The Richest Biodiversity: TLT `10-`11

The Richest Biodiversity

A different challenge unraveled in the 4^th quarter of our school year. And we admit, it was intimidating, blurry, and it didn't help that we did not have the first clue on how to pursue it. Our new project was upon us. It was not your typical 'copy and paste' research, masterpiece-designing, model of the solar system, power point on Animals, skit on unforgettable novels, nor the problem-and-solution paper on the Pythagorean Theorem. Entrusted to us was a challenge we, the SDJSs, have never encountered. We only knew that the use of the internet was vital coupled with out-of-the-box ideas, creative minds, and cooperation among us group mates. This interactive project allowed a team of 5 individuals -- working with group mates that were not exactly closely-knit – to reflect and write about the biodiversity of our very own Mother Nature. Online diaries, virtual journals, cyber memoirs... this is called The Blogging Project

The Blogging Project

Preparing for each blog, honestly, was not easy. Some were more difficult that others. We thought about how our blog can be different. Frankly, when we entitled our blog “A Date With Mother Nature”, we didn't have an idea how we were going to develop it. Then late into the evening of the first major post, we thought – why not develop the diary as a real date – but using the assigned topics of the Urban Guru. Then ideas came by more easily. One thing consistent was staying up late, trying to perfect each post before that deadly 12 midnight deadline. We would meet up as a group to talk and discuss about the upcoming posts. We gave each other assignments. It wasn't always easy getting inputs from everyone but we managed to do so. When our post won Best Post, the SDJSs became more fired up and engaged. We used that momentum to think through and make the next posts even more creative than the first one. Because there were other school requirements, we were not always able to meet as a group. So we would call, email, chat non-stop.

One of the difficult moments was when one of the members accidentally misplaced the “Trip Chart”. To fix this, we researched once more on all the organisms on that “Trip Chart” - a mistake we could all learn from. Despite all these problems, the SDJSs had a most unforgettable time with the challenges. 

Going Global!

This project was definitely one-of-a-kind. And no matter what the challenges were, eye bags and all, we would gladly go through this same challenge all over again – but this time equipped with all the learning. This virtual task enabled us to be exposed to expressing our thoughts for the whole world to view. It taught us how to always give the best. It taught us how to be confident. We were read by people from Iran, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia...ain't that so cool! And because the blog gets read the instant we clicked “Publish Post”, we learned to be more thoughtful and careful. This project opened our minds to a world that we only would just read about.

The Blogging Project CEO, as is, is already amazing and unforgettable. To further improve its awesomeness, future bloggers can maybe expand the variety of topics and ideas to write about. With this, more kinds of readers will get interested to view one's blog. Maybe each group can be assigned a different topic so the readers will learn more about various aspects. But we all agree that this was one learning experience that stretched our abilities, imagination, writing skills (dictionaries and thesauruses were never so used as they were during this time), team work, and reflecting.

The learning about Science and about Life was numerous. Our minds were definitely filled with all the research and creative thinking. But most importantly, we realized that the biodiversity is not only the breathtaking view of the Philippines but our eyes were opened to the fact that that rich biodiversity was TLT Batch of 2010-2011. Each one was different and special in his or her own unique image. The differences in everyone is what makes the biodiversity richer. Consider the richness of talent as seen in the various groups and blogs of the batch:

• In Blogitty Blog-Blog, we all saw all the perseverance they had ever since the announcement of this project to the last second of cooking up the final post.
• The pictures and graphics of RECaJiInna were exquisite! They were undoubtedly captivating, fascinating and attention grabbing. What 'picture-perfect' photos!
• We were really in awe with the witty titles of A Walk Through Biodiversity. It gives more 'spice' and makes one excited to read more and each section of their blog.
• All of us noticed and admired their 'never give up' attitude of the Science Explorers during the poll for the People's Choice. They came from behind but just kept on going further until they landed on the top 2 spot!
• The Science Adventurers have been very convincing with their posts because of their use of interesting information and data about the different matters.
• The 'Adventures of The Earth Trotters' had much insight and reflection in their posts! We also whole-heartedly agree with their comments on the “urban gurU”. We always had a blast reading their posts.
• The Science Gurus always had a way of creatively capturing the attention of the readers either by graphics or significant quotes. They always knew the right words to say, especially in the end.
• Last but certainly not the least. The urban gurU a.k.a. Sir. Where shall we begin? Let's attempt using a comparison. Like the Museum of National History, Sir is full of surprises! Each corner of the museum showed different perspective of our rich biodiversity, just like Sir who manages to teach us various scientific topics using different tools. Like the Makiling Botanical Garden that we thought was going to be a hoe-hum experience, Sir livens up the topics that he lectures on to his students by interactive activities, fresh challenges and mind-boggling projects (like this one!).

Forked Roads

So now we can see how diverse our batch is- and how it is composed of unique and creative individuals that build up one another instead of pulling one down. We all are here to build, not to destroy; to help, not to ignore; to support, not to tear down. Our Father has blessed us with this beautiful adventure. From the meeting of each other on the first day of class, to the lectures in class, to those tightly-packed schedules, and sleep-depriving projects, we enjoyed every single part of our days in our beloved second home, with our beloved teachers. However, like many adventures, the trail has forked- each of us will travel our own respective roads, armed with the lessons that we have been molded with and most importantly, with the ever watchful eyes of our loving Father.  

A Lamp Unto My Feet

Signing off dear readers,

Gabbie

Marielle

Caitlin

Toni

James

Super Duper Junior Scientists

Our Final Fantasy

Our last stop- Makiling

Like any adventure and as in our previous dates, things must eventually come to an end. Our adventure with Mother Nature has expanded our horizon with each new experience but, alas, this all-so-enriching activity came to its finality as we trekked the last stop, the Makiling Botanical Gardens.

“MAKILING BOTANICAL GARDEN, anyone?”...”No thanks!” the team thought in unison. The mere mention of the phrase 'Botanical Garden' had each of us hypothesizing the level of expected boredom we were to feel discussing plants, seeing plants, discussing plants, and seeing more plants. Well guess what, dear readers...difficult as it may be to admit, we needed to state for the record that “WE WERE WRONG!”

Let us share why.

(c) Gabbie Fonacier

As we approached Makiling's pride, and got closer to the gardens, we started to witness the beauty unveiling before our very eyes. We were more than amazed. We were more than shocked. We were...what's the word...dumbfounded! As soon as we dealt with the guilt of being judgmental and kicked guilty-feelings aside, we began to experience a taste of heaven through the garden's beauty.

As we and the rest of the 'Tree' gang made our way to the garden's entrance, each trekker followed his or her own hike pace – some ran like they were engaged in an Amazing Race, others were leisurely walking and chit-chatting with other trekkers, while the rest simply enjoyed every moment and wandered around. A word of caution though, you can lose track of time and get immersed in the depths of the gardens as the eye-catching sites captivate you. We certainly felt like we were being treated to a new wonder as we walked further along the path. Imagine fuchsia-colored blossoms, mushrooms of varying sizes, moss-lined walk ways, beehive-looking plant stalks, and trees and greens everywhere.

(c) Gabbie Fonacier

And while we may not have seen cow-milking action, or fascinating stuffed animals, or a high-tech population counter, the garden experience left a lasting impact on us. Here are some of our discoveries that maybe you can learn from too. Lesson 1: always stick with you buddy and don't let yourself or your mind wander beyond where you can be found. Gardens such as this are full of surprises - literally and figuratively. Lesson 2: “Don't judge a book by its cover.” That's pretty self-explanatory, right? We fell into this trap going to the garden and we were astonished with what it presented to us. And of course this doesn't just apply with judging places. The more important application is to people. Lesson 3: Be thankful for everything – our country, its natural resources, learning, teachers, classmates, friends, family, and...readers reading this blog right this minute!  

I.n R.ice, R.est I.

Coming from the museum and the stark realization of the static state of life (a.k.a. death), we got a little carried away with the title of this next blog...but allow us to share the 'why's' behind the title.

(c) Gabbie Fonacier

The next stop was I.R.R.I., the popular acronym for the International Rice Research Institute. Are you wondering why some 12/13 year olds would even think of visiting a research institute? A rice research institute, at that? Well to us, the answer is quite simple – we wanted to learn more about the single most popular staple food of Filipinos. And what better place to learn about it than from the largest non-profit independent agricultural research area in the Asia.

On the road to IRRI, we all expected to see and learn about the different types of rice and tools used to grow it. Of course, it is almost a pattern that what we expect is nowhere near what we actually experience.

Rice is life

When we reached the place, once again, we were amazed at what we saw. The placed looked very formal, spic and span, and right away we knew we needed to keep our blabbering mouths shut. We were then led to this gigantic audotorium. As formal as the place was, so was the designated speaker – Ate Bea. She was kind and interesting as she gave a brief introduction on I.R.R.I. Afterwards, we viewed a video. We learned that the institute was founded in the 1960. It uses the best of science to improve wheat technology. We all know that with better technology, people live better and improved lives. According to the video, “rice is life” (which is the next reason for the title). Some of us may not agree since we have a wide menu of various food types for us and our families. But, a huge part of the population actually subsist on rice alone. And if this is so, then we should all be concerned about how best to grow it, preserve it, and give it its due importance so we are able to feed 90 million Filipinos with quality grains. Indeed, rice is life. 

The PINOY Staple Food--Rice

So now, as the SDJS`s reflect, we should all be thankful for all the blessing we receive. We may not have a fancy way of living full of worldy things, but if we stop and think, we will open our eyes to the tons of blessings we have - enough food, comfortable homes, families, friends, and most importantly, a God who will forever love us unconditionally.

So let us all count our blessings and be thankful for them – whether big or small. 

Fascinating but Static

Life is simply fascinating. 

After having been from one exciting place to another, we, the SDJS, decided to once again pack our bags to head off to another escapade- the Museum of Natural History. 

We knew this trip was going to be quite different because, unlike the rest we've visited so far, this destination featured creatures that were once alive...in short...they’re now dead. 

On the way, we each had different expectations of the new adventure. James and Marielle wanted to get enough of the lessons on biodiversity and wanted to learn more about its history. Caitlin, on the other hand, expected to uncover more facts about the various organisms she encountered. Toni and Gabbie coincidentally, anticipated similarly - to learn more about how different plants in different areas compared, as well as, its history and how they evolved. Despite all these varying expectations, we still had one common goal -- to have loads of fun while entertaining our minds with fresh discoveries! 

When we finally reached the museum, we were more than amazed. We each stood in awe to see all those captivating entities. It got more and more interesting with each step we took. Some of us stumbled on land dwelling creatures while others wandered to a section that featured animals located in the water. The rest spent their time appreciating the unique beauty of the flying organisms. None of us hesitated to take down notes and scribble as much discoveries as we could. Caitlin shared a very good conclusion to what she saw. She reinforced to all in the group  that truly there an abundance of creatures in this world, each one uniquely interesting in its own way. It dawned on us that there are just so many numerous species of plants and animals everywhere- some not even found! We all realized the overflowing richness of our biodiversity. And we all agreed that we should each lend a hand to help preserve this beautiful gift and treasure given to us. 

Now we will share with you some of the notes we took.

NOTES...

As we strolled down the corridors of the museum we spotted LOTS of organisms:

THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE

King of Birds

Known as the King of Birds, the Philippine Eagle is among the rarest and most powerful birds in the world. Some call these organisms as the Pithecophaga jefferyi. But why choose this? Simply because of its majestic beauty and its rarity. Did you know that killing this bird will lead to 12 years of jail and heavy fine in the Philippines? They are carnivores- eating only meat. Predation is evident between the Philippine Eagle and its prey.

KINGDOM- Animalia;PHYLUM- Chordata; CLASS- Aves; ORDER- Falconiformes; FAMILY- Accipitridae; GENUS- Pithecophaga ; SPECIES- Pithecophaga jefferyi

(c) Gabbie Fonacier

APO SWALLOWTAIL

This beautiful butterfly made us stop to look at it...and even include it here. The Graphium sandawanum is not that famous. Unfortunately, little information is known regarding this wonderful creature. To make matters worse, it is currently endangered due to habitat loss. It usually lives in the forests of Mt. Apo. This is a herbivore which has unique wings. Predation happens between this butterfly and its prey.

KINGDOM- Animalia; PHYLUM- Arthropoda; CLASS- Insecta; ORDER- Lepidoptera; FAMILY- Papilionidae ; GENUS- Graphium ; SPECIES- Graphium sandawanum

CLAVICORONA

Little is known for this interesting organism. This is a genus of mushrooms. Did you know that this was first discovered by Doty in the year 1947?

KINGDOM- Fungi ;PHYLUM- Basidiomycota; CLASS- Agaricomycetes; ORDER- Russulales; FAMILY- Auriscalpiaceae; GENUS- Clavicorona


Everything that we saw in the museum was simply fascinating (in fact it was the 2^nd most visually exciting place we visited), but we could not help but reflect on the fact that, unlike most of the places we experienced, this one was strangely different because it reminded us of life and of death. We don’t think there is  anything wrong with being reminded of the end of life because it makes us live better today. In Psalms, David prayed to the Lord to teach us to be wise about our days because we are just like flowers of the field – blooming for a while but will soon be blown away.. The museum gave us that message. It showed proofs of our fascinating biodiversity...but, alas, it was static.

Here today...

Hello and Goodbye

Sweet-smelling cow

Here's a recap of the highlights of our last escapade: Had the time of our lives, experienced those sweet-smelling cows, experienced the scent of fresh manure, tasted the good and yum cow's milk, learned all about those sweet-smelling cows, studied more about bulls and did we mention sweet-smelling cows? Anyway, right after that mellow experience, we were brought to yet another venue. This time it was twice the epic excitement the cattle scene was. 

We got to go to the Institute of Plant Breeding!! (Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you...our dates insisted that they come along..............)


HELLO plants!

Ok, moving on to the Institute, we know, it might think it sounds a little boring. We were equally doubtful at first but, take the time to stay with us... 

The first time we got there, we all expected pretty much the same things - learn how plants reproduce, how they're classified, and of course, about plants themselves! But that was simplistic of us to think so. Before we tell you about the plants, let us introduce you to the amiable lady we met, Ma'am Marlyn. She was really interesting because she took the time to discuss topics that were fun and, yes, educational for us. She was really knowledgeable about plants - a real expert. Also, she was so caring and nurturing to plants, it was like watching a mother doting on her baby.

We were all quite swept away by what we learned about how plants are so critical to us and how the experts found creative means to address the ecological challenges like shortages.Gabbie, for instance, was amazed that the institute developed a substitute for rice to be consumed by Filipinos nationwide in response to the shortage. 

Not so CORN-y substitute

This is the CORN. 

It was explained to us that there are different types: the white corn, the quality protein corn and the yellow corn. White corn is being eaten in Visayas and also in Mindanao. So now they promote it in the Philippines due to rice shortage. Quality protein corn, as the name suggests, is very rich in protein which we all need. The last one, the yellow corn, was explained to have much more keratin. Did you know that it had more of the 'corn taste' compared to the rest? By now the question possibly bugging your minds would be: Why choose corn? The answer is brief and simple: Corn stays in the stomach longer compared to rice. Thus, people do not get hungry easily. 

We, the SDJS, as we were there, intently listening and writing down the notes of the speaker, noticed many types of other plants. Thanks to Caitlin, e were provided with helpful facts on the plants we encountered such as the fiber crops (Abaca), root crops (Cassava) and even tomatoes!

THE CASSAVA

Cassava is very rare in places of South America. It is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions. It has edible, starchy tuberous roots, which our a major source of carbohydrates. Mostly know as a woody shrub, of the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae) or Manioc/Yuca as the common name for it. In field of Science, its' mostly known as Manihot esculerita, a scientific name for it. 


KINGDOM- Plantae; DIVISION- Angiosperms; CLASS- Eudicots; ORDER- Malpighiales; FAMILY- Euphorbiaceae; GENUS- Manihot; SPECIES- Manihot esculerita

THE CHINESE HIBISCUS

Rainbow Brite!

The Chinese Hibiscus is as its name states, found in China or East Asia. This is mostly called the China rose or Shoe Flower. A scientific name for it is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Its evergreen and is a flowering shrub amazes us all. It comes in many different colors. Its used for hair care and as salads in the Pacific Islands which means its edible and even yummy as a salad. 

KINGDOM- Plantae; DIVISION- Angiosperms; CLASS- Eudicots; ORDER- Malvales; FAMILY- Malvaceae; GENUS- Hibiscus; SPECIES- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

So before we get any hungrier after all that talk on rice, corn and salad, allow us to bid you farewell for now.

Bye-bye!

P.S. -- If you must know, we also bade our goodbyes to each of our make- believe dates....for good.

Escapade #1: MOOOOO-re Fun!

Now that you more or less familiar with each of our dates and the sweet surprises they had in store for us...this question must now be bugging your mind, our dear reader: “So where did we end up going for our date?” Well, wait no longer for we have reached the final chapter of our story. From this point onwards, we will be revealing to you each of the places we went to, as well as the many surprises we encountered.

Before the start of this adventure, each one of us strangely felt the same emotions. We recall the excitement building up in us more and more as the days went by. A lot of planning was done before the trip. Despite the many things we had to do to plan, we all agreed that anticipating the date felt like an eternity-- we could hardly wait! All of us started to imagine what we would see and learn. We could all imagine the endless fun we would experience as we went on our dates together with the Almaciga love-bugs, the Love Guru and a few of his friends. Before the day of the trip, we expected that we would learn and obtain much knowledge and be able to enrich our minds even more. We also expected ourselves to be responsible by listening intently and taking down several notes for our diaries. Lastly, we all expected to have loads and loads of unforgettable moments and tons of fun!

Now, on to our first destination! Together with our dates, we headed to the Dairy Training and Research Institute located in the University of the Philippines Los Banos or DTRI for short. Just by the sound of the name of this place, we all made guesses as to what to expect. Could it be “to learn how milk is produced, the different gadgets used to milk the cows and how dairy products are made and processed”?

Upon arriving, the excitement was undoubtedly overflowing within us. When we, with our dates and Almaciga love-bugs, were settled in this enormous room, a person we had never met before entered and introduced herself as Tita A. She was unquestionably friendly and well-educated on dairy training and research. As she began talking and explaining, no one dared play around or disrupt Tita A. The talk she gave was very interesting that each tried his or her best to scribble down, as swiftly as we could, the words and explanations that she spoke. We all found out brand new information we never knew before. 

Did you know that there are actually 2 types of cattle? These would be the dairy and beef cattle. While beef cattle produce only milk good for one glass, the dairy cattle is capable of producing 8- 25 liters of milk!! Imagine how many thirsty children that can satisfy! Before, we all thought the milking a cow is as simple as ABC and 123. But it's not. There is a specific machine needed for milking cattle. And it was only here where we found out that it is not enough to just grab the udders of cow and start milking- you have to accomplish several steps before this. So milking cattle is definitely no joke! Tita A explained that they use Artificial Insemination. Why? For 1 main reason – so that more cattle may be produced. And dear readers, did you know that cows and bulls don't eat only grass? There are other kinds of food they eat besides grass to make them high in protein and other areas.

During our stay here, we did not only learn about cows, bulls, milk and the matters related to those. (We think you guys are already familiar with stuff like those.) Along the way, we encountered various organisms that greatly caught our attention.

Kantutay- an enchanting sight

The Kantutay. It is a small but an enchanting sight. It is actually the first organism that made us stop on our tracks to take the time to appreciate its beauty. People in the scientific field would know this to be the Lantana Camera. This yellow and pink colored flower is a producer like other plants and may be used for medicine. Check out the family information of the Kantutay:

KINGDOM- Plantae; PARTITION- Magnoliophyta; CLASS- Magnoliopsida; ORDER- Lamiales; FAMILY- Verbenacae; GENUS- Lantana; SPECIES- Lantana camera

Santan- the majestic red boquet

The second interesting plant we encountered was actually a common plant to most - the Santan. Its bright red colors would attract many to it. The Ixora coccinea is usually grown in gardens or yards. This producer is used for protection in very warm climates. It was the color that made us write about this plant. Here are more scientific stuff on it:

KINGDOM- Plantae; PARTITION- Magnoliophyta; CLASS- Magnoliopsida; ORDER- Gentianales; FAMILY- Rubiaceae; GENUS- Ixoras; SPECIES- Ixoras coccinea

Bull- a helpful creature 

Thanks to James, we were able to find a bull in this haven. The friendly creature is a herbivore which is very helpful and needed in the beef and dairy farming. We chose this to be included in our diaries because of its color, and robust body. 

KINGDOM- Animalia; PHYLUM- Chordata; CLASS- Mammalia; ORDER- Artiodactyla; FAMILY- Bovidae; GENUS- Bos; SPECIES- Bos tarus

Cow- a gentle organism 

Besides the bull, we also found a cow and chose to feature it in this blog. Thanks to another good old reliable herbivore friend, we have the best of meats and milk, ice cream and cheese to keep us all happy and healthy. Their scientific specie name is the Bos tarus. Other facts are:

KINGDOM- Animalia; PHYLUM- Chordata; CLASS- Mammalia; ORDER- Artiodactyla; FAMILY- Bovidae; GENUS- Bos; SPECIES- Bos tarus

Cattail- the attractive plant

The last organism we spotted and encountered in this area is none other than the Cattail. (Typha) It was a peculiar looking plant, so we approached it. It was very interesting in shape and color. This producer not only beautifies the environment but helps keep us alive through the oxygen it provides.

KINGDOM- Plantae; PARTITION- Angiosperms; CLASS- Monocots; ORDER- Poales; FAMILY- Typhaceae; GENUS- Typha

Before we close, we will clarify possible puzzling questions some of you may have. Could it be that you are wondering why in the world we would go on a date to this place and do such activities? Well, we had this date, which really turned out to be more like an exploration, to be able to experience something new, something out of the ordinary. 

We went on this date because of several wonderful reasons: 1) We wanted to be exposed to more of God's beautiful and wonderful creation. 2) We desired to learn more about the rich biodiversity we are blessed with. We realized that our beautiful country, the Philippines, is rich and abundant with many of this. We might not believe this due to the fact that we are surrounded with factories, industries, steel infrastructure, and yes, even over crowded communities. But if we took the time to explore our beloved country, we are sure that everyone will be in awe as we gaze upon the beautiful richness of our biodiversity. We joined this trip to be able to appreciate it, learn more about and lastly, find more ways to conserve it. 3) Finally, we went on this most special date because we wanted to share all of these experiences with the people closest to us (next to our families)...and this time it is not our dates, but our fellow 'Tree' love bugs and Love Guru and our other “guro's”!!!