Ask Theory

In terms of innovativeness, ingenuity, and sheer resourcefulness, Filipinos can easily give everyone else in the world a run for their money. But in our rush to proclaim our #PinoyPride to the rest of the world, do we end up claiming credit for things that Filipinos didn't actually invent?

Dr. Neil Andrew Bascos is a Protein Structural Biologist from the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He also serves as Program Director for the Protein, Proteomics and Metabolomic Facility of the Philippine Genome Center. His research involves investigations of the effect of structural forms on the functions of medically relevant proteins.

We talked about omics, the science behind proteins, studying proteins at the molecular level, unexpected paths in science inquiry, butterfly disease, and more.

How to contact Dr. Neil:

Email: [email protected]

The entire Rafflesia genus is an enormous enigma, in more ways than one. Information about it is oddly scarce, which is unfortunate considering its threatened status. But what would really happen if we were to lose this one-of-a-kind flower -- and what are Filipino scientists doing to save it?

FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://www.flipscience.ph/podcast/ask-theory-podcast-140-can-the-worlds-biggest-and-weirdest-flower-be-saved/

This episode of Ask Theory was made possible through a collaboration with Reporting Asean as part of its Sustainability Series.

In this special episode, FlipScience EIC and Ask Theory host Mikael Angelo Francisco spoke to Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, a professor at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and Dr. Bernard Alan "BA" Racoma, an instructor at IESM.

They talked about the behavior of tropical cyclones over the past 25 years, how tropical cyclones have affected the Philippines, the lessons we can apply to living with typhoons in the climate emergency, what needs to change about how we discuss the risks of tropical cyclones (including in the news), and more.

Full transcript and data visualizations here: https://www.reportingasean.net/philippines-is-typhoon-behaviour-shifting-at-a-time-of-climate-change/

This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines (NGOHP). For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about

Dr. Gail Co is a licensed physician with a Masters in Business Administration, with an interest in sustainability and global health. She is currently involved in projects intersecting human health and planetary health, both locally and globally.  

Ella Asuncion is a licensed medical technologist and a part-time faculty at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. Currently, she is taking her Master’s Degree in Public Health specializing in Environmental Health at the University of the Philippines Manila.

Carlo Frances Luayon is a faculty member teaching broadcasting/journalism courses at the University of the Philippines Baguio. He is also finishing his master's degree in Journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

We talked about the One Health concept, the Next Generation One Health Philippines program, familiarizing public officials and policymakers with the One Health concept, transdisciplinary research and its role in One Health, some of the upcoming events/activities hosted by NGOHP, and more.

How to get in touch with the NGOHP team:

Register for NGOHP's webinar on August 28, 2023: bit.ly/NGOHPJuanHealthEp3

Jose Emmanuel De Luna is a licensed agriculturist and has a master’s degree in Entomology (Insecticide Toxicology) from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He is an Assistant Professor 3 at the university’s Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology under the College of Agriculture and Food Science. As an entomologist, he is involved in various projects related to the bio-ecology of insect pests, biological control agents, and their management of different crops.

We talked about how to become an entomologist, the importance of insects to society, the positive and negative roles insects play in the world, careers in entomology, the Next Generation One Health Fellowship, and more.

How to contact Jose:

Email: [email protected]

This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about

Jayvee Moltio is a nurse who currently works as a public health practitioner specializing in health promotion and communication in a government hospital. He is pursuing a PhD in Indigenous Studies, focusing on Medical Anthropology, at the University of the Philippines Baguio. He has received prestigious awards, including the Presidential Lingkod Bayan from the Civil Service Commission. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Citizen in the Province of Benguet and an Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Health and Community Service from Saint Louis University.

We talked about the Universal Health Care Law in the Philippines, how universal health care benefits communities, challenges in improving the Philippine health care system, the Next Generation One Health Fellowship, and more.

How to contact Jayvee:

Facebook - fb.com/jayvee.moltio

Email - [email protected]

This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about

Trigger warning: This audio essay contains mentions of suicide and mental health issues.

Do you consider yourself a workaholic? You might want to take a moment to rethink that. There is a difference between working hard and being addicted to work — and confusing the latter for the former can have lethal results.

FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13OZNzC3CY7FfCy9VzVVkQ3uaroMlbjbVV7oqGVjOvSA/edit?usp=sharing

Al John “AJ” Cabanas is a college instructor and a former radio DJ. He took up MS Wildlife Studies minor in Animal Science at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. His research interests include camera trapping and human-wildlife interaction. He is working on a project which mainly involves studying the ecology of Philippine endemic wild pigs. 

We talked about using camera trapping for environment research, shifting to a career in science, the challenges in getting funding for research in the Philippines, the Next Generation One Health fellowship, one of the world's worst invasive species, and more.

How to contact AJ:

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Instagram: @ajcabanas

This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about

Any plant or animal species brought into a completely unfamiliar environment via human intervention, whether intentionally or accidentally, is considered nonnative. Things start turning ugly, though, when a nonnative species turns invasive.

Note: The cane toad was erroneously described as "venomous" in the recording; it is poisonous, not venomous.