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Engr. Jeremy De Leon’s journey as an inventor started long before he earned his engineering degree. Back in his elementary days, he joined an art club, but unlike his twin brother who excelled in drawing and painting, Engr. Jeremy realized that art wasn’t really his strength. What he enjoyed more was crafting—building and putting things together with his hands.

During “show and tell” activities in school, most pupils would bring their favorite toys. Engr. Jeremy, however, proudly presented toys he had made himself—robots and other small creations. Even at a young age, he found joy in sharing something that came from his own imagination.

He was also a naturally curious child. He once begged his mother to buy him a telescope. She got him a toy version, and while he was initially excited, Engr. Jeremy soon grew frustrated when it didn’t work the way he expected. Instead of setting it aside, he experimented and discovered he could repurpose it into a magnifying glass. That moment showed him the power of curiosity and creativity—how even frustration could lead to new discoveries.

Discovering Resourcefulness

In high school, Engr. Jeremy’s resourcefulness only grew. Whenever something broke at home, the usual response of his mother was to call a carpenter or handyman. But Engr. Jeremy questioned why they needed to rely on others when he could try fixing things himself. With that thought, he set up his own mini workshop at home, gathering old tools and even using the family’s ironing board as his work table. From then on, he took the initiative to handle repairs, sharpening both his skills and confidence.

Engr. Jeremy came from a family where each sibling pursued a different professional path. His twin went into health sciences and became a physical therapist, while his older brother studied law and became a lawyer. Engr. Jeremy, on the other hand, was drawn to a path  in engineering.

College Struggles and Breakthroughs

In his very first year, Engr. Jeremy’s eagerness to explore technology grew even more. He saw posters about tech competitions and immediately wanted to join. Excited, he asked a professor if he could participate, but was told it was only open to upper-year students. He would just have to wait.

When he finally started competing, Engr. Jeremy discovered a new world. He joined Shell Ideas 360, an international online competition where students submit solutions to real-world problems. It was his first time being recognized on a global stage, and soon after, he was invited to speak at The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) Conference. Standing in front of an international audience, Engr. Jeremy felt both overwhelmed and thrilled.

Another highlight was the Sikat Design Challenge, a renewable energy competition organized by the Lopez Group. Engr. Jeremy’s team designed a communal stove for the Dumagat communities in Bulacan. The idea came from immersing themselves in the community and listening to their needs. The Dumagats wanted a way to cook without harmful smoke, so the team created a stove that not only allowed smoke-free cooking but could also charge mobile phones.

The project won first prize, bringing in a grant and recognition for their school. But when they handed the stoves to the community, a new challenge appeared. The Dumagats were hesitant to use them—some feared the stoves might explode, while others wanted to see the flame while cooking. For Engr. Jeremy, it was a humbling lesson: no matter how advanced or well-designed, technology must always fit the culture, habits, and comfort of its users.

Yet Engr. Jeremy’s love for competitions came at a cost. He often focused so much on projects that his academics suffered. After failing three subjects, he could no longer continue in the ECE program. It was a difficult crossroads. But instead of giving up, Engr. Jeremy transferred to Manufacturing Engineering, where many of his units were credited. He completed the program in two years, finally earning his degree in 2019 after seven long years in Mapua University.

This time, he promised himself he would focus on finishing. But when the Young Innovators Program of DOST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) came along, he couldn’t resist. He proposed Bagwis, a micro wind turbine designed to generate sustainable energy. The project became his capstone project, funded as research, presented in Singapore, and even published in a paper.

From Research to Real-World Innovation

After graduation, Engr. Jeremy was hired for a DOST-funded project at Mapua University developing sensors for landslide monitoring. His job was to create devices that could detect ground movement in response to rainfall and transmit the data remotely. He quickly realized that technology built for controlled lab environments often failed in the unpredictable outdoors. The simpler the technology, the more reliable it became. That principle stayed with him.

Then the pandemic hit. With schools closed and students stuck at home, Engr. Jeremy wondered how learners could stay engaged in science and technology without laboratories and equipment. To spark new ideas, he joined the TikTok Challenge of DOST-PCIEERD, where he submitted a DIY microscope made from a laser pointer lens. He won first prize, but more importantly, the project planted the seed for his next big innovation: the Make-roscope.

Engr. Jeremy designed the  Make-roscope., an affordable, simple, and ultra-portable keychain microscope that can be placed on the front camera of any smartphone or tablet, magnifying organisms from 125X to 400X. Using a keychain as the base, he dreamed of producing 1,000 units to distribute to schools across the Philippines. His TikTok post about the mission quickly gained attention. Eventually, with the help of DOST-TAPI, he secured IP protection for the design.

Support soon followed. The Security Bank Foundation purchased 1,000 units, while DOST-TAPI funded an additional 3,000 units for wider distribution. The  Make-roscope. gained media mileage, online sales, and a wave of positive feedback. Engr. Jeremy’s startup—JereMake (originally his TikTok handle, “Jeremy’s creations”)—was born.

Lessons, Challenges, and the Road Ahead

The journey wasn’t without struggles. Engr. Jeremy often battled with himself, doubting whether his projects would succeed. He worked from his bedroom-turned-workshop, with his supportive parents occasionally reminding him not to push too hard. He also faced the emotional highs and lows of what he calls “rebound competitions”—winning some, losing others, and needing resilience to keep moving forward for his team.

Yet Engr. Jeremy never stopped improving. He upgraded the  Make-roscope’s design, added kits with specimen slides, and eventually entered the James Dyson Award, where he was named the Philippine Winner. Media coverage brought a flood of orders, sometimes overwhelming his small team’s supply chain. Still, the  Make-roscope had already proven its impact—bringing science into the hands of students nationwide.

Looking ahead, Engr. Jeremy envisions even bigger possibilities. He is developing a mission-based app for the  Make-roscope, where users can search for microorganisms like in Pokémon Go, complete science activities, and contribute to a map of the Philippines’ microscopic biodiversity. His goal is not just to build tools, but to inspire a new generation of curious minds.

Outside of work, Engr. Jeremy balances his life with rest and play. He lounges, hops coffee shops, and spends time with his friends every few weeks. For him, rest is not a break from innovation—it’s part of the process that keeps creativity alive.

Making His Own Path

Engr. Jeremy’s life philosophy can be summed up in one line: “Kaya niyo ‘yan. There’s no right path—you make the path right.”

From a child who built robots out of toys, to an engineer who turned a keychain into a nationwide science tool, Engr. Jeremy De Leon continues to prove that setbacks can lead to breakthroughs—and that innovation begins with the courage to try.

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A Childhood Dream Reimagined

For Dr. Maria Monique Theresita Soliven, becoming a doctor was more than just a goal—it was a childhood promise to herself. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ateneo de Manila University in 2010, followed by a Doctor of Medicine in 2015 and a Master’s in Public Health in 2016, both from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Initially set to pursue general surgery, her experiences during internship—especially witnessing residents catching naps in their cars—led her to reassess the path she wanted to take.

The turning point came during an ENT-HNS (Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery) rotation, where she observed a cleft lip surgery. The visual and emotional impact of the procedure, with its immediate transformation of a patient’s quality of life, made a lasting impression. “There are so many directions you can take with ENT-HNS,” she shares. “That versatility drew me in.”

When Art Meets Innovation

Dr. Soliven met Dr. Rentor Y. Cafino during her residency, and their collaboration began in 2018 over a shared passion for innovation and a casual experiment: a ₱13,000 3D printer initially used to print a toy and skull-shaped pen holder. That skull model, painted by Dr. Soliven—a longtime enthusiast of both traditional and digital art—symbolized something greater: the potential for personalized, life-changing medical solutions.

From that moment of creative play, a mission was born. Together, they established the Zamboanga City Medical Center ENT-HNS Medical Makerspace, where they began using 3D-printed models for surgical planning and patient education. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated their efforts, as they pivoted to producing face shields and PPEs amid global shortages. From modest beginnings, the lab grew into a space of groundbreaking possibility.

Partnering to Bring Ideas to Life

One of their transformative collaborators is Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr. from Mindanao State University (MSU), whose team had long been exploring 3D printing applications. For years, their research remained theoretical—lacking clinical execution. That changed when they partnered with Dr. Soliven and Dr. Cafino, who were uniquely positioned as both practicing surgeons and researchers.

“We had the patients. We had clinical insight. They had the technical expertise,” Dr. Soliven explains. This collaboration allowed long-shelved ideas to be implemented and tested, giving rise to 3D-printed implants that are now changing the lives of Filipinos.

Transforming Patient Outcomes

The impact of these implants is more than technological—it’s deeply human. For patients in a public hospital setting, many of whom face significant barriers to care, having access to custom 3D-printed PEEK implants can mean the difference between chronic suffering and recovery.

To date, the team has collaborated with surgeons from various training hospitals who provided clinical expertise and have supported the project for potentially implanting custom-designed PEEK devices in actual patients. Surgical time could be reduced by up to 50%, leading to shorter exposure to anesthesia, lower operating room costs, and greater efficiency. “When you lessen surgical time, it’s not just about speed,” Dr. Soliven emphasizes. “It’s about making things safer—for both the patient and the surgical team.”

What’s more, these implants are designed to fit precisely, eliminating intraoperative guesswork and instilling greater confidence in the team. “There’s no wasted time. Everyone moves with certainty,” she adds.

Change Begins Within

For Dr. Soliven, these innovations have changed her as much as her patients. Working with the lab has deepened her sense of purpose as a physician, mentor, and problem-solver. “Seeing a patient walk out of the hospital with a part of their body we helped restore—it’s a kind of fulfillment that stays with you,” she says.

But the transformation is also professional. Once hesitant to navigate administrative hurdles, Dr. Soliven now leads the makerspace while Dr. Cafino is pursuing surgical fellowship. She has learned to handle procurement, coordinate with funding agencies, and rally a self-sufficient team—skills that weren’t taught in medical school but became essential to keeping the mission alive.

 

Behind the Breakthroughs

While Dr. Cafino is the project’s "idea man," constantly imagining what’s next, Dr. Soliven manages day-to-day operations. Their team at the makerspace functions like a well-oiled machine. “I don’t need to micromanage,” she says proudly. “I’m grateful for that.”

Still, the road hasn’t been easy. Skeptics questioned the need for such technology, and institutional resistance—fueled by bureaucracy, red tape, and politics—often made progress difficult. “You have to defend your idea tooth and nail,” she recalls. “But DOST-PCHRD took a chance on us and believed we were worth funding. That made all the difference.”

Many researchers, she notes, are discouraged by the complexity of government systems or by the resistance of peers with differing mindsets. “You just learn on the fly. You do your research. You build your network. And you don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Moving Toward Acceptance

Despite its measurable success, full integration of the technology remains a work in progress. Some departments and units have embraced the lab’s offerings, but many senior surgeons remain cautious, preferring traditional methods. “The technology gap is still a barrier,” Dr. Soliven admits. “We have more work to do to educate and build trust.”

Still, the momentum is growing. The lab’s accomplishments are increasingly featured in hospital annual reports, earning the attention of both the local medical community and national agencies. Every request they receive—every patient served—is a step closer to widespread acceptance.

A Life in Balance

Outside the hospital, Dr. Soliven carves out time to recharge. She listens to music, watches sitcoms, and dabbles in art and design. She even enjoys making PowerPoint presentations and video editing—creative outlets that feed into her professional life. “It helps me stay grounded,” she says.

A Message to the Future

To aspiring scientists and innovators, Dr. Soliven offers simple but powerful advice: “Be curious. Be determined. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

For her, the beauty of science lies in its ability to connect, uplift, and transform—not just the lives of patients, but also those who dedicate themselves to the work.

“Science is a fulfilling field,” she reflects. “Because you can truly change people’s lives. And sometimes, it even changes yours.”

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Dr. Rentor Cafino’s journey has taken unexpected turns and has had a remarkable impact, from toy prints to changing skull surgeries. A long-deferred robotics ambition has made its way into surgical innovation, blending engineering and medicine to benefit patients, trainees, and the entire healthcare system. “I never planned to be here,” he says. “But maybe this is where I was meant to be all along.”

Early Beginnings

“Being a doctor wasn’t my dream,” Dr. Rentor Cafino says with refreshing candor. “I actually wanted to be a robotics engineer.”

But in the early 2000s, robotics programs were nonexistent in the Philippines. “The closest option was Japan, but their academic calendar didn’t align with ours,” he recalls. Faced with limited options, he turned to his mother—who promptly gave him a choice: engineering, education, or nursing.

In classic Filipino fashion, she added, “You’re not allowed to just sit around for a year. You have to go to school.”

“Naturally, I chose nursing—at least that way I had the option to work abroad,” he says. What was supposed to be a one-year detour became something more. “I didn’t want to be left behind, so I finished the degree out of pride.”

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Mindanao State University. Although he had little interest in the profession—citing the challenging culture surrounding nursing in the Philippines—he later took the medical school entrance exam on a whim and passed. He completed his Doctor of Medicine at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in 2014, followed by a Master’s in Public Health in 2015.

“I was a pretty mediocre med student,” he admits. “I didn’t really want to be there.” Everything changed during his residency. There, he met a like-minded junior resident, Dr. Maria Monique Soliven.

“We had the same mindset: if we see a problem, we try to fix it. How can we make this better?”

That question led them somewhere unexpected—into the world of 3D printing.

“In a way, I get to live out my dream of becoming a wannabe engineer.”

Today, Dr. Cafino is not only a practicing ENT-HNS specialist, but also the founder of the Zamboanga City Medical Center ENT-HNS Medical Makerspace—a groundbreaking initiative that integrates innovation, collaboration, and 3D printing into the surgical field.

A Hobby Turned Healthcare Breakthrough

The 3D printing project began in the most unassuming way: printing toys.

Dr. Cafino bought a 3D printer online out of curiosity and started out by printing toys. But the hobby took a turn when they discovered how to convert CT scans into 3D-printable files. With their knowledge of facial anatomy, they printed models of skulls—and it worked. That breakthrough sparked a bigger idea: what if this could be used for surgery?

Just as they began to explore, the pandemic escalated. It was at this point that Dr. Cafino's wife, Dr. Sarah Lizette Aquino-Cafino, connected him to her childhood friend, Mr. Archie Velasco, thus starting their journey with the FabLab network. They linked up with the Philippine FabLab network, which connected them to makerspaces across the country. With guidance from Mr. Velasco of MSU-IIT, they shifted their efforts toward producing personal protective equipment (PPE). Their work evolved from toy-making to lifesaving support. “That’s when we saw the real potential of 3D printing in healthcare,” Dr. Cafino reflected.

Bringing Precision to the Operating Room

Today, their 3D lab manufactures anatomical models customized from patients' CT scans. These are not generic props—they’re exact replicas, allowing patients to see the size, shape, and location of tumors or injuries. It’s been a game changer for both education and consultation.

For residents, the models offer immersive, hands-on learning. “When you’re dealing with bone structures near the eye or maxillary area, it’s intimidating,” says Dr. Cafino. “With 3D-printed models, trainees can now practice in a safe and risk-free environment, allowing them to build confidence and refine their skills before performing actual procedures.”

One key application is ear surgery simulation. This challenging procedure involves drilling into bone near critical areas such as the facial nerve and brain. The team now uses 3D-printed resin models for surgical simulation—significantly reducing risks to actual patients. A 2021, the team conducted and published a study even confirming resin’s effectiveness in mimicking human bone.

“Here in the Philippines, many patients delay treatment to save for a CT scan,” Dr. Cafino explains. “By the time the implant arrives from overseas, the tumor has already changed. That may make the implant unusable. Localizing the process is crucial.”

The lab seeks to address these difficulties by exploring the use of 3D printed implants. to Their facility remains the only one in the country producing 3D-printed mandible and skull implants.

Beyond training, the lab is pushing the envelope by designing 3D printed implants for patients with cranial defects.

Learning, Sharing, and Building a Movement

Though trained in medicine, the team had to learn 3D design from scratch. Early on, they used animation software not intended for medical use and watched YouTube tutorials late into the night.

“We didn’t even know what ‘Boolean subtract’ meant,” Dr. Cafino laughs. “We were calling friends at 2 a.m. just to figure things out.”

Eventually, they adopted 3D Slicer, an open-source tool for medical image processing, and began upgrading to licensed surgical-grade software. Through the FabLab network, they found a community of engineers, IT professionals, and designers willing to mentor and collaborate.

This spirit of open knowledge led to FabHealth, a virtual initiative launched during the pandemic to train other FabLabs in medical 3D printing. Now, labs across Visayas and UP Cebu are working with local hospitals to print models and devices.

But innovation in government hospitals didn’t come easy. Procuring high-tech tools like 3D printers wasn’t part of traditional workflows. “It’s like asking an office to buy a tractor,” he says. “People ask, ‘Why do you need that?’”

So they bought their first machines out of pocket. Only after proving the technology’s worth did institutional support arrive—most notably from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).

Collaborating Toward the Future

Dr. Cafino credits much of the lab’s growth to collaborative support. Mr. Velasco encouraged him to pursue research, leading to a ₱200,000 seed grant from Mindanao State University. With help from DOST Region 10, they later secured a national grant worth ₱4.9 million, which allowed them to acquire a specialized 3D printer.

Their latest project explores the use of polyether ether ketone (PEEK)—a strong, lightweight plastic used in aerospace—as a material for implants. “PEEK is biocompatible, but it doesn’t integrate with bone,” he says. That’s why he teamed up with physicist Dr. Candidato, who is developing surface coatings to make PEEK osteoconductive.

This ongoing project, aptly named “PEEK into the Future,” is their most ambitious yet.

“We’re learning as we go. Handling grants like this is new to us—but the impact makes it all worth it.”

Beyond the Lab

“Honestly, this is what I do in my free time,” says Dr. Cafino. “Surgery and patient care take up most of my day. Research is my break.”

Outside work, he keeps life simple. “I bond with my wife and daughter. I don’t really have hobbies—I’m not into sports, I don’t do art, and even my love for music faded during med school. Medicine takes so much from you—your youth, your interests, your choices.”

“But these research projects? They’ve become my way of reclaiming a part of myself.”

The first mandible implant surgical application

“Our first case was a patient with a massive jaw tumor, recalls Dr. Cafino. “The jaw has a unique contour for each person, so after removing the tumor, shaping the implant to fit perfectly is incredibly difficult.”

To solve this, the team used virtual reconstruction to 3D print a model of the patient’s jaw, allowing them to pre-bend the implant before surgery. “Normally, shaping the implant freehand takes around an hour and a half in the OR. With this method, we saved that time and improved accuracy,” he explains.

The patient returned a year later—well beyond the usual six-month lifespan of such implants in resource-limited settings. With help from a Manila-based team, they performed a follow-up surgery using 3D planning tech again. “Now he’s back home, healthy, and eating solid food again. It’s one of our happiest cases—and our landmark one,” Dr. Cafino says.

Message to the Youth

“To the youth: research is simply solving a problem,” says Dr. Rentor Cafino. “It’s not as difficult as it sounds—you have tools like YouTube, Reddit, ChatGPT, and AI to guide you. But before thinking about writing a paper, focus on developing an idea.”

He encourages young people to start small and local. “There are many problems in the country, but don’t get overwhelmed. Solve what you can, where you are.” He shares the story of a 12-year-old girl in Japan who invented a foldable hanger to save space—a simple idea that earned her a patent and made her one of the country’s youngest self-made millionaires.

“You don’t need to go into rocket science or medicine to do research,” he says. “Find a problem. Solve it. That’s research.”

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by Khasian Eunice M. Romulo

Dr. Faye Abigail T. Cruz, a renowned climate scientist and the Head of the Regional Climate Systems Laboratory of the Manila Observatory, narrates her fulfilling journey in Climate Science. In her career, she has dedicated studying past, present, and future changes in climate in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, making significant contributions to our understanding of this critical issue.

Educational Roots

Dr. Cruz completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Physics at the Ateneo de Manila University. A pivotal moment in her career was when she was offered a research assistantship position right after her undergraduate studies. This opportunity allowed her to work closely with the Physics Department of the Ateneo, and the Manila Observatory. To further her knowledge and skills, she pursued and completed her Doctorate Degree in Climate Science at the University of New South Wales, Australia, setting the stage for her future in climate science.

Discovering Climate Science

Dr. Cruz’s early research involved the use of regional climate and weather models. These sophisticated tools are pivotal in unraveling the complex interactions between changes in the land surface, such as deforestation and urbanization, and the atmosphere, offering crucial insights into how the land surface influences temperature and rainfall patterns.

In the past decade with the Manila Observatory, Dr. Cruz has focused on efforts toward localizing climate data through a process known as climate downscaling. Regional climate models are used to generate localized information from global climate projections, which often lack the spatial resolution necessary to capture the nuances of an archipelago like the Philippines.  This technique allows researchers to obtain detailed, granular data on how the changing climate, such as temperature and rainfall variations, manifest across varied landscapes. This was also the focus of her postdoctoral research at the Meteorological Research Institute, Japan as an International Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Dr. Cruz emphasizes that localized climate information is crucial for effective planning and adaptation strategies in regions with complex geographical features. By providing enhanced climate information, her team aims to empower policymakers and communities alike to make science-informed decisions to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts effectively.

Understanding Climate Change

Climate change is an urgent issue of our time. It is important to have robust science to inform effective climate action. The study of climate involves examining each component of the climate system, including the land surface, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere as well as the influence of human activities, and Dr. Cruz highlights the complex interactions across these components. Climate differs from place to place so it is important to also examine regional features, apart from the global-scale. It is also like traveling in time, when looking back at past climate trends and changes, and looking at future scenarios by analyzing climate projections.

Winning Moments

In the vast tapestry of global climate research, Dr. Cruz was one of the 234 authors from 64 countries who worked on the Working Group I Contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report aimed to present the current state of the science of climate change, and the imperative for decisive responses.

During the global pandemic, Dr. Cruz navigated the challenges of remote collaboration across different time zones. It was a demanding yet fulfilling endeavor that required the meticulous review and rigorous assessment of numerous scientific papers for the report, including addressing all comments from reviewers.

The report gives a clear and strong message on the human influence on climate change. The findings presented more intense changes in climate extremes–heatwaves, torrential rainfall etc – with every additional warming in the future.  Dr. Cruz underscores the critical need for immediate and sustained action, and emphasized that “reducing emissions is essential to limiting warming and its dangerous impacts, and securing a sustainable future”.

Life outside the laboratory

Balancing work and personal life is crucial, and Dr. Cruz navigates this with a blend of passion and purpose. Her dedication as a climate scientist stems from how she enjoys her daily work. 

Beyond the office, Dr. Cruz enjoys exploring new destinations and immersing herself in diverse cultures. On the other hand, it is also part of her work, collaborating locally and internationally on climate research, understanding different perspectives, and forging connections across disciplines. For her, every collaboration adds depth to her understanding of the global climate challenge—a challenge she tackles with curiosity, empathy, and unwavering dedication.

Professional Memberships

Dr. Cruz is currently Co-Chair of the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment or CORDEX Southeast Asia, a consortium of climate scientists united by a common purpose and shared challenges. Together, they harness their expertise in regional climate research to understand the intricacies of climate dynamics specific to Southeast Asia. Driven by their shared passion, they embark on their third collaborative endeavor—the Climatic hazard Assessment to enhance Resilience against climate Extremes for Southeast Asian megacities (CARE for SEA megacities) project. Funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), the project aims to refine climate projections down to the city level, for the major cities of Hanoi, Metro Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur. She is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Scientific and Technical Advisory Group of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

What does a day in the life of a climate scientist look like?

Much of Dr. Cruz's day revolves around online and in-person meetings, discussions and email correspondence. Coordination with her project teams and frequent meetings with partners underscore the collaborative spirit of her work. In her laboratory at the Manila Observatory, weekly research meetings allow team members to share progress, exchange insights, and collectively learn from each other's endeavors. Bi-weekly journal meetings further enrich this collaborative environment, offering opportunities to discuss and disseminate knowledge gained from recent readings.

Encouraging the youth to take Science

Science is a fascinating yet demanding endeavor, offering a profound sense of fulfillment. Research has progressed with data and information becoming more accessible through the internet and with technological advancements. Dr. Cruz emphasized that it is crucial to develop critical thinking skills to discern valuable information and produce meaningful knowledge.

“In the Philippines, engaging in impactful scientific work is entirely possible. Learning to collaborate and form partnerships are essential. By working together, we can tackle pressing issues and be prepared for whatever climate impacts we will face in the future.”