Expecting widespread rain showers and scattered thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared last June 12 the start of the rainy season in the country. With the Philippines’ health sector already struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of COVID-19 cases, the onset of the rainy season may also bring with…
Author: Kenneth Edward Tan
Like in many other countries, coffee is one of the most popular drinks among Filipinos, creating and sustaining the country’s coffee plantation industry. Before plummeting to 110th, the Philippines was once the world’s fourth largest coffee bean exporter. Various local efforts have been enacted to revive the industry plagued by coffee rust—caused by a fast-spreading…
Besides baring the capacities of leaders and healthcare systems around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly reflected each country’s level of preparedness, their citizens’ trust, and overall unity. The actions of governments and citizens have put their respective countries on different roads, navigating how best to respond to the public health crisis and its…
When COVID-19 cases nearly doubled on March 14—skyrocketing from 64 a day before to 111—President Rodrigo Duterte responded by placing Luzon on Enhanced Community Quarantine, restricting land, air, and sea travel; suspending mass transport facilities; and prohibiting mass gatherings, among other enforced guidelines. Responding to the severity of the pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH)…
Last March 13, a webinar titled COVID-19 and Me: How Do We Cope?—Part 2 was hosted online by Ateneo de Manila University. The event was part of the IPC eTuro UHC Webinar Series 2020, which aimed to shed light on the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on public health and safety. Dr. Regina Berba from…
Since the commercialization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones, multiple industries’ operations—such as those in photography and creatives, and specimen collection in scientific research—have been modified to incorporate the use of these technologies. With the potential utilization of UAVs in multiple disciplines, X-LIPAD, the Philippines’ first UAV technology-focused research team, along with De La…
Last March 20, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officially declared the start of the country’s dry season—not summer, the weather bureau clarified—which marked the end of the northeast monsoon or Amihan. Along with the temperatures peaking this dry season, the sun is also at its maximum elevation, reaching its peak at…
Last March 9, a seminar titled Trends and Approaches in Analytical Science, a joint event hosted by the Chemistry Department and the Central Instrumentation Facility of the University, was held at rooms Y407 to Y409, fourth floor of Yuchengco Hall. The event was composed of a series of lectures that were presented by Dr. Leonel…