By Chi A. Ibay, image by Leonardo A. Reyes (July-August)—First, he studied the oceans. Then he captured the land, its fascinating contours and its myriad creatures. Gil S. Jacinto is a professor at The Marine Science Institute (MSI). A c h e m i c a l oceanographer, he has a PhD in Marine Chemistry from the University of Liverpool, England. His colleagues, Maria Lourdes San Diego McGlone and Gisela P. Concepcion, describe his researches as “the chemical characterization of seawater…

By Benito V. Sanvictores Jr. (July-August)—He is an underrated Philippine hero despite his progressive views on the Catholic Church, women’s right to vote, the rights of persons with disabilities and support for public education. Apolinario M. Mabini was humble and did not seek attention or appreciation of others. He was satisfied to see the fulfillment of his aspirations without seeing the need to attribute those accomplishments to him, Dr. Zosimo E. Lee of the Philosophy Department said. For Dr. Ma. Luisa T. Camagay of the History Department, Mabini is a…

Text and image by Benito V. Sanvictores  Jr. (July-August)—He works in a discreet area in the third floor of the University Library at UP Diliman (UPD). His old, dependable desk is set amidst the sea of books and other printed materials stacked side by side and on top of each other on the book shelves, waiting for his hands to give them a new lease…

By Haidee C. Pineda, image by Leonardo A. Reyes (July-August)—“We’re not broken, just bent.” This phrase from the song “Just Give Me A Reason” by Pink, a popular American singer, was the inspiration behind Japhet Mari “JM” Cabling’s winning choreographed dance piece “Bent.” JM is a College of Music dance major and UP Dance Company (UPDC) member. “Bent” is a 9-minute dance routine with two dancers, JM and Angela Bettina “Abby” Carlos, also a UPDC member. It is a fusion of ballet and contemporary dance interpreting the roles in a relationship between…

By Benito V. Sanvictores Jr. (July-August)—Eight months after the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in November 2013, a performing group at UP Diliman continues rehabilitation efforts in a very unique way. Teatrong Mulat, together with several local and i n t e r n a t i o n a l p a r t n e r s , conducted Mulat-Buklat Outreach: Self-expression through stories and puppetry on Jul. 19 and 21 in Tacloban City,”…

By Kevin Brandon E. Saure (July-August)—Theirs is a difficult dribbling of balls and ballpens. Given the pressures of representing UP in the University A t h l e t i c A s s o c i a t i o n of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball competition, how do the Fighting Maroons’ cagers go about basketball and academics at the same time? Members of the basketball team are selected via the Varsity Athletic Admission System or VAAS. The process is very stringent; applicants must pass a series of tryouts and tests. Passers will…

  By Anna Regidor  (July-August)—Advertising is big business. A 30-second commercial on television can cost as much as P250,000 if aired during primetime (8-11 p.m.). The higher a show’s ratings are, the more expensive its advertising slots are and the more revenue it generates for the network. AGB Nielsen is the Philippines’ largest market research outfit, providing ratings for Philippine television. These ratings are expensive, with both broadcasting networks (sellers) and private companies (buyers) of advertising paying a premium for their assessment. Other than the availability of AGB Nielsen’s numbers, is it possible to predict…

By Albino C. Gamba Jr. (OCT. 3)—Ralph John O. Ugalino, BS Chemistry 2014 summa cum laude, topped the September 2014 Chemist Licensure Examination with a rate of 92.75 percent. Ugalino is joined in the top 10 by another UPD alumnus, Mark Justine R. Zapanta (3rd place, 88.75%). According to the Professional Regulation Commission, 421 out of 705 (59.7%) examinees passed the licensure examination. Forty-one out of 45 UPD examinees made the cut. PRC said the oath-taking ceremony will be announced later. For the complete results visit http:

By Albino C. Gamba Jr. (July-August)—How safe is your buko water? Buko beverages are prepared manually, making them vulnerable to contamination of pathogens or disease-causing microorganisms, says Dr. Alonzo A. Gabriel, an associate professor at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the UP College of Home Economics. “The highly manual nature of the preparation of buko water, even those commercially sold, makes it more susceptible to pathogen contaminations. The more contact with the person preparing the product, the higher the risk or susceptibility of…

By Haidee C. Pineda, images by Leonardo A. Reyes (OCT. 2)— The UP Women’s Badminton Team (UP Lady Shuttlers) was the champion…