Category Archives: Latest News

In their recent study, Jenny Lou Sagisi and Dr. Lean Dasallas of the UPD-CS Materials Science and Engineering Program (UPD-CS MSEP), along with Dr. Wilson Garcia of the UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP), investigated the effects of different temporal laser source terms (TLSTs), or shapes of the laser pulses, on simulating heat diffusion in metals.

Validating Gaussian Assumptions in Studies

Dr. Dasallas explained that scientists often assume laser pulses to light up in a bell-shaped curve (known as Gaussian): “Dim at first, but slowly brightening until it becomes super bright in a very short time, before dimming again,” he further expounded. This assumption is common and accepted in laser research due to the laser pulse’s duration, which is one quadrillionth (10-15) of a second.

Simulations conducted by the scientists to compare the differences between Gaussian-shaped and non-Gaussian-shaped laser pulses showed that the rough edges on a non-Gaussian laser pulse make it difficult for the laser to vaporize the metal. They also noted that consecutively using laser pulses shows effects on metals that are not as distinct as those seen with Gaussian-shaped laser pulses.

According to the World Health Organization, prostate cancer is the third most common type of cancer among Filipino men. In 2022, almost 10,000 Filipino men were diagnosed with the disease. In serious cases, the disease can develop into an aggressive type called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Some further progress into the most aggressive form, neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), where standard treatments no longer work and it becomes the most fatal of all prostate cancers.

In a pioneering study, Romie Angelo Azur, Kevin Christian Olarte, Weand Ybañez, Alessandria Maeve Ocampo, and Dr. Pia Bagamasbad of the UP Diliman College of Science National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB) identified and described a key protein that contributes to the progression of prostate cancer into NEPC, elucidating the molecular basis of the disease and paving the way for identifying novel treatments.

Prostate cancer depends on male sex hormones, or androgens, to grow. When the prostate cancer cells don’t have access to androgens, their development is stunted. This is why androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard treatment for the disease.

Over time, however, the cancer cells can mutate in ways that enable them to develop without the need for androgens. This advanced type is resistant to ADT and may develop into the most aggressive form, the NEPC. Dr. Bagamasbad and her team discovered that a protein called CYB561 is pivotal for the progression, growth, and survival of aggressive, treatment-resistant prostate cancer cells.

“CYB561 has a dual role in driving cancer,” said Dr. Bagamasbad. “It activates specific growth factors and manages iron levels, both of which appear to help the cancer thrive and grow even when deprived of the male hormones it usually depends on.”

Using publicly available data from prostate tumors and experimental findings from human cell culture lines, they discovered that CYB561 is more prevalent in CRPC and NEPC cells than in normal prostate cancer cells. When they depleted CYB561, the prostate cancer cells became more sensitive to enzalutamide, a common ADT drug, suggesting that the protein provides some resistance to the drug.

Furthermore, they found that CYB561 converts iron into a more active form essential for various cell processes, including supporting the growth of aggressive forms of cancer. As such, the cancer cells require higher iron levels, and CYB561 seems to help maintain the needed active iron concentration. Knocking down the protein lowered active iron levels in NEPC cells, delayed the progression of CRPC to NEPC,  and dampened the highly aggressive behavior of NEPC cells.

The findings of their study, now published in PLOS One, can help develop new therapies for CRPC and NEPC. “By understanding the role of CYB561 in prostate cancer,” said Dr. Bagamasbad, “we have not only gained a deeper understanding of how prostate cancer develops drug resistance but we have also potentially identified a new target for future treatments, paving the way for novel therapies that could specifically inhibit CYB561’s activity to slow down or stop cancer progression.”

In the future, Dr. Bagamasbad and her team hope to experiment on animal models and primary tumor samples. They also plan to examine whether Filipinos have higher risks of developing CRPC and NEPC, and if CYB561 contributes to the aggressiveness of the disease. “More importantly, we need to identify other key players involved and establish a drug screening platform that can mechanistically target CYB561 activity,” Dr. Bagamasbad concluded.

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

References:

Azur RAG, Olarte KCV, Ybañez WS, Ocampo AMM, Bagamasbad PD (2024) CYB561 supports the neuroendocrine phenotype in castration-resistant prostate cancer. PLOS ONE 19(5): e0300413. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300413

Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Laversanne M, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2024). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.who.int/today, accessed 15 July 2024.

Dr. Lemnuel Aragones, Alessandra Nicole Morado, and Honey Leen Laggui of the Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM), along with Dr. Marie Christine Obusan of the Institute of Biology (IB), Dr. Jonah Bondoc of the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), and Dr. Leo Suarez of Ocean Adventure and Ewen Lawler of University of Canberra, assessed the changes in marine mammal strandings in the Philippines over space and time, as well as the types of species that got stranded in Philippine territory from 2005 to 2022.

Marine mammal strandings and the role of LGUs

A marine mammal stranding occurs when a marine mammal is found on seashores or in shallow waters and cannot return to deeper waters on its own. The researchers mapped the stranding hotspots in the Philippines, representing areas where standing frequencies are relatively high, and designed the hotspots to identify designated LGUs to inform them about the implications of the strandings for marine mammal conservation and management. With the help of the hotspots, concerned LGUs can also be proactive in addressing marine mammal strandings. A total of 35 LGU hotspots for strandings were identified in this study. The majority of these stranding hotspots were located in Luzon (with 24 hotspots), particularly in Regions 1 and 2.

“Strandings can be of natural causes, but when marine mammals with good body condition strand, we have to worry because it could imply that they are in trouble. It is possible that their habitat is compromised in various ways – most likely from human activities such as pollution and overexploitation of our key marine resources,” explained Dr. Aragones, who also serves as the president of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN).

While natural causes such as tropical monsoons and oceanographic factors can affect marine mammal strandings, the study emphasized that fisheries production and fisheries interaction are major contributors to the stranding frequencies of these mammals. This can occur through fishing equipment that increases the chances of entanglement or various illegal fishing activities, such as dynamite fishing.

“We recommend that LGUs and concerned regional offices establish their own stranding response team and rehabilitation tank and eradicate illegal fishing activities in their area by providing appropriate crew and patrol boats,” the researchers stated in their study. They also emphasized the importance of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns regarding marine mammals and regulating fishers and their fishing gear. By institutionalizing these programs, LGUs and concerned regional offices will help sustain their implementation.

Albeit disheartening, scientists said the death of a stranded dolphin is not entirely a setback during the “Cetacean Pathology Training and Workshop: Pathogenesis of Common Diseases in Stranded Dolphins,” held on June 24, 2024, at the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM), Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Laboratory (MMRCL).

The workshop aimed to equip veterinarians with the proper practices and skills for documenting and collecting information about dolphin diseases, ensuring that a dolphin’s death contributes to deepening knowledge about these diseases. It was organized by the MMRCL of IESM, the Microbial Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems Laboratory (METAS Lab) of the UPD-CS Institute of Biology (IB), the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN), the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP), and the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA). 

“We conduct these sorts of training to build the capacity of local government units (LGUs) and concerned agencies in their marine mammal rehabilitation and post-mortem response,” said IESM professor and MMRCL head, Dr. Lemnuel Aragones, who is also the president of PMMSN.

Data presented in the workshop show that human activities, particularly underwater noise pollution such as blasts, significantly impact dolphins. Dr. Leo Jonathan Suarez, PMMSN treasurer and Head of Veterinary Services at Ocean Adventure, mentioned that apart from body tissue injury, blasts can also cause acoustic trauma. “The ear has the most sensitive tissues for pressure-induced damage,” he pointed out. “An adult may not experience or sustain injury from the blast itself. But, of course, the sound travels really far. So, they may actually suffer the consequences of the explosion through that sound.”

As Dr. Suarez showed several examples of suspected acoustic trauma cases, he reiterated that deaf dolphins can survive, yet they will slowly suffer due to hearing loss. “If they cannot echolocate, they cannot find and catch food. They cannot avoid predators. They cannot navigate. They cannot communicate. So basically, all of their skills and abilities to live in the wild are removed,” he added.

Focusing on studies of marine mammal diseases, PMMSN advisory member Dr. Christopher Torno, who mentioned that dolphin deaths are not truly failures, highlighted the importance of dolphin disease knowledge. “Sometimes when people talk about these things, take it with a grain of salt. Tignan niyo rin. As much as possible, I try to superimpose what I’ve learned. And you should too. ‘Yung mga templates natin sa pathology na you might think are useless, they are very useful,” he expounded.

Dr. Torno also reminded the workshop participants to double-check the dolphin’s organs when investigating the cause of its death, even if suspicions already exist. He shared how he has made mistakes during necropsies, illustrating that veterinarians can learn a lot about dolphin diseases through these examinations. ‘The information you’re bringing us will benefit not just you, but this entire network. We’re learning from this, and I’m so happy I can share it with you,’ he said.

Dr. Marie Christine Obusan, an IB professor and one of the heads of the METAS Lab, emphasized the need for more research on dolphin rehabilitation response. “Our country represents one-third of the world’s cetacean diversity,” she explained. “And there is an increasing trend of stranding events over the years.”

As a scientist mainly focused on assessing samples from marine mammal stranding events, Dr. Obusan shared her experiences working with veterinarians in the field. “I’m very appreciative of the inputs I’m getting from different experts and being mentored by different veterinarians,” she said, underscoring how collaborations with people from various fields and expertise, as well as citizens themselves, can be helpful in better understanding marine mammals such as dolphins.

Suppose you have a pair of pants you need to wear tomorrow. The problem is, you just washed them, and they’re still damp. So you resort to a handy tool: the flat iron.

Using the iron, you can easily dry the flat parts of the pants, but you will notice that it is more difficult to dry some areas where the surface is uneven – near the zipper, the side and back pockets, the seams, and the waistband.

That’s because the heat from the iron does not reach the uneven areas as quickly as it does the flatter areas. In other words, the heat propagation, or the heat transfer from the iron to the pants, is not uniform on rough surfaces.

Understanding how heat propagates from one material to another is important in designing efficient cooling devices, such as air conditioners, or constructing infrastructures that minimize heat from the sun. In some cases, heat propagation is simple to model when the boundary at which the two materials touch is flat, such as ironing the flat areas of the pants. In other cases, however, the heat propagation model is more complex when the boundary is rough, such as when ironing the uneven areas of the pants.

Jake Avila of the UPD College of Science Institute of Mathematics (UPD-CS IM) formulated a theory to model heat propagation through rough surfaces. With the help of mathematicians in Italy, Avila’s theory uses a method called homogenization.

Homogenization is a way of combining the tiny details of the material with its bigger, more uniform properties. For example, the flat areas of the pants may look flat under the naked eye, but if you examine them under a microscope, you will notice the individual bumps made by the interwoven threads, which don’t look flat at all. “Homogenization theory aims to describe the macroscopic or effective properties of composite materials while taking into account simultaneously the microscopic or local properties of its components,” explained Avila.

Homogenization helps simplify the problem and provides a more accurate model for heat propagation. According to  Avila, homogenization incorporates the effective properties of the material, such as the thermal conductivity, while also considering the individual features of the material’s components.

Although he only applied his theory to heat propagation, it can be used for other physical phenomena as well. “[It] can also be applied to describe the acoustic wave propagation over rough walls or the turbulence flow in the rough ocean surface,” Avila said.

The next step is to develop a more general version of the theory for wider application. “The next plan is to study a more complicated and general problem wherein a sign-changing density function is involved in the eigenvalue problem in a domain through rough surfaces,” said  Avila. “The problem in the article is a special case where a unit density function is treated.”

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

References: Avila, J., Monsurrò, S., & Raimondi, F. (March 2023). Homogenization of an eigenvalue problem through rough surfaces. Asymptotic Analysis, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3233/asy-231882

Shenna Kate Torres, Verinna Charisse Mangonon, and Maria Theresa Tengco of the UPD-CS Institute of Biology (IB), and project leader Dr. Brian Santos of both IB and the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), developed microsatellite markers for Caranx ignobilis, locally known as maliputo or talakitok in some parts of the country. 

The biologists chose maliputo for their study due to its high value as seafood. According to researchers from the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), the species’ relatively large body size and excellent meat quality have high market value, contributing significantly to the Philippines’ economic growth. Being a high-value species, maliputo has been cultured in captivity through the initiatives of the DA-NFRDI, through the Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Center. “As it became a target fish, studying its biology is important to prevent overexploitation and to ensure sustainable aquaculture practices,” Torres added.

A microsatellite is a short segment of DNA that repeats multiple times in a row at a specific genomic location, as defined by the National Human Genome Research Institute. “Molecular markers, like microsatellites, act as tools to identify which populations are adapting well to their environment and to determine how different groups are related to each other,” explained Torres. 

The research results can enhance the aquaculture production of maliputo in the Philippines. “If we want to expand aquaculture practices for this species, genetic diversity studies can pinpoint seed stock populations or breeders with high genetic variation, or what we can call fit breeders,” Torres explained. “By selecting these diverse and fit breeders, we can enhance the resilience and growth rates of the farmed fish populations.” Maintaining a healthy fish population can also reduce environmental impact and lead to cost savings.

Apart from enhancing the aquaculture production of maliputo, the microsatellite markers can be used to analyze the population structure of the fish species, which can help infer whether distinct populations of maliputo exist in the Philippines. Knowing the population structure provides a basis for management strategies to conserve and sustainably manage the fish population.

The team of biologists aims to utilize microsatellites and other genetic markers to analyze wild and hatchery-grown populations of maliputo across the Philippines.  Torres is also examining the genetic differences between marine and freshwater populations of maliputo. By understanding the genetics of maliputo populations and their environmental adaptations, Filipinos can develop better strategies for sustainable production and genetic marker-assisted breeding.

Their paper, “Development and Characterization of 12 Microsatellite Markers for an Economically Important Fish, Caranx ignobilis, in the Philippines,” was published in GENAQUA, a journal featuring research in the genetics and molecular biology on aquatic organisms.

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

References:

Mutia, M. T. M., Muyot, M. C., Balunan, R. L., Muyot, F. B. (2020a). Value chain analysis of maliputo, Caranx ignobilis in the Philippines. The Philippine Journal of Fisheries, 27, 137-136. https://doi.org/10.31398/tpjf/27.2.2018A0003

Mutia, M. T. M., Muyot, F. B., Magistrado, M. L., Muyot, M. C., & Baral, J. L. (2020b). Induced spawning of giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål, 1775) using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinising hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa). Asian Fisheries Society, 33, 118-127. https://doi.org/10.33997/j.afs.2020.33.2.004

Morris, S. (2024, May 29). Microsatellite. National Human Genome Research Institute. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Microsatellite

Torres, S. K. M., Mangonon, V. C. B., Tengco, M. T. T., Santos, B. S. (2024). Development and Characterization of 12 Microsatellite Markers for an Economically Important Fish, Caranx ignobilis, in the Philippines, 8(1), GA717. https://doi.org/10.4194/GA717

United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 2: Zero hunger. United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved May 30, 2024, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal2

There are scientists whose works are immediately appreciated by people: molecular biologists and pharmaceutical scientists who develop medicines and vaccines and find cures for cancer; climatologists and environmental scientists who monitor the weather and fight climate change; engineers who invent thinner gadgets and faster electric cars. And then there are those like particle physicist Dr. André David, whose work veers into the more unfamiliar realms of science, the kinds that elicit unimpressed comments like “What for?” and “How will this help me in my everyday life?”.

Dr. David works at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known as CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire), located on the border between Switzerland and France. But last February, he was at UPD College of Science (UPD-CS) giving a talk to students of the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) course about the very reason we do science. Judging solely from his familiarity with the weather (he wore khaki shorts and a beige shirt to reflect the heat) and his almost-natural interjections of parang and ano between his sentences, he is not unaccustomed to the Philippines.

Back at CERN, he and thousands of researchers from across the globe are demystifying the fundamental particles that make up the universe, particles much smaller and more elusive than the familiar protons and electrons. Using ring tunnels that span kilometers in diameter, called particle accelerators, they accelerate protons to near lightspeed and smash them together. The particles that unfurl from the collisions are what they study, revealing not only the most fundamental building blocks of matter but also the interactions that govern them.

In 2012, CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson, a particle that had eluded scientists since Peter Higgs theorized its existence in 1964 (Higgs sadly passed away on April 10, 2024). The Higgs boson gives particles their mass, allowing everything – stars, planets, life – to exist. Because of its significance, CERN’s discovery of the Higgs boson is considered one of the biggest scientific achievements in recent history.

But some still wonder why it’s even necessary to look for these particles, a sentiment that has only grown more prevalent after the discovery. Beyond the mental calisthenics and existential what-ifs, what has the Higgs boson contributed to our daily lives? Did it make our coffee taste better, our days cooler, our sleep deeper? One might even argue that there’s no discernible difference between their lives before and after knowing the Higgs boson exists.

When I asked Dr. David if he has one-liners in response, developed from having been confronted with these questions countless times, he was quick to clarify he doesn’t. “I’m no Richard Feynman,” he said. But in his lecture at UPD-CS, he had passingly said something that I thought, in hindsight, summed up his points succinctly: “You won’t see if you don’t look.”

That is, discoveries come from exploring the unknown, not from working on what’s already known, and “should you not seek, you are guaranteed to not find,” he explained to me. “The importance of new findings is that they can only be rendered useful if they are brought into the light of our collective knowledge. No amount of applied research on candles would have made the electric lightbulb possible.”

Indeed, when William Gilbert was investigating why amber attracts straws and chaff, he didn’t know he was laying the groundwork for what is now an essential component of our modern lives. He was examining how static electricity works and had devised the first electrical measuring instrument called the electroscope – a simple pivoted needle that revolves when drawn near a lightly rubbed amber. During his time (the 16th century), the world was run by horse-drawn carriages and manual labor. At the time, there were no apparent applications for the phenomenon that made amber sticky, nor would there be until 200 years later when Ewald Georg von Kleist and Pieter van Musschenbroek independently invented the Leyden jar, a device used to store electric charge. Even then, Gilbert’s, Kleist’s, and Musschenbroek’s works would not be fully realized until the 19th century, when inventors such as Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison developed the first practically usable electric devices such as the telephone and the incandescent light bulb.

Many scientists in the Renaissance were working on things that offered no immediate improvements to their quality of life, nor any apparent use until much later. When Isaac Newton was investigating why apples fall to the ground, he didn’t know his law of gravitation would be used to shoot satellites into orbit. When Robert Hooke and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek created the first microscope to observe the curious life of microorganisms, they didn’t know their work would become the backbone of modern medicine. “What seems abstract now may become commonplace later,” Dr. David said.

And what type of world would we have without them? Had Hooke and Leeuwenhoek not created the microscope, molecular biologists and pharmaceutical scientists today would not have any means of developing vaccines. Had Newton not investigated gravity, climatologists and environmental scientists would not have spatial heat maps and typhoon images generated from space. Had Gilbert not cared for amber, engineers would not have gadgets to make thinner or electric cars to make faster. One might even argue that virologists and climatologists and engineers wouldn’t exist.

Still, that’s not to say applied researchers are inferior to scientists like Dr. David. “I equally respect those who prefer to exploit what is known and make it better instead of exploring the unknown,” he clarified. “I suspect that eventually, the best for humans as a whole is that both proclivities coexist.”

Humans have prospered precisely because both types of endeavors have existed since antiquity. While at certain moments cavemen were hunting for food and fighting predators, at other times they investigated the glowing orb that appeared when lightning struck the ground, which gave succeeding humans the knowledge to control fire. Our instinct to explore the unknown is hardwired into our nature in much the same way as caring for our well-being is, and it is inhuman to disregard one over the other.

Science, as we now know it, is the fulfillment of our human nature, achieving both goals of improving our lives and exploring the world simultaneously. “I would say the scientific method is probably one of the least bad ways we’ve found to actually learn things about this reality,” Dr. David said.

Now, scientists like Dr. David are taking care of half the job. But just because their works may only be useful later doesn’t mean they are futile now. For instance, in a cost-benefit analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Milan and the Centre for Industrial Studies in Milan, they estimated a 92% probability that the benefits of CERN exceed its cost, with an expected net present value of about 3 billion euros. And that’s not including the unpredictable economic value of discoveries.

Beyond the numbers, the impact of CERN on its thousands of collaborators is priceless. “Year in and year out, I can see the impact that passing through CERN has on people from all walks of life and stages,” he said. “That impact on their lives and careers is very tangible and one of the largest added values of projects like the ones that only a transnational organization like CERN can host.”

We don’t need to look any further than our scientists for examples. Dr. Marvin Flores of UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (NIP) and the High Energy Physics & Phenomenology (HEP-PH) subgroup have been collaborating with CERN scientists since 2021. “Being part of the ATLAS Collaboration at CERN is a surreal feeling,” he said. “It greatly skyrocketed my love and appreciation for fundamental science and curiosity-driven research.” For Dr. Flores, the collaboration is also a source of inspiration. “Our first baby boy, who was born recently last April 15, 2024, is named Atlas partly because [of] it.”

Everything starts with coffee. That’s how Marie Kristine Alice Dela Rama, known as Tala, also starts her day. “I’d say coffee, hot or cold, is vital in my office routine.” Tala is an administrative staff member at UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) Dean’s Office, where she processes and digitizes documents, and forecasts and updates contracts. But outside work, she and a couple of researchers had been working tirelessly for the past three years to write a textbook for senior high students. The book was finally published on April 1, 2024.

The book, Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics, explores the intersection between culture, society, and politics, and how they relate to social science disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and political science.  “This textbook is an appreciation of [these] social sciences subjects where students will be provided with opportunities to explore ideas, theories, and views on how our society, our culture, and politics define and redefine our collective and personal experiences,” she explained.

Tala, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Philippine Studies majoring in Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino and Anthropology at UP Diliman, worked as an assistant editor for Social Science/Araling Panlipunan in C&E Publishing Inc. Tala’s then-supervisor propositioned her to be a researcher for the project, but she was eventually offered to join the team of authors. “From structural to content to technical editing, I was actively involved,” she said.

Writing a textbook is no less challenging than writing other types of books. In fact, the lessons and exercises in the textbook took a lot of time and effort. “It was a strenuous process mainly because I started from scratch, complying with the manuscript’s evaluation,” she said. “In the early stages of the product development, I remember I had monthly to quarterly submissions of Unit Lessons, so I rigorously did my research during the day and composed lessons at night.”

The book was originally planned to be published in 2023 but was delayed to align with the school year. Now, she’s glad it’s finally published. It is available in C&E bookshop branches across the country. For requests for the e-book version, one may contact the bookshop’s customer service for assistance at this email: customerservice@cebookshop.com. 

As a UP graduate, the commitment to serve the people rings true to Tala. After all the hard work, the real reward comes from the impact the book will have on its readers. “Secondary na lang yung royalty dito,” she said. “My goal for the book is for it to reach far-flung communities. Sana makarating [ito] sa mga komunidad at maibahagi sa mga batang gusto magaral.”

Outside her work at CS and her stint in book-writing, Tala is known to her friends as a homebody, or “someone who likes being at home most of the time rather than being with them out and about,” she described. But she thinks this is a misnomer. She does like going out – to the church, cafes, or the beach – just not to bars and parties. “Anywhere there is peace and silence.”

Eventually, she hopes to continue pursuing her Master’s in Community Development at UPD, but she is currently prioritizing her health and personal and career growth. “That’s my goal for myself,” she said. “Nothing extravagant.”

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

The University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) facilitated a public forum titled SCIENCE X WPS: Opportunities and Challenges for Scientists in the West Philippine Sea on May 13, 2024. During the public forum, UP professors discussed the current geopolitical and ecological situation in the West Philippine Sea, as well as strategies that scientists and researchers can use to protect and preserve the sea’s marine resources.

“The issue of the West Philippine Sea is not a single topic issue, it is also not a single-agency activity.” UPD-CS Dean Giovanni Tapang said, with an invitation to collaborate with other agencies, as part of the university’s mandate to serve the nation. “The College of Science would want to work with everyone to address not only the scientific issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea but other issues as well.”

Threats and Opportunities in the West Philippine Sea

The West Philippine Sea faces a lot of risk because of climate change, shared Dr. Laura David, UPD-CS Marine Science Institute (MSI) Director. Changes in the environment have a huge impact on coastal habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves.

Dr. David listed several threats that the West Philippine Sea faces. Overfishing is a major challenge that Filipino fisherfolk experience. “People think that our neighbors are interested in the West Philippine Sea because of natural gas. That’s true, but they’re also interested in the fish because they have to feed their population.”

She also pointed out that, unlike the Philippines, neighboring countries subsidize the catch of their fisherfolks by giving additional compensation for every tub of fish they catch aside from the cost of the actual fish.

Oil spills and land use are other threats that the West Philippine Sea deals with. Dr. David cited the oil spill in the Verde Island Passage in 2023 as proof that the Philippines is still not prepared for such occurrences. Mangroves have also degraded all over the South China Sea area because of converting mangrove areas for other land use, therefore contributing to a huge percentage of mangrove loss.

Dr. David also mentioned plastics as a huge threat to the West Philippine Sea, with plastic waste floating in places far from populated islands. “In certain areas, including West Palawan, you have mostly fishing gears. But as you come closer to the population, then it becomes trash associated with shampoos, sachets, snacks, and so on. If you look at the labels of those, they are not just in English. They’re in different languages. That means it’s coming from all over the South China Sea,” Dr. David added.

The reclamation of islands has jarring effects on the West Philippine Sea. Dr. David said that the number of alive coral reefs declined as the amount of occupations rose. “Somebody has to be held liable for all that damages because the damage is not just local,” she further explained. Everything that happens across the whole South China Sea region ends up having an impact on all countries in that area, but Dr. David said that the Philippines is the country that experiences the highest impact – with the number of fish families found in the West Philippine Sea declining from 34 to 22 in just 20 years.

Dr. Fernando Siringan, Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology and Professor at MSI said that one threat the West Philippine Sea should also consider is tsunamis that occur because of earthquakes.

“Sana may mga simulations rin tayong gawin, tingnan natin kung ano ang epekto ng mga tsunami sa ating mga pulo-pulo, at maging bahagi ‘yon ng ating consideration sa pagdevelop ng mga isla [in West Philippine Sea],” Dr. Siringan shared, who also mentioned that monitoring the occurrences of natural hazards such as tsunamis, storm surges, and floods will help researchers determine what kind of structures can be developed in the West Philippine Sea. 

Dr. David underscored the importance of long-term monitoring as a tool for creating strategic plans for protecting and preserving marine resources. “We need to increase our research efforts, and we need to involve a lot of other disciplines. We need to talk to the fishers, and we need more policymakers so that we can make better-informed policies for the West Philippine Sea,” she concluded.

Similar to Dr. David, Dr. Siringan also encouraged conducting long-term monitoring activities involving marine and terrestrial biodiversity in the West Philippine Sea region. “I-sample natin ‘yung mga hindi pa na-sample, at magkakaroon tayo ng maraming discoveries. Kailangan nating idescribe kung saan natin sila nakita, ano ang kanilang kondisyon. Makakatulong ito in understanding the area’s biology and diversity,” he specified, adding that these studies can help in designing a marine protected area in the West Philippine Sea.

Apart from letting scientists study the West Philippine Sea, Dr. Siringan calls on the government to fund these research projects, for studying the ocean is expensive and can be perilous. “Hindi man tao ‘yung source ng fear mo, nandoon ‘yung alon, ‘yung agos ng tubig. Mamatayan ka ng makina, saan ka pupulutin?” he said.

In his talk, Dr. Siringan mentioned the Pagasa Island Research Station, a marine station in Pagasa Island. For 2024, an additional six marine stations all over the country will soon be established. Dr. Siringan recommended marine researchers collaborate with them at the marine stations. “This is a facility for everyone, I would highly encourage that we work together,” he added.

The current geopolitical situation in the West Philippine Sea

Professor Herman Joseph Kraft of the UPD College of Social Sciences and Philosophy – Department of Political Science briefly introduced geopolitics, which, when applied to the West Philippine Sea issue, is more than the Philippines versus China. “On one hand, you’re talking about questions of control over space. But, on the other hand, that control involves the relationship between the great powers – particularly, the competition between China and the United States,” he said.

According to Professor Kraft, countries located in the South China Sea adjusted their claims based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The only country that has not made any changes and whose claim is not based on UNCLOS is China with its nine-dash line. The UNCLOS also added that maritime domains emanate from land territory. “What China has here is excessive because it goes farther away or quite far from the territory of China itself,” Professor Kraft said.

There are several reasons why China wants to claim a wide area of the South China Sea and its islands from other neighboring countries. This includes controlling maritime and air traffic, accessing marine resources, and pursuing petroleum interests. China has built artificial islands for its vessels to resupply, allowing for longer lingering times.

The solution, Professor Kraft mentioned, is multilateral cooperation with other countries. “The geopolitical situation requires the Philippines to work with various partners to try to maintain the situation in the region,” he added. However, this isn’t an easy solution, as this means being involved in the competition between two powerful forces.

“On one hand, the Philippines seeks to be able to assert its claims and sovereign rights vis-à-vis China. But in doing so, its inability to do anything on the waters requires us to work with the United States, which puts us in a situation where we seem to choose the US over China,” Professor Kraft concluded. “The Philippines is caught in a situation where it has to make diplomatic and political choices regarding the kind of situation it faces now in the West Philippine Sea,” he said further.

Looking beyond West Philippine Sea resources

“We cannot separate the West Philippine Sea from the rest of the country.” Dr. Jonathan Anticamara of the Institute of Biology said, emphasizing the importance of the Philippines’ marine resources – including those in the West Philippine Sea. “Our marine resources are our treasures, but we don’t have a lot of information on what’s going on. We don’t have a systematic database to analyze what’s going on over time. These are our resources, we are small islands in the middle of the Pacific and we shouldn’t forget that.”

Dr. Anticamara mentioned how the Philippines greatly expanded its fishing power and efforts – such as the number of boats and fishers – which led to an increase in contributions of the Philippines to global fisheries. “As Asia’s and the Philippines’ fishing power increase, the production decreases. Fisheries production in the Philippines has declined by more than 60% or 80%. Government agencies give thousands of boats and ships, yet these are just lying [around],” he added.

Lower fisheries production and overfishing resulted in extreme poverty experienced by fishing communities in the Philippines. Dr. Anticamara said that changes should be implemented in taking care of fish and other marine resources. “Filipinos have to think about strategies. How can we make money while not destroying these resources? We need to feed ourselves, but there has to be balance at the end.”

Science has a critical role in protecting the Philippines’ marine resources. Dr. Anticamara emphasized the need for long-term monitoring to better grasp the state of the country’s marine resources, and how to better preserve it.

“Good quality of life can be built by ensuring that nature is doing well and that people are not harming and destroying nature,” Dr. Anticamara said. “Even without China, if the Filipinos don’t have the intention to take care of these resources, then we’ll walk into the future where all of these resources are dead and Filipinos are very, very poor with nothing to eat.” 

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

The UPD College of Science (UPD-CS) Innovation Committee, under the Science and Society Program (SSP) and led by SSP Director Dr. Lerrie Ann Ipulan-Colet, hosted the two-day Innovation-Research Fair on 29 and 30 April 2024 in celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Day.

The Innovation-Research Fair is an initiative to bridge the gap between scientists who develop novel inventions and entrepreneurs who produce these inventions for public use. The key players, UPD-CS Dean Giovanni Tapang said in his opening speech, are the innovation officers who bring scientists’ works to entrepreneurs and transmit market demands back to the scientists.

Research adoptors from various industries participated in the event. Among the companies and agencies present were Analog Devices Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, BioAssets Corporation, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Osaka University – Institute of Laser Engineering, International Flavors and Fragrances, Maynilad Water Services Inc. – WATERLab, Pathway Technologies Inc., Mandaluyong City Health Office, and the Department of Environment, Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Air Quality Management Section, and Vecor Labs Philippines.

Different institutes of UPD-CS showcased their service laboratories and research capabilities to the research adoptors, namely Marine Science Institute (MSI), Institute of Biology (IB), Institute of Chemistry (IC), Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), Institute of Mathematics (IM), National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), National Institute of Physics (NIP), Material Science and Engineering Program (MSEP), and National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS).

Some CS laboratories and institutes exhibited their value proposition posters to the research adoptors. Among those who participated were UPD-CS IB’s Microbial Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems Laboratory, Fungal Laboratory, Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Developmental Toxicity and Signaling Research Laboratory, Integrative Research Laboratory Philippines, and DNA Barcoding Laboratory and UPD-CS IESM’s Biogeography, Environment, Evolution and Climate Laboratory . UPD-CS IM and MSEP also presented their posters to the research adoptors.