Omen
Se a
By Jay Mark Cundangan When time comes, it will change everything when those buildings and houses turn into clod, when smiles and happiness become fuss and doleful, the sound of cars and music change into screams, howls and regrets, people that are assiduously working are now lying on the ground, whispering for help then suddenly close their eyes, sleep and never awaken. What would life be when everything changed into nothing? A dreadful forecast might happen, it can happen maybe next month, next week, on the other day or maybe today so our alertness and knowledge are important to surpass this forecast. This forecast is called “The Big One” or an earthquake caused by the West Valley Fault’s movement. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake may happen and may affect some provinces of Luzon and Metro Manila. Magnitude 7.2 earthquake is equivalent to 1.80 billion of dynamites enough to ruin buildings and
infrastructures. This forecast was supported by PHIVOLCS, based on their prediction that 31,000 to 33,500 people may die and 113,000 may be injured. On July 30, 2015 a nationwide earthquake drill was held to educate children so everyone can handle and surpass this phenomenon. They also give activity sheets for some parents on how they can also surpass this calamity. The information and knowledge that were established in their mind are weapons that they can use to surpass this calamity. Earthquake… a killer…a destroyer, a wrecker and a problem that we can only surpass by using our faith, knowledge and awareness. Our love is our strength that we can use to save ourselves and other’s life too. Break this omen, lessen the people who might die or get injured and survive in this catastrophe with our intact family and our loved ones.
T h e
It’s already 7:00 o’clock in the morning but it is still gloomy outside, I open the door and notice the sea of clouds, clouds that cover the environment. After several days the sea of clouds are still covering the city, Government Agencies released some Press Conference and warnings for those people who are affected because of it. People are using face masks and wondering, Is it clouds came from? It’s not fog, it’s not cloud……….. specialists called it Haze, a particularly a particularly acute problem and it is usually happens in South East part of Asia. Haze can be formed when dust and smoke particles accumulates in dry air, to denote visibility reducing aerosols of the wet type, the term haze used in meteorological literature. One of its causes are forest fires, forest fires that contributes a lot of smoke and dust while the other one is dense of industrial pollution that
Of
Cl o u d s
By Jay Mark Cundangan
can be called as Smog. Smog and haze can cause zero visibility or low visibility because of mist that covers the environment and respiratory health threat because of its dust and pall of noxious fumes but its worst effect is disputes of neighboring country like little arguments between Malaysia and Indonesia. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was shrouded of noxious fumes, smell of ashes and coal. The main source of these silent destroyer are Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, Kalimantan and Riau where the forests and plantations are burned because of those farmers and owners that clearing their lands during dry weather. According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) the haze was brought in the Philippines by Typhoon Lando. Cebu was one of the places that were affected by
the haze in Indonesia, flights are canceled and people are worried. People used face masks and flights are canceled because of low visibility. It takes couple of weeks to clear those haze in our country. Last October 28, the level of haze in our country falls in 30 micrograms per normal cubic meter. 2 heads in General Santos City died but Secretary Janette Garin of DOH cleared that their death has no connection in haze. It’s not fog, it’s not cloud, it’s a fruit….fruit of non-contentment and selfishness, fruit of our eagerness to become wealthy and to rise above the clouds of our ambitions. But don’t worry it will happen; our recklessness will bring us to a city of clouds, clouds that will kill us silently and slowly and will take our freedom to see the beauty of sunrise and sunset, the stars and moon and all the splendors of what nature offer.
M a s s a c r e By Desserie Ligo
The bird songs that can be heard before are now cries of chainsaw, the clouds that covered the mountains are now smoked that is irritating and suffocating people around it. Tall trees that filter and humidify the air are now charcoals that chip in pollutions in our surrounding. What happened to those birds, clouds, trees and a green forest? Why does it become dark, polluted and compassionated work of god? Large brown spots of burnt forest stain were discovered in the Ipo, watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan. 6,600 hectares of forest provides fresh water to more than 11 million people in Metro Manila and it was
provided by Ipo watershed in order to absorb rain water that will channel into streams which are source of our fresh wasters. Evapotranspiration is a process of humidifying the air and because of it a typical tree can breathes out 250 to 400 gallons of water everyday. Cernan (a screen name used to protect his family) stated what he observed year by year during the dry season, “Last summer, the river got smaller and smaller, next year if the deforestation continues it might for good.”, and that is one of the effects of deforestation. Informal settlers and some Bulakenyos who lived around the Ipo
watershed are those people who are responsible on what they are doing; because of deforestation the soils from the mountain fell on the water that causes the water to become dirty. This may lead to higher water fees for consumers because producers or concessionaires will invest in a more powerful filtration technology. We are here because of God, and God made us to protect his creatures and masterpiece but what we are devastating, ruining and wrecking our nature. It’s the right time to become responsible and thankful on what we have and we need to protect our mother nature.
Outstanding Filipino Science Innovators Christian Joseph R. Cumagun Genetics Christian Joseph R. Cumagun, an agricultural scientist at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Los Baños, received the Outstanding Research and Development Eduardo A. Quisumbing Medal for mapping the genes of the fungus fusarium that can help destroy plant pathogens, thereby reducing reliance on pesticides. In 2008, when I served on the preliminary board of judges for The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards, Cumagun impressed me with his work in agriculture. In fact, he was one of the first in the country to study Trichoderma strains, fungi that act as natural pest control. One of NAST’s Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS), Cumagun also holds the prestigious title of UP Scientist. These twin recognitions made me lobby strongly for his receiving the TOYM award, which he did. I am glad to see his painstaking work continues to this day. Dr. Ma. Corazon A. de Ungria DNA analysis Ma. Corazon A. de Ungria, a microbiologist and head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory in UP Diliman, received the Outstanding Research and Development Julian A. Banzon Medal for her tireless efforts in conducting forensic DNA analysis. For decades, De Ungria and her team have used forensics to resolve parentage issues, to identify remains of victims of fires, to help in sexual assault and child abuse cases and to aid in other criminal investigations. De Ungria’s team continues to research the genetics of different local ethno-linguistic groups to understand better our people’s genetic history. An OYS and a TOYM award recipient, De Ungria is also in the Gawad Chancellor UP Hall of Fame for Research. She is one scientist whom I not only respect, but also have affection for. Some years ago, when a
student wanted to write about CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) in the Philippines, I referred her to De Ungria, who gave such a lucid explanation of molecular investigation that my student was inspired to do a great paper. Having served with De Ungria on the board of directors of the OYS, I have experienced firsthand her dedication; creativity and generosity in helping fellow Filipino scientists do their best. Hon. Mario G. Montejo Natural cancer cure Science Secretary Mario Montejo is known for giving emphasis to technological applications. Pure science, of course, has its place in the advancement of knowledge but, for a developing nation, commercialization of technologies is vitally important. Thus, he ensured that innovations that have made it to the marketplace should also be given their due. Rolando C. dela Cruz was conferred the Outstanding Technology Commercialization Gregorio Y. Zara Medal for his various herbal antiviral products. In his past work as a barber, Dela Cruz saw how much his clients suffered from skin diseases such as warts, moles, fungal infections. Using extracts from the cashew nut and other herbs, Dela Cruz came up with healing creams, the most popular of which are DeMole and DeWart. Most radical of all was his claim that his products could treat patients with basal cell carcinoma. In the Pinoy Achievers website (filipinoachievers.wordpress.com), he is quoted as saying, “By mere application of the cream, with no radical and unacceptable surgeries or procedures, 14 patients with skin cancer were cured in 16 weeks. No recurrences were reported.” His inventions won the Tuklas Award from the Department of Science and Technology in 1998. Since then, Dela Cruz has won gold medals at inventors’ fairs in Malaysia, Russia, Germany and United Kingdom.
His latest award is long overdue. Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla Newborn screening Research cannot be done in a vacuum, and administrators can make or break scientific efforts. Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla received the Dioscoro L. Umali Medal for her remarkable leadership in human genome institutions and research teams. Her research interests span the gamut from pediatrics to human genetics to inborn metabolic disorders. She holds clinic at Medical City, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital and Philippine Children’s Medical Center. She is also a professor at the Department of Pediatrics at the UP College of Medicine. But Padilla is most recognized for her institutional leadership. She established the country’s first Medical Genetics Unit at the UP College of Medicine, which became the Institute of Human Genetics. Padilla’s most lasting legacy is her advocacy for newborn screening, which can detect and treat inherited conditions in infants that can lead to mental retardation or even death, if undiagnosed. In 1996, Padilla convinced the Department of Health to include newborn screening in its national program. Then she lobbied for the Newborn Screening Bill to become law, which happened in 2004. In 2006, she became director of the Newborn Screening Program of the National Institutes of Health in UP Manila, a position she holds to this day. The citation for her 2004 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award reads: “Dr. Padilla’s passion for newborn screening has not only saved countless infants from certain death; it has also saved others from … mental retardation.” http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/248419/outstanding-filipino-science-innovators#ixzz3uTfap2Z9