...the bacteria research for waste water

Philippines may use bacteria to clean wastewater

Researchers are identifying ways to clean up polluted water bodies

 

By Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspondent
Gulf News (Dubai, UAE)
Published:  May 5, 2013

 

 

Manila: Philippine experts will be counting on an unlikely ally to help clean up the country’s polluted water systems — bacteria.
 

A research being conducted by the University of the Philippines in Los Banos and funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) are looking at certain types of bacteria to help improve wastewater quality.
 

According to an article published in the DoST website, a team headed by professor Arlene Llamado of UP Los Banos assessed the bacteria’s potential in wastewater treatment applications.
 

Llamado’s team isolated five bacteria cultures taken from the soil of an abandoned mine site in Mogpog in Marinduque, central Philippines, to determine if these can form biofilms. A biofilm is the slimy substance similar to slime on un-brushed teeth or the film on top of leftover soup. They are secreted by certain types of bacteria. In hospital settings, biofilm-forming bacteria are notorious for infections because they are resistant to antibiotics and cleaning agents.
 

While biofilms are by themselves unclean and make living things prone to infections, their potential as agents for eliminating other hazardous materials lie in their ability to attract positively charged metal ions such as those found in effluent wastewater. These can also be found in abandoned or contaminated mining sites.
 

The researchers wanted to leverage the ability of microorganisms to form biofilms as they are negatively charged and can, therefore, attach to positively charged metal ions.
 

“By the simple idea of negatively charged polymers attaching to positively charged ions, we actually have a potential to remove heavy metal ions from waste water,” Lllamado said.
 

Cleaning oil spills
 

It is known that such bacteria is employed in applications such as to remove oil spills.
 

Lllamado added that they had collected samples from abandoned mining sites where there is a low concentration of organic elements and high concentration of copper because they expected that bacteria living in these soils would be resistant to heavy metals.
 

“All of the bacteria samples isolated from the site exhibited ability to produce biofilms. Further evaluation showed that all of these isolates were capable of removing heavy metals in water-copper solution. The planktonic cells of each bacterial isolate ate up the copper within six hours of contact time,” she said.
 

According to Llamado, further studies are under way to test the ability of these bacterial isolates in removing metals in wastewater.
 

If the tests deliver results, there is a strong chance that bacteria could be used not only to clean up abandoned mine sites but also in contaminated river systems and tributaries.

 

...the world's top think tanks

PIDS among world's top think tanks - survey

ABS-CBNnews.com

02/02/2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute for Development Studies has been ranked 40th in a survey of the world's think tanks done by the University of Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

 

PIDS said in a statement it was ranked 40th and 79th on the list of the world's best social policy think tanks, and best development think tanks, respectively.

The 2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Report and Policy Advice of the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program ranked 6,603 policy institutes from 182 countries for the latest survey.

"We are pleased with the continued international recognition for our quality of policy research," PIDS President Josef T. Yap said in the statement.

"PIDS continues to be the authority in Philippine economic and social development policy research and is one the most influential, most quoted, and most trusted think tanks in the country and in the region," Yap added.

...the best researcher in Malaysia conference

Pinoy cited for best research paper in Malaysia conference

 

GIAN C. GERONIMO,

GMA News

January 12, 2013

 

 

 

A Filipino recently won one of the top awards in a communication conference in Malaysia for his work on the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) on the rural youth.

According to an article of the Philippine Information Agency, the study done by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) communication research Jaime Manalo IV won the Best Qualitative Conference Paper Award at the 2012 International Conference on Communication and Media (i-COME) in Penang, Malaysia.

Manalo’s winning study was entitled “Beyond Facebook: The undocumented experiences on ICTs of young rural Filipinos” and tackled notions of the ICT proficiency of the Filipino youth.

Jaime was an Australian Leadership Awards scholar from the Philippines who graduated from the University of Queensland, where he took his master’s degree, in 2011.

Centre for Communication and Social Change at the University of Queensland in Australia co-director and Associate Professor Elske van de Fliert, co-authored the paper with Manalo.

According to Manalo, the experiences of Filipino youth in rural areas are different compared to their urban counterparts, and that portrayals of Filipino youth in the media as tech-savvy need to have a second look.

“Issues of the rural youth in the Philippines can easily be glossed over if the attention is fixated on the experiences of their urban counterparts,” Manalo pointed out.

He also highlighted the need for the country’s solons to prioritize “needed ICT infrastructure” to guide the youth and eventually help the country in various areas, among them agriculture.

“Policymakers should pin their attention on providing the needed ICT infrastructure, and a conducive environment for the students to learn how to use ICTs,” Manalo said.

According to the PIA article, i-COME ’12 “aimed to address communication and media issues such as challenges in the socio-economic and political agenda, cultural integration, and social reengineering” and that around 120 people from 25 countries participated in the conference.

No stranger to research field

Manalo is no stranger to success in the field of research.

In April 2012, Manalo’s study, ‘Really, they don’t want to farm? Challenging existing orthodoxies on youth perceptions on rice farming in the Philippines,’ emerged as the best paper in the Technology Extension, Dissemination, and Education category of the annual Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) conference.

This study by Manalo once more urged people to take another look at existing notions, this time the assumption that young Filipinos no longer want to farm and instead look for other avenues related to the process.

“The belief that the younger generation is not interested in farming has resulted in almost zero efforts to engage the youth on rice farming and fears that Philippines might encounter a scarcity of future food producers” said Jaime.

“The fear that the youth will abandon farming someday might easily happen if we do not engage them. The paper calls for the public, private and non-governmental sectors to invest on initiatives that will indirectly involve the educated youth in rice farming,” he also said.

The study was also co-authored with Elske van de Fliert. - VVP, GMA News

...the International Literacy awardee

Filipina educator wins International Literacy Award

By Lloyd D. Solis
PINOY News

 Saturday, September 29th, 2012

AP photo

WASHINGTON—Yvette Tan, a Filipino educator and researcher of the Education Development Center, Inc. was one of the top six awardees during the International Literacy Day held in Washington DC on September 7.

She was actively involved in multi-media technology on education data gathering covering the southern Philippines provinces including Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Tan’s innovative technique on “The improved collection and use of student reading performance data in the southern Philippines” made her work an outstanding project that bested more than 450 submissions from 25 countries.

The study delved on the use of affordable technology such as the cellular phones through SMS messages (texting), which is very popular in the Philippines.

This enabled classroom teachers to submit on-the-spot reading performance tests from their classrooms directly to the Department of Education (DepED) administered database. Each teacher was asked to submit his/her own students reading tests results directly into the database of the DepEd head office in Manila, notwithstanding the fact that these provinces are in the southern tip of the country.

Research shows that timely feedback taken immediately after a student is assessed can greatly influence the active learning process even in these areas far from the national capital.

This enabled the many teachers on instructional innovation such as what would and would not work, and what to do next, thereby improving the reading performance of the students. Such technology is cheap, affordable and very accessible to the teachers.

After confirming that close to 90 percent of the public school teachers in the Philippines are active cell-phone users, the Education Development Center, Inc. based in Newton, Massachusetts developed this plan.

According to Dr. William Potter of the EDC, “that the Philippines’ Department of Education, still uses a paper and pencil data collection system that produces results in a year and a half or even more considering the archipelagic geography of the country, takes too long for the data to be used effectively to improve instructional system at the school and district level.”

With this simple ingenuity based on grassroots level, this had impacted more than 35,000 school children, who improved their reading skills.

The EDC spearheaded the project in coordination with Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) based in Makati City and organized the “Whole School Reading” program with focus on Reading Skills and Comprehension of both the teachers and students alike.

The EQuALLS projects aims at increasing access to quality education for elementary school children and to relevant learning and livelihood skills for those out-of-school children in Regions 9 and 12, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

...the walkable city

Making Metro Manila a 'walkable city'

 

By CARMELA G. LAPEÑA,

GMA News

September 14, 2012

 

 

Progress may be slow, but advocates for inclusive mobility will keep going until Metro Manila becomes a walkable city.

 

 

"We have to move people, not cars… not only does this have positive impact on the environment, but also on a personal basis, on our individual health. We have to encourage people to walk, run, and bike, rather than commuting," said Dr. Mario Villaverde, associate dean of the Ateneo School of Government, during the Inclusive Mobility Research Forum held on September 4.

 

 

In Metro Manila, private motor vehicles contribute to 53.2 percent of all traffic composition, while catering only to 21.6 percent of transport demand, Tieza Santos of the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt) said during the forum.

 

 

"Because of these challenges in how we move people, goods et cetera, we're incurring losses of P140 billion annually due to wastage of fuel and loss of productivity," she said.

 

 

Wanted: sustainable innovations like e-jeepneys

The e-jeepney is among the Social Innovation Models for Inclusive Mobility. GMA News

Sustainable forms of innovations, businesses, and social enterprises are needed for inclusive mobility, Santos said. In her presentation on Social Innovation Models for Inclusive Mobility, Santos gave concrete examples such as Julie's mobile bakeshop, cashless transactions such as Gcash or Smart Money, and the e-jeepney.

 

 

"These are not implemented nationwide, but can serve as our peg for coming up with an inclusive mobility system in Metro Manila," she said.

 

 

Another problem, according to Santos, is a lack of proper implementation of policies, as well as barriers like economics, development, and culture. "We have this culture of individualized mobility. We prioritize cars, so the construction of car ownership as a form of status symbol is another barrier," she said.

 

 

Transportation economist Randolph Carreon also shared that some households resort to sacrificing food, electric and water bills, and health care in order to meet transport requirements.

 

 

This was one of the findings in the study on Mobility Characteristics, Costs, and Issues of the Poor and Vulnerable groups that was conducted among households in Old Balara, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, and Barangay Payatas.

 

 

Carreon also shared that persons with disabilities (PWDs) said they preferred public transport modes were tricycles and taxis, which provide door-to-door service. The study also revealed that not all PWDs are aware that they are entitled to a 20 percent discount on public transport fares, as stated in R.A. 7277.

 

 

The study also showed that PWDs view pedestrian facilities as inadequate in responding to their needs. On overpasses, PWDs think "the locations are inappropriate and were selected mainly for the benefit of private establishments; the steps are too high making it difficult for them to climb; it needs cover; and the location is too distant."

 

 

Understanding transport conditions

Bryan Benitez McClelland and his bambike, which is one of the entries in the Inclusive Mobility Challenge. Monina Eugenio

Dr. Jun Castro of the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning said effective transportation planning requires a reliable database, preferably in Geographic Information System (GIS) format.

 

 

"The developed GIS database can be used to understand transport conditions, and some of the socio-economic or demographic conditions as well," he said during his presentation on Mapping of the Public Transport System of Metro Manila: Responding to the Needs of the Poor and Vulnerable Sectors.

 

 

The study showed that public transport facilities are quite "friendly" to the poor and vulnerable sectors, as public transport terminals are quite accessible, and there is a wide range of available public transport modes.

"Pagka may squatter colonies, marami ring informal public transport terminals. Very obvious naman, kasi sila ‘yung market ng terminals na ito. Sila rin ang may ari ng sasakyan," Castro said.

 

 

In her discussion of the presentation on mapping, Engineer Reina Macababad said there is a need for data sharing, and to reconcile databases from various agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Communications, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

 

 

Macababad noted that public transport in Metro Manila is complicated. "There is perhaps a need to simplify it... Perhaps the question that needs to be asked is whether we should tolerate tricycles and pedicabs," she said.

 

 

"It can be done. Guangzhou was like Metro Manila before, but there, you will not see a motorcycle. Bawal ang motorsiklo, bawal ang tricycle. Nakakita kami ng electric bike, sabi nila, colorum ang electric bike na ‘yan," Dr. Segundo Romero, director of Ateneo School of Government’s iBoP Asia Program, said during the forum. Romero said that housing was up to eight floors, and residents would use a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system.
 

"Without the BRT it would be bedlam," he said, noting that it would take a long time to untangle the transport system in Metro Manila, which, as was pointed out during the forum, is not run the way places like Guangzhou are.

 

 

"It's really difficult if not all the entities will follow and observe," shared Trina Cortez-Tolentino, who has been working with homeowners, schools and establishments along Katipunan Avenue to make the road a model area.

 

 

She said their goal is to make Katipunan pedestrian- and commuter-friendly, with covered walkways with good lighting and 24-hour security.

 

 

The research forum was one of the activities of the Inclusive Mobility Project. On September 21, there will be an Inclusive Mobility Conference.

 

 

There is also an ongoing Inclusive Mobility Challenge, which looks for social innovations that make it easier for the poor and vulnerable to move around Metro Manila. Finalists include the eJeepney, an onboard self-recharging system for electric vehicles, PEDALA bike messengers, and the UP Padyak Project. –KG, GMA News

...the PH in world investor's radar

PH catches GE’s eye amid boom in emerging Asia

 

80 firms visited to check opportunities

By: Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 Monday, July 23rd, 2012

The Philippines has caught the eye of the likes of American giant General Electric, whose research and development (R&D) arm is exploring growth opportunities in Asia.

As of June, 28 inbound missions (groups of business leaders) and 80 individual firms sent officials to Manila.

There’s one more on the way: GE Global Research.

Asked to confirm buzz on GE Global’s interest in the Philippines, Trade Undersecretary Cristino L. Panlilio said company executives were set to meet with trade officials.

“It just says the Philippines is in the radar of world investors,” Panlilio said of the meetings.

As for GE Global, he said, “They’re interested in engineering design. It may be an R&D, BPO [business process outsourcing] type of operation.”

Aside from hosting and providing talent, the Philippines can also offer assembly facilities, Panlilio said.

“We can follow up with assembly of machinery, like jet engines, turbines,” he said.

GE Global may be offered locations in economic zones such as those in Clark and Subic.

“We want to create an ecosystem for them. For manufacturers to come in, 60 to 70 percent of what they need must be accessible here,” Panlilio said.

He said there was a maker of sophisticated technology products such as aircraft wing flap mechanisms for Boeing and Airbuses. It operates in the Baguio City Economic Processing Zone, which hosts many other electronics and high-technology firms.

Such ecosystems, economists say, boost economic growth through investments and job creation not only in the growth engines (BPO, manufacturing, etc.) but also in allied sectors such as food and retail, which benefit from consumer spending.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines reported that revenue in the country’s outsourcing sector reached $11 billion in 2011, with 643,000 people employed.

The Philippines had an 18 percent share of the $44 to 46 billion global BPO market in 2011, right behind India, according to Everest Group Analysis.

However, the Philippines had only 1 to 1.5 percent share of the $10-billion global engineering outsourcing market, which is seen as a high-growth sector.

As such, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is pushing for the Philippines to climb the engineering services ladder. “We are No. 1 in call centers. We intend to double our market share in three other fast-growing services: information technology, engineering services and multilingual BPO,” DoST deputy executive director for ICT industry development Alejandro P. Melchor III said in a presentation to engineering educators last June.

...the PH supermom

Meet PH’s new super women in science

By Karen Flores,

ABS-CBNnews.com

07/05/2012

Dr. Aletta Yñiguez is an assistant professor at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines. Photo: Handout

MANILA, Philippines – Today’s women are out to save the world, whether from red tide or cancer.

Dr. Aletta Yñiguez is one of the two Filipina scientists who received a P400,000 grant this year under the For Women In Science (FWIS) program of cosmetics firm L’Oreal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for her research on harmful algal blooms (HABs).

HABs, more popularly known as red tide, refer to an accumulation of harmful phytoplankton in a large body of water. These have been associated with shellfish poisonings and large-scale deaths of sea creatures.

Using the grant from the FWIS, Yñiguez will observe phytoplankton types in the Bicol Shelf (a productive fisheries area) and Sorsogon Bay (a HAB site) and look for environmental conditions that cause a red tide.

The data will then be used to develop computer models, which will help government agencies and local communities in monitoring the phenomenon.

“We will collaborate with government agencies and local government units to get these models in a level where we can help provide early warnings if a bloom will eventually occur,” Yñiguez explained.

“I want to figure out why particular organisms (such as phytoplankton) are becoming dominant, and under what conditions. From here, we can recommend a course of action,” she added. “People will know when it will not be a good condition for fisheries, then they can warn the community and help them find other means of livelihood.”

Yñiguez said she has always been interested in phytoplankton because of its important role in the marine food web, comparing it to terrestrial plants.

“We as a planet rely on these organisms,” she said.

Unexpected

Yñiguez said she never thought that she would end up as a marine scientist, considering that she used to be very afraid of the water.

“My swimming instructor actually gave up on me,” she said. “But when I tried snorkeling, it made me see the diversity of marine life. I really wanted to explore that more, so I took up Marine Ecology as a major.”

Yñiguez, 33, also completed a PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries at Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami, where she was a recipient of the Maytag Fellowship.

Currently, she is an assistant professor at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines.

“I have to find creative ways to keep my students interested in marine science. I don’t just do lectures – I use videos, make them interact, use examples that they can relate to,” she said. “It’s a challenge.”

With projects such as the FWIS, Yñiguez hopes that more Filipino women would pursue a career in science.

“It’s a great idea to push FWIS even further down to high school students. Let’s start encouraging young women who haven’t seriously considered going into science,” she said.

Now on its third year in the Philippines, FWIS awards grants to deserving Filipina scientists to aid in their research.

Sponge work

Dr. Maria Cecila Conaco is a post-doctoral researcher at the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California. Photo: Handout

The other FWIS awardee is Dr. Maria Cecilia Conaco, who was recognized for her research on sponges which scientists said may help cure cancer.

Conaco’s work aims to study the genes of different sponges and their response to environmental changes.

These, she said, will provide insights into the development of drugs, antibiotics and nanomaterials.

“Sponges have been dubbed as the ‘drugstores or pharmacies’ of the ocean because of its many chemicals,” she explained. “They are also the ideal system where we can study different environmental effects, since they filter sea water for food.”

“The study will help us understand how to properly conduct resource monitoring and conservation efforts,” she added. “We can also identify genes involved in producing useful substances such as drugs.”

Conaco admitted, however, that finding a cure for cancer from sponges may take a long time.

“The amount of compounds they can get from the sponge is very small. By looking at the genetic mechanisms, we’ll push ourselves closer to get them tested. But we’re not sure how long it will take,” she said.

Still, the FWIS awardee is not giving up without a fight. “Science is a fast-moving field, and everyone is becoming more collaborative. Now is the best time to do science and be in the middle of a discovery.”

Conaco, 34, completed her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Stony Brook University in New York.

A “balikbayan” scientist, she is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California.

Like Yñiguez, she encouraged all women to pursue their passions, especially if it is for science.

Conaco also asked families, teachers and society to support women scientists, whether emotionally or financially.

“There’s no typical day in science. It’s always a new discovery,” she ended

...the PH status

PH status in stem cell-based therapy elevated

By: Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Friday, June 29th, 2012

 

Within the confines of the 170-square-meter facility located on the 6th floor of the Makati Medical Center lies one of the country’s most sterile environment. And there’s a reason it should be.

 

“Before we could even convince our patients about the value and effectiveness of stem-cell-based therapy, we need to assure them that their cells will be processed by one of the most experienced staff and advanced facilities in the region,” says Dr. Eric Flores, head of MMC Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory.

Room facility

The MMC Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory offers ultra-clean room facility (class 100) that can handle cell-based products and culture facility as well as sophisticated procedure to isolate stem cell (magnetic-activated cell sorting).

“Our laboratory is unmatched in terms of providing the best cellular product or quality,” Flores says, adding that the laboratory also performs meticulous quality control and documentation as well as follows established system to monitor the patient’s progress.

He admits that while stem cells were first proposed for scientific use in 1908 (by Russian scientist Alexander Maximov at the congress of hematologic society in Berlin), it wasn’t until the past decade that their astounding potential to change medicine’s entire approach to fighting disease really took hold.

“Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can renew themselves and differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. This means they can generate specialized cells, such as muscle cells and heart cells. So if stem cells in a lab can be coaxed into producing different specialized cells, they can provide a virtually unlimited source of cells to repair or replace damaged or diseased cells and tissues,” explains Dr. Francis Chung, scientific officer of the Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory’s Stem Cell Lab.

Their possible uses include creating fully functional heart tissue ready for grafting on to a damaged heart; stimulating stem cells in the brain to reduce the effects of stroke; and “curing” diabetes with pancreatic stem cells that produce insulin.

Because of these promises for curing major deadly diseases, MMC, in line with its 2015 mission, inaugurated the Cellular Therapeutics Lab late last year to give hope to those with cancer, diabetes Type 1, neurologic diseases and joints disorders.

The facility is designed and built to ensure that it is free from biological and nonliving contaminants, which is crucial considering that most of the laboratory’s patients suffer from a weakened immune system.

3 notches better

“We put premium importance in the quality and sterility of the product. In comparison with other laboratories, the lab is at least three notches better in providing a sterile environment,” Chung assures.

For example, the Biosafety Level 5 instituted at the laboratory is at least one or two notches higher than what is recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, as part of the routine procedure, the facility is continuously monitored for its sterility by a third party.

Chung adds that in cases wherein the stem cells will be sourced out from a donor, the MMC Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory has the capability to identify a possible crossmatch—using 10-point DNA matching—for the recipient.

“We assure our patients that we have the technology to push this cellular transplantation process that will significantly minimize complications,” Chung says.

According to Flores, the laboratory has affiliated with the International Society for Cellular Therapy, a nonprofit organization composed of leading cell therapy experts from 40 countries. Based in Washington DC, the ISCT actively provides scientific, educational and technical support for laboratories engaged in cellular therapy all over the world.

He says these assurances are important considering that stem cell based treatment has been documented in a number of instances to help those suffering from previously considered incurable diseases. In fact, he adds that based on several reports, stem cell based treatment has demonstrated its potential in boosting the immune system, controlling the growth of the cancer, or even eradicating the tumor in the cancer patients.

“Quality of life has also been positively influenced considering that unwanted side effects from conventional treatment (such as chemotherapy) has been reported to have lessened,” Flores adds.

...the new ant species

40 new ant species found in the Philippines

By Jojo Malig, ABS-CBNnews.com

06/27/2012

One of the new ant species discovered on Mt. Isarog by researchers from Palawan State University and Harvard University. ZooKeys photo

 

Deforestation threatens unique ant species

MANILA, Philippines - Researchers have discovered 40 new ant species in the Philippines.

However, the discovery could be short-lived as deforestation and the destruction of the insect's natural habitat threaten ant species in the Philippines that are found nowhere else in the world, David General and his colleagues at the Palawan State University and Harvard University said in their paper published in ZooKeys science journal.

General told the OurAmazingPlanet website that the 40 new species of ants belong to 11 various genera (plural of genus), bringing the total number of genera to 92, which is twice the number of genera found in biodiversity-rich Madagascar.

One of the new species has a unique mouth and mandibles, which may have evolved for the ants to manipulate their environment, he added.

General and Harvard University's Gary Alpert said in their paper that there are 474 ant species and subspecies known from the Philippines and at least 100 other unidentified species based on museum specimens and recent collections.

"The total size of the ant fauna is no doubt much larger, almost certainly more than 1,000 species are present," they said.

The new ant species were discovered on Mt. Isarog, a dormant volcano in Camarines Sur province.

Guardian blogger GrrlScientist, an evolutionary biologist and ornithologist, told ABS-CBNNews.com on Wednesday about the discovery of the new ant species.

Biodiversity hotspot

In their paper, General and Alpert described the Philippines as a biodiversity hotspot.

"The Philippines is so ecologically diverse that it is very difficult to characterize the country in a single paragraph," they said, citing the different climate and weather systems in the country that change because of the country's varying topography.

"This complex blend of climatic diversity and opportunity for geographic isolation has likely led to high levels of endemism, a phenomenon that deserves much further exploration," they said.

In their paper, the scientists raised the specter of unique animal species being wiped out because of human activities.

"The Philippines is considered one of the hottest of the biodiversity hotspots because of the severe human pressure on its highly endemic native flora and fauna," they said.

"Time is running out for the the remaining primary forests. Despite decades of regulation and reforestation, forests continue to dwindle," they added.

The paper said all the privately reforested narra trees in their study site in 2003 and 2004 were poached by 2009, "wiping out 27 years of stewardship of the area."

"Even the stumps were removed. Forest destruction seems to go on unabated, exacerbated by new large-scale mining projects that seem to target the mineral resources under primary forests," it added.

Invasive species also threaten native ants, the researchers said.

They added that much is yet to be discovered by scientists undertaking ant research in the Philippines.

"The Philippine ant fauna is very poorly explored and records are few and spotty at best. A researcher can essentially choose a mountain among several hundred mountains, get the necessary permits and be the first one to study the ants on that mountain. However, that mountain may also be very disturbed or degraded, leaving only the tramp species that abound in disturbed habitats," the said.

"In addition to environmental damage, there is also an active communist insurgency and other serious security threats to researchers in the field. Other areas may harbor malaria mosquitoes and other serious health threats. Hence, local collaboration is quite necessary to minimize the risks of field work in the Philippines," they added.

---

...the cure for banana disease

Filipino discovers cure for dreaded banana diseases

 

 

Julia Jasmine Madrazo-Sta. Romana

June 2, 2012

GMA News

 

 

For years, scientists and agriculturists all over the world have been working on developing a cure for Moko and Panama Disease —fungal and bacterial infections that could potentially wipe out the world's banana plantations.

 

Moko disease is a virulent bacterial infection that causes the fruits to ripen prematurely and kills infected plants in just a few weeks. Panama disease or fusarium wilt, on the other hand, is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxyforumcubense and is so damaging that it single-handedly destroyed the Malaysian banana industry only 3 years after it was discovered.

 

These diseases are grave concerns for the Philippines: we are the 3rd largest banana exporting nation in the world, contributing around 12% of global banana exports. It’s a P35 billion industry that contributes almost P400 million in local taxes alone.

Traditional treatments: ineffective

 

The traditional method of treating Panama and Moko disease has been to treat the infected plantation with insecticides, then chop and burn the infected crops. The problem with this method is that it doesn’t kill the spores that are already in the soil, and it doesn’t treat the healthy banana offshoots that can serve as carriers for the diseases. Thus, the diseases have a chance to recur and spread even further throughout plantation until the crops are completely wiped out. 

 

This has been the way to treat Panama and Moko disease until recently, when one Filipino scientist —after two whole years of research and testing— claims to have developed a cure that works for both diseases. 

 

Dr.Angelito Dela Cruz is a plant pathologist, horticulturist, and nematologist with an impressive resume. He started his career at UPLB where he taught and worked as a researcher for 15 years and has worked for several major multinational plantations for almost 20 years. He’s now the VP for Technical services atDelfiAgriventures, a Filipino company that develops and produces agricultural, aquaculture, and environmental products.

 

Dr. Dela Cruz's probiotic treatment

What makes Dr.Dela Cruz’s treatment system unique is that it’s not a drug in the traditional sense. When farmers encounter plant pests, their first response would be to kill it by using pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics. However, Dr. Dela Cruz claims that his treatment system works more like a vaccine than an antibiotic: it helps the plant heal itself.

 

The treatment system works a lot like how probiotic drinks —such as Yakult, that classic kids' favorite— work in humans. The idea is is to introduce "good bacteria", which help crowd out and prevent the spread of "bad bacteria".

 

The Moko-Panama disease treatment system is administered by first injecting the affected plants and surrounding plants with a proprietary clay mineral extract. The minerals in this solution (iron and other trace elements) have natural disinfectant properties that kill bacteria and fungi.

 

The next step is to treat the soil with the same clay mineral extract. Not only will this kill the fungi and the bacteria in the soil, it also conditions the soil by neutralizing the soil pH or soil acidity. By making the soil pH neutral, it makes it easier for the plants to absorb nutrients. When the infected plants absorb nutrient better, they become healthier and better at fighting off the infection. 

 

Conditioning the soil also prepares the plants for the next step of the treatment process. When the soil is in good condition (neutral pH, high oxygen levels, rich in minerals), it encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms. These microorganisms can inhibit the growth of Fusariumoxyforumcubense, eventually wiping them out. To speed up this process, the soil is then inoculated the Panama disease’s natural enemy, Trichodermaharzlanum, and other beneficial microorganisms.

 

Limitations and further studies

Dela Cruz's system does have its limits, however: it can’t save moderate to severe cases of Moko and Panama disease.

Dr.Dela Cruz explains, “In those stages, the vascular system of the plant has been damaged beyond repair. But you still have to inject the treatment in those cases to save the buffer plants and prevent the spread of infection. This way if the farmer does need to chop down several banana trees, he only needs to get rid of the dead ones. He’ll still have some production from the healthy buffer plants and those that have been cured.”

 

No synthetic chemicals are used as all the materials used for this treatment system come from natural sources. The plants and soil come out healthier after treatment. And there’s no risk of contaminating the bananas with harmful pesticides. “The products used in this treatment system are so safe, you can ingest it and not suffer any ill effects,” claims Mr. Roberto Del Fierro, President of DelfiAgriventures. “It was really important for us for this system to be food-grade safe because it touches our food. We also want the farmers that implement this in their farms to feel safe and not have to worry about their health.”

 

Dela Cruz's Moko-Panama disease treatment system has been tested and proven to be effective by studies with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in small and large banana plantations in 2011. It has since been adopted by the DA as the standard for treating Panama and Moko disease. — TJD, GMA News

...the young Pinoy scientists 2

Filipino students to present research in Intel science tilt

 

By Nikka Garriga

loQal 

07 May 2012

 

 

MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA—Eight young Filipino students will represent the country at this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF).

The delegates will present their own research studies that aim to build awareness in prevalent social, ecological and economic issues.

One of the participants, 17-year old Elson Ian Galang, will present an eco-friendly and economically-competitive version of a fabric made of fibers from fragrant screw pine or pandan.

Elson hopes to establish pandan fiber as a viable alternative to synthetic polyester in the Philippine fabric and garments industry.

Fifteen year-old Ven Gabriel Tan focused his study on the potential of herbal plants as source of copper ions in mined-out and heavy metal amended soil. The research focuses more on global resource conservation and pollution prevention efforts.

Tan, the youngest among the delegates, aims to offer mining communities a potential solution to address the issues of mining waste and contaminated soil.

Meanwhile, the team of Hazel Anne Hernandez, Julian Paolo Biyo, and Paul Caesar Flores will present their work on coral transplantation.

The group was awarded the Most Promising Young Scientists in the recently-held SEAMEO Young Scientists Congress. They hope to provide environmental and economic support to communities who rely on coral reefs for livelihood using bamboo and concrete materials for conservation efforts.

The work of 16 year-olds Bryce Años, Lanz Gabriel Jabla and Carla Lazara looks into the potential of sea hare ink to help treat diseases involving atrophy, the deterioration of a body part or tissue.

Sea hares are medium to large-sized sea slugs that secrete ink as a potent deterrent to predators.

“Sea hares may not the prettiest or most powerful of animals, but through our research, we found their potential to make a significant contribution to science and medicine,” Lazara said.

The Intel ISEF is the world's largest international pre-college science competition, providing an annual forum for more than 1,500 high school students from 65 countries to present their independent research.

Last year, Miguel Arnold Reyes bagged the second grand award in the Materials and Bioengineering Category and also got an asteroid named after him.

This year's delegates will compete in two team categories and two individual categories in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from May 13 to 18.

(Photo courtesy of Intel Philippines)

...the ADB recipients

Students, teachers in three PHL colleges to gain from $650,000 ADB grant

 

May 3, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The Asian Development Bank has forged with the Philippines a $650,000 technical assistance grant to improve teaching and learning in colleges that supply information and communications technology graduates to the business process outsourcing industry.
 
According to the memorandum of understanding signed between Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and ADB country director Neeraj Jain, 900 faculty and 3,000 students will benefit in at least three colleges that will serve as ICT hubs funded by the grant.
 
“The IT-BPO sector has been one of the sunshine industries in the Philippines and sustaining its performance has been the priority of this government as we believe on its potential to generate jobs and in the process, boost demand and growth in the country,” Purisima said.
 
While, $500,000 of the grant will come from the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund by the ADB. The Philippine government will provide the remaining $150,000 in the form of “in kind contributions.”
 
The ADB said it worked out the grant, because “national competitiveness, moving into knowledge-based services, and achieving and maintaining rapid economic progress, would require an educated workforce equipped with skills that meet the demands of high-growth industries.”
 
According to the MOU, at least three hubs will be established: one each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Each hub will be ICT-enabled and provide “online training” to teachers and “digitized learning modules and study guides” for students.
 
Implementation will be monitored by a steering committee chaired by the Finance Department and with members from the Commission on Higher Education, National Economic and Development Authority, the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, among others.
 
Citing Board of Investment figures, the ADB said” IT-BPO revenues grew by 24 percent to roughly $11 billion with the industry employing 638,000 people as full-time employees.”
 
The Aquino administration has set a $25-billion industry revenue goal by 2016. —Earl Victor Rosero, GMA News

...the young Pinoy scientists

Young Pinoy scientists showcase work in nanotech, genetics, chemistry

April 26, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The three finalists of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Talent Search for Young Scientists presented their research to the media at the awarding ceremony of the NAST-Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Award at the Hyatt Hotel Manila on April 23.

 

The NAST Talent Search is a competition meant to encourage young scientists (aged 35 or below the year the award is given) to pursue a career in science. The authors of the best three scientific papers submitted will be awarded trophies and cash prizes.

 

This year, the finalists are Dahlia C. Apodaca of the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Diliman, for her paper “Electropolymerized Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Films of a Bis-Terthiophene Dendron: Folic Acid Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensing”; Mario A. Tan of the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences of the University of Sto. Tomas, for his paper “Isolation and Total Syntheses of Two New Alkaloids, Dubiusamines-A and -B, from Pandanus dubius”; and Marcos B. Valdez of the School of Science and Engineering of Ateneo de Manila University, for his paper “Differential Development of Sex-related Characters of Chickens from the GSP and PNP/DO Inbred Lines After Left Ovariectomy.”

 

Dr. Apodaca, who has a PhD in Chemistry, is focusing on nanotechnology (working with matter on the molecular to microscopic scale). “There is a very wide application for it,” she says.  In the Philippines, nanotech research is focused on developing nanostructured solar cells and energy storage devices, nanomaterials for packaging and construction and nanosensors for rapid detection of food contaminants. Apodaca’s work has been on the Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) sensors, which are detection devices that are simple, low-cost, reusable and recoverable and which can be used in a number of applications, from detecting land mines to toxic substances in food. 

 

Dr. Tan, who has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, is working on identifying new alkaloids from the pandanus (pandan) plant. The ones identified by Tan and his colleagues so far provide materials of pharmacological and ecological relevance and are used to develop sedatives and diuretics. The antioxidant, anti-tubercular, anti-infective and antioxidant properties of the plant also make it a vital source of medicines to treat illnesses, diseases and disorders such as tuberculosis, leprosy, rheumatism, headaches, urinary tract infections. 

 

Dr. Valdez, who has a PhD in Animal Genetics, is working on chicken sex reversal—even creating a chicken with one female side and one male side—as a viable way to preserve the germline (the sequence of cells that contain genetic material that will be passed on to offspring) of chicken varieties. Now that the genome of the domestic chicken has been completely mapped, says Valdez, “We are on the road to attaining a wealth of knowledge from its analysis.” 

 

After their presentation, the finalists were interviewed by the NAST board of judges. The winner will be announced at an awards presentation to be held on July 12.

 

Earlier at the event, the NAST-Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Award was presented to botanist Dr. Virginia Castillo-Cuevas for her work in curing crop disease. — TJD, GMA News

...the new crab specie

4 new species of freshwater crab discovered in Palawan By Juancho Mahusay (The Philippine Star) March 25, 2012

A particularly colorful new species of freshwater crab called Insulamon Palawanense.| Zoom

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines  – A group of scientists and researchers from two Germany-based institutes and students from universities in Manila has reportedly discovered last week four new species of the freshwater crab in this island province.

According to a research paper published online last week in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, the four newly discovered species belong to the colorful Insulamon freshwater crab family.

This crab family, scientifically known as Insulamon Palawanense, can be found only in Palawan.

In the research paper, Dr. Hendrik Freitag of the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden, Germany and an associate professor at the Ateneo de Manila University who heads the Aqua Palawana Research Program, stated that they discovered the four new species during the process of taking a closer look at the Insulamon crabs.

The Aqua Palawana is a research program by Germany’s scientific institutes Senckenberg and Phyllodrom Leipzig, which investigates the biodiversity of Palawan’s inland waters for over 10 years.

Working in the program are local students and researchers from Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University in Manila, Western Philippines University, Philippine National Museum, Vienna Natural History Museum and the National University of Singapore.

...the scientists

Pinoy scientists excel at research, from superconductivity to micropaleontology

 

Barbara Marchadesch

March 17, 2012

 

 

In fields ranging from superconductivity to micropaleontology, nine Filipino scientists were recognized for their significant contributions to the national and international science communities.

 

The National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) —the oldest scientific collegial body in the Asia Pacific region— feted the scientists at its recent 79th General Membership Assembly:

 

Dr. Vicenta Macuja-Cervera: recognized for her significant research contributions in psychology, guidance and counseling, and other fields. A prolific author and editor of books and several official journals of professional organizations, Dr. Cervera also developed psychological tests that are widely used in the country today. She is a member of the Philippine Team of the 2006 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM).

 

Dr. Macrina Tamayo-Zafaralla: her quality scientific and technological output has significantly contributed to the abundance of the national fish supply, and is therefore important in the goal of food security and poverty alleviation. Her efforts have also contributed to reducing health risks in river bank communities.

 

Dr. Ernesto M. Pernia: his landmark studies on population and development in the Philippines and Asia include the economic impact on population change; migration and economic development; and the population, nutrition, health, and economic costs of children. He also developed a model of individual and household migration, and an analysis of the economic and social impact of small industry promotion.

 

Dr. Roland V. Sarmago: honored for his research efforts in the field of superconductivity. His original contributions have also been cited by the international scientific community, and extended to future applications.

 

Dr. Alicia M. Aguinaldo: recognized for her work in the field of the chemistry of natural products. She was also exemplary as a mentor, school administrator, and a member of various professional organizations.

 

Dr. Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo: her major contributions to the field of cultural research, specifically on Philippine literature and language, folklore, and history, include her Cebuano findings, which have inspired others to undertake similar studies. The books she edited, including literary anthologies with translations and dictionaries of indigenous arts, have been used as instructional materials in schools.

 

Dr. Edanjarlo J. Marquez: his outstanding work in the area of micropaleontology earned him his award. His researches, published in local and international peer-reviewed journals, have contributed to the understanding of the geologic history of the Philippines. In his mentorship of his students, he upheld the need for greater environmental awareness in the Philippines.

 

Dr. Remigio M. Olveda: cited for being the principal investigator of two prestigious grants—for research on schistosomiasis from the World Health Organization/TDR-Rockefeller Foundation North-South and the Tropical Medicine Research Center grant from the US National Institute of Health on schistosomiasis, malaria, and leprosy. Under his leadership, the first Good Manufacturing Practices Certified Vaccine Production Plant at RITM was established. The plant can produce locally affordable and high quality vaccines.

 

Dr. Joseph S. Masangkay: honored for his significant contributions in the field of veterinary medicine, specifically on laboratory animal genetics and wildlife animal pathology in the Philippines. His research has provided valuable information on the protection, conservation and proper use of animals as laboratory models in biochemical research.

 

Established in 1933, the NRCP has 2,809 member researchers, scientists, and technologists spread over the 13 NRCP Scientific Divisions. — TJD, GMA News

...the smartphone for the blind

Mapua students' cellphone for blind tops wireless tilt

March 6, 2012

GMA News

A mobile phone developed for blind users earned a computer engineering team from the Mapua Institute of Technology the grand prize in a wireless engineering education program competition.

Mapúa bested some 140 entries to be the grand champion in the 8th Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) Innovation and Excellence Awards with its "Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind."

“We didn't expect to win - but we hoped for it - since all other finalists also have great entries,” said team member Kristine Emy Matabang, who with Girly Perando and Janiena Roxanne Dirain, all graduating students, developed the device.

The mobile phone is a dual-purpose device that aims to help the blind that can detect obstacles within five meters and it serves as a cell phone with Braille keypad so the visually impaired can receive and answer text messages and calls.

SWEEP is an industry-academe partnership that seeks to raise the level of technology and engineering education in the country.

A group of electronics engineering (ECE) students from Mapúa, whose project is called the “The Fault Line Data Acquisition and Monitoring System,” also made it to the final 10.

Dirain, Matabang and Perando, with mentor Engr. Ayra Panganiban, received P500,000 in cash prize during the awarding ceremony on February 22 at the SMX Convention Center.

Grants were also given to the schools of the top three teams.

“We are very honored and proud to represent the school together with the group of Engineer [Joseph Bryan] Ibarra,” said Perando.

The three CpE students also thanked “everyone who took part on this journey especially to our Smart SWEEP mentor, Engr. Ayra Panganiban, and our design adviser Engr. Michael Pacis.”

“To the Mapúa community, thank you for believing in us and supporting us all throughout the competition,” they said.

Patent application

The group said they plan to file a patent application for their invention - and enhance the device.

“We will also enhance our device. For example, we are looking at making it wireless. Also, we want to make it more compact so that it can be more beneficial to the blind community,” said Dirain.

Dean Felicito Caluyo of the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (EECE) was happy with the group’s “splendid performance” in the competition.

“As the Dean of the School of EECE, I am very proud that our entry, ‘Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind,’ in the 8th Smart SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards garnered the highest award,” he said.

“I believe that the splendid performance of the team has not come as a surprise because they worked hard for it and the project itself is very interesting, innovative and with social relevance,” he added.

Caluyo said he has always encouraged his faculty members and students to engage in research activities to put into practice their knowledge and experience.

“This new achievement is a concrete evidence of Mapúa’s thrust towards Outcomes-Based Education, wherein the learners demonstrate what they are able to do with what they know,” he said.

This was the second time that Mapúa joined the annual competition, and the Mapúans have always made it to the top 10. — TJD, GMA News

....the doctor

Danilo Casimiro–one of the world’s top vaccine developers, and a Filipino

 

The UP graduate is the only Filipino scientist in Merck’s vaccine discovery department, which produced the world’s leading vaccine against HPV

By: Alex Y. Vergara
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

 

 

Danilo Casimiro, the only Filipino scientist who was part of the team that worked on Gardasil, the world’s leading vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), is now busy working with colleagues on a vaccine to help prevent dengue.

 

Casimiro flew to Manila recently from West Point, Pennsylvania, where a number of Merck’s state-of-the-art laboratories and manufacturing plants are located, to give a series of talks to local pediatricians and gynecologists/ obstetricians about the need to address HPV at a young age through a series of vaccinations.

A magna cum laude with a BS Chemistry degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Casimiro later took postgraduate and doctorate studies in biochemistry and chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

He holds the distinction of being the only Filipino scientist in Merck’s vaccine discovery department, composed of close to 90 people.


Second-generation drug

“To be honest with you, I was involved in Gardasil more on the tail-end,” the soft-spoken Casimiro said. “But, obviously, after Gardasil’s licensure, there were more studies that needed to be conducted.”

And those studies have led Merck to work on a second-generation HPV vaccine that works not only on four, but nine types of HPV. It’s now on its “phase three” or late-stage development.

It may be the gold standard in HPV vaccines today, but Gardasil, which was first introduced in the market in 2006, only covers 70 percent of HPVs, which cause cervical cancer among women. In effect, there are still so-called high-risk HPV types that aren’t covered by Gardasil.

“The second generation [Gardasil] adds five more types, which brings the coverage to 87 percent,” said Casimiro.

According to a Center for Diseases Control fact sheet, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection among sexually active men and women. The more than 40 types of HPV can cause anything, from benign but unsightly genital warts to life-threatening cancers such as cervical, anal, rectal, penile and even cancer of the oropharynx (back of throat).

Even monogamous couples who have had previous relationships are still at risk, as the virus, even if acquired from a previous sex partner and remains inactive in the body, can still be passed on to a current sex partner.

In most instances, as long as your immune system isn’t compromised, the body is eventually capable of neutralizing the virus by itself. But there are certain types of HPV that are resilient to the body’s immune system. These are the ones that could pose health problems to the individual later on.



In the Philippines, Gardasil, which comes in three shots ideally administered within a six-month period, is given to boys and men 9-26 years old, and girls and women 9-45 years old.

Age disparity

Why is there a need to give the vaccine early, and why the age disparity between men and women?

The immune system Gardasil brings about is better on a young person, even though he or she may not yet be sexually active. It’s just the way the body’s immune system works, said Dr. Ina Crisologo, an obstetrician-gynecologist and one of Merck’s medical advisers in the Philippines.

“In the Philippines, we have approval to make Gardasil available to girls as young as nine,” said Crisologo. “I’m not aware of any vocal opposition to giving the vaccine at such a young age.”

“As you age, you become less responsive to vaccines,” Casimiro added. “It has been shown for HPV, but I think it can apply generally.”

Certain consequences of HPV on males, particularly genital warts, can be acquired at any age. But studies Merck conducted are limited to the 9-26 age group.

“There may be some doctors who dispense Gardasil to male patients older than 26, but this is considered off-label,” said Crisologo. “Patients can just be informed that scientific evidence was based only on a specific population belonging to a specific age group.”

In other words, because of the absence of additional tests, it hasn’t been proven to be beneficial to people beyond certain ages. The same condition applies to women. Gardasil’s full efficacy has also been proven with the completion of three shots.

The way Casimiro sees it, Gardasil has revolutionized the market in more ways than one.

“Now you have adolescent and a young adult market, which before wasn’t very robust for vaccine manufacturers,” he said.

No stumbling block

As for his being a Filipino, it never became an issue or a stumbling block in his 15 years at Merck.

“One thing good about Merck is that they provide you with opportunities regardless of your racial origins,” he said. “Diversity as well as ethics and integrity are integral parts of the company’s core values. As long as you dedicate yourself to your work, the rewards and recognition will come.”

But his being Filipino does come into play with his work. This can be seen in the latest studies he and his colleagues are working on.

“I think my being a Filipino ties me to what’s important in the [Asia-Pacific] region,” he said. “For example, I was involved in the initial part of formulating the team for the dengue vaccine Merck is publicly working on. I feel passionate about vaccines not only on what’s relevant to the developed market, but also for the emerging markets.”

...the cure

Pinoy-developed cancer treatment could mean less pain for patients

GMA News Online 

Fri, Jan 27, 2012

 

A cancer treatment currently under development promises fewer side effects and less pain for cancer patients.

Developed by a team led by Dr. Jay Lazaro of the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines-Diliman, the treatment uses immunoliposomes as carriers of drugs in cancer therapy. It is currently being tested on mice and part of a project funded by the Department of Science and Technology.

"This kind of breakthrough technology is part of DOST’s drug discovery program for 2012,” says DOST Secretary Mario Montejo. “It lists high in the priorities under the Department's antibody molecular oncology R&D in our search for anti-cancer treatments suitable to Filipinos.”

The more common method of treating cancer, chemotherapy, damages normal cells, so patients experience unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, fatigue, weight loss, changes in taste and smell, loss of appetite and hair loss. Therefore, a treatment that affects fewer normal cells will result in fewer side effects.

The immunoliposome method coats cancer-treating drugs with liposomes, or microscopic artificial sacs that can be filled with drugs.

The technology is more specific as it targets only cancer cells. Since there are fewer non-cancer cells affected by the treatment, it results in less toxicity and the patient feels less pain.

The team is presently testing the technology using Caelyx, a cancer drug. However, “the technology can be eventually used for any other drug and any other illness,” says Dr. Lazaro.

Cancer treatment using Caelyx may cost from P40,000 to 45,000 for every 20 mg. Although the immunoliposome treatment may cost higher, it can potentially be more effective because it is target-specific and results in less toxicity. This could mean less fatigue for the patient and a greater chance of beating and recovering against the disease.

According to the Department of Health, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines, behind communicable diseases and cardiovascular diseases. — TJD, GMA News

...the anti-cancer researcher

Filipino doctor finds anti-cancer properties in soy


By Danny Dangcalan
The Philippine Star
November 06, 2011

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines – A Filipino doctor who was honored as one of the outstanding Filipino-Americans in science and technology at the 2010 PhilDev awards has discovered anti-cancer properties in soy.

Dr. Alfredo Galvez, who was in Bacolod recently for a talk on Reliv International, said he has discovered the anti-cancer properties of Lunasin that is found in soy during his post-doctoral research at the University of California in Berkeley.

“Lunasin is found in the nuclei of storage cells of developing soybean seeds. Lunasin is also an active ingredient in soy that reduces bad cholesterol,” he said.

In collaboration with Soy Labs, Galvez, who is also the lead scientific advisor for Soy Labs in Mexico, said they patented the cholesterol-lowering effect of Lunasin and its novel mechanism of action.

Galvez is currently involved in research collaboration with the University of California Davis Center for Nutritional Genomics to determine the effect of Lunasin as a functional equivalent to a human tumor suppressor and the Department of Chemistry to determine molecular structure of Lunasin.

Galvez is also center specialist of the Center for Excellence for Nutritional Genomics of University of California, and an adjunct assistant professor of the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Galvez was with Soy Labs president Ryan Schmidt and Reliv Philippines managing director Jolly Gomez at a talk at the Grand Regal Hotel about Reliv International products.

Schmidt said Reliv would launch their products containing Lunasin in December or January.

Reliv International is a direct selling company that develops, manufactures and markets nutritional products that promote optimal health. Approximately 60,000 independent distributors in 15 countries sell Reliv products, he added.

Reliv was founded in 1988 by Robert and Sandy Montgomery with the mission to “Nourish Our World.”

The company is based in St. Louis in Chesterfield, Missouri, and its products are sold in 15 countries.

...the iBUS

Pinay's iBus invention wins in London

by Rose Eclarinal,

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

LONDON - After long, arduous eight years of self-funded research and project, Elma Arboleras received a reward she did not expect.

Her invention dubbed as the iBUS won a gold medal for the consumer category at the British Invention Show. The BIS is on its 11th year of bringing together inventors, innovators and designers in a platform that will enable them to promote and advance their ideas.

From hundreds of participants, the entries were narrowed down to semi-finalists, finalists and winners per category, plus special awards and citations.

Arboleras said that in her experience, being an inventor has nothing to do with being a geek or a genius. But it definitely takes a lot of research, passion and back-breaking work.

“It’s about faith. Faith in ourselves, faith in our God who can make all things possible. The reason why I participated is to inspire our kababayan. Mine started with just a dream--a dream that maybe we can help ease the traffic problem,” she said.

Arboleras, a BS in Customs Administration graduate from Iloilo, developed the iBUS concept with Rodel De Guzman, her co-inventor. They joined the invention show on their own, without the backing from government or any private companies. Arboleras pooled her own resources to be able to fly to the UK when the entry was shortlisted.

In front of 25 judges from corporate and specialist fields, she was given 3 minutes to discuss the invention.

That moment, she felt the need to shine and bring honor and pride to her country. She summed up 8 years dogmatic resilience, passion and dedication in an eloquent presentation.

“When I was given that medal, I was like ‘Oh! Finally, a recognition!’ But I didn’t really feel that it was for me. It was for the Philippines. I really felt I was there for the Philippines even when I came on my own. What made me stronger to go for it was the thought that with it is a kind of solution that might help our country,” she explained.

‘It’s my gift to Philippines’

Arboleras said the solution for the traffic problem in the Philippines is a daunting task that cannot be done by a mere introduction of technology. However, having a technology that will solve it is a good start.

She urged the government to give iBUS a chance.

While she already received offers to buy the patent of the iBUS to be implemented abroad, she turned down the offer. She wanted Philippines to be the first to benefit from it.

“What I have done or got here is my gift for the Philippines. What our government is going to do about it is the Philippines' gift to the world,” said Arboleras.

Kane Kramer, the inventor of iPod and president of The British Invention Show is impressed with the iBUS.


“Elma’s application of technology was really directing at a problem which affects the majority of society rather than just one little specialist area and that it can make a difference to people’s daily lives,” said Kramer.

He also encouraged the Philippine government to do more for young innovators and inventors for them to be able to participate in platforms like the British Invention Show and similar platforms in the world which would allow them to showcase their inventions.

“It’s important that both companies, corporate and government get behind the innovators and the inventors. I am not talking big money necessary in big business. We are talking about here the seedbed, the very seeds when they are sprouting and nurturing those seeds and giving the seeds the chance to root properly and by doing this with innovation and technology, you have the scope to completely change the outlook for an entire country by both manufacturing and exports,” he said.

He added: “A single invention has a capability to transform the wealth of a nation. And it’s common that great inventions and great innovations actually can go unnoticed. Sometimes, sitting on university desk with talented professors and these could be world changing and yet they don’t get out, they don’t escape and don’t see the light of day.”

The iBUS


iBUS or Intelligent BUS Utility System will work by using machine readable tags to digitally identify a vehicle for it to be part of a database. Its daily operation will be managed through computers.

“Our system offers a level playing field for everyone involved because we kept in mind everyone involved in our traffic problem: the bus drivers, the enforcers, the operators, the commuters,” said Arboleras.

She added: “It’s the first patented bus monitoring and management system in the Philippines so this would make the buses load and unload passengers in the proper designated areas only.”

The iBUS system can organize the buses based on the machine readable tags. It can group the buses and allocate designated stop or pick up points. It will also impose a time limit on a bus stop usage. The bus will be programmed to stop and open its doors at allocated areas only. It also prides on the Real Time Location System (RTLS) to track the buses and project the exact arrival of buses in the designated loading and unloading areas.