quality equipment.

“Right now, we’ve found that the best adopters of this technology are local government units (LGUs). That was actually how we positioned and advanced Project ROAM. People started coming to us—we didn’t even know who referred them,” Dr. Lim concluded.

Innovation Impact Stories is a webinar series that explores how science, technology, and innovation drive real-world impact. This initiative highlights the journeys, challenges, and successes behind research-driven innovations that have made meaningful contributions across various fields. It aims to inform and inspire students, researchers, and faculty to foster a culture of purposeful and collaborative innovation that bridges academic theory with practical application.

For inquiries about Innovation Impact Stories, please message cs.innovation_committee@science.upd.edu.ph

References:

Air quality monitoring for enhanced understanding of health impacts and beyond. (2026, February 20). World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/B09646#:~:text=Overview,and%20Policy%20Summaries%20(SPS)

“Nagulat ako na napakaraming estudyante ang nagsumite, at ang bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang istilo—ang iba ay paggantsilyo, ang iba ay gumawa ng mga 3D na likha, at ang iba ay gumamit ng clay. Ang namumukod-tangi sa akin ay kung gaano sila katiyaga. Sabi pa nga ng isang estudyante, ‘Ma’am, hindi ko kaya,’ ngunit sa huli, ang kanyang trabaho ay naging isa sa pinakamahusay,” dagdag ni Dr. Bascos. Karamihan sa kanyang mga mag-aaral ay walang karanasan sa paggawa ng sining, kaya nakita niyang kahanga-hanga na ang kanilang mga output ay mukhang sanay, kahit na ito ang kanilang unang pagkakataon. May isang buong semester ang mga mag-aaral upang mag-explore at hinikayat na pumili ng anumang nais nilang likhain.

Ang mga likhang sining ay mula sa mga paglalarawan ng mga aktwal na halaman tulad ng mga fern at pitcher plant hanggang sa kanilang mga microscopic structure, kabilang ang mga trichome, plant crystal, at tissue. “Maaaring gusto rin ng ilan sa kanila na maging scientific illustrator. Magiging mahusay iyon dahil mayroon na silang background sa sining, at naiintindihan nila ang morphology at anatomy bilang mga mag-aaral ng biology,” sabi niya.

Sinabi ni Janine Patricia Omalin, isa sa mga mag-aaral na lumahok sa eksibisyon, na nasiyahan siya sa aktibidad. “Nagdo-drawing ako mula pa noong bata ako. Ginagawa ko ito tuwing bakasyon,” dagdag niya, habang ipinapakita ang kanyang pagguhit ng Pinus echinata, ang scientific name ng shortleaf pine.

Isa pang estudyante, si Althea Bernice Javier, ay nagpinta ng stellate aerenchyma, isang tissue na binubuo ng mga cell na hugis bituin na may malalaking interconnected air space na nagbibigay-daan sa mabilis na sirkulasyon ng oxygen sa halaman at makikita sa mga dahon ng saging. “First time kong magpinta. Nag-drawing ako dati, pero first time kong magpinta. Masarap magkaroon ng experience,” bahagi niya.

Umaasa si Dr. Bascos na ituro muli ang plant morphoanatomy laboratory sa susunod na semester at magdaos ng isa pang eksibisyon ng mga likhang sining ng kanyang mga estudyante. Handa ring magbigay ang kanyang mga mag-aaral ng kanilang mga gawa sa IB upang matulungan ang mga susunod na mag-aaral sa Biology 101 na pag-aralan ang istruktura ng mga specimen ng halaman.

“Ang ginawa nila ay higit pa sa likhang sining-ito ay patunay na ang agham at sining ay maaaring mag-coexist,” sabi niya. Tinatalakay ng kursong Biology 101 ng IB ang morphology at anatomy ng vascular plants.

Ang eksibit ay bukas sa publiko hanggang Hulyo 24, 2026, sa IB.

“I was surprised that so many students submitted, and that they each had different styles—some were crocheting, others made 3D works, and some used clay. What stood out to me was how patient they were. One student even said, ‘Ma’am, I can’t do it,’ but in the end, his work turned out to be one of the best,” Dr. Bascos added. Most of her students had no prior experience making art, so she found it impressive that their outputs already looked skilled, even though it was their first time. The students had a whole semester to explore and were encouraged to choose whatever they wanted to create.

The artworks ranged from depictions of actual plants such as ferns and pitcher plants to their microscopic structures, including trichomes, plant crystals, and tissues. “Some of them may also want to become scientific illustrators. That would be great because they already have a background in art, and they understand morphology and anatomy as students of biology,” she said.

Janine Patricia Omalin, one of the students who participated in the exhibition, said she enjoyed the activity. “I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid. I made it during my break,” she added, while showing her drawing of Pinus echinata, the scientific name of shortleaf pine. 

Another student, Althea Bernice Javier, painted stellate aerenchyma, a tissue composed of star-shaped cells with large, interconnected air spaces that allow the rapid circulation of oxygen and can be found in banana leaves. “It’s my first time painting. I used to draw before, but this is my first time to paint. It was good to have the experience,” she shared.

Dr. Bascos hopes to teach the plant morphoanatomy laboratory again next semester and to hold another exhibition of her students’ artworks. Her students are also willing to donate their works to IB to help future Biology 101 students analyze the structure of plant specimens.

“What they produced was more than just artwork—it was proof that science and art can beautifully coexist,” she said. IB’s Biology 101 course discusses the morphology and anatomy of vascular plants.

The exhibit is open to the public until July 24, 2026, at IB.