‘High-Powered Objectives’ Archives
Students: a word of caution in plotting your professional destinies
Part I - BE AWARE OF “EXTREMELY OVERSUBSCRIBED” COLLEGE COURSES This writer has, purposely, decided to deviate a bit from his predominantly science-oriented topics for this Column, to give way to the recent alarming messages from concerned government and non-government agencies, addressed to students (especially those who will be enrolling in colleges/universities) in June 2012. These concerned agencies have echoed the warning to students to avoid at least five courses [...]
Students: A word of caution in plotting your professional destinies Part 1 – Be aware of “extremely oversubscribed” college courses
This writer has, purposely, decided to deviate a bit from his predominantly science-oriented topics for this Column, to give way to the recent alarming messages from concerned government and non-government agencies, addressed to students (especially those who will be enrolling in colleges/universities) in June 2012. These concerned agencies have echoed the warning to students to avoid at least five courses found to have flooded the market, making it difficult for graduates to get an [...]
BFAR reports 4.1 percent decline in fish catch and production
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), posted a gloomy picture about the apparent decline in fish catch and production at 4.1 percent in 2011, though a bit higher than the 2010 statistics. Using Tuna production as gauge, BFAR said that in 2010 fish catch was 941,378.6 Metric Tons lower by 19,749.17 Metric Tons than last year’s catch of 961,127.23 Metric Tons (MT). The forecast of BFAR says that unless certain factors attributed to the decline in fish catch are contained, [...]
Insights on climate change adaptation in marine ecosystem?
As former Executive Director of NRCP-DOST, this writer was invited as resource person to the recently concluded 12th ICSU – International Council for Science Regional Committee Meeting for Asia and Pacific, held in Marriott Hotel, Cebu City. Incidentally, before ICSU was the precursory Science Council of Asia (SCA), of which the NRCP is the country’s focal agency. It was during his watch as Executive Director that preliminary meetings tackled policies, plans and programs on science [...]
Seaweed Fishery R&D and prospects of seaweed-generated livelihood in Eastern Visayas
In addition to the production and improved processing technology in preparing nutrient-enriched gelatin dessert from red Gelidiella acerosa, is tapping the sea forest of predominantly 2-3 species of brown Sargassum in southern Abuyog, as value-added component for the popular Asian (Korean) food called “Kimchi”. The original Kimchi preparation uses a cold-water brown seaweed Hizikia fusiforme to enhance its nutritive value. Chemical studies on select seaweeds show that these lowly [...]
A “Sea-Forest” in Leyte Gulf, Eastern Visayas
Recent explorations and assessments on the marine resources of Northeastern Leyte Island (NRCP-DOST Funded Project No. E-211), have revealed interesting information on animal and plant biodiversity and biomass in the coastal towns and barangays bordering Leyte Gulf. The Gulf, scene of one of WW II fiercely fought naval battles in Philippines, includes part of NE Leyte and SW Samar islands. Of the seventeen (17) coastal towns of NE Leyte surveyed, Leyte Province’s southernmost town of [...]
Seaweed Fishery R&D and prospects of seaweed-generated livelihood in Eastern Visayas
The marine ecosystem has been referred to as man’s ultimate frontier to explore for his survival. The ecosystem, inhabited by both animal and plant organisms, finds the macro-plant components less known, less tapped by man. The macro-plants are dominated by sea grasses and seaweeds. Of the two, seaweeds have direct uses to man. The seaweeds of the Philippines had been explored and published by mostly foreign researchers. (Phycology, ‘phykos’ Greek for seaweeds, is a branch of plant [...]
“Saluyot”: Body toxins sweeper, antioxidant richAmong Waray-Warays, sweet potato or “camote” (Ipomoea)) tops or ‘ganas’, has been a favorite vegetable stew cooked with dried dilis or ‘bulad nga bolinao’, especially in the countryside. Later, as R & D interests shifted in search for nutrient-rich plants to supply cheap yet available raw materials as vegetables for the Filipino meals, the not well-known “kamalunggay” (Moringa oleifera), was introduced and popularized in Eastern Visayas. That kamalunggay contains vitamins and more nutritious than the camote does, is well-documented. As Botanists (plant scientists) discover or publish new records of plants found in the Philippines, and Chemists meticulously tinker with the chemical compounds in plants, new edible terrestrial/land plant species are expected to be known for their varied uses to man, as vegetable stews at least. Filipino nutrition experts have recommended for vegetable stew the relatively unknown – “saluyot” (Corchurus olitorious). Unlike planting ‘camote’ and ‘kamalunggay’, both done through cuttings of creeping stem and matured branch or part of stem, ‘saluyot’ is planted using seeds. Information have it that seeds are available free from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). It takes only one about (1) month to grow saluyot seeds into table-ready vegetable stew. One will find out that the plant’s characteristic slimy (mucilaginous feature caused by over-cooking) and tasteless nature once cooked, indicates that it is high in antioxidants (vitamins) A, C, and E. The same antioxidants help stave off diseases associated with man’s ageing process. Likewise, nutrients derived from the plant contribute to “younger and better-looking skin …”.Its high fiber content has earned for the lowly saluyot the monicker of “sweeper of body toxins”. BPI researchers suggest that a 30-day old harvestable saluyot plant may uprooted totally, but could be harvested 3-4 times by simply pruning the plant, cutting off only its younger, tender leaves/upper part of the stem. This writer is reminded of what he has ‘discovered/introduced’ in harvesting maricultured economically useful red seaweed species (Eucheuma, Kappaphycus, and Porphyra), instead of the common practice of harvesting the entire cultured seaweeds! BPI, further, suggest to farmers or homeowners to practice “containerized gardening” in their backyards or vacant lots by simply filling “equal parts of soil, compost, and sawdust, then sow , not bury the saluyot seeds, about five to six seeds per (medium-sized) container.” The containers should be placed in place where seeds can receive enough amount of sunlight and need to be watered two-times a day just enough to moisten the soil. Seeds easily germinate and in 30 days time plants is ready for transfer to another container and spaced at 10-15 centimeters distance. At thirty days young lanky saluyot plants may be ready to be cooked, otherwise, let the plants grow taller and follow the harvesting method by pruning their tops. In Luzon, saluyot (also known as ‘Jute Leaves’ owing to its coarse/rough nature), are eaten by dipping boiled tops in soy/fish sauce or are added when cooking ‘Dinengden’ and ‘Bulanglang’ dishes relished by the Ilokanos and Tagalogs specially. * * * * * NEXT TOPIC : SHARE S & T THOUGHTS through E-Mail: drpacjr@yahoo.com. By: Dr. Paciente Cordero, Jr.
Among Waray-Warays, sweet potato or “camote” (Ipomoea)) tops or ‘ganas’, has been a favorite vegetable stew cooked with dried dilis or ‘bulad nga bolinao’, especially in the countryside. Later, as R & D interests shifted in search for nutrient-rich plants to supply cheap yet available raw materials as vegetables for the Filipino meals, the not well-known “kamalunggay” (Moringa oleifera), was introduced and popularized in Eastern Visayas. That kamalunggay contains vitamins and [...]
345.6 cavans per hectare: S & T intervention
Here’s a stunner to Filipino rice farmers of Eastern Visayas and the rest of the country! A Believe it or not story? You better believe it! This column’s chosen banner headline may appear a ‘joke’ to some quarters, but mind you it’s a fact because of S & T Intervention. Last year, Pinoy farmer Severino Payumo of Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija won the grand prize in the Search for Hybrid Rice Highest Yielder sponsored by the Office of of the Provincial Agriculturist of Nueva [...]
Researchers Associate low Omega-3 to higher military suicide rates
Something to ponder! In a USA TODAY issue dated September 17, 2011 (courtesy of my Brod Dr./Lt. Col. Reynaldo A. Cordero, who recently flew in from USA), roared a front page news item “ARMY LOOKING AT FISH OIL BENEFITS”, with a sub-head “Research links low omega-3 to higher rates of military suicides.” Could this possibly be ‘true’ in the Armed Forces of the Philippines? Hope it’snt or does not happen at all! The afore-mentioned news item was based on data from the US [...]
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