PPC: A BRIGADE AGAINST DIABETES

PPC: “We are puny, we are sweet, we’re outrageously pink! Aiding humanity against sugary monstrosities, we are the Plum Pink Carbineers!’ In the war-torn appendages of some inflicted A Brigade bodies, precious plum pink soldiers armed with Against metaphorical guns fight against the coal-black decay of sugar. Albeit, prematurely: Humans have Diabetes learned another way to combat diabetes. A young scientist turned leader in the ageold battle against diabetes is in the process of JULIA KATRINA P. BONOTAN creating another way to fight back. An army of tiny, delicate and, dare I say, cute nonhuman life forms named Jamaican Cherries or Aratiles in Filipino. These non-human life forms are often neglected and taken for granted in their abundance, especially in tropical areas such as the Philippines, Mexico, and Bolivia. Little did anyone know that we could already have acquired an ally against diabetes if we had previously come to appreciate the plumpness and pinkness of Jamaican Cherries. But it’s not too late; the war is still in its prime. The outcome is yet to be decided. Before we all get ourselves knackered up about having new confederates, shouldn’t it be known how Jamaican Cherries fights against the rabid sickness caused by an insane amount of sugar? If you’re thinking about tiny and pink spherical fruits picking up their pitchforks and weapons, you’re, unfortunately (insert: very) wrong. Jamaican Cherries were found to contain antioxidants and found to be very useful in preventing sugar from illegally staying in your gut every time you eat. In other words, you eat them and they do their work. Consequentially, there will be no falling toes from anyone’s bodies in the future. On the flip side of a straight-up confrontation against diabetes, I’m afraid Jamaican Cherries aren’t a match. They don’t have the ability to reverse the occurring effects of excess sugar in the body and are therefore not actually a cure for diabetes but, more accurately, prevention of

diabetes. Which is better because isn’t prevention better than cure?

It’s all well and good that we know our cherries but where did it all start? How did the idea of Jamaican Cherries against diabetes begin? It takes its roots from the time when the sickeningly sweet fangs of diabetes sunk its teeth into the flesh of the young student Maria Isabel Layson’s loved ones. Aside from Maria Isabel Layson’s personal vendetta against diabetes, she was among the few who appreciated the abundance of Jamaican Cherries and was proactive enough to do something with it. Then bam! All was well? Actually, she went back and forth to Iloilo and Manila to complete the research at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute laboratory. China Oil isn’t it? That people will be similar to her in dedication. Because she was so passionate about finding a solution to a problem that she endured the long distance and the probably high transportation cost, never mind it all. To finish a project that she believes will surely make a difference? China Oil indeed.

In return to the efforts of the leader of the Plum Pink Carbineers, Maria Isabel Layson was given the opportunity to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May of 2019. Although she could not bring home the bacon, she was awarded the Young Scientist Award by The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation. Maria Isabel Layson has said that she will continue to further improve her research, delving to the specific compounds that are present in Jamaican Cherries. Hopefully, we will be seeing an addition to the fighting force of the PPC and we will perhaps take another step closer to developing the cure to diabetes. All in a day’s very hard work (only, the day is composed of a year or more).

It is very well that we are in pursuit of ways to combat diabetes but wouldn’t it be a trillion times better for the general populace if instead, we were to avoid the precursors of diabetes? If so then we would not have any need for any medication and would be an example of excellent health. Amidst the modern environment, we are not inclined to avoid such sugary pleasures. So on we go, to rely on the plumpness, pinkness, and inconspicuous strength of the PPC Brigade. Fight on!