Monday, February 29, 2016

Philippine History for the month of March: Dawn of Modern Science and Technology, and Acadenic Achievements

University of the Philippines at Los Baños officially established
  


On March 6, 1909, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) founded by American botanist Edwin B. Copeland, was officially established. 

The Board of Regents of the American University of the Philippines established the College of Agriculture in Los Baños, Laguna, setting up an institution dedicated to research and education in agriculture and related disciplines. 




Today in Philippine history, March 15, 1956, the Philippines was selected as site for Asian Nuclear Research Center

   Atoms for Peace program
On March 15, 1956, US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, announced in Manila that the Philippines had been selected as site for the projected Asian Nuclear Research Center, this was followed by a statement in Washington, issued by the International Cooperation Administration (ICA), which ran, in part: 


"The Republic of the Philippines has been chosen as the site for the new Asian nuclear center which was proposed by the United States at the Colombo Plan meeting held in Singapore last October. The United States is now preparing to move rapidly with initial plans for the establishment of this center as a means of putting atomic energy to work for the economic and social progress of Asia. This action will represent an important step toward the further advancement of President Eisenhower's atoms-for-peace program." 

"Careful consideration of all of the factors involved in the matter of physical location led to the decision that the Philippines best meets the requirements of availability of the proposed center to all of the Colombo Plan countries .... The United States has been gratified with the interest shown in its proposal by the Colombo Plan countries. In this connection the offer of the Philippine Government to provide the physical site for the center is an important contribution to its ultimate success." 

The projected nuclear research center would provide funds for laboratory facilities and equipment, and to supply a reactor to serve research and training purposes. It would supplement existing facilities for the basic training at the college level for engineers, chemists, and physicians. It could also offer facilities for research in the field of medicine, agriculture, and industry. It would be able to provide valuable training for instructors and teachers in nuclear science for other Asian educational institutions. It could also serve as a convenient meeting place for international conferences for scientists, government officials, industrialists, and others interested in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. 

Earlier on August 13, 1955, a month after the Geneva Atomic Energy conference, in line with the atoms-for-peace plan proposed by US President Eisenhower before the General Assembly of the United Nations of December 9, 1953, President Magsaysay issued Administrative Order No. 134, "Creating an Interdepartmental Committee on Atomic Energy". 

The Order reads in part:

"By virtue of the powers vested in me by law, I, Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, do hereby create an Interdepartmental Committee on Atomic Energy to determine the scope which the country expects to cover in the field of nuclear-energy studies and to consider ways and means of financing the work.
"The Committee is hereby authorized to call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the Government for such assistance and information as it may need in the performance of its functions. The Committee shall submit its report and recommendations to the President of the Philippines as soon as possible ..." 


Subsequently appointed to this Interdepartmental Committee were:
  • Cesar Lanuza, Economic Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs, Chairman;
  • Pedro Afable, Secretary;
  • Octavio Maloles, Department of Foreign Affairs;
  • Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara, Civil Aeronautics Board;
  • Director Benjamin Gozon, Bureau of Mines;
  • Alfredo Eugenio, Administrator of Civil Defense;
  • Dr. Paulino J. Garcia, Secretary of Health;
  • Dean Crisostomo Ortigas, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines;
  • Col. Florencio Medina, Research and Development Division, Armed Forces of the Philippines;
  • Dr. S. Ador Dionisio, Chief of Clinics, Philippine General Hospital; and
  • Leopoldo Salazar, Institute of Science and Technology.
This is an administrative Committee rather than a committee of physicists, and early in January 1956, Vice-President, and concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Carlos P. Garcia, called a meeting of the heads of the departments of physics of the different private universities and told them that the Philippines had been tentatively chosen as the site for the projected Asian nuclear research center and that it was desirable to form a nuclear research and training association which would include scientists known in the United States. The "Philippine Nuclear Research and Training Association" was forthwith organized and a Nuclear Committee of this Association was formed to which five scientists were nominated, these being subsequently officially appointed by Vice-President Garcia in his capacity as the Chairman of the Organization Conference.

  
Dr. Theodor Brings, head of the Department of Physics, Far Eastern University, was appointed Chairman.
Appointed members were
  • Dr. Ciriaco Pedrosa, O.P., Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, University of Santo Tomas;
  • Dr. Hans Scharpenseel, of the Araneta Institute of Agriculture;
  • Dr. Hsieh Yu Ming, head of the Department of Physics, University of the East; and
  • Brother Howard Edwards, S.S.C., Dean of Liberal Arts, De La Salle College.
 In its announcement, William F. Russel, deputy director of the ICA, said that the center is the most ambitious, costly, and extensive nuclear project for solving health, economic and industrial problems in Asia. Funded by the Eisenhower's fund for Asian economic development, it was targeted not only on training and research, but on practical application of atomic energy. "After the development of an isotope laboratory and research reactor, we will go on to a power reactor", Russel said.
 
Reference: American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Journal, Volume 32, Number 4, April 1956




 Filipino Nuclear Chemist Dr Quirino O Navarro

  



On March 29, 1936, Dr. Quirino O. Navarro, a noted Filipino chemist, was born in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.

Dr. Navarro graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines in 1956, and received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley in 1962.

His significant contribution to science is the determination of nuclear properties in the isotopes of californium, einsteinium and dysprosium using cryogenic techniques.



First Visually-impaired Filipina graduated Summa cum Laude from AdMU


  


On March 24, 2001, Roselle Ambubuyog became the first visually-impaired Filipina to emerge as summa cum laude graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).
Born on January 12,1980, Ambubuyog, totally blind since age six, finished her bachelor of science degree, major in mathematics with flying colors. She was also chosen as class valedictorian chosen among all summa cum laude graduates.

She earlier graduated valedictorian from her elementary school and, four years later, was again valedictorian of her high school batch.

As a scholar of ADMU, the school bought Ambubuyog a Braille Translation Software program that converts encoded or scanned text to computer as well as a Braille printer that produces hard copy Braille to make the exam questionnaires, lecture notes, and other classroom materials.

 Philippine Made Missile System Launched  
 
On March 12, 1972, the first ever Philippine made rocket named "Bongbong I" was successfully launched at Caballo island near Corrigedor in the Manila Bay and successfully retrieved from the South China Sea. The rocket was part of the Philippine Military experiment to produce its own ballistic missiles. Initiated by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, it was researched and developed by a group of Filipino and German engineers and scientists and the Philippine Navy under Project Santa Barbara.


Sunday, February 28, 2016

Grow onion leek at home

Onion is the most important vegetable in the world.


Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School on Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday
Lesson in Folk Wisdom for Growing Up Summer Workshop

Native onion grown in pot provides ready fresh onion leek for a number of recipes like fried eggs, soup, omelet, kilawin, porridge (lugaw), arroz caldo.

This is one way to encourage kids to have a daily supplement of vegetables. Vary the use of leek in their diet. 

Onion leek is rich in vitamin K, A, C and B6manganese, folate, iron, fiber, magnesium, molybdenum, copper, calcium, and potassium.  It also contains thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, and antibiotic substances like Allicin  and Alliin - from Allium, the genus of onion (A. cepa), garlic (A. sativum), kutchay (A tuberosum), and the original leek (A. ampeloprasum).  Leeks generally have also high calorie value, and fair amounts of protein and fat. It is no wonder onion is the most important vegetable in the world.

 Spouting bulb of shallot or bulb variety (Red Creole, right) 

Gather only what you need for the moment using scissor. Don't cut the entire stem - only mature leaves. 

Grow leek where there is sufficient sunlight, preferably on elevated place.  It's easy to grow leek from shallot (Sibuyas Tagalog) and from bulb onions (e.g. Red Creole). Staggered planting assures continuous supply of leek for the family - and for neighbors too. A pot of onion leek  makes a unique gift to friends who love to cook, those in their senior years, and convalescing - with or without special occasion    Don't forget to add a little ribbon and a personal message.  ~


-----------------
Onions are native to Asia and the Middle East and have been cultivated for over five thousand years. Onions were highly regarded by the Egyptians
and have been revered throughout time not only for their culinary use, but also for their therapeutic properties. They were popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Christopher Columbus brought onions to the West Indies; their cultivation spread from there throughout the Western Hemisphere. Today China, India, the United States, Russian, and Spain are among the leading producers of onions.
 – World’s Healthiest Foods
---------------------------



Garlic Sprouts, Anyone?

Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM, [www.pbs.gov.ph] 8-9 evening class Monday to Friday
Dr

 Husked cloves of garlic sprouted in a refrigerator, 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (vegetables shelf), for a period of two weeks.  

Sprouted garlic has higher anti-oxidant properties. This process is cleaner than directly sprouting garlic exposed to sunlight.  Ref-sprouted garlic sprouts develop chlorophyll and turn green just after a few hours of indirect sunlight. Conventional garlic sprouts are green, harvested from  germinating bulbs. or bulbs raised in the garden or pots. These are popularly called garlic shoots.   (Photos taken from actual result of home experiment in the author's residence. Model is Miss Resabel "Isang" Dimalanta, 18.)     

How to use Garlic Sprouts 

Ideally, their flavor is best appreciated eaten fresh.  Garlic sprouts are excellent on top of baked potatoes, green salads, vegetable salads, or stirred into egg salads, pasta salads, dips, and as a quick garnish over hummus or guacamole (dips).

Sprouted garlic on caliente, ox hide. 

Hide is cleaned, and softened under low fire for hours, sliced thinly, spiced heavily with onion and pepper, and salt - and, garlic sprouts

Add sprouted garlic to kilawen and pinapa-itan.  it's simply superb!


Favorite goat recipes: kilawin (left) or medium rare; and pinapa-itan (soup made of entrails and chyme, which gives the bitter taste. Chyme is extracted from the partially digested grass, and heated to pasteurization temperature, around 70 degrees Celsius. Gall is often used as substitute.) 

"Sprouted garlic enhances raw garlic's proven anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, cardiovascular health protection, and its ability to kill 14 types of cancer cells. A sulfur-rich compound in garlic called allicin is effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites without toxic side effects."

- Korea's Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology, 
The ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Here are 15 health benefits of garlic: 

Dr Anitha Anchan

Antibacterial and Antiviral
Garlic is most well-known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. They help control bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast and worm infections. Fresh garlic is thought to play a role in preventing food poisoning by killing bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, etc.
To treat skin infections
The chemical ajoene found in garlic may help treat fungal skin infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.

Blood thinning
The anti-clotting properties of ajoene found in garlic help in preventing the formation of blood clots in the body. Hence, it may also increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.

Reduce blood pressure
Angiotensin II is a protein that helps our blood vessels contract thereby increasing the blood pressure. Allicin in garlic blocks the activity of angiotensin II and helps in reducing blood pressure. The polysulphides present in garlic are converted into a gas called hydrogen sulphide by the red blood cells. Hydrogen sulphide dilates our blood vessels and helps control blood pressure.

Protect heart
Garlic protects our heart against cardiovascular problems like heart attacks and atherosclerosis. This cardio-protective property can be attributed to various factors. With age, the arteries tend to lose their ability to stretch. Garlic may help reduce this and may also protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals. The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from becoming blocked and slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The anti-clotting properties of ajoene help prevent clots from forming inside the blood vessels.

Reduce cholesterol

Garlic has the ability to moderately lower our blood triglycerides and total cholesterol and reduce arterial plaque formation.

Combat allergies
Garlic is known to have anti-inflammatory property. It can help the body fight against allergies. The anti-arthritic property of garlic is due to diallyl sulphide and thiacremonone. Garlic has been show to improve allergic airway inflammation (allergic rhinitis). Raw garlic juice may be used to immediately stop the itching due to rashes and bug bites.

Remedy for respiratory problems
Daily use of garlic might reduce the frequency and number of colds. Its antibacterial properties help in treating throat irritations. Garlic may also reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections. Its benefits in disorders of the lungs like asthma, difficulty of breathing, etc. make it a priceless medicine. Its ability to promote expectoration makes it irreplaceable in chronic bronchitis.

Diabetes
Garlic increases insulin release and regulates blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Effective against warts and corns
Applying fat dissolving garlic extracts to corns on the feet and warts on the hands is thought to improve these conditions.

Cancer prevention
Daily intake of garlic has been found to lower risk of most types of cancer. This anti-cancer property is due to allyl sulphides found in garlic. PhIP, a type of heterocyclic amine (HCA), has been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer among women. According to studies, diallyl sulphide found in garlic inhibits the transformation of PhIP into carcinogens.

Improve iron metabolism
Ferroportin is a protein which helps in iron absorption and release. Diallyl sulphides in garlic increase production of ferroportin and help improve iron metabolism.

Stir up passions
Garlic’s aphrodisiac property is due to its ability to increase the circulation.

Toothaches
Simply put some crushed garlic clove directly on the affected tooth can help relieve toothaches due to its antibacterial and analgesic properties. But be aware that it can be irritating to the gum.

Reduce weight
Many researchers believe that obesity is a state of long-term low-grade inflammation. According to recent research, garlic may help to regulate the formation of fat cells in our body. Pre-adipocytes are converted into fat cells (adipocytes) through inflammatory system activity. The anti-inflammatory property of 1, 2-DT (1, 2-vinyldithiin) found in garlic may help inhibit this conversion. This may help prevent weight gain.

References: Living with Nature AVR,


ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Internet