It was early morning after Christmas in 2004 when a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Waves up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall ripped through the Indian Ocean, causing massive devastation in their wake. In Thailand, the ensuing tsunami created what many call the largest disaster victim identification in […]
A graduate from UP Cebu Class of 2024 raises a banner that reads “Trans Rights are Human Rights” as they join the traditional lightning rally during the 85th commencement exercises on July 5, 2024. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. It is every student’s dream to hear their name called during graduation. For Iskolar ng […]
Artwork by Tricia Mabale, UP MPRO UP scientists are growing wild seaweed on land to reclaim lost diversity In the UP Marine Science Institute’s (MSI) 5-hectare Bolinao Marine Laboratory, Pangasinan, a peculiar type of gardening is currently being done. Here, rows of aquariums and huge concrete channels called raceways are pumped daily with filtered seawater […]
Who gets to fish in municipal waters—and who gets left behind? This Philippine Environment Month, we spotlight the growing backlash to a recent Supreme Court ruling that opens municipal waters—the first 15 kilometers from shore, long reserved for small-scale fishers—to large commercial operations. Advocates warn the decision threatens marine ecosystems, undermines local governance, and puts […]
Some of the most popular fermented products in the Philippines are fish sauce (“patis”) and fish paste (“bagoong”). However, these products are typically high in salt content, which makes them unappealing to people who have or are predisposed to illnesses like hypertension, kidney stones, and some cancers. To address this, researchers from the University of […]
Four Iskolar ng Bayan were recently recognized by Forbes in its prestigious ‘30 Under 30 Asia’ list for 2025. Ysabel Chua (UP Diliman), Renee Francesca ‘Renren’ Galeno (UP Diliman), Anna Beatriz Suavengco (UP Los Baños), and Jasper Ruby Vijar (UP Visayas) joined movers from business, technology, the arts, and other industries who were cited for […]
Darna, the iconic superhero created by Mars Ravelo and illustrated by Nestor Redondo, has long been dismissed by critics as a copycat of Western comic book heroes like Wonder Woman. But a deeper analysis of the nature of Darna’s powers—particularly their connection to the legendary bato (stone)—reveals a character deeply rooted in Filipino folklore and […]
On February 5, 2025, Sara Duterte-Carpio became the first vice president in Philippine history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, when Congress held its last plenary session before it adjourned for the 2025 midterm elections. After three impeachment complaints, as well as a series of mobilizations both supporting and opposing the calls […]
The right drug at the right dose for the right person. That is the goal of precision medicine. And what can be more precise than diagnosis and treatment guided by the patient’s genes themselves? This has long been a goal of Filipino scientists and doctors involved in pharmacogenomics research, particularly in the treatment of […]
The Higgs, Dark Matter, and how the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics puts UP at the forefront of describing reality itself In 2012, a team at the European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN finally found the Higgs boson, one of the universe’s elementary particles. Dubbed ‘the God particle’ (without much exaggeration) by […]