Science Tourism, Anyone?

Syen-Saya Festival at UPLB

A new term has been added into the tourism lexicon in the Philippines – science tourism.  This was what the Syen-Saya Festival (July 28-30, 2011) at the UPLB Campus was all about, according to Mr. Roberto Cereno, Chair of the Los Baños Tourism Council, Director of the UPLB Makiling Botanical Garden, and Coordinator of the Syen-Saya Festival.  Robie, to friends and colleagues, told me that this was the first time “science tourism” was used in the Philippines, and we (Philippines) were the first to use it in Southeast Asia.  Syen-Saya, onbviously a play with the words “syensya” and “masaya” refers to science being fun and therefore must be enjoyed not only be kids but by the adult population as well.

Science tourism is a tourism festival that focuses on science and technology education as the underlying theme.  Well, at least that’s how I look at it.

Student-guests enjoyed the interactive science exhibits of the UPLB College of Arts and Sciences, such as this on jumping marbles.

The Syen-Saya Los Baños Science Festival 2011, which was mainly a science discovery exhibit, was held at Baker Hall on the UPLB Campus.  Bus loads of elementary and High School students, from various parts of CALABARZON and Metro-Manila, enjoyed their visit to the festival.  The exhibit, which was labeled “Wonderama” was comprised of three blocks.  Block A featured “interactive exhibits” that demonstrated the application of basic science principles; Block B featured science appreciation through “locally and nationally recognized science and technology experiments conducted by high school students in the Philippines.”  Block C highlighted science application, which focused on creating “awareness on, as well as, address timely and relevant issues such as climate change, food and agricultural production, energy, and the environment through highly interactive exhibits.”

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Let me say a little more on Block B of the exhibit because this is what excites me very much.  According to a friend, Ms. Lerma Moran, Coordinator of Block B, this section of Wonderama showcased “high school science projects and investigative research with significant results” and have won national recognition.    Participating schools in this exhibit were: UP Rural High School (UPLB), Los Baños National High School (Los Baños, Laguna), Agusan del Sur National High School (San Francisco, Agusan del Sur), Pedro Guevarra Memorial National High School (Sta. Cruz, Laguna), and the Pitogo National High School (Makati). 

I found the projects very interesting because they dealt with seeking solutions to common problems using local alternative solutions, such as using flower petals extracts to cure bacterial infections, use of solid waste materials for hallow blocks, the miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) extracts as potential antibiotic, production of bioethanol from tobacco wastes, using kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica) as ingredient for ice cream, luhang dalaga (Pedilanthus tithymaloides) extract to control drywood termites, tubang-bakod (Jatropha curcas) seed oil as varnish component, among others.

We do have plenty of scientific-oriented minds among our youth.  The exhibit on the projects of these elementary and high school students has demonstrated to other youths that they do have bright future in the field of science and technology.  Let’s hope that the DOST scholarships supporting youth science education in the country continues and even increase in terms of depth and breadth.

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Let me try my hand at history.  I believe that the precursor of Syen-Saya was an obscure program started by the Society for the Advancement of Research, Inc. (SAR).  SAR was organized in the 60s by young scientists, the likes of Emil Javier (currently President of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Ruben Villareal (former UPLB Chancellor), Santiago Obien (former Director of PhilRice, the late National Scientist Pedro Escuro, among others.  I happened to be a member of this Society, and, in fact, I was President for two terms in the 1990s.

SAR was the Society that initiated what was then called the Youth Research Action Program, where elementary and high school students from all over the country were invited to come to UPLB for a month to undergo science research apprenticeship under the supervision of UPLB scientists.  Participants in the YRAP were selected through science competitions at the provincial and regional levels.  The 20 students selected from the national competitions come to UPLB for their summer science apprenticeship.

SAR became inactive after my term as President, but I was able to have all the reports of the YRAP compiled.  Such compilation contains the complete reports of YRAP participants for the first 11 years.  This report is deposited in the UPLB Library for reference.

YRAP was sponsored by SAR, but today’s science competition among the youth is basically a DOST-supported annual program in collaboration with universities.  UPLB has been very active in this program.  In fact, the LBCSFI is an active participant in this endeavor.  Still, YRAP is historically the precursor of today's youth science competition. 

Am I glad to see this effort continued.  I’ve always believed that if we want to develop a science-oriented citizenry, we’ll have to start with the young.  Yes, there’s not much hope to develop science-oriented citizens out of our adult population.  We have to provide high quality science education to our youth so that we, as a people, might be able to harness science and technology for national development.

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A technology showcased in the Syen-Saya festival that I think would be very useful, if commercialized, is Aquaponics, developed by Dr. Aurelio de los Reyes, Jr. of the UPLB College of Engineering.  Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture.  The demo model on exhibit shows a barrel of water (fishpond) connected by tubes to a water pump that pumps the water to the beds of pebbles where vegetables are planted, from where the water is drained back to the barrel.  Simple.  Water from the pond (together with fish wastes) is pumped into the plant bed where the organic matter from the pond is used by the plants.  The plant bed is comprised of pebbles (crushed rocks), which also filters the water before it drains back to the pond.  Very practical technology for backyard production of fish and vegetables.  I’d like to do this in my backyard.

Dr. Aurelio de los Reyes, Jr. (left) explains his Aquaponics technology to interested visitors.

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Syena-Saya, the Los Baños Science-Tourism Festival 2011, was sponsored by the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI), which is comprised of all the science-oriented agencies and institutions in the Los Baños and Bay areas.  The presidency of the LBSCFI is rotated among the member institutions, and this year the President is Chancellor Gigi Alfonso of the UPOU.

Congratulations to the LBCSFI for this highly edutaining science-tourism festival.  Congratulations, too, to Robie Cereno for a job well done, in spite of the fact that he was operating mainly with the help of some volunteer DOST scholars.

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Archeo Jars Back With a Vengeance

I don’t know what they’re called, that’s why I call them archeological jars.  After the first batch of jars were constructed on the sidewalks of the UPLB campus, there was a lull in construction.  I thought this was due to numerous murmurs of complaint about these jars whose purpose perhaps many didn’t understand.  I, for one, still don’t know what they’re called or what they’re for.  Anyway, since they’re constructed on the side walks, perhaps they serve to prevent illegal parking on the sidewalks.  If that’s the case, then there’s some sense in those being there.  They could also serve as rest benches for seniors like myself as they go about their brisk walking exercises on campus.  Or simply, a resting bench for students after a difficult quiz or long exam.  

The jar construction has began again.

Here’s a view of those new jars on Kanluran Street.  Don’t they look great in straight line!

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Passing By, Some Events Become Personal

Old-Time Friend Taking on New Responsibility

First off, let me congratulate Dr. Dong Rasco, Jr., who has just been appointed by P-Noy as Director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).  Immediately prior to his appointment as PhilRice Director, Dr. Rasco was Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, U.P. Mindanao.  And prior to his transferring to U.P. Mindanao, Dr. Rasco was the  Director of UPLB’s Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB).  Earlier on, he was Chair of the Department of Horticulture, UPLB College of Agriculture.

Dong, as his contemporaries call him, was a prolific researcher and agricultural scientist.  In fact, a couple of years back he authored a book on biotechnology.  Dong is an action man, as much as he was a researcher-cum-scientist-cum professor.  I recall, when he was Director of IPB, he used to make early morning rounds of the experimental farms of his researchers at IPB.  One time, he saw an experimental plot that looked like it had more weeds than plants that were supposed to be under experiment.  Immediately, he rushed back to his office and himself fired-off a quick memo to all his researchers.  What did the memo say?   Simply, “I hate weeds!”

A pity he didn’t become UPLB Chancellor.  He would have done well as Chancellor.  Well, I’m sure he’d do well as Director of PhilRice.  That job is cut out for him.  I think we’re looking forward to a resurgence of meaningful, practical, and trail-blazing rice research once more in this country, reminiscent of the time when the former UPCA (now UPLB) developed the well-known C-4 rice varieties in the 60s through the efforts of the late National Scientist, Dr. Pedro B. Escuro.  Dong may be basically a horticulturist, but his intellectual and scientific skills as plant breeder will come in handy as he steers the course for PhilRice.

Congratulations, again, Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr. (Dong).  This has been a long time coming.

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Past Acquaintance Revisits

 Yesterday, I got an email message from Dr. Lisa Brooten, Associate Professor, Dept., of Radio-Television, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. She asked me to comment on a book chapter manuscript she has written on community radio.  A couple of years back, Dr. Brooten joined the UPLB College of Development Communication as Fullbright Scholar, researching on community broadcasting.  She did interview me during her one-semester stay in Los Baños.

I congratulate Dr. Brooten for her effort in writing a book chapter on community broadcasting, and included some experiences in the Philippines.  Her article shall appear as a chapter in the book titled Community Radio in 21^st Century, edited by Gordon and Janey.  This book will be released next year (2011) by Peter Lang, publisher, in London.

Dr. Brooten is also working on her own book.  As a favor to a friend, therefore, I referred her to the book titled  Community Radio in Asia: Putting People in Charge, edited by another friend, Choy Arnaldo.  This book’s principal author is Louie Tabing, a long-time friend in development communication and community broadcasting.  The book came off the press in 2008.  I’m mighty proud to say I wrote the Preface of this book.  Not that the Preface is extremely significant content-wise.

Academics, researchers, practitioners, and students of community broadcasting should look forward to this book.  I’m sure, it will be a very rich source of the latest in community radio.

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Talakayang Kagubatan at UPOU

I thought it was flippant, but Talakayang Kagubatan was actually serious.  This scientific forum held afternoon of July 26, 2011 at the UPOU Oblation Hall was participated in by more than 30 UPLB students, LGU officials, NGO representatives, and other guests. 

According to the organizers of the forum, this is part of the celebration of the International Year of the Forest, wherein the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of UPOU has been very active.  There is reason for this.  The FMDS has to academic degree programs related to the environment, for which forests are a part.  These programs are Diploma in Environment and Natural Resources Management (DENRM), and the Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management (MENRM).  DENRM and MENRM are two of the highly visible degree programs offered by the UPOU.  What has made these program visible?  One of the alumni of DENRM is Vice President Jejomar Binay, and one of the alumni of MENRM is Senator Migz Zubiri.

The organizers of Talakayang Kagubatan were the UPOU-FMDS and the Yakap Kalikasan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Pilipinas, Inc., an NGO whose activities are focused on the promotion of healthy and vigorous forest ecosystems in the country.  The forum focused not on the trees, i.e., problems regarding illegal logging, and the like, but on services associated with forests, such as improving forest biodiversity, production of fresh air, and the like.

At the Forum, I ran into Dr. Rey dela Cruz, former Dean of the UPLB College of Forestry.  I told him about my interest in doing a “fun” research on forestry.  I mentioned to him that when I told another former UPLB College of Forestry Dean, Dr. Gil Fernandez, about the idea, he was amused by it.  Dean Dela Cruz asked me, “what might that be about?”  I said a trending study on forestry which requires the following data: graduates of forestry programs all over the Philippines from 1910 to the present and amount of forest cover of the entire Philippines from 1910 to the present.  I told him, “I’d like to plot number of forestry graduates against amount or area of forest cover.”

My suspicion: there’s an inverse relationship between the number of forestry graduates and the amount of forest cover of the country.  Why should this be?  I have a simple explanation.  Most if not all the degree programs in forestry in various universities in the country focus on use of forest products rather than on planting trees.  For example, there are more programs designed to train students to cut trees (i.e., wood engineering, lumber management, plywood production, etc.), than programs designed to train students to plant trees (i.e., silviculture)  Over the years, for instance, counting graduates of the UPLB College of Forestry, where I estimate there have been 30-50 majors in wood engineering or other related fields of specialization, there would be one or two majors in silviculture.  Wanna bet on this ratio?

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Signs and Sites

Sometimes we see very ordinary things more clearly than unusual ones.  For example, when we see notices posted in highly visible public places, we almost always immediately seem to know what those notices refer to perhaps because we have a pre-conceived notion of what might be properly displayed in that public space. 

In the week-end just past, Jegs and I went to see a movie.  At the entrance of the theater were display ads about the movie being shown, and a clear announcement to the public “For General Public Viewing.”  Of course, the theater facility, as a matter of policy, I’m sure, saw the need to translate this announcement in Filipino.  Hence, the following inscription under the public announcement:  “Ang lahat ng manunuod ay maaaring pahintulutang pumasok sa sinehang ito.”   The English version seems to refer to the movie, while the Filipino translation seems to refer to the viewer.

There appears to be a mismatch somewhere.  Of course, this is a case where another reminder may be useful, i.e., “meaning, lost in translation.”

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In a new hospital facility Jegs and I visited recently was a beautiful sign on the door to the laboratory room that read, “Authorized Personnel Only” on which was super-imposed a No-Access sign (see photo).  Hmmm, could be confusing to many, but, interestingly, among hospital guests and personnel the sign seems clearly understood..  Do the “authorized hospital personnel” know that they’re the only ones not permitted to enter this room?  Hey, I’m not ramming this.  Just asking.  

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It happens everywhere.  Everybody knows that malls open at 10 a.m. practically anywhere in the country.  Go observe any mall and you’ll inevitably see that people begin to congregate at the mall entrances at about 9:45 a.m.  And everybody wants to enter the mall five people abreast instead of entering in single file.  The former strategy definitely prevents people from entering faster, and the latter insures that entering the mall is orderly and quick.  Still, all want to enter at the same time as if there were no tomorrow, which prevents everybody from  getting in quickly.

Well, sweat it out first before you get in.  This is a scene at a mall door at Greenhills Shopping Center last week-end.

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The construction of an overpass (bridge) at Calamba City Crossing, which we have reported earlier on, is going fast.  It pays to use pre-fabricated steel beams.  The bridge, I believe, will be completed sooner than I ventured to say in my previous entry in this blog.  This early, people are beginning to use it.

I firmly believe that when this overpass is completed and opened to the public, there’ll be huge change (for the better) in the traffic flow at the Crossing area.  Then, Calamba’s busy intersection will certainly look like an urbanized city crossing.

Yehey! for the people of Calamba City.

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Now, while we’re on the topic, when shall an elevated lane be constructed at the Junction intersection at Los Baños’  business district?  This intersection, also called Crossing, is absolutely chaotic everyday during rush hours: 6-7:30 am, 11-12:30 noon, and 4-6 pm.

An elevated two-lane bridge will prevent vehicles from mixing up the traffic at ground level.  Those going to San Pablo and Sta. Cruz (south direction) and those going to Metro-Manila (north direction) will travel faster and straight without having to stop at the Junction Crossing, while those turning to UPLB or Mayondon will do so continually as well.  Traffic wouldn’t be at a standstill, even during rush hours.

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Another Los Baños marker is on the rise.  Those who remember Grove from the 80s until recently should recall the sight of what used to be the Agrix Complex.  This place is now a very busy construction area.  On this site now begins to rise a facility, possibly a Shopping Mall, called the “Los Baños Centtro.”  You can expect that this will be a busy center in the next few months.  Perhaps they’re rushing construction to meet a December deadline? 

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James Watson on how he discovered DNA | Video on TED.com

James Watson on how he discovered DNA | Video on TED.com

To my students in DEVC 263: Listen to Dr. James Watson's story on how he and Francis Crick discovered the structure of the DNA. If you can lay your hands on his book titled "The Structure of the DNA," read that book as well. Anyway, here's how Watson explains his experience to a public audience, knowledgeable about science (they're all experts in their respective fields) but not necessarily scientists in the same academic discipline as Watson's.

David Deutsch: A new way to explain explanation | Video on TED.com

David Deutsch: A new way to explain explanation | Video on TED.com

To my DEVC 263 Students: Listen to Physicist David Deutsch explain "scientific explanation." Do you think science communicators should understand this phenomenon?

Eric Whitacre: A virtual choir 2,000 voices strong | Video on TED.com

Eric Whitacre: A virtual choir 2,000 voices strong | Video on TED.com

To my students in DEVC 263: You might want to be entertained, too, but this presentation has some elements of knowledge management. Can you relate this presentation to the process of knowledge management? Too, do you think this approach could be useful as a means of making scientific information more enjoyable and understandable? Anyway, appreciate the presentation.

Simon Lewis: Don't take consciousness for granted | Video on TED.com

Simon Lewis: Don't take consciousness for granted | Video on TED.com

To my students in DEVC 263. Listen to the message of this TED talk very carefully. Can you visualize the application of knowledge management in this?

Observations Worth Sharing

 

Calamba Overpass

In my old blogsite that was hacked in 2010, I recall having made an entry about an idea that I suggested should be implemented in Calamba City.  This referred to an overpass system connecting all corners of the extremely busy Crossing at Calamba, Laguna.  When I brought up the idea in one of my posts then, little did I know that perhaps the leaders of Calamba were already making plans to construct such overpass.  Well, today, that steel overpass is being constructed.

This structure should have been constructed a long, long time ago, but it doesn’t matter if it’s late.  The steel overpass structure will really ease up the traffic in the area, and make it much more comfortable for pedestrians to move around Calamba Crossing. 

The first section of the overpass, that which ends right in front of SM Mall is done.  Only final touches are needed.  Other sections are being constructed.  I don’t know the schedule for this infrastructure project but I hope everything’s completed soon.  What I can say is that this overpass will likely be open to the public before Christmas.

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Sales Persons in Malls Must be Friendly

Talking of SM Mall at Calamba City, I observe that many of the stores there employ sales persons who’re less than enthusiastic about helping customers.  Yesterday, Jegs and I were in one of those stores.  Jegs inquired about a lady’s bag that caught her fancy, but the sale lady was busy putting on her eye liner right on the store counter and didn’t even look at Jegs.  She didn’t even answer Jegs’ query, so I said, “C’mon, this person doesn’t like to sell anything” right in front of the sale lady.  That’s when she looked up and started to look like she’s entertaining our query.  To her, it didn't
matter that there was not a single customer in that store when we got in and when we left.  Or perhaps that was precisely why she had time to put her eye liner on . . . because there was not a single customer around to entertain.  That store will probably close shop very soon.

Sales persons are supposed to be good at customer relations, and they’re supposed to have been trained prior to deployment in stores, especially in malls.  Well, those that we’ve observed in SM Mall in Calamba probably forgot their lessons or didn’t undergo such training themselves.  The number one reason customers avoid stores is unfriendly sales persons.  And when stores don’t have customers, they close.  And when stores close, the sales persons lose their jobs.

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ER Staff Behavior Wanting

While we’re on the subject of customer relations, I’ve got one more experience to share.  The other day, Jegs accompanied me to the ER of the Los Baños Doctors’ Hospital (LBDH).  I needed fresh air (meaning, oxygen), have an ECG, and have my BP checked.  I usually do this as advised by my cardiologist every time I don’t feel comfortable in the chest area. 

Well, I got myself admitted with some hesitation from the ER staff.  The ECG technician was practically rushing to connect the terminals of the ECG machine to my body and when he was done he quickly disappeared.  Only then did Jegs and I realized that all the members of the ER staff were eating lumpia right in the Emergency Room.  We could smell the vinegar.   And I thought the ER was an emergency room for those needing medical attention, not snacks room for the staff.  It seems like this is an SOP at the LBDH ER.  I’ve observed the same thing at least twice before.

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Solemnity of Mass in Question

The other week Jegs and I went to the Alabang Festival Mall to watch a movie.  When we got to the ticket windows, there were many people standing around.  Turns out that they were there to hear mass.  A catholic priest was celebrating the holy mass right alongside the entrances to the cinemas.  Many were simply walking around, and many more were buying movie tickets.

In recent years, catholic priests have been celebrating masses in malls.  I’ve been wondering if the solemnity of said holy mass has not be diminished when celebrated in such places where people are naturally not in mass mode.  Well, priests know the requirements of the holy mass better than I do, I’m sure.  Just asking.

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Not Recommending This Place to Friends

Last week-end, Jegs and I picked up Danyelle in Sta. Rosa and went for a stroll at Nuvali.  We’ve been frequenting the place and we’re noticing the trees as they grow.  The place still lacks shades, but the trees are growing.  After a while, we felt like we needed to take our lunch, so we proceeded to this resto which we’ve not visited before.  The resto is called Crisostomo, and it specializes in Filipino cuisine.

We chose to occupy one of the outdoor tables because we had Waku, our Shih Tzu, with us then.  The waiter, who was very attentive, took our orders.  Nice place, but food quality is wanting.  There are flies, too.  Yeoh!   I’m not recommending this place to my friends. 

To be fare, though, probably not all those who’ve been there would share our experience.

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Pe-Yups Wasn't Part of the Journey

The best I could do just before high school graduation ceremonies was consider possibilities.  My brother was going to support me through college but there was no assurance, and no idea where.  I had wanted to become a criminologist, a veterinarian, or a journalist, things I once thought about in high school.  None of these materialized, though.  My brother said, “I can’t afford to send you to school in Manila.”  I ended up in agriculture, in Los Baños.  In those times, there was no UPCAT, but UP was getting only the top five percent of graduates from various high schools.  Valedictorians and salutatorians were taken in as “Entrance Scholars.”  The honorable mentions had to pay full tuition, which wasn’t much, really.

I was high school valedictorian, but of a very small graduating class from a very poor and small province -- Batanes.  When I got to UPCA, I was in the league of real valedictorians from very large high schools from other parts of the country, including known high schools in Manila.  Needless to say, I was almost always at the tail end of practically all school undertakings when my batch was involved.

When my brother got me enrolled at UPCA in June 1963, I didn’t have the slightest idea where I was heading.  Since one of my options was veterinary medicine, he told me that “the College of Veterinary Medicine will transfer to Los Baños next year, so you can transfer then.”  Well, the CVM, indeed, transferred to LB from Diliman, some 16 years later. 

Another option I had when I graduated from high school was journalism, but the closest I could go at LB was a new major area under the BSA program, which was just introduced when I got to UPCA.  This major area was then called agricultural communications.  I had very little idea what this was but it sounded fun, so I majored in agricultural communications.  This introduced me to the areas of journalism, audiovisual communication, and rural educational radio broadcasting.  What was then called agricultural communications is called today development communication. 

When I got to LB in 1963, the place was not so different in ruralness from where I come.  What perhaps made LB completely different from other rural towns in the country then was the presence of UPCA and its corps of brilliant scientists.  Indeed, in those days, it was public knowledge that Los Baños hosted the greatest number of scientists per unit area.  We did have the great opportunity of studying under the tutorship of those great Filipino minds.

Instruction at UPCA was Spartan at the very least.  In high school I thought I understood trigonometry, but at UPCA I hardly could make something out of the lectures on the same subject.  College algebra wasn’t any better for me. Physics?  I did understand some aspects of it.  I did have difficulties with agricultural chemistry, agricultural engineering, and genetics, and I was ordinary student in plant pathology, entomology, zoology, animal husbandry, agronomy, horticulture, agricultural meteorology, soil science, and the like.  I liked my courses in sociology, psychology, English 10, agricultural education, agricultural economics, agricultural extension, and agricultural communications.

All in all, I learned to like popularizing applied science like agriculture for those lacking interest in science.  I do wonder, now and then, what I would have become had I pursued my interest in criminology.

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