By Ellyce Lim || Illustration by Joxyne Gravoso

As we rise from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of mpox—formerly known as monkeypox—presents a stark reminder that our public health system remains under strain.

In mid-August, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus  declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Less than a week later, the Philippines reported its first case of mpox. With cases steadily creeping into regions previously unaffected, such as the Philippines, which had seen no prior outbreaks, we must confront a pressing question:

Is our country prepared for the next looming challenge?

Understanding Mpox

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. It typically manifests with symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, and a distinctive skin rash that can linger for weeks. Transmission occurs through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated materials, or animals.

Similar to COVID-19, mpox can spread even before symptoms appear. This asymptomatic transmission makes it crucial to approach the virus with the gravity it warrants, as early detection and preventive measures are essential.

Background on Mpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency in July 2022 as the virus began to spread through sexual contact, affecting more than 70 countries, primarily in the African region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. This declaration highlighted the urgent need for coordinated global action.

Although the WHO lifted the emergency status in May 2023 as cases declined, the virus’s recent resurgence has highlighted just how resilient the MPXV truly is. Neglecting outbreaks in regions of origin, as we saw with COVID-19, could result in global consequences. The virus’s ability to spread unchecked highlights the need for constant vigilance and action.

Mpox in the Philippines

Mpox has recently made its way to the Philippines, with the first recorded case appearing in August 2024. As of September 16, the country has reported 18 confirmed cases, with 5 individuals having already recovered.

While Department of Health Secretary Herbosa claimed that  “Napakadaling i-control ang mpox” and asserted that the country can prevent the outbreak without a vaccine, it is important to recognize that despite being less transmissible than COVID-19, mpox still poses a serious threat to the country and should not be underestimated. As Dr. Susan Mercado, a former Department of Health Undersecretary and WHO appointed Director of Programme Management (DPM) in the Western Pacific, expressed in an episode of the Health Updates webinar series of the University of the Philippines Manila, “This virus is not as infectious as COVID-19, but we must continue to spread awareness and take preventive measures.” The country’s experience with COVID-19 highlights the importance of proactive health measures, ensuring that we do not fall into complacency. 

Resource and Healthcare

While vaccines are available in the market, the public’s awareness and access to these resources remain limited. Health Secretary Balbosa announced that 2,500 mpox vaccines have been requested, with delivery expected in a few months. For now, the Philippines is not a priority according to WHO statistics.

COVID-19 exposed significant gaps in our healthcare system, including underfunding, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of personnel. As we transition to tackling mpox, we need to invest in healthcare resources that bolster our capacity to respond to outbreaks. This includes better diagnostic tools, increased vaccine stockpiles, and enhanced training for healthcare workers.

Community Involvement

One of the critical lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic was the power of community solidarity. For example, the Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, Inc. (HPFPI), with support from the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc. (PACSII)—a non-profit, non-governmental organization—implemented programs to mitigate the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. As many people experienced an abrupt loss of income with the enforcement of the lockdown, these programs included community drives to mobilize funds and resource distribution. Additionally, HPFPI focused on raising awareness and promoting mitigation techniques, such as good hygiene practices by placing hand washing stations in certain areas of the community.

This underscores the need for similar grassroots efforts to disseminate accurate information, promote vaccination, and address the stigma that may deter individuals from seeking care in the event of a pandemic. Community movements like HPFPI have demonstrated the effectiveness of local engagement in tackling these challenges.

As we stand on the brink of another potential health crisis, it is crucial that the Philippine government acts decisively. We must learn from the mistakes of the past that swift action, effective communication, and proper resource allocation are essential to preventing a widespread outbreak of mpox. Our nation’s ability to respond effectively to this challenge will depend not only on governmental action but also on the cooperation of each citizen.

As we face the continuing threat of emerging infectious diseases like mpox, the importance of preparedness, healthcare resources, and community engagement cannot be overstated. While the habits we developed during the COVID-19 pandemic can help mitigate the outbreak of mpox, we cannot afford to be complacent. It is imperative that we actively learn from our past experiences to avoid repeating history. The sooner it is addressed, the less susceptible the country will be to a full-scale pandemic.

While the government’s proactive measures are a positive step forward in our collective preparedness, the role of citizens in adhering to health protocols, committing to precautionary measures, embracing collective responsibility, and supporting local initiatives is what building a stronger front for our country hinges on in preparing for another possible pandemic. Only through  our united efforts can we ensure that we are ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead and promote a safer future for all.

By Qwynz Bonachita || Photo Credit: ANDRZEJ WOJCICKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Earth is set to experience a rare celestial event starting today as it temporarily welcomes a mini-moon. On August 7, NASA-funded scientists identified an asteroid and named it asteroid 2024 PT5. This small asteroid is about 33 feet long and hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which is about 93 million miles away from our planet.

The asteroid will enter its two-month Earth orbit on September 29, 2024 until November 25, 2024. But, unlike Earth’s moon, mini-moons like 2024 PT5 have unstable orbits. Scientists predict that asteroid 2024 PT5 may not be able to complete one revolution around the planet but will follow a horseshoe-like path instead.

Despite the mini-moon being close to our planet for several months, it is unlikely for it to be visible to the naked eye or even through typical amateur telescopes or binoculars, due to its small size. To witness this mini-moon, a professional telescope with a minimum diameter of 30 inches will be required, says Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, the study’s lead author and a professor of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Another interesting possibility is that 2024 PT5 may not just be any asteroid, but rather a fragment of our moon. Paul Chodas, director of NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies, pointed out that the trajectory of the asteroid suggests that it may be a lunar debris that was expelled off the moon as a result of a prior impact incident.

PT5 is expected to go back to the Arjuna asteroid belt after a short orbit around the Earth in 2024, however there is still a possibility of it re-entering Earth’s orbit in 2055.

Reference:
Johnson, A. (2024, September 19). Temporary ‘Mini-Moon’ will begin to orbit Earth next weAek: What to know. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/09/19/temporary-mini-moon-will-begin-orbit-around-earth-next-week-what-to-know/

ANDRZEJ WOJCICKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY & ANDRZEJ WOJCICKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY. (2024, September 26). Near-Earth asteroid, artwork – Stock Image F005/5892. Science Photo Library.

By David Edward J. Roberts || Illustration by Mavi Hipe

It’s the height of summer: the sun blazes down, roads shimmer in heat. You shut your doors, run to your air conditioner, and set it to a blissful 17 degrees. As you sink into your favorite spot—either that’s your desk or bed—the gentle harp of the cold bard becomes a familiar love song. Inside, the cool, steady breeze slowly transforms your space into a tranquil oasis in the midst of a sweltering world outside.

But as you revel in this illusion of a refreshing haven, you might want to start pondering about a curious irony: While you’re cooling down, your beloved air conditioner might be contributing to the exact heatwave you’re escaping – Didn’t know that part, did you? 

Unfortunately, summer break in the Philippines isn’t just about basking in endless sunlight or lounging on white sand beaches. Being Filipino also means enduring the fierce blankets of El Niño and the sun’s relentless heat, which brings not only the joy of chilled fruit juices but also the unwelcome trio of headaches, sunburns, and heat strokes—a classic Pinoy summer experience.

In fact, heat index soaring to a blistering 40-50 degrees Celsius, the state weather bureau in PAGASA warned that 40 areas in the country could face “dangerous” heat indexes on a single day, in reference, this is the exact range that PAGASA states is dangerous to human health. In fact, between January 1 and April 29 alone, at least seven people succumbed to heat-related illnesses, according to the Department of Health. 

Humans, always adaptable to their environment, have evolved from simple head coverings to a range of creative solutions for shielding themselves from the sun, yet, with the rising intensity of heat in our modern times, these once-reliable defenses are often rendered nearly useless. 

And so, one method stood the test of time and efficiency: air conditioning —of course, that’s if you turn a blind eye to where all those emissions end up. But really, who needs to know that, right?

Thing is, they work so well because they don’t just blow air around like fans; instead, the magic begins when warm air is drawn in the system, special coils absorb the heat, cleaning the air, making it cool and crisp. The system, in all its efficiency, expels the unwanted heat to our atmosphere to build up—out of sight, out of our minds.

But air conditioning isn’t just about cooling the air; it also pulls moisture out, lowering humidity level —almost like giving you a temporary superpower to shed the “scorching heat armor” your body collects from the stories you had during the day.

In fact, Lee Kuan Yew, the visionary leader who shaped the cloud-reaching skylines in Singapore, once revealed that the surprising secret to the city-state’s success is air conditioning. 

“Air conditioning was a most important invention for us, perhaps one of the signal inventions of history. It changed the nature of civilization by making development possible in the tropics.” he stated. 

Next to the postcard of Singapore in our gallery of air-conditioned success stories is another country, none other than: The United States. That’s right!  Before air conditioning became widespread, summer in the American suburbs wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was deadly, literally. The death rate would spike during the hottest months as people struggled to cope with the heat. Today, with cooling units humming in nearly 90% of American homes, those seasonal spikes in mortality have largely disappeared. So, in a way, we can call it a lifesaver—a device that doesn’t just provide comfort but plays a vital role in modern public health.

This hunger we have for cool air has then caught the attention of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which collected and delivered some predictions in their groundbreaking 2018 report, The Future of Cooling: Opportunities for Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning. Among the said forecasts: in just 26 years, four billion new air conditioning units will be added globally, with nearly half of them in China and India. Even more startling, energy consumption from AC units is expected to triple, leaping from 2,020 terawatt-hours in 2016 to a staggering 6,200 terawatt-hours by 2050. 

Additionally, the IEA predicts a staggering 395% rise in power demand by mid-century, quite literally, using up all our energy. 

To meet this almost impossible energy demand, the reliance on grinding and burning fossil fuels increases drastically, increasing the emission of greenhouse gasses. This serves as the root of IEA’s another alarming prediction: by 2050, carbon dioxide emissions from air conditioning will nearly double, rising from 1,135 million tons in 2016 to a staggering 2,070 million tons. This relentless push for energy is driven by the intensifying consumption of fossil fuels, leading to a vicious cycle of environmental harm.

Right now, air conditioning is responsible for about 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and with the trend we have going on, can skyrocket in a major way in the future. A major culprit is hydrofluorocarbons, the refrigerants used in many air conditioners. These potent gasses trap even more heat in our atmosphere and are a major part of the problem.

So, should we just throw in the towel and embrace the sweltering summer heat? Well, no.

Turning up the air conditioner isn’t necessarily a crime, but a vivid illustration of the First Law of Thermodynamics: energy isn’t created or destroyed, it simply changes from one form to another. 

Sure, air conditioning provides much-needed relief from the sweltering heat, makes crowded spaces more bearable, and can even be a lifesaver in extreme conditions. The immediate comfort it offers is undeniable, especially during those punishing heat waves or in densely populated areas where cooling is essential. Yet, this relief—like everything, comes at a price.

In other words, the cool sanctuary of our air-conditioned spaces is, paradoxically, contributing to a hotter planet. Our quest for comfort through cooling systems is intensifying the very heat we’re trying to avoid.

So, the next time you crank up your air conditioner, maybe reconsider the sound its breeze makes. Is it a romantic tune that fills your space with cool air to turn it to a sanctuary, or a tragic ballad about our beloved mother planet slowly and slowly heating up, by every burning note?

by Mark Christian Mendoza || Photo Credit: Shutterstock

It’s a wonderful thing, the winter holidays, is it not? Gathering your family around the table to feast together. Dashing through the snow while singing Christmas carols. Watching wrapping paper get torn to shreds by rabid children. Oh, and of course who can forget, trashing all the uneaten food, plastic packaging, unwanted gifts, and whatever other vaguely unnecessary items you can find to add to the undying plague of environmental destruction! Ah… Christmas.

What? Don’t remember that last part? That’s not too surprising, very few people do. When you’re lost in the holiday cheer, it is not difficult to look past the piles of gift wrappers and cardboard packaging without even a single thought. Christmas carols carry quite convincing carefree climates, don’t they? And yet, as easy as it is to bury our heads in the snow, if we want to preserve the Christmas trees we love so dearly, pretending like the problem doesn’t exist won’t do anyone any favor.

They say that understanding the problem is half of the solution, so the first step of our foray into Father Christmas’ crimes is seeing just how much the cotton-clad man must answer for. Let’s start with the North Pole’s most prized product, presents.

According to the GWP Group, in the United Kingdom alone, 227,000 miles of wrapping paper are used every year. An astronomical length of wasted gift wrappers which is enough to wrap a line around the Earth more than 9 times over! As for the plastic packaging used for the actual presents, it’s estimated that around 125,000 tons of those are sent straight to landfills without even being recycled!

When you are opening your grandparents’ holiday cards, pretending to appreciate the heartfelt message instead of the gift inside, you should know that according to Envirotech, just sending those cards to you has released around 140 grams of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Across the UK’s entire holiday gift card industry, that’s a total of over 231,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite being the coldest season, it seems winter truly has some of the warmest gifts. Literally. Even if you wanted to lighten the environmental load by dropping the cards in a recycling bin, the shiny, pretty glitter that many of them contain is also pretty good at polluting paper like a plague, contaminating whole swaths of it and getting all of it thrown out! All of that environmental damage, and that is just from presents in the United Kingdom alone.

When real Christmas trees seem just a bit too pricey, those artificial trees have to kick up a stink of around 40 kilograms of carbon gas each, ten times more than natural trees, to save your wallet. Didn’t like your Christmas gift? Toss it out the window! 1 out of 5 of what were supposed to be pleasant presents end up as putrid plastic eating away at the Earth in landfills. From so hungry you could eat a horse to so full you can’t eat another bite, all those classic Christmas culinary casseroles you couldn’t stomach contribute to a total of 7.7 million tons of wasted food per year in the UK alone according to Grundig.

So, is that it then? Does that mean for the sake of the Earth, Christmas is canceled? Should Mr. Claus and his little guys in green pack up and put their gift-giving on indefinite hold? The answer is yes, but also no.

Sure, the Christmas season does produce more mountains of waste and greenhouse gases than you can shake a stick at, but perhaps it’s not Christmas that’s the problem. While it’s true that these hills of junk do appear during the winter, to get a better answer we need to dig down beneath the snow and straight to the root of the problem, and that problem is us.

The truth is that it’s our bad habits, careless spending, and reckless treatment of waste products that create all these problems in the first place. The only thing that Christmas does is dial our cheer and energy to an eleven. We buy more food than we can eat, spend money on gifts on a whim because of some flashy finagling, and toss all the plastic and other packaging in whatever container’s convenient enough when we’re done.

So, to cut down on all this pollution, what are we to do? Well, any tips that apply to year-round waste reduction apply here as well. You should try to spend money less carelessly, reuse whatever containers you find, and recycle any materials into something new and useful. However, for the end-of-year holidays in particular, here are some tips to save Christmas yourself.

Got a gift you don’t want? Don’t just throw it away. Try to sell it or pass it on to someone else! When in shops of any kind, control your spending. Many stores are designed to catch your attention with shiny posters and new products to make you leave carrying more than you planned. So before you buy anything, take a step back and think about your possible purchase. If you can afford it, try to get a real tree instead of a fake one. Its carbon footprint is 10 times smaller than that of an artificial tree. But, if you do get an artificial tree, reuse it as much as possible to make the most out of its cost to the planet. While shiny wrapping paper looks nice, you could try to put a fancy spin on your gifts by wrapping them in fabric, a much more biodegradable material.

Despite being the jolliest season of the year, Christmas hides a dark underbelly of piles of waste and heaps of greenhouse gases being released out into the Earth every time the holidays come around. Over time, these heaping helpings of trash will affect the environment and eat away at the beautiful nature of our world. To prevent this, do your part to reduce the negative effects of Christmas. Remember, as fine as the world may seem now, we are on thin ice when it comes to our future. It’s only together that we can ensure that Christmas will stay the merriest season for decades to come.

By: Clarence Jude B. Tabinas || Photo from: GMA News

From light bulbs and mobile phones to Artificial Intelligence (AI), technological advancements have made our world an easier place to live in.  Although such innovations have already proven their use to man, we must bear in mind that boundaries should be established regarding how far technological advancements should go.  

During the opening of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99, GMA Integrated News introduced their newest AI sportscasters, Maia and Marco. These newest sportscasters will report the happenings of said event, as well as local and international sports events featuring Filipino athletes. 

This move by GMA shows their dedication and commitment to innovation in journalism. By being the first in the country to utilize artificial intelligence for news delivery, the network has opened new doors which seemed impossible before. This will also lessen the workload of sports journalists as the AI sportscasters can swiftly deliver game statistics. However, will this innovation really improve journalism in the country, or will it only reduce its effectiveness and credibility?

Although Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, GMA Network’s Senior Vice President and Head of Integrated News, Regional TV, and Synergy, has already clarified that the two AI sportscasters are merely to complement and not replace journalists, will this remain true in the future? 

It is undeniable that technology plays a crucial role in journalism. However, AI sportscasters, who run in a programmed manner, can never fill the roles of veteran journalists who have spent years polishing their craft.

For one, AI sportscasters are not capable of expressing feelings. Unlike humans, who exhibit a variety of emotions, they can only report in a monotonous way. They could never replicate the excitement in the faces and voices of journalists every time they report interesting news.

Moreover, as AI sportscasters are susceptible to tampering, they can generate fake news and manipulate facts.  This could undermine the integrity of newscasting, which has been shaped by the country’s journalists for generations.

Although currently they are merely there to complement journalists, the network’s move of using AI sportscasters could pave the way for job losses later on. As the world continues to advance, it is possible that in the near future, AI will completely dominate journalism, leaving no more room for human journalists in the industry.

With this, it can be said that technology is indispensable; however, it should never cross the line by doing something that only humans can do. Instead of relying on AI sportscasters, large media companies like GMA should focus on training young and passionate journalists. Not only will they be able to provide job opportunities for Filipinos, but they will also pave the way for the emergence of a new generation of journalists who will one day serve the people.

by: Qwynz Bonachita || Photo Credit: Mark Balmores

On September 22, 2023, a dense gray fog settled on parts of Metro Manila, alarming both residents and experts. Initially thought to be Taal Volcano’s volcanic smog (vog), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) revealed that rather than volcanic emissions, the atmospheric phenomenon was intricately linked to the emissions from heavy vehicular traffic.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the vog from Taal Volcano is drifting west-southwest, steering clear of the Metro Manila area—a finding in concordance with DENR-EMB data.

Vehicles and stationary sources are the main emitters of particulate matter. Particulate matter or particle pollution are tiny pieces of solid or liquid particles that are in the air. These particles may include dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and drops of liquid.

For years, the DENR has emphasized that automobiles contribute 80% to the pollution levels in Metro Manila, with the remaining 20% being attributed to emissions from industries, construction sites, and even open-air burning.

Some parts of Metro Manila are experiencing hazardous air quality levels. Parañaque City records an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 217, Pateros at 141, and Makati City at 128, all of which have exceeded the guideline value of 35 micrograms per normal cubic meter (µg/Ncm), classifying these areas as “acutely unhealthy” for residents.

In a press briefing, Secretary Renato Solidum clarified that vog was only present in the Batangas atmosphere, whereas the one in Metro Manila was a smog induced by thermal inversion, where the air temperature is lower at the surface than it is above.

“It’s not vog; it’s smog. Not related, but the smog in Metro Manila can affect health. When outdoors, wear masks. When indoors, seal off doors and windows,” Solidum advised.

The Department of Health has echoed this sentiment, urging the public to remain indoors and limit outdoor activities to mitigate exposure to both vog in southern Luzon and the smog blanketing Metro Manila. Furthermore, keeping doors and windows shut and wearing masks when going outside are recommended, with ample hydration to counteract any potential irritation and dryness.

by: Kyle Abello || Photo Credit: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

You turn on TikTok to a prank video of a person being startled by a spider crawling on their face, then probably scroll more to a person using a filter that morphs their face to adjust the gap between their eyes. Say you wanted to take a new display picture for your social media pages, so you go to Snapchat and try on some of their filters to add some flavor to your picture.

These examples of popular social media gimmicks are an application of Augmented Reality (AR). As outlined by Microsoft, AR is an enhanced, interactive version of a real-world environment achieved through digital visual elements, sounds, and other sensory stimuli via holographic technology. AR incorporates three features: a combination of digital and physical worlds, interactions made in real time, and accurate 3D identification of virtual and real objects.

AR offers a better way to design, curate, and deliver consumable instructions by overlaying digital content in real-world work environments. AR, like many other technologies nowadays, was not made overnight. The first AR technology was developed in 1968 at Harvard when computer scientist Ivan Sutherland, tagged as the “father of computer graphics,” created an AR head-mounted display system. Over the following years after its first development, companies, universities, and government agencies have advanced AR for wearables and digital displays, which superimposed virtual information on the physical environment, and allowed simulations that were used for aviation, military and industrial purposes. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that the first commercial AR application had been developed.

Both hardware and software components contribute to making AR function: hardware components like sensors, cameras, and processors; and, software components, like image recognition, Artificial Intelligence, and AR software for processing. 

AR has two types, each of which have a unique way of displaying your images and information. The first type is marker-based AR. Image recognition is used to detect objects that have previously been programmed into your AR device or application to generate marker-based AR. These markers can assist your AR device in determining the position and orientation of the camera by being placed in the field of vision as points of reference. In most cases, this is accomplished by converting your camera to grayscale, detecting a marker, and then comparing that marker to every other marker stored in its information bank. Once a match is made, your device uses that information to calculate the pose and position the AR image appropriately. 

The second type of AR is marker-less. Marker-less AR is more complex because there is no fixed place for your device to focus on. Your device must therefore be able to distinguish objects as they come into view. The device will first identify the object using a recognition algorithm that looks for colors, patterns, and similar features. Then, using time, accelerometer, GPS, and compass data, it will either orient itself or use a camera to overlay an image of whatever you want over your actual surroundings.

Interestingly, there are many applications of AR in the real world: education for immersive learning experiences and remote collaboration; healthcare for medical simulations and patient care and rehabilitation; architecture design for real-time project visualization and virtual walkthroughs; retail and marketing for virtual testing of products and personalized advertisements and promotions. 

Despite the given advantages of AR, it still has some challenges and limitations. Technical challenges of AR include latency and performance issues, image recognition and tracking limitations. Additionally, AR also has ethical concerns related to data security, user privacy, and psychological and societal impacts. Accessibility is also a concern with AR due to the high cost of AR devices and applications along with the growing digital divide.

AR will surely develop in the coming years, with advancements in devices like wearables and AI and machine learning integration. In addition, AR could also potentially be used for smart cities and infrastructure, scientific research, and even for seamless integration into everyday life.

Proving its fascinating yet useful use, AR has been improving from its creation to more widespread application. Like many other technologies, it has its own share of concerns that need to be addressed, but overall, the possibilities of AR are endless. So, the next time you use social media filters to enhance or morph your appearance, think about AR and its potential to make an impact to society beyond the light-hearted social media gimmicks.

by: Nathaniel Dela Torre || Photo Credit: Monterrazas Prime Cebu Facebook Page

An architecturally forward design is how vlogger and engineer Slater Young describes his latest project, “The Rise at Monterrazas.” According to Young’s video, the project is designed with three pillars in mind: uniqueness, usability, and sustainability. However, as architecturally forward as it may seem, its detriment to the environment is a looming cause for concern.

The Rise at Monterrazas is a luxury condominium slated to be built at Monterrazas de Cebu. With its design integrated with the mountain, one might wonder, ‘How much of the environment will be destroyed for this project?’ Imagine the hectares of land that will be eroded and the amount of trees that will be cut down for its completion. These threats are only some of the concerns that netizens and environmentalists alike have raised regarding the project.

An architecturally forward design does not have to be environmentally backward. In his video, Young stated that they spread the whole structure out across the mountain to lessen its environmental impacts, however, was there a need to impact the environment in the first place? Another high-rise condominium could have been built elsewhere, preserving a natural safeguard against disasters for residents in the area. 

The Monterrazas de Cebu near the project itself received two cease and desist orders in 2008 and 2011 from the city’s local government units due to its effects on the residential areas. On both occasions, the development was ordered to stop because of the large-scale flooding it caused in the nearby sitios and barangays. These floods were observed and believed to come about as a result of the project’s development. Who’s to say that this will not happen again once the Rise at Monterrazas condominium reaches its development stage? This project is creating more housing for the rich at the expense of the common people’s safety.

The sustainable solutions that the project team presented are merely facades constructed to hide their employers’ greed. Creating a view that resembles the renowned rice terraces would set their condominium apart from the rest of the luxury housing in the country, no matter the cost. The sustainable solutions presented are only band-aid solutions to the detrimental effects this project would have, not only on the environment but also on the residents living nearby.

We should not forget that the environment is the foundation of our existence. From the resources it provides to the protection it offers, we, as inhabitants of Earth, should always prioritize its preservation. However, considering the rapid pace at which we are destroying its beauty and gifts, we must always remember that the environment has its own ways of retaliating, it always knows how to strike back.

by: Qwynz B. Bonachita || Photo Credit: Artist’s Impression of the Milky Way in its Youth by James Josephides, Swinburne University

Did you know that even our Milky Way can have a doppelganger? Through the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers discovered that the Sparkler galaxy, galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, is a mirror image of the Milky Way in its youth. 

The Sparkler has been found in the southern sky in the constellation Volans at a redshift of 1.38, implying that the galaxy was discovered 9 million years ago—a few billion years after the well-known cosmic explosion, Big Bang. It is known for having two dozen sparkling globular clusters orbiting around it, surrounded by red and yellow sparkling dots, and a few dwarf galaxies slowly being swallowed up, similar to how the Milky Way was formed in the past.

Its mass is only 3% that of the Milky Way; however, it will soon advance and expand to become the size of our galaxy, with a growth spurt similar to what the Milky Way might have experienced.

The research was led by Professor Forbes of Swinburne University and Professor Aaron Romanowsky of San Jose State University.

“We appear to be witnessing, first hand, the assembly of this galaxy as it builds up its mass – in the form of a dwarf galaxy and several globular clusters,” Professor Forbes stated. 

He adds, “We are excited by this unique opportunity to study both the formation of globular clusters and an infant Milky Way, at a time when the Universe was only 1/3 of its present age.” 

Professor Romanowsky also commented, “The origin of globular clusters is a long-standing mystery, and we are thrilled that JWST can look back in time to see them in their youth.”

References:

“Reconstructing the genesis of a globular cluster system at a look-back time of 9.1 Gyr with the JWST” by Duncan A Forbes and Aaron J Romanowsky, 26 December 2022, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. DOI: 10.1093/mnrasl/slac162

https://www.universetoday.com/160017/seeing-a-mirror-image-of-the-milky-way-from-billions-of-years-ago/

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/astronomers-find-milky-way-look-alike-galaxy-12-billion-light-years-away/article32367226.ece/amp/

by: Nathaniel Dela Torre || Photo Credit: George Calvelo/ABS-CBN News

The Rehabilitation of Manila Bay started three years ago, along with ongoing reclamation projects. Beyond the white beach and dead fish stands an ecosystem endangered by these reclamation projects. The rehabilitation of the bay cost a whopping PHP 389 million, with PHP 28 million spent on the crushed dolomite alone. 

Recently, the topic of Manila Bay being incapable of hosting marine ecosystems started to rise, as reports say that local government units have declared the bay dead. Fisherfolk, who rely on the bay for a living, deny the claims but emphasize that the ecosystem is at risk due to the several reclamation projects slated for the bay. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) likewise denies the statement by citing studies showing the bay’s diverse life, such as fish, corals, and mangroves.

Let us look back to when the supposed rehabilitation project was in its early phase. The reconstruction plan was spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2019 after the supreme court ordered agencies to restore the water quality of Manila Bay. 

The project’s first phase started with desilting and dredging operations. The rehabilitation report of DENR recorded more than 3,810 tons of garbage, water hyacinth, and silt were removed from the coastlines and drainage systems leading to the bay. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) then started the project’s second phase by relocating informal settler families. Then, on September 3, 2020, the Manila Baywalk was dumped with ‘white sand’ or crushed dolomite boulders.

From the start, the decision to make a white beach was already questionable. In an economic sense, the funds allocated for this project phase could have been used for more critical projects, especially as this was done during the height of the pandemic. The funds could have been used to pay the healthcare workers’ salaries, fund hospitals, and buy equipment – all pivotal in fighting the pandemic. 

Echoing environmentalists’ concern, the decision to dump hazardous dolomite sediments on top of polluted waters will not help DENR reach its goal of restoring the water quality of Manila Bay. The crushed dolomite can cause adverse effects on health and cause damage to the ecosystems around the bay.

When the dolomite sand was overlaid along the Manila Bay coastline, the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) emphasized, “There are no shortcuts to a cleaner environment. The use of crushed Dolomite sand will not help solve the environmental problems in Manila Bay.” 

“At most, it is a beautification effort that is costly and temporary,” they added.

According to their statement, the dolomite sand will erode and will be washed away, given the coastline conditions during storms. This would mean that the sand needs to be replaced every time it is washed out, making it prohibitively expensive and not cost-efficient simply for a rehabilitation project. Above all, the dolomite sand will also not solve the potential acidification of the ocean, and inhaling its particles may even be detrimental to humans. Since the first layer of dolomite sand was applied in 2020, it has been reapplied constantly in the past two years due to typhoons and tides washing it away. This is not to mention the hazard of dolomite sediments being washed up into other parts of the sea. 

The UP Institute of Biology has also released a statement against the dumping of dolomite sand. The institution emphasized the project’s effects on the area’s biodiversity and ecology. In their statement, an alternative for the project was also suggested—mangroves, more specifically, rehabilitating mangroves, as it is one of the more effective nature-based solutions. According to the statement, it can significantly contribute to biodiversity and reduce heavy metal contamination, both relevant to the bay in the discussion. This goes to show that there are more effective solutions, both economically and environmentally, for the rehabilitation of the bay. The government just has its mind set on the ongoing detrimental project.

Rehabilitating and restoring the water conditions of Manila Bay is definitely crucial for our country; however, it should not have been the priority during the peak of the pandemic. Additionally, the dolomite beach phase of the rehabilitation program is more detrimental than beneficial. As environmentalists and scientists have suggested, there are more beneficial projects that the government can implement, such as mangrove forests and the like, instead of the controversial white beach. What was supposed to be a rehabilitation of the bay turned into a beautification project. At this point, the bay’s future relies on the government’s decisions. It is only when the government trusts in science and pushes back their reclamation dreams will the bay thrive.