6 OPINION
Deceit and Destruction
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The Green Delta: Mass-Producing the Environmental Revolution
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Of Unli Rice and Blood-Stained Paddies
5
COMMUNITY
C(reature)S
6
Dr. Perry S. Ong: The Man of CS
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Orgs, Orgs, Orgs: A (Brief) Guide
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10
FEATURE
Would You Study the Hairs on a Fly?
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Trash!
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Rehabilitation, Not Reclamation
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THE COVER The Philippines is reported to be among the five countries that contribute half of the world’s plastic waste that ends up in the ocean. To fault the Filipino people entirely, however, would be unfair — industrialized nations are passing off the burden of recycling to developing countries, while capitalists insist on presenting “green” alternatives which are both unaffordable and ultimately futile.
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If we are truly serious in reducing pollution, we must first hold big business accountable and clamor for foreign policy that is not subservient to the whims of the Global North.
CONTENTS
01
EDITORIAL
Deceit and D DUTERTE’S MOUTH REEKED like Manila Bay in his remark inviting foreigners to see girls sunbathing in Boracay. He made this utterance on his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, as he boasted about the restoration of the island to its original condition. Ironically, while Duterte was professing to have addressed environmental issues, a sea of protesters outside the House of Representatives, including environmentalists and environmental defenders, was criticizing Duterte’s environmental programs as ingenuine and anti-people. Indeed, the voice of the people do not speak lies as what the President does in his every SONA. While he claimed environment to be his top priority, his actions have shown otherwise. His socalled clean-up drives and rehabilitation projects are nothing but deceit to mask all his culpability for the destruction of the country’s environment, and the rights infringed by his actions that led to such serious issues.
OPINION
Unbeknownst to many is the true scenario in Manila Bay and Boracay that would make one question the authenticity of the rehabilitation. Zooming in first to Boracay, its six-month closure which dislocated thousands of workers did not stop business outfits with the establishment of giant casinos and hotels. Similarly in Manila Bay, despite the ongoing rehabilitation, massive reclamation projects which threaten mangroves, sea grasses and animals remain approved. Fishermen
02
in Bulacan who make their living from the bay also face possible demolition and relocation due to proposals of reclamation. Arguably, if the government is true to its goal, it would ensure that there is no such conflicts and that there is rigorous assessment done before the implementation. But what only became clear here is Duterte’s real intent that is to profiteer from the island and the bay, and not really to restore them. The bogus rehabilitation schemes of Manila Bay and Boracay are only two of the crimes Duterte has done to the environment and the people. Another glaring evidence of environmental destruction under his administration is the construction of mega-dams that poses severe havoc to our forests. Most pressing is the expedition of the Kaliwa Dam project that would cause irreversible damage to the biodiversity of Sierra Madre on which it will be situated. Moreover, its location is within the ancestral domain of the tribes of Dumagat-Remontados, thus displacing them and forcing them to evacuate. The government justified the need for the new dam to solve the water crisis despite available alternatives, but brushed off the imminent and long-term impact it would create on the ecosystem, and more importantly, the rights of the indigenous people to their land, territory and resources. Duterte also failed to address the issue of large-scale mining corporations that heavily contribute to the pollution of water
SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
Destruction and soil and put at stake communities within their sites. For one, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau permitted an Australian-Canadian mining giant OceanaGold to continue with its operation in Nueva Vizcaya despite several environmental, socioeconomic, and human rights violations that already resulted in the termination of its contract last June 20. Duterte’s list of sins goes on but what comes at the top is his absolute neglect and deliberate failure in defending the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from China’s intervention, which has already made a huge blow on the country’s marine ecosystem. Last April, the illegal harvesting of giant clams by Chinese fishing vessels grabbed the headlines, alarming scientists on the gravity of its projected effects. This endangered marine species, the cultivation of which was pioneered by the UP Marine Science Institute, provides structure to coral reefs, habitat and nutrient source to various organisms. China has also damaged coral reefs in the WPS amounting to 33 billion pesos annually. All these show how the sale of our local patrimony and Duterte’s subservience to his foreign master surrender the myriad flora and fauna our seas possess, stripping away from us Filipinos our rights to our natural riches.
The government should ensure protection and sustainability of the environment for the benefit of the majority, but it chooses not to do so. This is because it is bound to capitalist interests which disregard the environment and human rights for the amassment of wealth and generation of profit. It also obeys the dictates of foreign powers which maintain neoliberal economic agenda over nationalistic and pro-people policies. The state will never be reluctant to eliminate those who will hinder its plans, as manifested in the heightened killings of environmental defenders. We are left to suffer the consequences of the worsening degradation of the environment, and we must not wait until its collapse is already right in front of our faces. Hence, we should all the more intensify our call for the protection of our seas, forests and rivers, for the defense of our national sovereignty, and against the exploitation of our natural resources. More than this, we should also demand a change in the unjust socioeconomic and political system that is the root cause of environmental destruction. We cannot magically clean Manila Bay overnight, but we can get rid of the trash that makes it stink — no other than President Duterte himself. ●
These offenses of the Duterte regime against the environment reflect whose interest the state safeguards and serves to.
OPINION
03
MASS-PRODUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVOLUTION
The Green Delta:
WRITTEN BY BEATRICE PANLAQUI
04
REUSABLE, ORGANIC, FAIR TRADE, 100% plastic-free, paperless, zero waste. With increasing global tensions about climate change and pollution, more and more people are subscribing to “environmentally friendly” practices promoted by conscious consumerism movements which, more often than not, only repurpose environmentalist sentiment into commodities such as metal straws, reusable cups, and tote bags. Although these efforts are wellmeaning and admirable on the part of the consumer, individualized strategies combating worldwide problems are not enough to create significant change. Corporate institutions, however, have successfully managed to make us think otherwise. Green capitalism relies on the notion that choices made by individual consumers are the root cause of environmental destruction — and, when shifted to the right product or the better, greener alternative — the answer to saving the environment. This allows corporations to deflect responsibility for the continuing environmental crisis while capitalizing on the upsurge of people who are looking for a way to help by providing them with goods sold as “environmentally friendly” – when, in fact, according to the CDP Carbon Majors Report, an alarming 71% of global carbon emissions were found to be from just 100 companies in 2017. On the part of the producer, this generates profit while bypassing legal and ethical regulatory controls and passes the blame onto the individual consumer. Personal culpability is grafted onto the consumers’ conscience while making them believe that what they are doing is enough. Thus, the consumer mindset: “Plastic waste in the ocean? That’s our fault for not being more conscious about our plastic usage. I confess that I’m guilty of contributing to this problem; therefore, it’s also up to me to resolve this. In my own little way, I can help by switching to bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic ones.” To most consumers and businesses, green capitalism seems like the only viable option against environmental disaster because it fits into the existing socioeconomic order. Followers of the conscious consumerist lifestyle argue that the demand for more environmentally friendly goods will drive industries to adopt environmentally-friendly practices on their own. However, the notion that we can drive demand to our will in such a way is improbable when faced with the fact that most people are not privileged enough to choose between green products and their cheaper alternatives.
In the Philippines, for example, the bulk of our population struggles to meet their basic needs on a daily basis and simply does not have the financial means to make the switch from buying sachets of goods every day to purchasing large reusable containers. This discounts the argument that it is possible to enact significant change when the individual actions of consumers pile up, given that it is already the majority who cannot afford to do so. The environmental crisis is a systemic issue that cannot be addressed by simply consuming and purchasing our way through the problem. Green capitalism, in as much as it portrays itself as the solution by providing consumers with an alternative, will not be capable of achieving what it seeks to achieve. The process of producing and purchasing environmentally friendly goods still moves within a system that heavily relies on maximizing production in order to generate the most profit. Capitalist social relations of production and consumption dictate the aggressive extraction of resources for the interests of the few who hold a staggeringly large amount of capital, directly resulting in environmental destruction. The end goal of capitalism is the monopoly of production, resources and capital for the maximization of profit; although green capitalism recasts itself as the peaceful crosshatch between current socioeconomic conditions and the solution to our environmental crisis, it only does so in order to lull consumers into a sense of satisfaction. It will stop at nothing — even in the face of environmental crisis — as long as it can expand for more profit, relentlessly uprooting and boring into the earth’s natural resources. Rather than pointing the blame to ourselves, an epic shift in the longstanding narrative that has been ingrained into us can be undertaken. Trying to convert into a greener lifestyle is not meaningless or wrong, as these actions remind us about the impact the environment has on our daily choices and our day-to-day lives, and not the other way around. However, we must recognize that these individual actions, on their own, will never amount to a considerable change. The destruction of the environment is rooted in a systemic and institutional deficiency that is most often overlooked, and it is only through the negation of such can we succeed in overcoming this. Our goal should be to transform our relations of consumption into relations of interdependence, recognizing that it is through collective action to overhaul the system that birthed environmental destruction will we succeed. ●
SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
ON THE 15TH OF FEBRUARY 2019, the Republic Act 11203, formerly known as Rice Tariffication Law, now called as Rice Liberalization Law, was signed. A seemingly normal day for the most of us inside the four corners of the classroom, little did we know, we have already been catapulted straight into the edge of a metaphorical cliff. In October 2018, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed the urgency to solve the rising price hikes of rice in the country. The solution was to allow the liberalization of rice importation which demanded the upliftment of the previously imposed quotas for rice. This will naturally permit the entrance of unprecedented quantity of foreign rice varieties. Essentially speaking, the implementation of the Rice Liberalization Law removed the safeguard for our local producers, that is to invoke the right for quota restrictions on foreign imports. Local farmers now face the foreboding pressure of competing with foreign suppliers. As per the laws of supply and demand, the entry of new competitors naturally gives way to the lowering of rice prices.
WRITTEN BY NATALIE GALIBUT ILLUSTRATED BY JON BONIFACIO
But what does it have to do with us? Won’t the lowering of prices work for our benefit? This seemingly innocuous question demands much more than a set of predetermined answers guided by economic terms. To ask whether or not it has something to do with us demands that we survey the current socio-political climate of the nation. The most pressing is the rising death toll of peasant farmers, shot in the fields or in their houses, their bodies dragged along the gravel for all the world to see. The answer can be found in one of the most well-known folk songs in our shared culture, “Magtanim ay ‘di biro.”
Magtanim ay ‘di biro, maghapong nakayuko, ‘di naman makatayo, ‘di naman makaupo. It is of no question that farming is magnanimously difficult. Literally and figuratively, the weight of the nation is carried by our farmers. The backbreaking labor of farmers bring food to our tables, from cafeteria lunches to unli-rice buffets. Every moment, every mundane happenstance that we are enjoying in this moment is not without the centuries-old unceasing perseverance of marginalized farmers.
UNDER THE DUTERTE REGIME:
OPINION
MORE THAN 200 FARMERS KILLED
Kay pagkasawing-palad Ng inianak sa hirap. Ang bisig kung ‘di iunat, ‘Di kumita ng pilak. The life of farming is difficult, but a life of a farmer in a semi-feudal society is prison. It is important to clarify that when we speak of local rice farmers, we speak about the millions of families toiling under the heat of the sun. The land by which they toil on is owned by none other than the hacienderos whose imeldific wealth far outclasses the peasantry’s measly incomes. An outrageous contradiction, the ones who feed us have nothing to feed themselves with. For all the pride that comes with being an agricultural country with bountiful resources, our farmers still belong to the most marginalized social class. How can that ever reconcile with the claim that the country is, in fact, “wealthy”? The folk song was never meant to be taken as it is, but it resonates well the cruel realities of the lives of our farmers. But as we delve deeper into the reason of what the song depicts of their situation, it would take us into the roots of the problem — that is the unjust economic and socio-political framework that favor the few. Starving farmers and their families tilling and toiling on lands they do not own and peasants victimized by militarization and extrajudicial killings are clear manifestations of our country’s blood-stained political climate.
Halina, halina, mga kaliyag, Tayo’y magsipag-unat-unat. Magpanibago tayo ng lakas, Para sa araw ng bukas. This stanza seems to say that the farmers have no choice but to continue living each day with the same conditions they experience. However, this should instead challenge us into taking the action that is necessary to liberate not only the farmers, but the whole society, from the social injustice that results to deprivation and poverty of the majority. Thus, we must find it in ourselves not just to hear their clamors for justice and agrarian reform in every rhyme of the song, but also to take part in it as the energized youth. It is not enough that we merely know or acknowledge their struggle, rather we must stand with them as they fight for their rights and interests. ●
7 OUT OF 10 LANDLESS
Sources: IBON International, NNARA
05
MEET THE LOCAL FAUNA OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
C
S
COMMUNITY
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALAB AYROSO
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SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
HAVE YOU WALKED in the Arboretum near the Institute of Biology and noticed something move? Or maybe as you stare outside the classroom window, something caught your eye? With UP Diliman’s rich vegetation and abundance of foliage, it is not a surprise that a wide variety of animals roam around the university, particularly the National Science Complex. Here are just a few of the diverse wildlife you can spot in the campus. From tiny bugs to majestic beasts, these make up the local urban biodiversity.
COPPERSMITH BARBET Megalaima haemacephala
Forest and forest edge
Noisy and conspicuous, you can’t miss it as it bears the colors of UP. This bird often perches on exposed dead limbs in the canopy. The coppersmith barbet strikes your attention due to its long series of loud single notes pok, pok, pok, which gives origin for its other name, pokpok.
BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE Oriolus chinensis
Early second growth, open scrub, gardens
With its distinct yellow and black plumage, the black-naped oriole can easily be spotted on thin branches of trees around UP. It makes a loud “kiyaw” as it soars from tree to tree feeding off berries and fruits. Try to spy one resting on the edge of the CS Admin Building during the afternoon!
PHILIPPINE SCOPS OWL Otus megalotis
Forest and forest edge
One of the 16 owl species in the Philippines, the Philippine Scops Owl can be found nested in holes of trees of UP Diliman’s Arboretum. This unassuming bird lives with a diet of small mammals and insects, hunting them at night. With its grey-brown plumage, it naturally disguises itself with the forest trees, making it a challenge to spot this raptor aside from its orange red eyes.
— Endemic to the Philippines
COMMUNITY
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RHINOCEROS BEETLE Xylotrupes gideon
Leaf litter, fallen logs
This shiny dark red little creature is scattered around the Science Complex, even found in chemistry labs. Males are distinct with its two large chitinous horns, used to fight other male to eliminate their rivals during the mating period. If you see this glorious insect, be gentle, or else it will hiss at you. The hissing sound is made with their abdomens rubbing against their wing covers.
RED COTTON STAINER Dysdercus cingulatus
Cotton trees, crop plants
Bright red and found in groups, the red cotton stainer is called as such because of its tendency to leave stains on the cotton balls it feeds on. It is considered as a major crop pest as it sucks the plant sap found in the seed of cotton, making it economically unusable. Not so much here in UP — just a colorful bug to find when it’s kapok season.
BANDED BULLFROG Kaloula pulchra
Trees
From the name itself, the banded bullfrog has a light brown stripe across its plump body. An introduced species, it originally came from parts of southern India and Sri Lanka through Burma, Thailand and parts of southern China, and now abundant in UP Diliman. Do not be fooled, despite its short limbs and squat body, this chunky frog is adept in climbing trees. You’ll find this obtuse amphibian hopping around or on tree branches during the rainy season.
— Endemic to the Philippines
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SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
LIME BUTTERFLY Papilio demoleus
Shrubbery
Lime butterflies can be found visiting anything that blooms, especially citrus plants, hence the name. Both male and female butterflies are black with yellow spots on their dorsal sides, but they can be discerned by a red spot found in the inner part of the wing of females and a crescent-shaped blue spot in males. The underside of the wings are much more colorful and brighter with more yellow spots and is paler with a cream background.
ASLAN THE CS LIB CAT Felis catus
College of Science Library
This fat, orange cat is the prima donna of the College of Science. With her large figure, you can’t miss her sleeping at the CS Library steps. Although not the most affectionate feline, her docile nature manifests in her long naps, which average to 15 hours a day. Aslan, Garfield, Muning, or simply the CS Lib Cat, has become a local favorite, exuding charm from her siesta positions which students can’t resist to pet and capture in pictures.
Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 1st Edition, 2006. Central Institute for Cotton Research (2015). Cicr Technical Bulletins, Indian Council Of Agricultural Research, India, English Language. Lim, K.P., Lim, L.K.,1992. A Guide to the Amphibians & Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. Wild Bird Club (birdwatch.ph)
COMMUNITY
of
the
Philippines
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coach conductor catalyst cheerleader critic colleague UPD Institute of Biology Director, 2006 - 2012 UPD College of Science Dean, 2018 - 2019
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DR. PERRY S. ONG: THE MAN OF CS
2019
Dr. Perry Ong passed away last March 2, 2019, only a year into his term as the dean of the College of Science. This photo is Scientia’s last on file of the late dean, taken during his opening remarks for the Diliman Intercollege Socials held February 22, 2019, just nine days before his passing. WRITTEN BY RICCI MAE MARGALLO
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SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
HE WAS OFTEN DESCRIBED by his taillike hair and usual plain shirt and jeans, his humble vibe exuding every time you see him around the Science Complex, particularly within the Admin Building and the Institute of Biology. He was the “6C’s” of the College of Science (CS) as what he wanted to portray himself — Coach, Conductor, Catalyst, Cheerleader, Critic and Colleague. But what this man had shown was more than how he was known. Dr. Perry Ong, the late Dean of CS, is one of the most notable professors in the university for his major contributions in the field of biology. His deep love for nature led him to conduct numerous research about urban biodiversity, forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and monitoring of geothermal production fields. Dean Perry also dedicated much of his efforts in the preservation of different endemic plants in the country. His works made him bag prestigious awards such as the Outstanding Youth Scientist Award (2004), the Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Award (2004) and the Concepcion Dafuldaza Award for Distinguished Achievement (2016). But aside from his scientific contributions, what made Dean remarkable to the CS community was his admirable service to the college. Despite the short time of his administration, he was able to spearhead many projects that greatly benefited the students. Under his term was the inception of the CS Study Nook that provided students with a free and convenient space available 24/7 for studying and reviewing. This project has helped students who are struggling with their academics, especially those who cannot afford to go to cafés to spend their late nights to review for their exams or make their requirements. His concern for the welfare of students was not limited to giving them a place to study. He also made efforts to address their
COMMUNITY
financial needs. One was by ensuring that the monthly stipend of graduate students who are beneficiaries of the DOST Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) are released on time, or at minimum, less delayed. He was also earnest in creating avenues for CS’s future scientists to enhance their skills, communicate their ideas, and share their knowledge with people from different fields. He initiated the first ever CS Graduate Student Research Conference where students from various institutes presented their research to the wider public, and the CS Alumni Talks where they were inspired by science professionals who are now successful in their respective careers. He too ensured that students experience quality amenities in the college. He designated a new office known as the Office of the Associate Dean for Facilities and Resource Management (OADFARM) to take care of the facilities to be put up within the complex. He even insured around 10.6 million pesos to fund further developments of the College of Science Resource Center (CSRC), which include the procurement of desktops and the upgrade of internet connection. These were only some of the undertakings Dr. Perry made in his short while as dean, but his actions spoke a lot of how he valued and responsibly performed his role of giving CS students the best environment for them to realize their aspirations of becoming scientists in service of the nation. He did not settle for anything less but always pushed through the boundaries and exerted all what he can do to fulfill his endeavors for the students, and for the college as a whole. The entire CS mourned over Dean’s passing but his leadership will always continue to be a challenge for future administrators and an inspiration to both students and faculty. ●
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NON-INSTI INSTITUTE LEGEND
IB
IC
IESM
IM
MSI
NIGS
NIMBB
NIP
A GUIDE TO THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
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WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY JERSEY GANDING, NIKKA MACASA, JALEN TADEJA IF YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD to an academic life with a wide room for social growth and fulfilling activities, joining an organization is a great option. Providing projects for the development of its members and their relationship with their society and environment, organizations could satisfy a significant part in the college experience of students who thirst for new friendships and opportunities. Orgs are places where people of similar interests could meet and discover new interests together, provide help and support from academics to personal problems and share experiences about life in and out of the campus. Every org has its unique culture and tradition and its own mission and services dedicated to the enrichment of members and other students, their chosen field, their future and, by extension, their society as a whole. Surviving college could be easier with an org at your back, with more experienced peers pushing you forward. As a start, do your research about the application process, goal and events organized by the different orgs in the campus. Pick an org whose services and mission interest you and could provide you with an environment you are comfortable to work with. Then, brace yourself and remember that, like almost anything in life, applying to an org requires dedication and responsibility. If you are successful in this, then, maybe, all is well. (If not and you somewhat felt like this org is not for you, try another org! Successful discoveries are sometimes paved by lots of trial-anderror.) And so, to help ease this journey for the freshies and other students still finding an org to join, we provide you with a brief description of the following organizations based in the College of Science:
SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
Agham Youth UPD is the local youth chapter of the mass organization, AGHAM. Its advocacy centers on integrating science in the struggle of the masses to forward national industrialization in the face of institutional problems. It is affiliated with Youth for Earth, an alliance of environmental advocates, and is also the lead coordinator of 350.org Philippines, an international climate justice movement. It also conducts educational discussions, community integrations and People’s Science School, a program wherein volunteers bring S&T education to grassroots communities.
Scientia is the official student publication of the College of Science. Founded in 1988, Scientia uses journalism to forward the local and national problems and issues in science and technology. Scientia reflects the struggle to fight against these issues, discusses its relation to our political and economical environment, and writes about possible solutions to these problems. As training for their writers and editors, Scientia conducts educational discussions about the current issues of science and technology and holds writing workshops to further hone journalistic skills.
COMMUNITY
The UP Association of Biology Majors (UP ABM) was started by students enlisted in a class of Field Botany during the summer of 1975. The same year, the group formalized as UP ABM, was duly recognized as a socioacademic organization in the University, dedicating itself towards promoting Biology “as a subject and as an institution relevant to our nation’s future.” Throughout the year, UP ABM organizes events such as the BioLOGIC high school quiz bee, the Pencil Project wherein members collect used pencils during UPCAT for donation, and other numerous medical, dental and tuli missions.
Anakbayan — College of Science is the local chapter of the national democratic mass organization from the youth sector, Anakbayan. In line with the objectives of its parent organization, it seeks to arouse, organize and mobilize studentscientists towards its comprehensive goal of uniting the youth to fight for TLEKS (Trabaho, Lupa, Edukasyon, Karapatang sibil at Serbisyong Panlipunan). It conducts educational discussions, forums, workshops and basic mass integration programs to uphold the democratic interests of the youth.
The Iuvenis Orbis Geological Fraternity (IOGF), the only dulyrecognized fraternity in the college, is directed towards cultivating excellence, integrity and brotherhood in the geosciences profession through sponsoring the Alberto Llamas Education Assistance Fund for its members and the UP Geology Merit Awards. Established in 1972, the fraternity also continually upholds these values through events such as the semestral Taal Volcano field trip, the Geosciences Educational Tour, and the NIGS Lecture Series.
The UP Association of Chemistry Majors and Enthusiasts (UP ACME) is an academic organization that upholds the spirit of camaraderie and integrity among its members while promoting academic excellence in the field of Chemistry. Established in 1997 and refounded in 2008, UP ACME continues to forward these through quiz bees like HSM: Hanep sa Science at Math, Are You Ready to CHEMpete?, Oh CHEM Gee!, and other projects such as the Chem Immersion, the Undergraduate Thesis Symposium, PatiCHEM, Kimikain and Akapnayan.
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The UP Astronomical Society (UP AstroSoc), residing in the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory inside the campus, is dedicated to the promotion and study of astronomy among students. Throughout the year, UP AstroSoc holds events such as an annual Astronomy quiz bee for UP students and conducts workshops which aims to help students discover the wonders of astronomy through theory and application. During significant astronomical phenomenon, UP AstroSoc often facilitates a public viewing which attendees can use telescopes provided.
UP Cwm Zena’na is an all-female organization, established in 1980, that is dedicated to the empowerment and the protection of the rights of female students and practitioners in the field of geology. It holds a number of events yearround which include the annual Geology Board Review, Earth Cwiz, NIGS Idol and a month-long event-packed anniversary celebration.
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The UP Career Assistance Program for Scientists (UP CAPS) aims to present CS students with opportunities in their respective fields by “introducing possible careers in the realm of science and technology and providing avenues to develop and apply necessary skills and tools to their chosen career paths”. To fulfill this goal, UP CAPS holds various events throughout the year following under three major categories: career exposure, career preparedness, and career application.
The UP Chemistry Society (UP ChemSoc) is an organization recognized as an official member of the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students, Inc. It aims to achieve the “highest level of academic superiority and competence in chemistry as well as its related fields.” The organization holds the Philippine National Chemistry Olympiad NCR, a regional chemistry quiz bee for high school students, and sponsors the Pasinaya and the Baldomero Olivera and Lourdes Cruz Awarding Ceremony for the board passers and the top two students of the graduating batch, respectively.
The UP DOST Scholars’ Association (UP DOST SA) is a socio-academic organization comprised of DOST scholars in the campus. Founded in 1979, UP DOST SA involves its members in different programs and activities, promoting national development through science and technology. The organization holds yearly events such as the Summer Orientation and Enrichment Program for incoming freshie DOST scholars and the AgHamon math and science competition.
The UP Environmental Science and Meteorology Society is a newlyrecognized all-graduate academic organization. UP ESMS is devoted to the pursuit of excellence in the fields of environmental science and meteorology. The organization is also interested in the “investigation of natural phenomenon including human-nature interaction and in contributing to major decisions towards a sustainable development in the country and in the Asia-Pacific region.” UP ESMS organizes activities which aims to develop the research and critical thinking skills of its institute’s studentry.
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The UP Geological Society (UP GeoSoc) is the oldest organization based in the National Institute of Geological Sciences. As an academic organization, it is devoted to the “pursuit of honor and excellence in the field of geology” and the promotion of the geosciences. In line with this, UP GeoSoc conducts events such as the National Geology Congress and Geologs annually.
The UP Marine Science Society (UP MaSS) is an academic, sociocivic and environmental organization based in the Marine Science Institute comprised of graduate students and researchers. UP MaSS conducts various research and activities which adheres to its mission in promoting the “advancement and application of marine science,” as well as in promoting awareness about the situation of the country’s marine environment to the Filipino people.
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Founded in 1975, the UP Geology Majors’ Society is an organization that advocates for scholastic excellence and the protection of the environment. Adhering to its objectives, it holds activities such as Sasablay Ka Ba?, a general information quiz bee, EnviTalks, a seminar related to the environment, cleanup drives and a monthlong series of events that promotes the geosciences and environmental protection. It also cosupervises the National Geology and Mining Engineering Convention, along with the UP Mining Engineering Society.
The UP Marine Biological Society (UP MBS) is the only organization in the university which uses the sport of skin diving to promote marine awareness and environmentalism. As part of their adherence to the principles of environmentalism, UP MBS organizes activities such as open dives, environmental talks and recyclables fair along with participating in coastal clean-ups and mangrove planting. Furthermore, UP MBS is open for all students from different colleges and institutions who are willing to be part of their advocacy.
The UP Mathematics Club, established in 1921, is the oldest academic organization in the University. UP Math Club aims to promote and develop mathematics in the country through the means of “competitive but friendly activities.” Accordingly, UP Math Club provides major math competitions throughout the country which provides a place for different students to interact and to use their math skills and knowledge — some of these competitions like the Nationwide Search for the Math Wizard and the Freshman Math Quiz are held annually.
The University of the Philippines Mathematics Majors’ Circle (UPMMC) was founded in 1974 and is mainly dedicated to “scientific, intellectual, and educational pursuits, particularly in the field of mathematics.” UPMMC holds services such as AgiMath which is focused on giving students assistance in their math subjects and for tutorials in using the LaTeX software. Since 1988, UPMMC also has their annual mathematics competition for high school students, MATHirang MATHibay, with an average of 60 participating teams each year.
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Founded in 1989, the UP Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Society (UP MBBS) is the only organization based in NIMBB. It is known for holding the Biosciences Quiz Bee, a national competition for high school students, and MBB Week, promoting the org mainly to UPD students and faculty. The organization has since promoted research in the field of molecular biology and biotechnology. Moreover, it caters to the holistic development of the members through extra-curricular activities in sports, entertainment and the like.
The UP Rockhounds is an all-male organization based in NIGS which aims to promote awareness and appreciation for the geosciences. Founded in 1992, it upholds its objectives through activities like the annual field trip to Camara Island, Zambales.
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The UP Pre-Medical Honor Society (UP PMHS) was established in 1955 and was given its title by the Philippine Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Delta. UP PMHS comprises of students from different courses and degree programs who aim to enter the medical field. Accordingly, UP PMHS holds programs such as free clinics and Gawad Kalinga as part of their mission in “instilling social awareness and community service among [its] members in preparation for a profession that demands self-commitment to humanity.”
The UP Physics Association (UPPA) is the only academic student organization based in the National Institute of Physics (NIP). UPPA was founded in 1980 with an aim to promote and advance Physics in the University and throughout the country. An annual Physics Month is organized by UPPA which includes activities such as Pisikaalaman, which is a quiz bee for senior high school students, an NIP Open House, a grand pakain and a career talk given by some of the country’s top scientists.
The UP Zoological Society (UPZS), established in 1952, is an academic, sociocivic and environmental organization promoting “unity, service and environmental awareness to the Filipino people.” UPZS holds biology tutorials and academic competitions while also conducting projects such as medical missions and outreach programs as part of their advocacy. For the environment, UPZS participates in various environmental seminars and causes, in clean-up drives and in adhering to a “No Styrofoam” policy.
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Would you Study the Hairs on a Fly? WRITTEN BY RIO CONSTANTINO GRAPHICS BY JON BONIFACIO
HOW MANY CHILDREN grow up wanting to be entomologists? If I were to narrow the survey down to only kids interested in being scientists, I think most of them would want to study something like black holes, or dinosaurs, or the cure for cancer. But what about insects? Would anyone want to study the hairs on a fly?
Or so the report said. The authors proclaimed an ominous trend, yet most of their data came from Western sources.
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The problem is the lack of basic research. There’s no foundation of taxonomic work to base robust generalizations on. There are descriptions of insect species going back to the 1940s, but what’s there is patchy, and definitely incomplete. That a lot is missing can be inferred simply by comparing what we have with those of other countries who have already done the work. According to Mr. Pedales, databases in Europe list over 11,000 named insect species, while in the Philippines, there are only around 2,800. Alarming, considering how renowned the country is for biodiversity around the globe.
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Last April, I had an interview with Ronniel Pedales, a young entomologist currently teaching at the Institute of Biology in the University of the Philippines – Diliman. Initially, I wanted to ask him about an article published by The Guardian, titled “Plummeting insect numbers ‘threaten collapse of nature’.” The article summarized the findings of a scientific report which collated worldwide data on insect populations, and which found an alarming trend: insects were disappearing at calamitous rates. The most affected were the Lepidopterans, Hymenopterans, and Coleopterans. In other words, butterflies moths, wasps, bees, ants, and humble beetles, were dying in droves.
They cited not one study from the Philippines. Not a single one, despite our country being a foremost of biodiversity in the world, as well as being a center of rapacious ecological destruction. So I wrote Mr. Pedales an email asking if he knew of any study monitoring insect populations in the Philippines, and his reply was: “There aren’t any, at least not that I’m aware of.”
It’s a problem because taxonomy is the science of naming, of giving species an identity. How can you study the
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abundance and distribution of a specific insect if you can’t even identify it in the first place? Without knowing abundance and distribution, as well as a slew of other data, how can you plan for a species’ conservation? It would be like a bodyguard trying to protect a man whose name and face he knows nothing about. What’s even more alarming is how low people generally regard taxonomy. If, in the hierarchy of glamor with which the public regards science, cancer research and astrophysics lie at the top, then taxonomy is likely somewhere near the dusty bottom, and the taxonomy of insects somewhere below that. In a popularity contest between the Philippine Eagle and any insect really, it’s clear who the winner would be. This is not a situation we want the Philippines to find itself in. For one, it’s unjust to our taxonomists. Mr. Pedales, who specializes in the order Diptera, or flies, says that to accurately identify a fly species, it’s not enough to just rely on a picture. You also have to base identification on the individual hairs on a fly’s body, which differ by body segment, and which also vary in directionality. It’s difficult and tedious work. For another, we need insects to survive. If insects disappear, so will the crops they pollinate, and so will the humans who eat those crops to survive. And I will bet, with utter certainty, that the Philippines is in the midst of an entomological, ecological disaster — but by how much? Which species of insects are the most affected? And where? As much as other factors hamper taxonomy and entomology in the Philippines — the difficulty of fieldwork, for instance — it’s also a question of having enough warm bodies to tackle the problem. And given the overwhelming ratio of insects to entomologists, we’re going to need all the warm bodies we can get. Thankfully, according to Mr. Pedales, there are more students taking up graduate courses in biology now than before. Scientists are also becoming increasingly open to collaboration with other fields. Maybe a few of those future biologists will be interested in studying the hairs on a fly, or something like it. As Mr. Pedales said, insects rule the world. It’s just about time we know who they really are. ●
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SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
WRITTEN BY JOHN RAFAEL AMBAG ILLUSTRATED BY JON BONIFACIO
“BAAAAAAAAA BYE, as we say it,” retorts Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin as M/V Bavaria left Subic Bay carrying 69 container vans with approximately 2,400 tons of trash from Canada last May 31. The shipment served as a temporary conclusion between the diplomatic dispute of Philippines and Canada triggered by the six-year stay of illegally shipped Canadian trash in Philippine soil. The Philippine-Canadian garbage dispute began in 2013 as 103 containers containing falsely declared recyclable plastic scraps arrived in the country. The said trash hid from headlines until 2016, once a court ruling established the import of such trash as illegal. Shortly, Canada responded that such shipments were privately sanctioned without the government’s consent and promised to take the necessary measures to ensure the safe transport of scraps. The issue died out. In 2019, an outraged Duterte grew tired of waiting, electing to force feed the shipments to Canada, and threatened to declare war if they refuse. With a deadline in place, Canada was able to comply and here we are. Once again, with the issue seemingly dissipating, one must remember that such instances are not just accidents, they are part of a global issue. Garbage trade Nowadays, with the exponential boom of production from different flocks of the world, raw materials and manufactured products are not the only things involved in trades between countries. With excess production in place, consumption is inevitable, giving birth to the garbage trade. It is common practice for developed nations such as the United States, Australia, South Korea, and countries from the European Union to export their trash elsewhere for recycling. Among these countries, the US is the largest exporter. In 2018, it shipped 78% of its waste —
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157,000 containers of trash and scraps, to developing countries with known waste mismanagement issues, resulting in imminent pollution and environmental degradation for such countries. Before 2018, these developed nations are indebted to China for their waste processing. The country took responsibility for almost half of the world’s plastic waste. In fact, in 2012, Greenpeace reported that the country imported a record nine million tons of trash. The said practice, which amassed boatloads of cash, proved to be unsustainable for their environment due to mismanagement practices, pushing China to cut ties with the trade and ban the import of trash from different parts of the world. China’s decision heavily affected the US, which exports a third of its scraps to foreign countries. Lacking a recipient for their waste, massive loads of plastic and paper piled up in recycling facilities. Inability to process such waste forced authorities to dump them to landfills instead, making the recycling policy futile. Now, with developed countries being stunned of their nanny not wanting to receive their diapers anymore, who picked up the slack? SEA grabs opportunity While the concept of receiving trash from other nations seems disturbing, this failed to stop other countries to step up for China’s absence, giving them the potential to rake in millions to process such wastes. This prompted Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand to take advantage of the opportunity. Malaysia currently stands as the top plastic waste importer in the region. In China’s absence in 2018, the country accounted for an incredulous 872,797 tons of waste imports, a 58.72% increase compared to the previous year. Thailand placed second as it hauled 481,381 tons of trash, a drastic 212.0% increase compared to the previous
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year, typifying increased efforts to step up for China’s absence. Wrapping up the top three countries is Indonesia with 320,452 tons of waste imports, tantamount to 148.51% increase compared to the previous year. The Philippines, despite cashing in headlines for international media outlets with its supposed row with Canada, is a newbie, importing only 11,900 tons in 2018 which are measly numbers compared to the aforementioned titans. Nevertheless, the numbers are still 178.88% higher compared to 2017 imports that only amounted to 4,267 tons of trash. Given China’s absence, developed countries opted to take the practical stance, finding new countries willing to accept their wastes instead of advocating for improvement in their own recycling practices. The plastic trade monopolized by China instead morphed into an open scramble among developing nations for the promise of easy profit amongst their people. Profit and a disparaged environment Whilst Malaysia seemed like the victor for the scramble in SEA, Greenpeace Malaysia campaigner Heng Kia Chun indicated that the country became a “dumping ground.” “Even before the China ban, Malaysia struggled to deal with its domestic waste. It has no capacity to handle waste from other countries,” he added. The plastic trade advocates for the shipment of recyclable plastic, allowing the recipient countries to process such wastes and prevent degradation of their environment. However, this only proves to be a utopian concept as Malaysia is currently struggling with boatloads of imported low-grade scrap such as soiled food packaging, tinted bottles, and single-use plastic bags. These types of waste necessitate complex and expensive processing methods to be recycled, rendering them prone to be dumped into landfills instead. The storage of such wastes in landfills is not the only problem. Malaysians residing near Kuala Langat already complained of pungent chemical fumes that smelled like “burnt polyester” that can trigger hacking coughs to vulnerable citizens. Truckloads of low-grade scraps are instead being processed in areas surrounded by oil palm plantations and tin walls. The said areas house numerous illegal recycling factories, approximately 50, that sprawled out of the blue with no issuance of government permits.
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Complaints from citizens forced their government to take action, shutting down 34 illegal recycling plants that popped like mushrooms into existence. This also prompted the country to announce a three-month stoppage for imports. Officials seized up to 17,000 metric tons of waste, which is even larger than the waste imports of the Philippines for 2018. It was to their dismay to know that such waste proved to be irreversibly contaminated and cannot be further recycled, forcing them to dump them into their landfills. With the China ban in place, the problems mentioned are resultant of Malaysia’s ties to the Asian juggernaut. “The previous government was very supportive of China, so some companies found their way in outside the proper channels,” indicated Sri Umeswara, a consultant for the plastic recycling industry. “Enforcement was lacking. These Chinese guys took advantage. After the election, the whole thing blew up, ” he added. While Malaysia may have recorded the largest plastic shipments for SEA, it was Thailand that experienced a drastic exponential increase of 212.09% in 2018. The barrage of wastes from foreign players proved to be detrimental to its environment. In its April 22 issue, the Discarded featured Kuchon Umsawat, a farmer that experienced firsthand the toxic effects of the garbage trade. His tilled land is irrigated by a stream adjacent to a recycling factory. Wastes streaming from the factory resulted to his fish pond turning bright orange, contaminated with 14 types of heavy metals and pollutants. His vegetable crops did not survive the onslaught, and he expressed his anxiety of even selling his remaining fruits given the existing pollution. “It’s toxic trash and we are living here,” Umsawat said. “It’s very bad they are doing this to Thailand,” said Umsawat. Call for action In spite of the supposed economic utility provided by the trade, SEA nations proved to be incapable of effectively processing all imported waste. This forced such countries to instead follow China’s path and impose bans for the waste influx. Zuraida Kamaruddin, the current Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government, announced last October 2018 that Malaysia is expected to enforce a ban on plastic waste imports within the next three years and consequently cut issuance of new permits. Months prior, Vietnam also indicated that it would also be revoking issuance of new licenses for
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waste imports, as a means to cut down the rush of waste from developed countries. Thailand also chimed in with the restrictions, placing a ban on imports of 432 types of scrap electronics in August 2018. India also followed last March 2019, declaring the ban of all plastic imports to their country. However, Indonesia, the third largest player in the SEA region has yet to provide any announcements regarding its stance on preventing the entry of foreign waste. The recent diplomatic dispute between Philippines and Canada only helped the issue to achieve more traction. Earlier this year in January, the Philippines also sent back 51 container vans of mixed waste to South Korea comprising plastic and other materials. Malaysia followed suit last April as it shipped back five containers to Spain, and also vouched to continue sending back approximately 3,000 tons of contaminated waste which cannot be recycled by the country. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad dismissed the garbage trade as “grossly unfair” given the fact that the country already struggles to manage its own waste. The Philippines will not be stopping from here. After shipping waste back to Canada, it proceeded to dump back 25 tons of plastic waste from Hong Kong. To add, recently received waste from Australia will also be shipped back. This is in spite of the recipient being a local cement company which shall use the plastic to create cement. “No, I don’t give a flying f**k that it is used in making cement. If that is so cement makers should formally import the ingredient so it goes nowhere but to their plants,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin said in a tweet. Last May 2019, the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources already declared its plan of imposing a total ban on waste imports via a department administrative order. “‘Yan ang tanging paraan d’yan kasi nagkakaroon ng window eh. Sasabihin lang nila, scrap plastic, because these are the things allowed for importation. Pero pagdating pala d’yan, may misdeclaration,” said Environment Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones. What now? With developing countries instilling their rights to sovereignty and prioritizing their environment and the health of their people, one can only hope that the garbage trade can dissipate as a thing of
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the past. The garbage trade, as a practice, is anchored on the practice of recycling. Developed countries espouse recycling programs for their communities as an effort to save the environment. However, they place the burden of processing their waste to developing countries armed with lower regulation standards and a larger workforce, rendering the practice hypocritical. One may consider recycling as a valiant effort to counter the excess plastic production to prevent environmental degradation. However, is this really the case? A comprehensive study from the team of Geyer and others published in 2017, indicated that for the 6300 megatons of worldwide plastic waste as of 2015, only nine percent are recycled. The remaining 12% of the trash are incinerated, while an astounding 79% are still loaded into landfills or worse, the natural environment. Geyer’s team concluded that given the current rate of production and waste management policies, an estimated 12,000 megatons of plastic waste will lie idle in landfills by the year 2050. With this in mind, the effectiveness of the garbage trade in processing worldwide plastics is nil. The concept of recycling itself does not advocate cutting down waste production. In fact, it can further promote a culture of consumption as consumers tend to justify their waste production by assuming that most of their waste will be recycled anyway. With bans imposed by developing countries, developed countries that rely on export of waste for recycling procedures abroad are forced to reconsider their methods and address their garbage problem locally instead. Given their economic capital, it can be safely assumed that they have better means to address their own waste in comparison to developing countries who are juggling the problems of poverty, lack of economic and political sovereignty, and a crippled government. If unsolved, the garbage trade situation is strongly akin to the effects of climate change felt throughout the globe despite the significant imbalance in emissions produced by developed countries compared to developing nations. With developing nations taking a stand, one can only hope that this serves as a call for developed countries to take responsibility for their actions and babysit themselves instead. ●
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SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
INFOGRAPHIC BY TIFFANY UY
Sources: Rappler, Inquirer, GMA Network, Biodiversity Management Bureau, Philippine News Agency, Center for Environmental Concerns
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SCIENTIA VOL 26 NO 1
VOL. 26 NO. 1 THE ENVI ISSUE AUG. 2019 EDITORS
DESIGN
Sofia Federico Janina Alviar Jon Bonifacio
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cover art by sam julian ed. cartoon by sam julian
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