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Ocial Research, Development, and Extension Magazine

of the University of the Philippines Los Baos

Vol. 8 No.2
October 2016

Reimagining
Landscaping
PAGE 10

Is the Philippines
food secure?
PAGE 2

What you need to know about


intellectual property protection

PAGE 32

Make
your vegetables safer to eat
PAGE 34

About the cover

he Philippines is composed of eighteen regions


with their respective cultures, traditions, and
specialty products.

With more than 7,000 islands, our country is blessed


with an abundant supply of natural resources and
biodiversity. Aside from this, the Philippines is also an
agricultural country with vast and fertile lands.
The cover photo by Lawrence N. Garcia features a
model of the Philippines, inset with various wellknown products of each region. The model, designed
by the UPLBs Edible Landscaping team, is made of
edible crops such as sweet potato, tarragon, and rice.
In one glance, you will be able to see that we have
much to offer in the form of various products and

technologies. For a relatively small country, the


Philippines is overflowing with potential.
As the national university and as a research
university, UPLB continues to look into new ways
of contributing to our countrys development.
Aside from giving us a current picture of our
country in terms of agricultural production, this
particular rendition of the Philippine map shows
that edible landscaping can create some of the most
beautiful presentations.
Currently, the Edible Landscaping team works
hand in hand with the OVCRE when participating
in various trade shows and exhibits.

Editorial Board
managing editor
Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon

writers/contributors/photographers

layout

Jose Elmo H. Azores


Daniel Dave J. Batayo
Karl C. Cadapan
Susan May F. Calumpang
Renz Louie V. Celeridad
Florante A. Cruz
Christian G. Escudero
Lawrence N. Garcia
Yunika Ysa G. Lasic
Hildie Marie E. Nacorda
Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon
Regina Mae C. Ongkiko
Sairah Mae R. Saipudin

Regina Mae C. Ongkiko

production/circulation
Jose Elmo H. Azores
Alex C. Genil
Reynaldo T. Magsino
Michael B. Biguelme

editorial consultant
Florante A. Cruz

advisers
VC Rex B. Demafelis
AVC Susan May F. Calumpang

Do you have any reactions,


comments or suggestions?
Are you interested to write
for us? Do you have a story
to share?
Turn to the last page and
see how you can be a
contributor.

EDITORIAL NOTE

This second issue of the reformatted UPLB RDE Digest attempts to further bring into light the
role of UPLB as the Philippines national university. Amidst recent changes and stirrings in the
countrys political landscape, UPLB remains steadfast in its commitment to pursue endeavors
which will drive national development.
This issue looks into the contributions of UPLB as a research university. From tackling several key
issues such as food security and the revival of our forest landscapes, to sharing exciting stories of
our exploration of the Benham Rise, to exposing the science behind our astounding technologies,
to providing practical tips on intellectual property protection these pages will surely both inform
and entertain readers.
We challenge our readers to think outside the box as you read and turn the pages of this issue. We
enjoin everyone to practice critical thinking while reading the articles presented here and open
your minds to different perspectives.

The Editorial Team

WHATS INSIDE?

Take a look
at what we
have for you
this issue.

RESEARCH UPDATES
22

Partnerships: Keys to Reviving


our Forests

28

Out of the Shadow: Bringing Light


on Sexual Harassment at UPLB

10
EXTENSION UPDATES
2

Is the Philippines food secure?

10

Reimagining Landscaping:
Combining Form and Function

TECHNOLOGY

SNAP Hydroponics

STORIES FROM THE FIELD


16

Descent into the Summit:


The Benham Bank Seamount Project

16

LIFEKS
HAC

32

Protect your intellectual property!

34

Make your vegetables safer

Interested to subscribe to future issues?


Email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph.

TECHNOLOGY

RDE Digest

EXTENSION UPDATES

Is the Philippines

FOOD SECURE?
BY RENZ LOUIE V. CELERIDAD

PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

RDE Digest

RDE Digest

nytime that one would need food, food


is there. That is how Interdisciplinary
Studies Center on Food Security (ISCFS)
chair Dr. Domingo Angeles exemplified food security.
He said that food should be accessible, healthy, and
nutritiousbeing able to meet the daily demands of
ones body. Dr. Angeles added that food security also
means that food can be used in the long run.
Now, an ordinary citizen might ask, Is the
Philippines food secure?
Dr. Angeles said that the country is not.
He said that the Philippines is not even self-sufficient
in rice, coffee,
livestock, and
poultry, which
are some of
the staple
products on
Filipino tables.

(UPLB) to launch the Interdisciplinary Studies Center


on Food Security (ISCFS) in 2014. The ISCFS
enjoins people from different disciplines to work
together in order to make food available, accessible,
affordable, and nutritious.
Among the institutions tapped for collaboration
are UPLB-based colleges such as the College of
Agriculture (CA) for food production, College of
Forestry and Natural Resources on forest issues that
also affect agriculture, and the College of Human
Ecology regarding nutrition security and safety.
The UPLB National Institute of Molecular Biology
and Biotechnology (UPLB-BIOTECH) is also
included along with
potential partners
from non-government
organizations and
groups from the private
sectors.

The possible reason for


this insufficiency is that
30% of Filipinos are
so impoverished.

Dr. Angeles
added that the
possible reason for this insufficiency is that 30% of
Filipinos are so impoverished that they are not able to
buy the proper amount of nutritious food.

Ten percent of those destitute Filipinos are even


poorer because they eat only once a day, or in Filipino
terms, isang kahig, isang tuka.
The birth of an interdisciplinary center

The ISCFS, according


to Dr. Angeles, has
already conducted five
round-table discussions (RTDs) since its launch. The
first two RTDs focused on issues on food security,
its concepts, as well as issues on fruits, vegetables,
livestock, and fisheries.
Furthermore, the Center organized the National
Conference on Food and Nutrition Security last
12-13 October 2015. Representatives from the
academe, government, and private sector attended the

Food security is not just about


food, Dr. Angeles said. It is
also connected to other issues
that concern people like
diseases, environmental
degradation, unpopularity of
agriculture among the youth,
diminishing area of
agricultural lands, and
climate change. He also added
that extension services,
preharvest practices, and
postharvest losses are also
factors of food security.
This prompted the University
of the Philippines Los Baos
4

RDE Digest

PHOTO FROM ISCFS

After its initial introduction during the UPLB Science and


Technology Forum and Exhibit at the SMX Convention Center, the
ISCFS held a separate launching program in Los Baos.

Participants and steering committee of the National


Conference on Food and Nutrition Security last October 2015.

PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

conference and talked about three main topics: food


availability, market distribution, and governance and
policies.
According to the Social Weather Station, the
percentage of Filipinos who see themselves as hungry
rose from just above 8% to over 18% in a span of 15
years (1999-2014).

commonly destroy the crops here in the Philippines.


Downy mildew, for example, is a disease in seedlings
that causes 60-100% yield loss in susceptible plants
according to Dr. Pascual. Meanwhile, Fusarium ear
rot produces microtoxins that are detrimental both to
the health of plants and humans. Anthracnose, a fruit
disease, causes mango and papaya, among others to
rot.

The number of Filipinos


who see themselves as
hungry rose from just
above 8% to over 18% in a
span of 15years.

This perception of
hunger can be seen
as an implication of
the unstable state of
food security in the
Philippines. Food
security, according
to the conference,
may be aggravated
by a number of factors like diseases, climate change,
and environmental degradation.
Issues that aect food security

Environmental degradation is either caused by nature


through climate change or by mans overuse and
misuse of land. Dr. Angeles said that almost half of
the land in the country is already degraded, with
17% of those damaged lands considered as severely
degraded. Reviving these lands is hard and almost
impossible according to Dr. Angeles because it takes
a million years to form soil.
Different diseases destroy crops, which result to
decrease in crop production in the country. Dr. Cecilia
B. Pascual, a scientist from the Institute of Plant
Breeding (IPB), mentioned different diseases that

Leaf curls and


bacterial wilt
destroy common
fruits and
vegetables like
tomato, eggplant,
pepper, and
bitter gourd or
ampalaya.

Dr. Pascual said that farmers need to properly water


the plants to reduce the stress that they experience.
Increasing the potassium fertilizer for plants and
decreasing the use of nitrogen especially during wet
season are also some of the measures used to keep
plants from catching these diseases.
Postharvest is also an issue in food security. Dr.
Angeles said that the Philippines, being a tropical
country, is expected to have high annual postharvest
losses because the weather hastens the evaporation
process; thus, it speeds up water loss in plants. Lack
of infrastructures like farm-to-market roads and
packaging houses also contribute to postharvest losses
in the country. In addition, lack of proper packaging
materials contribute to further harvest losses especially
when crops are transported to faraway markets.
RDE Digest

To deal with this situation, the Department of


Agriculture (DA) established the Philippine Center
for Postharvest Development and Mechanization
(PhilMech). PhilMech has been developing different
technologies that will help in the postharvest
processing of crops.
For instance, rice farmers can be aided by tractormounted rice transplanters, tractor-mounted combine
harvesters, and biomass-fed furnaces, to name a few.
Meanwhile, boom sprayers, corn planters, corn
pickers, corn shellers, and multi-fuel biomass furnaces
are used to help in corn production. In addition, the
PhilMech Soybean Postharvest and Mechanization
Systems support the production operations of soybean
while the Far Infrared and Convection Heating
System is used in producing dried mangoes.
Furthermore, the Postharvest Horticulture Training
and Research Center (PHTRC) in UPLB is leading
a program that will improve postharvest systems
for different crops in the country, such as fruits,
vegetables, ornamentals, and medicinal crops.
For example, Solid Shipping Lines Corporation has
followed PHTRCs suggestion of making modified
fruit vans. These vans are built to withstand the
stress of different means of transportation, helping in

UPLB STOCK PHOTO

RDE Digest

the proper storage of fruit crops. PHTRC had also


developed an optimized hot water treatment protocol
to prolong the shelf life of mango.
According to Dr. Matilde V. Maunahan, University
Researcher II, PHTRC recommends capacity-building
among farmers and other stakeholders so that they
will be educated on proper postharvest practices
for quality assurance and food safety. She added
that postharvest technologies must be used by food
producers so that they can achieve the highest possible
quality for their produce.
Maunahan emphasized that postharvest practices
cannot improve the quality of harvested crops; these
can only maintain it. This implies that preharvest
practices must be suitable enough so that crops will be
of the highest quality come harvest season.
Climate change, now considered a global problem,
also affects food security in the Philippines. Dr.
Angeles explained that a one degree increase in
temperature corresponds to a 10% decrease in yield of
rice and other crops. A case in point is when the DA
reported that almost 350,000 tons of crops have been
damaged by drought in the early part of 2016.
Meanwhile, the political landscape, particularly in the
local government level, influences the implementation

PHTRCs Hot Water Tank for mangos extends


the shelf life of the fruits. Several exporters of
mango have already adopted the design of PHTRC.

Dr. Domingo E. Angeles is of the opinion that


the government should issue policies to increase
income of agricultural workers.

of extension services and policies that are focused


on food security. Dr. Angeles rued that despite the
formation of such policies and services, nothing will
be achieved unless the local government wants to
implement them.
Moreover, policies and services to address food
security and agriculture in general are useless if
these will not be supported by their supposed target
stakeholder groups.
Most of the youth today, for example, do not see
agriculture as a potential career in the future partly
because of the lower income that it gives compared to
other fields. However, Dr. Angeles believes that there
is money in agriculture. He is of the opinion that the
government must
issue policies that will
increase the income
of those working
in the agricultural
arena. Agricultural
entrepreneurship must
also be promoted to
encourage the youth
to turn their ideas
not only into a profit-oriented business but also into a
socially-responsible endeavour.

PHOTO BY DJ BATAYO

services also affect food security. Maikli ang pisi ng


ating mga magsasaka, he said as he explained that
low production is due to the low number of inputs,
resulting from lack of financial resources.
He added: The quality really depends on the
preharvest process. Dr. Angeles also claimed that
extension services, along with national programs, are
hard to implement unless they are prioritized by the
local government.
Invest in high value crops
Given all the aforementioned issues, Dr. Angeles, who
also happens to be the former dean of UPLB CA,
suggested ways to address food security in the country.
He first talked
about investing
in high-value
crops.

Most of the youth today,


for example, do not see
agriculture as a potential
career in the future because
of the lower income.

Aside from the aforementioned issues, Dr. Angeles


said that credit, pre-harvest practices, and extension

Agricultural
lands will
be more
productive if
they will be
planted with high-value crops like vegetables, banana,
mango, pineapple, and coffee. For comparison,
pineapple yield, which is worth PhP 200,000 per
hectare, is more than six times the worth of corn that
is only around PhP 30,000 per hectare. Dr. Angeles
RDE Digest

believes that investing


in high value crops will
increase the income of the
people.
High income means more
people can buy food,
decreasing the number of
malnourished individuals in
the country.
Malaysia, a neighbour of the
Philippines in the Southeast
Asian region, proves this
belief.
He attributed Malaysias
development to its highvalue crops like rubber,
ornamentals, papaya, and
cacao. After developing
its high-value crop sector,
Malaysia is now aiming
for sufficiency in rice,
a manifestation of food
security.
UPLB STOCK PHOTO
However, Dr. Angeles said
that the Philippines must
still plant staple crops
like rice and corn because Filipinos always seek
them. These crops contribute to the countrys Gross
Domestic Product as well.

Fruit crops as substitutes to staples


Dr. Pablito M. Magdalita, a scientist from the
Institute of Plant Breeding, said that fruit crops are
excellent source of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins
needed by the body. For example, saba banana, which
can be cooked into turon and maruya, is nutritious
enough to substitute rice, he said.
He added that other fruits like pineapple, sinigwelas,
rambutan, duhat, bignay, and other banana varieties
like lakatan and latundan, can be processed into food
products. In particular, duhat and bignay are being
made into wine; pineapple into dried chips; and
sinigwelas into jelly.
According to Dr. Magdalita, different diseases also
hamper fruit production in the country. The bunchy
8

RDE Digest

Fruit crops provide nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for


the human body. They can be substitutes to staple food but
diseases also plague our fruit production industry.

top virus, sigatoka leaf spot, and bract mosaic are


prevalent in bananas while the ringspot virus and
bacterial crown rot are common in papayas.
The citrus tristeza virus, meanwhile, damages citrus
fruits like suha, calamansi, and lemon. Rambutan and
santol, among others are also not safe from fruit fly
attacks. Dr. Magdalita emphasized the increasing
occurrence of diseases like fruit rot and bacterial
crown rots due to climate change.
Different measures are now being practiced to address
these issues. For instance, virus-resistant varieties are
being planted to avoid the ringspot virus in papaya;
fungicides are being sprayed against the sigatoka leaf
spot in banana; hot water treatment is being done to
lessen fruit fly damage in mangoes.
Even ordinary citizens can protect their fruits from
the abovementioned diseases. Dr. Magdalita said
that affected individual fruit trees like papaya and
banana should be cut down, buried, or burnt to avoid
infecting the whole area planted.

Whats next for ISCFS?


Dr. Angeles said that the Center had already sent
proposals to the UPLB Graduate School (GS) to start
a graduate programthe Master of Science in Food
Security.
They will not only offer this program in UPLB but
also in other universities to further promote food
security in the country. They also have an ad hoc
committee that will develop food safety initiatives.
The committee had already eight approved proposals,
which will be funded by the DA-Biotech Program and
the Department of Science and Technology.
The Center is coordinating with the Committee on
Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Climate
Change at the House of Representatives to create
policies that will address issues on food security today.
Furthermore, they held a workshop about La Nia
thar helped the people prepare for strong rainfalls in
the coming months.
Food security in the country is a complex issue that
requires collaboration among people from different
fields.
For example, agriculturists are needed to monitor
crop production; economists are important to see how
products move around the market; plant pathologists
can help against destructive crop diseases; and even
communication practitioners should be in the
equation to bridge the information gap between the
end-users and the experts.
This implies that a collective effort is a must to make
food available, accessible, and nutritious enough to
meet the daily needs of the people.
Now is the time to make the Philippines FOOD
SECURE.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE RDE DIGEST


Renz was an intern during the midyear of 2016. If youre interested to
apply for an internship, or if you just want to contribute stories,
email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph. We look forward to it!

UPLB STOCK PHOTO

RDE Digest

EXTENSION UPDATES

Visualize yourself walking through a garden.


You pass by fruit trees and malunggay trees. You stop to smell the basil lining the pathways. You sit down beside a
small pond as you gaze on the colorful wooden trellis where vegetables such as ampalaya and cucumber grow.
Imagine that this beautiful garden is yours, and that it can give you everything you need for your familys food and
nutrition. You can gather fruits for your breakfast or dessert. You can pick basil from your own garden for your home
cooked pasta. You have no problem getting vegetables because you have your own.
As long as you have that garden full of edibles, you and your family will never go hungry.
PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

10

RDE Digest

Reimagining
Landscaping:
Combining Form and Function

BY CHRISTIAN G. ESCUDERO AND REGINA MAE C. ONGKIKO


RDE Digest

11

rowing organic fruits and vegetables is a


continuing trend as more and more people
are becoming more health-conscious. Because
of this, people have already started growing their own
crops right in their own gardens! Why so? It is because
growing your own food gives you the assurance that
they are healthy and fresh.
Healthy living and the concept of edible landscaping
has now become popular. Instead of just using
ornamentals, you can also incorporate vegetables,
herbs, medicinal plants, and fruit trees in crafting a
beautiful garden.
Tracing its roots
Here in the Philippines, edible landscaping (EL)
started in 1999 when Dr. Leonido R. Naranja of the
Crop Science Cluster designed a small exhibit booth
using vegetables instead of ornamentals.
Dr. Naranja probably did this since the garden
show was a complementary event of a conference of
the Society for the Advancement of the Vegetable
Industry at the UPLB Seniors Social Garden. He
also incorporated the concept of edible landscaping
in teaching the Urban Horticulture course under the
Crop Science Cluster (CSC).
After visiting Dr. Naranjas exhibit, Mrs. Loreta A.
Lina, wife of then Laguna Governor Jose D. Lina Jr.,
hired him as a consultant. Thus, edible landscaping, as
an innovative food production approach, was born.

PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

12

RDE Digest

EL was then adopted by the Linas for their program


called FAITH or Food Always in the Home. Under
the FAITH project, Dr. Naranja conducted a series
of lectures for elementary and high school teachers of
Laguna.
In 2009, the Department of AgricultureBureau
of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and High
Value Commercial Crops Program (HVCCP)
funded the edible landscaping project proposed by
Dr. Naranja entitled Technology Promotion and
Commercialization of Edible Landscaping. It started
as a demo garden at the CA AgriPark in UPLB and
an edible garden showcase at the DA-BAR grounds in
Quezon City.
The Edible Landscaping Team
The EL team is composed of instructors, researchers,
and extension workers from the CSC. When Dr.
Naranja passed away in 2010, Dr. Fernando C.
Sanchez Jr. took over the project with the help of
Bryan V. Apacionado, Maria Charito E. Balladares,
Ryan Rodrigo P. Tayobong, and Norma G. Medina.
This team of dedicated agriculturists is committed to
continue the legacy of Dr. Naranja, implementing the
project even after the second phase ended in 2011.
The concepts behind Edible Landscaping
Since edible landscaping is also an art, it follows the
elements and principles of design. It also incorporates
conventional crop production with a twist as the
guiding principle.

The Edible Landscaping Team designed the layout for


UPLBs booth during the National Invention Contest and
Exhibit last July 2016 at the SMX Convention Center.

PHOTO BY JH AZORES

Edible landscaping also encourages the practice of


organic management systems in order to ensure safer
produce and a healthier environment.In general,
the ultimate goal of EL is to create an attractive
environment with spaces allotted for safe and
nutritious food for every Filipino familys dining table.
EL also aims for the technology adopters to be able
to customize
and tailor-fit the
landscape design
according to their
needs. EL also
envisions every
household to
follow the garden
to table principle
to foster an enabling environment for health and
wellness.

Finally, the last phase includes landscape maintenance


and applicable special practices in crop production.
The difference of EL to traditional landscaping is that
the edible crops are maintained carefully to provide
aesthetic appeal from seedling to harvesting.
To aid in the fulfillment of ELs goals, proper usage of
components must be kept in mind. These components
include softscapes,
which are the
plants used in
landscaping such
as trees, shrubs,
and herbs. In
choosing the
softscapes,
you must
consider your food choices and attractive physical
characteristics. Another component is the hardscapes,
which refer to the non-living components such as
rocks and trellises.

EL also envisions every


household to follow the
garden to table principle.

The process consists of three phases: design,


implementation, and maintenance. The Design Phase
includes evaluation of the space to be used as well
as conceptualizing the design itself based on the site
analysis.
During the Implementation Phase, the focus is on
the production of seedlings and planting materials.
This phase involves site clearing, layout, hardscape
construction, and planting.

Edible Landscaping today


To increase awareness on what edible landscaping can
do for us, the EL team continues to conduct seminars
and training courses all over the Philippines. The team
is also providing assistance and technical expertise to
those who are interested to create their own edible
garden. The Edible Landscaping Starter Kit was
RDE Digest

13

PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

developed to help attract and guide the adopters in


starting their own garden. It consists of information
materials, sampler seeds, and sample designs for the
garden theme.
A demo garden is located in the campus, and is
already a popular venue for photoshoots. According to
Eliza C. Aquino, a University Research Associate with
the EL team, the garden used to be located at the CA
AgriPark but was transferred to the Ornamental Crops
Nursery so that it will be more accessible to everyone.
Around 2,500 people visit the demo garden yearly.
The garden helps visitors appreciate and visualize the
concept of edible landscaping.
The team has also presented their work on EL in
various local and international conferences and
conventions in order to attract more potential
adopters.
In 2013, the team was also able to publish a paper
in the Journal of Developments in Sustainable
Agriculture. Edible landscaping is currently making
waves in the media scene as it has already been
featured in local programs on both TV and radio.
Edible landscaping has indeed come a long way,
from being a simple concept to being a solution for
providing food for each Filipino household. Several
communities, schools, and institutions have been
inspired to adopt the technology to create their own
beautiful local edible landscape gardens.
14

RDE Digest

Different public offices, especially the agriculture


offices of the municipalities, are now starting to adopt
EL to encourage the residents to grow their own food.
Here in Los Baos alone, the Villaluz family has used
different recyclable materials such as old tires and
rubber shoes as their planting containers.
Even non-government organizations are now looking
into incorporating edible landscaping in their current
production systems. Schools are now including EL in
their agriculture and gardening subjects.
The way forward
In 2015, Dr. Sanchez proposed a project titled
Establishment of Edible Landscaping Sites in
Selected Communities of Los Baos wherein one
of its objectives is to capacitate technology takers
through the conduct of EL trainings.
Capacity building of selected groups in Los Baos
started in June 2016 at the Office of Senior Citizen
Affairs in Los Baos, Laguna. Elderly members of
cooperatives and barangay leaders attended the initial
training conducted by Eliza C. Aquino and Jennica
Amielle M. Mora, another University Research
Associate of the team.
The training consisted of a series of lectures and
talks on design planning for demo gardens. The
participants were asked to choose the design that they
will be using for the practicum the next day.

In edible landscaping, we plant what we eat and we


eat what we plant, Ms. Aquino said. She believes
that those who are planning to start their own edible
gardens should first ask themselves what they need
and want to eat.
We do not want the participants to just plant and
end up not eating what they harvested, she further
added, since the goal of the training is for the
participants to attain self-sufficiency at least at the
household level.
Dr. Sanchez has encouraged the project staff to
commit first to Los Baos since edible landscaping in
the Philippines started here. He envisions citizens of
Los Baos adopting the technology so that they can
maintain their own gardens.
The team also believes that to ensure sustainability,
the creation of a demo garden during the trainings
should be included. This is so that the participants will
get to see what EL will look like once they have fully
committed to it.
With the support of Mayor Cesar P. Perez, the
EL team was able to tie up with the Municipal
Agricultural Office to further the adoption of edible
landscaping. While Ms. Aquino acknowledges that
increasing the number of edible landscaping gardens
in the town is challenging, the team is positive that
the adoption of the technology will eventually gain
ground.

The project continues to target members of


cooperatives, overseas Filipino workers, barangay
officials, and senior citizens as future adopters of the
technology. The team continues to advocate the longterm goal of being self-sufficient. After the success of
the first training, additional trainings have already
been scheduled.
Embracing food security in an era of change
Considering that the Philippines is an agricultural
country, it is ironic to see it struggling in the aspect of
food security.
Unstable supply of staples such as rice and corn
has led to spikes in market prices. As the new
administration favors the prioritization of food
security, edible landscaping is seen as a long-term
solution to this pressing issue.
As the concept of edible landscaping continues
to spread across the country, our food security
situation is becoming less bleak. In this era of endless
possibilities, UPLB and the Edible Landscaping Team
are committed to help initiate positive change.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE RDE DIGEST


Christian was an intern during the midyear of 2016. If youre interested
to apply for an internship, or if you just want to contribute stories,
email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph. We look forward to it!

PHOTO FROM EL TEAM

RDE Digest

15

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HE NACORDA

The reefscape at the summit of the Benham Bank Seamount, with plate-forming Porites rus as the dominant species.
16

RDE Digest

STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Descent into
the Summit:
The Benham Bank Seamount Project
BY MARIA ROWENA BEATRIZ Q. INZON

RDE Digest

17

pon seeing the bottom, you will be


placed in a dreamy state. It is as if time
has slowed down. Those were the words
of Dr. Hildie Marie E. Nacorda, Assistant Professor
at the UPLB School of Environmental Science and
Management (SESAM), when asked about her first
time descending Benham Bank the shallowest
portion of Benham Rise.

The way to the Rise


In April 2012, Benham Rise was recognized by the
United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) as the rightful territory of the Philippines
and became an extension of the countrys continental
shelf.

Benham Rise is the countrys newest territory, a


13M hectare submarine plateau which rises from the
seafloor off the coast of Aurora province.

The claim inevitably increased the area of the countrys


marine bottom habitats. Known to be a rich fishing
ground, Benham Rise is considered to be a potential
source of oil, natural gas and minerals.

Around 3,000 meters deep, Benham Rise is a


seamount--an underwater mountain. Its biological
richness depends on its steep slope which forces
seawater to carry nutrients upward, providing food for
various marine life.

The government thereafter went to work to find the


ecological and economic potentials of this newly
acquired territory. A program was created through
the DOST that would look into the new deep-water
habitats.

A marine expert and project leader of the Department


of Science and Technology (DOST)-funded, multiagency program on Benham Rise, Nacorda had
dreamed of contributing to the documentation of
deep-water biodiversity in the Philippines.

SESAM was commissioned to lead a project that


would assess the benthic resources of the Benham
Bank seamount. Its very first activity was to explore
and document Benham Banks bottom.

At a depth of 50 meters at the Benham Bank, she


knew she and her team had their work cut out for
them. The pristine and seemingly endless ecosystem
of coral reefs landscape that welcomed them at the
summit confirmed that there is a lot to be discovered.
We were barely scratching the surface, she recalled.

Nacorda knew that she would need extra hands for


this exploration and used her call-a-friend card. Well,
friends for that matter. Colleagues and experts from
UP Diliman (Marine Science Institute and National
Institute of Geological Sciences), UP Baguio, UP
Mindanao, Xavier University, Ateneo de Manila and
the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries

ILLUSTRATION BY RC ONGKIKO

18

RDE Digest

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HE NACORDA

and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were invited to make


up the Benham Bank Expedition Team.

50 (m)! We had to rethink our diving plan, Nacorda


narrated.

On board MV BFAR, this team of oceanographers;


fish, coral, and benthos experts; and marine
microbiologists, set sail for Benham Bank in May
2014. Each and everyone was eager to be one of
the first to enter a world still untouched by man,
Nacorda recounted.

After recalculating carefully, the team decided on


a new plan. Each one was to take turns diving and
spend a maximum time of five minutes at the bottom
to do very specific tasks.

Deep challenge
On the way to the Rise, the team was getting ready
to dive at 20 meters, a depth well within the limits
of safe diving. The people were prepared to work for
an hour at the
bottom.

To eliminate non-oxygen gases from accumulating


in the divers bloodstream, decompression stops at
different depths on the way up were designated.
The ascent took half an hour for each diver. Assisted
by technical divers from the Philippine Navy and
Philippine Coast Guard, this diving plan was strictly
enforced.

When we got there, it was


not 20 m! The shallowest we
had was 50 m! We had to
rethink our diving plan.

However, when
the anchor was
dropped, they
found out that
the summit, or
the shallowest
point, was almost three times deeper. A dive computer
and an underwater mini-camera confirmed this depth.
We had prepared for a maximum dive of 20 meters
so we just brought along single tanks. When we got
there, it was not 20 (m)! The shallowest we had was

Exploring new
territory
Once at the
summit, each diver
had to focus on his
assigned task.

Photo and video documentation, fish and coral


surveys, and sample collection were some of the tasks
distributed among the team. Given very little time,
the divers knew they had to get the job done quickly.
This proved to be an effort for most of them.
RDE Digest

19

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HE NACORDA

In between the corals are tufts of the


green algae called Halimeda, which is a major
contributor of sediments in the Benham Bank.

I was at the bottom and I saw a fish swimming


straight at me. The fish was probably thinking, aba,
first time may tao dito ah, Nacorda said, laughing. It
was very hard to focus on the work.
The bottom, she said, looked surreal. Spreads of platelike corals were basking in the sunlight penetrating the
clear waters. There were corals as far as the eyes could
see. But there are also other habitats including sand.
With Benham Rise, we still have a long way to go.
It is very interesting to know that there is life at that
depth na pwede natin pag-aralan at alamin ano ang
pakinabang nito sa atin, she added.
Biodiversity potential
From the first expedition in 2014, the reefs were
found with excellent cover (75 to 100%) of mostly
tiered, thick, rigid and foliose plate-forming Porites
rus; over 60 species of bony and cartilaginous fish; and
four species of the green algae Halimeda.
With the aid of cutting-edge technology, the teams
second expedition last May 2016 covered 12 research
20

RDE Digest

stations and produced many hours of video footage.


Additional specimens have been collected and are
currently undergoing processing.
Research contributions
Asked on how the project would contribute to society,
Nacorda answered: Scientists are sources of basic
information. We are conduits of these information
and we play a role in making research useful to
industries.
For example, if we are able to culture microorganisms
found at the Rise and know their bioactivities, it
can be something for molecular biologists to look at
further. Geologists can look for minerals, changes in
the shelf, and possible sources of fuel, she added.
There are lots of things that can be done. There is a
need to study the biodiversity and economic potential
of the Rise. The resources there can also be a source of
food and would be economically beneficial to nearby
provinces. With reefs in pristine condition, entirely
different from what we normally see in shallow waters,
the rise may also have tourism potentials.

Nacorda also pointed out that research collaborations with


BFAR are worth looking into. MV BFAR is a 60m-length
research platform, which can bring in students to do
research on areas not covered by BFAR. For example, BFAR
is currently studying the effectiveness of different kinds of
hooks for catching fish. A lot of fish are being discarded
which researchers and students can study. Gut contents of
migratory fish, for instance, can be looked at; we will be able
to know where these have come from, Nacorda explained.

PHOTO FROM HE NACORDA

Conservation and utilization


The 2014 expedition brought significant awareness on
Benham Rise. A Technical Working Group (TWG) under
the Office of the President is being organized. This will
be composed of all related national agencies, research
institutions, and NGOs. The TWG will look into the
proper bases whether the country should declare Benham
Rise as a protected area or capitalize its resources. But to do
so, continuous studies should be done.
Nacorda asserted in the end, Mapping Benham Rise is
the first step. We should know what is there to protect
and whats in it for us. What we saw was just the tip of the
iceberg. Lalalim pa ang maari natin madiskubre.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE RDE DIGEST


Tell us stories of your experience while doing fieldwork.
We accept stories year round. Email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph.
We look forward to reading your stories!

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HE NACORDA

The expedition team on board MV BFAR


getting ready for the underwater adventure.
RDE Digest

21

Partnerships:
Key to Reviving
our Forests
BY YUNIKA YSA G. LASIC AND MARIA ROWENA BEATRIZ Q. INZON

UPLB STOCK PHOTO

22

RDE Digest

RESEARCH UPDATES

RDE Digest

23

orests comprised 57 percent of the Philippines


total land area in 1934 according to the 2015
publication by the Philippine Senate, Philippine
Forests at A Glance.
In 2010, the Philippines forest cover dropped to
only 23 percent or about 6.8 million hectares. The
publication attributes this decline to increased
agricultural and housing needs, intensified commercial
and illegal logging, kaingin, and forest fires.
Fortunately, because of reinforced reforestation efforts,
more than 200,000 hectares have been reforested
from 2000-2008. The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) National Greening
Program (NGP), established by virtue of Executive
Order No. 26 in 2011 sought to grow 1.5 billion trees
in 1.5 million hectares across the country within a
period of six years.
As of March 2015, 1.01 million hectares or 85 percent
of the target forest area for reforestation have been
planted with 602.7 million seedlings. Although, the
number of seedlings planted is way below the target
level. On the average, 593 trees per hectare have been
planted through the NGP.
Adding insult to injury, the survival rate of the
seedlings planted has been below the target as well.
The NGP expected an 85 percent survival rate,
but according to the 2013 Audit Report of the
Commission on Audit (COA), the survival rate of
seedlings was noted to be only 68 percent.
To produce the number of seedlings that the NGP
needs to provide its reforestation partners, the DENR
and University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB)
College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR)
has recently agreed to put up a Mechanized and
Modernized Forest Nursery.

24

UP and DENR ofcials during the


groundbreaking ceremony for the
Mechanized and Modernized Forestry.

The Mechanized and Modernized Forest Nursery


(MMFN)

(IRD-HVFC) program of the DENR, the MMFN


aims to promote the science-based development
of forest lands through the establishment and
management of high value tree plantations as well
as other forest crops. With funding and guidance of
the DENR, the MMFNs specific role is to supply
the seedling requirement of Region 4-A and ensure
increase in seedling survival rates.

According to Dean Willie P. Abasolo of the College of


Forestry and Natural Resources, the Mechanized and
Modernized Forest Nursery (MMFN) will be able to
contribute to the National Greening Program (NGP).

To be located on a 3-hectare land behind the


Agriculture Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center
(AMTEC) building at UPLB, the MMFN facility will
be built as an automated nursery.

A component of the Integrated Research and


Development Grant for High Value Forest Crops

During the groundbreaking ceremony and the signing


of Memorandum of Agreement between DENR and

RDE Digest

PHOTO BY KC CADAPAN

UPLB last 7 June 2016, UP President Alfredo E.


Pascual expressed awe in how with just the simple
push of a button, one can produce seedlings.
The MMFN works like a simple machine, with
switches the can control all of the nurserys operations.
And unlike in traditional nurseries, the environmental
conditions of the MMFN are more controllable.
Environmental factors such as temperature, relative
humidity, and amount of moisture can be adjusted
automatically.
MMFN facilities also save time and energy because
these are less labor-intensive. Aside from this, MMFN
is more efficient compared to traditional nurseries
because it has the capacity to produce more seedlings
in less time.

In a message read by DENR Undersecretary for


Environment and International Environmental Affairs
Atty. Jonas R. Leones during the ceremony, former
DENR Secretary Ramon JP. Paje said that the project
will enhance the production of planting materials
which will be used in the succeeding reforestation
programs.
This facility will be able to supplement the nurseries
in 25 partner state universities that serve as our lifeline
of planting stocks. The proximity of these nurseries
to our NGP planting sites is an advantage. A shorter
transport will ensure high survival of seedlings, he
added.
Dr. Abasolo also remarked on the projects goal, In
the forestry sector, we need to improve the quality
RDE Digest

25

26

RDE Digest

of our planting stock in order to produce good quality trees trees that will survive. Of
course, with a high survival rate in our nurseries, we would be able to eventually improve
our forest.
He added that one of the major problems the government is currently facing is climate
change. He believes that the most practical thing to do is to start resolving the root cause.
Through replenishing and regreening denuded areas, viable forests can be achieved in the
future. He is convinced that the mitigation of climate change, and of course lessening of
disaster risks, will eventually follow.
Choosing the perfect tree
Dr. Abasolo emphasized that propagating and reproducing indigenous tree species in
the MMFN is the priority. However, he intimated that the project cannot do away with
planting exotic tree species because indigenous trees are slow-growing.
Although the ultimate goal of the project is to help replenish the forest, it does not mean
that the trees grown out from the nursery will not be harvested in the future. Eventually,
we will need to harvest them too. Hence, the economic value of the tree species is also a
factor to look into in choosing the perfect tree to plant, Dr. Abasolo pointed out.
Imagine, you will plant trees which you will have to wait for 20, 30 years. Just to find out
in the end that the lumber to be harvest has little value. E di sayang lang. Therefore, when
you plant trees, also choose those that are very marketable, he added.
Multi-functionality
Apart from its goal to supply seedlings required by the NGP, the MMFN will also serve
as a research laboratory for students. The MMFN will not only be a structure for seedling
production but an avenue for teaching, too. Similarly, for the research components, the
College targets to mentor several students as well.
Dr. Abasolo is very much hopeful for the success of the MMFN. Aside from having an
allocation for maintenance of the MMFN coming from the DENRs annual budget, a grant
of PhP 5 million will also be given to the college to conduct researches aligned with the
research agenda of DENR.
This is a good example of convergence and a good collaboration between two government
agencies--UP and DENR working towards a common goal. The partnership will always
work as long as there is cooperation, support, and focuse on the objectives we want to
fulfill, Abasolo ended.
As President Pascual has put it during the groundbreaking, We are all of the same blood
trying to get together to produce an important facility which will truly serve the needs of
the nation.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE RDE DIGEST


Tell us stories of your experience while doing fieldwork.
We accept stories year round. Email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph.
We look forward to reading your stories!

RDE Digest

27

RESEARCH UPDATES

OUT OF THE SHADOW:


Bringing Light on
Sexual Harassment at UPLB
BY SAIRAH MAE R. SAIPUDIN
PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

28

RDE Digest

he University of the Philippines Los Baos


(UPLB) is a premier academic institution
which has become home to many students,
employees, and visitors. However, even a home could
be unsafe for its people.
Imagine yourself walking on a dark deserted street,
alone. Maybe you are already going home from
a groupmates house after a night of finishing a
laboratory report, or from a party you had just
enjoyed.
As you walk, you hear strange sounds following
you.They get louder by the second. You could feel
someone is watching you but you do not know the
persons exact location. As you quicken your pace, a
silhouette of a person suddenly appears in front of
you.
What would you
do?
Other students,
just like Mica*,
an 18 year old
student from
UPLB, would
panic at the sight
of impending
danger.

Julia*, a BS Computer Science student, recalls her


sexual harassment experience.
She was going to a convenience store with her mother
when she noticed a man following them. He entered
the store when she and her mother did. The man
then intentionally bumped into her and touched her
hips. She initially shrugged it off. However, the man
repeated the action. She decided to reprimand the
man immediately.
Sinigawan ko siya, Julia shared. Sabi ko, bakit
siya dikit nang dikit. Kanina pa siya nagpapapansin.
Nagulat si mommy kung bakit ko biglang sinigawan
yun.
At first, she was traumatized by the incident until her
friend advised her
not to be scared.

Sexual harassment is defined


as any unwanted sexual
attention that is explicitly or
implicitly made a condition
for favourable decisions
affecting ones employment
or school standing.

Maliban siguro
sa mga gamit
ko na pwedeng ibato, wala na akong ipanglalaban sa
kanya. Who knows di ba? Baka saktan ka or ano,
Mica recounts.

Micas story is one of the many stories of sexual


harassment that have occurred in UPLB. Rape cases
have also been recorded in recent years. The most
unfortunate cases were those of rape-slay victims
Given Grace Cebanico, a BS Computer Science
student in UPLB, and of Rochel Geronda, an
underage sampaguita vendor in the campus.
Ever since the incidents, the university has imposed
stricter security measures to ensure the safety of
every student, worker, and person living around the
community.
* not their real names

Defining Sexual Harassment

She would not


be able to defend
herself when a
similar thing
happens again if
she would remain
scared. Though
she is braver now,
she still feels
uncomfortable
when she is alone.

Micas and Julias experiences with strangers are forms


of sexual harassment. The primer from the National
Commission on the Role of Filipino Women defines
sexual harassment as any unwanted sexual attention
that is explicitly or implicitly made a condition for
favourable decision affecting ones employment or
school standing, or that which creates an intimidating,
hostile or offensive environment in school or
workplace.
It could be verbal or physical. It also comes in many
forms--looking, winking, catcalling, joking with sexual
undertones, and overt act of violence such as rape
or attempted rape. This wide definition could aid in
protecting people from any form of sexual harassment
better, but it could also mean that it would be difficult
to report and record all cases.
RDE Digest

29

PHOTO BY LN GARCIA

Documenting sexual harassment in the university


The UPLB Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH)
under the UPLB Gender Center was established in
2002 to monitor sexual harassment that occurs within
the university in compliance with RA 7877, otherwise
known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.

30

was established. Thirty-five complainants were female,


11 were male, while 9 did not indicate their gender.
Majority of the aggressors reported were male. Two
of the reported cases had an aggressor who is female.
Meanwhile, three were documented as done by a
group, and was not categorized by gender.

It also aims to help the university maintain an


intellectual and moral environment wherein the
dignity of the members of its academic community
is guaranteed. In addition, the office undertakes
information and educational activities to ensure that
university policy, rules, and regulations on sexual
harassment are disseminated to the community.

Majority of the complainants were students. However,


majority of the aggressors were also students, followed
closely by teachers, non-UPLB individuals, and
administrative staff, respectively. The number of cases
of peer-to-peer sexual harassment is more than the
number of sexual harassment cases between superior
and staff, or professor-student.

Reported cases are investigated with utmost


confidentiality and respect for due process. Retaliation
from parties directly or indirectly involved with the
cases would not be tolerated. It would even be subject
for disciplinary action.

Student-student sexual harassment (21%) is higher


than student-teacher harassment (15%). Employee
to employee (13%) sexual harassment is also higher
compared to student-employee sexual harassment
(6%).

Since its conception, OASH has received a total of


55 complaints related to sexual harassment. The most
number of cases (11) was reported in 2012 followed
by 2014 (10 cases). The least number of cases, 1, was
reported in 2002 which was the year when the office

The number of student-student sexual harassment


cases would actually be bigger if it it is combined
together with the student-group (student
organization) relationship. After all, the members of
the student organization are students.

RDE Digest

Once the complainant has filled out the intake form


they are asked whether they will push through with
a formal procedure or an informal one. Some of the
complainants after filling out the intake form do
not come back and follow up their complaint. The
duration of the cases filed ranged from 0-468 days.

In fact, files such as sworn affidavits and written


accounts of the details of the incidents are treated
confidentially and cannot be used by OASH for
records analysis. So in order to understand the
phenomenon of sexual harassment further given
the restrictions on information, OASH staff should
become knowledgeable with concepts in sociology and
psychology.

Two of the cases filed at the OASH have been referred


to a different office due to its non-sexual harassment
nature.

Being able to determine variables which can help form


policies will make the management and staff of the
office much responsive to the needs of its clientele.

Cases which lasted for only a few number of days were


those where the complainants opted to do informal
procedures such as counselling, settlements, and mere
documentation.

For example, the office can advise management on


what kinds of physical structures and office designs
may promote harassment and thus should be avoided.

Duration of cases

Data improvement
The data from OASH captured through the use of
the intake form is still lacking. It is suggested that
other variables such as time of the day the incident
happened, type of location, number of people present,
quality of lighting, degree of isolation or obscurity of
the place should be added to the form to aid in the
investigation.

The OASH through the UPLB Gender Center is


continuously developing its staff in order to cater to
the needs of the universitys constituents and keep
the campus as a safe and gender-responsive learning
institution.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE RDE DIGEST
Write about an extension program or activity.
We accept stories year round. Email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph.
We look forward to reading your stories!

RDE Digest

31

LIFE HACKS

Protect your
Intellectual
Property!

INTELLE
PROP
protec

BY DANIEL DAVE J. BATAYO


Students, faculty, and researchers generate various forms of
Intellectual Property (IP) during their stay in the university.
However, only a few actively seek to protect their IP.
There is a widespread misconception that IP protection is
only needed by large corporations with valuable trademarks,
brands, and ideas. The truth is, everyone should be more
conscious of protecting their IP.]
*vector image from freepik.com

forms of ip protection
as stated by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL)

32

PATENTS

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

UTILITY MODEL

A Patent is a grant issued by the


government through the Intellectual
Property Office of the Philippines (IP
Philippines). It is an exclusive right granted
for a product, process or an improvement
of a product or process which is new,
inventive and useful. This exclusive right
gives the inventor the right to exclude
others from making, using, or selling the
product of his invention during the life of
the patent.

An industrial design is the ornamental or aesthetic


aspect of an article. The design may consist of threedimensional features, such as the shape or surface
of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such
as patterns, lines or color. Industrial designs are
applied to a wide variety of products of industry and
handicraft: from technical and medical instruments
to watches, jewelry, and other luxury items; from
house wares and electrical appliances to vehicles ;
from textile designs to leisure goods. To be protected
under most national laws, an industrial design must be
non-functional. This means that an industrial design
is primarily of an aesthetic nature and any technical
features of the article to which it is applied are not
protected.

A Utility Model is a protection option,


which is designed to protect innovations
that are not sufficiently inventive to meet
the inventive threshold required for
standard patents application. It may be any
useful machine, implement, tools, product,
composition, process, improvement or
part of the same, That is of practical utility,
novelty and industrial applicability. A
utility model is entitled to seven (7) years of
protection from the date of filing, with no
possibility of renewal.

RDE Digest

What is INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) defines IP as creations
of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images,
and designs used in commerce. In short, any unique idea that an individual has
produced, written, or invented.

Why protect IP?

ECTUAL
PERTY
ction

There are a lot of reasons why we need to protect our IP. Here are five (5) key
points why we should.
1. Protection from IP theft. We live in the age of information, ideas are valauble
property that drives development and thus have monetary value. If we fail to
safeguard them, you can be sure that someone will copy it and use it for their
own benefit.
2. Youre losing money. By failing to protect your IP, you are letting others
take advantage of your unique idea and earn from it without giving you due
compensation. You dont want that especially if the earnings hit the million mark.
3. You are losing the value of your IP. If your IP involves ways of doing things
more efficiently or more cost-effectively, making it a guarded secret increases its
value. However, if your secret is spilled , it would be difficult to prove that your
IP is more valuable compared to that of your competitors.
4. Youre also protecting your reputation. In the case of trademarks and
logos, having other entities indescriminately use your logos and trademarks in
substandard, dubiuos, or illegal means can tarnish your reputation.
5. You are also helping protect others. By safeguarding your IP, you are helping
others avoid scams and fake products.

TRADEMARK
A trademark is a tool used that
differentiates goods and services from
each other. It is a very important
marketing tool that makes the
public identify goods and services.
A trademark can be one word, a
group of words, sign, symbol, logo,
or a combination of any of these.
Generally, a trademark refers to both
trademark and service mark, although
a service mark is used to identify
those marks used for services only.

COPYRIGHT
Copyright is the legal protection extended to the
owner of the rights in an original work.
Original work refers to every production in the
literary, scientific and artistic domain. Among
the literary and artistic works enumerated in
the IP Code includes books and other writings,
musical works, films, paintings and other works,
and computer programs.
Works are protected by the sole fact of their
creation, irrespective of their mode or form of
expression, as well as their content, quality and
purpose. Thus, it does not matter if, in the eyes
of some critics, a certain work has little artistic
value. So long as it has been independently
created and has a minimum of creativity, the
same enjoys copyright protection.

Want to learn more?


Contact the UPLB Center for Technology
Transfer and Entrepreneurship.
UPLB CTTE provides IP awareness and free
assistance on all IP applications of UPLB faculty,
researchers, and students.
Call them at (049) 501 4756 or
send an email to ctte.uplb@up.edu.ph.

RDE Digest

33

POSTER BY LAWRENCE N. GARCIA


34

RDE Digest

Contribute!
ANALYSIS
An experts opinion or view on a pressing
issue. What topic do you want to read
about? Whose opinion do you want to
read?

TECHNOLOGY
What UPLB technology do you want to be
featured?
SUCCESS STORY

Do you know someone who started out


small? Do you know an adapter of a
UPLB technology who found his or her
way to success? Tell us about it!

STORIES FROM THE FIELD


Tell us about your experiences during
eldwork. Share your funny, exciting, or
even dangerous experiences.
RESEARCH UPDATES

HISTORICAL FEATURE

What research project do you want to


read about? Are there any new
breakthroughs from your unit?

Tell us the background story behind a


UPLB institute or product.

LIFE HACKS

Share some life hacks or innovative ways


to accomplish something--with the help
of UPLB technologies of course.

We accept stories year round!


Email us at ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph.
PHOTO FROM PEXELS

UPLBRandE
UPLBResearch
UPLBRandE
UPLBRESEARCH
OVCREUPLB
RDE Digest

35

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