Vol. 1 No. 1
August 2012
The Official Gazette of the B.S. Biology Program of the University of Southeastern Philippines
ARZELO D. RIVAS
Last June 2-10, 2012, the Friends of Philippine Eagle (FPE), a socio-civic organization of the B.S. Biology Program was invited to join the 14th Philippine Eagle Week (PEW) initiated by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources XI (DENR). The theme for this year’s celebration is “Saving the Eagle, Protecting the Environment, and Securing the Future.” This explains the foundation’s campaign of not only safeguarding the birds but also the protection of the environment. The PEW celebration opened with an eco-friendly parade dubbed as ‘Green Mob’ for green mobilization. The parade was participated by one hundred sixteen (116) B.S. Biology students from USeP led by Dr. Hilario Wong Jr., the FPE adviser. It was also participated by different government offices, private companies, and other nongovernment organizations, which set off from Rizal Park and ended at the NCCC Mall. The PEW is observed annually to create awareness for, and instigate action on the conservation of our National Bird, the magnificent Philippine Eagle. According to the organizers, Green Mob encourages alternative and energy-efficient
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modes of transportation or mobilization like cycling, walking, and running to bring attention to the issue of climate change so that people will support eco-friendly lifestyles. The PEW is a week-long celebration with a photo exhibit, Eagle Fest, Raptor Up-close, Ecogames and Sayagila Dance Contest and all of which happened at the NCCC Mall from June 2 to 10, 2012. (Contributors: Mary Lovely Mae Nazareno, Niña Marie Agusto, Jeza May Mamilic)
DENR-XI collaborates with USeP NatSci for a research study APPLE ROSE B. CALUD
The Natural and Physical Sciences Department of the College of Arts and Sciences has once again proven its excellence in the field of research after the success of the study conducted by the faculty and selected Biology students in the DENR experimental forest in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley. The research was conducted to assess the selected flora and fauna in the
experimental forest with the collaboration of the department and DENR-XI. The study lasted for 5 days which begun last January 30 and ended on February 30, 2012. Different methods were applied in the study to determine the, ferns, dipterocarps and invasive plant species present in the experimental forest. Macroinvertebrates were also identified and results revealed that the forest is biologically diverse. In the research, it was further recommended to have future studies in the experimental forest and to consider exploring the other parts of the forest as it has been expected that the forest could reveal more than it has in the present. A presentation on the research details was conducted to the fourth year students by Dr. Hilario Wong, Jr. last July 31, 2012. “I believe that our department should conduct more studies on the experimental forest since it will be an avenue for exploration and exercising our faculty’s expertice”, said Patrick Handugan, a fourth year student, after the presentation.
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FPE-USeP joins 14th Philippine Eagle Week Celebration
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NEWS
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ABS holds BioDay 2012 METCHIE MAE R. CORPUZ
The Association of Biology Students, the official academic organization of the Biology program held its annual organization day dubbed as BioDay with this year’s theme: “Play fair and have fun: Strengthen the bond!” The event was held at Davao City National High School last August 4, 2012 wherein 230 students actively participated and contributed to the success of the event.
sportsmanship but also beauty and wit. The event ended with the Biology seniors declared as the grand champion for the BioDay 2012, followed by the freshmen as first runner-up, the juniors as second runner-up, and the sophomores as the third runner-up. Indeed, the administration, and the Biology students yet again became victorious in reaching the goal towards unity through individual capabilities and uniqueness. Contributors: Gretchie Castanares, Keen Mark Subtiniente, and Leslie Jane Ang
Physical Sciences Department, with Dr. Hilario L. Wong, Jr. and Prof. Michel Mende (affiliated with the Bureau of Fire Protection) as the speakers for the seminar. Furthermore, fourth year Biology students were the principal manpower of the event which lasted for five hours. At the end of the seminar, the audience was provided with a simulation in order for them to practice all the things demonstrated during the seminar.
Intellectual Property Rights Seminar LESLIE JOY C. ABABON
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The activities were categorized as major sports, board games, and non-sports. There were also different booths positioned in the campus field. Under the major sports category were the sports basketball men and women and badminton mixed doubles. The board games were scrabble, chess, and word factory. Non-sports category had the games pick-up sticks, jackstone, pinoy henyo and catch the dragon’s tail. The event also hosted a search for the Mr. and Ms. Biology 2012 wherein it was once again proven that the students exhibit not only
NatSci Dept. led this year’s disaster preparedness ALEXAH JOY S. POLICHER The College of Arts and Sciences held a seminar on Fire and Earthquake Disaster Preparedness and Drill at the University Social Hall last July 11, 2012. The event, which aimed to inform the students and faculty members of the college on what to do when unexpected disasters strike the campus, was primarily participated by the Natural and
“Research is not a one-shot action… that it is tentative. Sooner or later there will be more than that, or better than that.” Romel Gador stated to the third year B.S. Biology students when they attended the seminar entitled “Intellectual Property Rights” at University of Southeastern Philippines, Virtual Library last July 3, 2012. This seminar discussed the functions of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and on how researches could be patented. The speakers on the said event provided adequate information on how researchers can patent their works and protect their intellectual rights. They also introduced a user-friendly database and websites that are accessible for researchers. Some of these websites contain full articles of patented works that could be helpful in the researches of students. As one of the speakers said, “Protection is territorial but information is global.”
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EDITORIAL
GM Crops: Solutions or More Problems? CRISCIRE B. LEGARDA Genetically modified crops are plants used for agricultural purposes and whose genes were altered using a technology called genetic engineering. These plants were incorporated with one or several genes that code for desirable traits such as tolerance to pests, viruses, bacteria, drought, cold, and other abiotic stresses. Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, can also be introduced to these crops to improve the health of the consumers. Asia is the home to many developing countries struggling to feed the growing population. Within Asia, the Philippines has been on the front line in embracing agrobiotechnology as one method to improve national food security. Our population is growing rapidly at a rate of 2.4% annually and currently we already reached 103,775,002 (Social Weather Station, 2011). This population growth, in combination with the diminishing area available for farming, has led the government to support agro-biotechnology as a method to improve Philippine agricultural productivity. Bt corn, soybean, canola, potato, and cotton have been approved for export into the country. Philippines, being a developing country, is clasped with poverty. Farmers often experience difficulties in increasing crop yields due to some factors like pest-pressure and other disease-causing organisms, drought and other abiotic stresses, and high input costs for herbicides and insecticides. These factors lead to low productivity and low profit. GM crops could be really advantageous in the current status of our country. Another problem in our country is food security. The Social Weather Stations (2011) survey reported an alarming 15.1% of households experiencing hunger, or not having anything to eat at least once in the three months, with Mindanao reporting the highest incidence of 23%, followed by Metro Manila with 15.7%. Based on the same survey, about 27% of the current population or more than 28 million
children under the age of five are underweight and stunted. GM crops are needed to feed an increasing population. Widespread production and consumption of biofortified staple crops could reduce micronutrient deficiencies, improve health outcomes, and provide enough food. Meeting future food needs for increasing living standards and growing populations will require increases in current farm productivity, as well as the ability to grow food on marginal lands. However, no matter how advantageous these crops can be in our country, we cannot deny the fact that other people are against them
The production and commercialization of GM crops has been the subject of many debates world-wide. It has become one of the most controversial issues in our country nowadays. As citizens, we are in the middle of the bridge right now, confused on whether which way we should choose. It is true that it is very essential for us, in the developing countries, to use the best science to make wise choices. However, we should also consider the possible consequences of our choices. The debate on GM crops might never end, but as what Martin Luther King, Jr. said “we have to keep moving forward.”
©Ivan Catiwalaan & Melai Espino because of certain risks they impose. Advocates against GM crops say that they threaten plant diversity. Planting GM crops is not a question of choice because once they are planted somewhere, other crops become contaminated by them. In addition, people are worried because the herbicide and insecticide resistantgenes might intermingle with the genes of the wild-type relatives of the GM crops and gradually create “super weeds” and “super bugs” that are resistant to herbicides and insecticides respectively. GM crops were also produced, they say, for corporate profit. Seeds, and chemicals that are required to grow them, must be bought from the multinational biotech corporations. Since these corporates have patency over these GM seeds, farmers are prohibited from saving and sharing seeds for the next planting. Biotech corporations will exercise a monopoly over what we eat and what we plant.
To the Problem of Plastics: City Ordinance 0361 Series of 2010 Twenty-eighth day of June, 2012, was the start of the implementation of the Ordinance 0361 in the City of Davao. This ordinance concentrated on the “complete, total, and absolute” ban on the use of nonbiodegradable plastics and polystyrene materials as food and beverage containers. This was in accordance with the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2009. It is believed that the business sector of the city will be highly affected by the banning ordinance, especially fast food chains, malls, and companies (continued on page 4…)
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(…continuation from page 3) that produce plastic bags, cups, and straws. Currently, ordinary users of plastics have already felt the consequences of not using plastic materials for their food and beverages.
material is already a very familiar item in a person’s daily living. However, some people would think that this move is insignificant in the chess game of defeating the problem on environmental pollution.
The keen-observing Biology students of the University of Southeastern Philippines even made the banning issue as one of the topics for discussions during their leisure times. The thought of not using plastic seems quite impossible, maybe because this material has been a consistent insignia of industrial progress and that the
This ordinance passed by the local government is indeed very bold since it changed the daily lives of many people in the city. Many people agreed to this bold move, but others highly opposed this action. People who are against this ordinance said that the root of the problem is not in the existence of plastics but proper
solid waste management. We often think of plastics as living organisms because when calamity strikes in our community like floods, we solely blame these materials because they block the drainage systems. However, the root of the problem lies primarily in the improper and ignorant handling of the plastic materials after we use them. We cannot deny that plastics have numerous benefits to our daily living, and banning their use will be a great discomfort to the entire community. If we only practice the proper waste segregation and disposal, then the need to totally ban the use of these materials will never surface. However, let us all remember that solid waste management has been implemented for the past years, but changes were too far to be achieved because of our own actions. We cannot solely blame the local government for the implementation of this ordinance because we are also at fault here. Contributors: Christine Rose Ansale, Jonah Benson, Arvin Fojas and Jay Mar Jumamoy
DO YOU KNOW THAT… 1. An adult mayfly’s life is as short as a few minutes, but its body hatches for about a year? 2. Corneas are the only tissues that don’t require blood? 3. The fungus Cordyceps is able to “mind-control” other insects like ants to climb plants and attach there to become its food? 4. An ostrich egg is the largest existing single cell? 5. When the queen of a clownfish school dies, a male clownfish changes its gender to become female and take her place? 6. The world’s smallest flowering plant is the Wolffia, and whose one full bouquet can fit on the head of a push pin? 7. The tongue of a blue whale is bigger than a taxi cab, and can weigh as much as an elephant? 8. There are more bacteria and microbes in our body than actual cells that make up the body growing? 9. Snakes are true carnivores because they eat nothing but other animals? 10. The human body has enough fat to produce seven bars of soap? Contributor: Clarisse Maye B. Diocadiz
BIOGNOMICS
The official student publication of the B.S. Biology Program of University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City, Philippines. Editor-in-Chief: CRISCIRE B. LEGARDA News Editor: APPLE ROSE B. CALUD Feature Editor: DALE S. PINILI Lay-out Artists: ARZELO D. RIVAS JOHN PAUL L. OÑEZ Ways & Means Manger: ARVIN B. FOJAS Moderator: HILARIO WONG, JR.
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STUDENTS’ CORNER Michael Dann Superio (B.S. Bio 3B) “I support this city ordinance because for me, it is better to use paper bags and bio-cellophanes. They are more environment-friendly.” Rose Angeli Manglicmot (B.S. Bio 4A) “I support this city ordinance because it is the ultimate key in preventing flood in Davao City. As I observe the canals here in Davao particularly in Barrio Obrero, most of the plastics clogged up the water ways and when rain comes the canals overflow and cause flood.” Irene Dimol (B.S. Bio 4B) “It would be better not to ban these materials because they would really affect the small-scale businessmen. Bio bags are more expensive than the plastics that we often use.”
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