COM SCI JUNIOR INJURED IN HIT AND RUN

  BY MONNA SENARA

SAFETY FIRST. Aldwyn Cabarrubias crosses the street with care at the pedestrian lane after learning his lesson from his hit and run incident last September 27.

    A third year computer science student was hit by a jeepney while crossing the street from the University of the Philippines (UP) Main Campus to the Arts and Sciences Building last September 27.

            Aldwyn F. Cabarrubias was brought to Cebu City Medical Center after obtaining bruises and scratches from the hit and run incident that happened at 9:30 a.m.

            “When I disembarked from the jeep, there was another jeep that stopped at the pedestrian lane and blocked my view from oncoming vehicles. While I was at the middle of the road, a third jeep suddenly overtook it, coming so fast,” Cabarrubias said.

            He said that he was in a hurry because he was already late for his 9 a.m. class. He immediately crossed the street a few meters away from the pedestrian lane, after disembarking from the jeep that stopped just before the orange unloading area.

            He was hit by the side of the jeep, throwing him off three meters away and into the opposite lane.

            “I became dizzy at that time. Good thing the driver and konduktor of another jeep came to help me,” Cabarrubias said.

            His friend, Mary Kaye Bucad, a fourth year computer science student, witnessed the incident and accompanied him to the hospital. After the X-ray results cleared him of fractured or broken bones, his bruises were treated and dressed. He also received an anti-tetanus shot and prescription medicine. He was released from the hospital in the afternoon after spending six hours there.

            The medical expenses, which were shouldered by Bucad, were later on reimbursed through the student insurance.

            Cabarrubias reported the jeepney with plate number GWF 143 to the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) Office that same day. However, it was later found out that they reported a wrong plate number. However, the driver of the reported jeepney was still suspended.

            “We conducted proper investigation of what happened. We confirmed that the plate number given by the student wasn’t the one that hit him,” said UP Cebu Head Security Guard, Allan M. Mayuela.

            “The jeep that hit me was on its way to Colon but I was thrown off to the opposite lane. So I mistook the jeep from that lane that dodged around me for the jeep that actually hit me,” said Cabarrubias.

            Mayuela said that they are waiting for Cabarrubias to submit a letter saying that he won’t file a complaint against the driver so that they can inform CITOM office and release the mistaken driver. However, at present, Cabarrubias has not accomplished the letter yet but said that he will not hold the driver liable for the incident.

            “I won’t ask liabilities from him because I think he is in need [financially] and he did that to evade expenses,” he said.

            Cabarrubias admitted that he was partly at fault in the incident for not crossing the road properly, but the driver is also to blame for not slowing down in a school zone.

            “I think crossing the street here is fairly safe but pedestrians need to cross carefully. The jeepneys should also slow down and not stop at the pedestrian lane but at the designated orange area,” Cabarrubias said.

            Mayuela said that though Cabarrubias was at fault, drivers who do not follow traffic signs and warnings also contribute to this kind of incident.

            “Drivers should really be mindful and careful when passing through a school zone but they just take the signs for granted,” said Mayuela.

            Meanwhile, Cabarrubias said he is recovering well from the incident. He also received treatment from the school clinic for the dressing of his wounds.

UP Cebu goes “techy” with telemedicine facility

By Hazel Pacturan

   

              University of the Philippines Cebu seeks to link its whole system through Telemedicine.

            Telemedicine is the communication system combined with telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities. It is also used to save lives in critical care and emergency situations.

            Telemedicine had its first session last September 19, 2013 with the some hospitals here in Cebu City as a test run to see if it is already capable to conduct one. It gained positive feedbacks from the doctors. Ms. Sandra Famador, CSU head said that telemedicine will benefit the system since it can save traveling time for the meeting.

            Telemedicine is not limited to the medical setting. University of the Philippines Cebu is planning to introduce this communication system to link the entire system through video conferencing, and to give a solution to distant communication problems.

            The facility is video conferencing equipment and an audio-video capable. The use of a public IP will create the connection between two parties: two groups of people talking to each other through video conference. This will benefit students of the UP Cebu since telemedicine enables a large number of people to join the communication at a same time.

            The Computing Services Unit (CSU) funded by Electronic UP (EUP) is assigned for this project.

             “There are still vibrations and feedbacks so I had to go from one room to another,” said Ms. Famador Vibrations are caused by the noise created by the room itself.  She also added that there is already room intended for the telemedicine but it will still require big amount of money to renovate it.  “I expect that this new facility will be able to cure to the problems regarding communicating from a distance. I hope the students will be able to benefit from it,” said Brille Camposano, UP Cebu student.

Due to room problems, there is still no exact date as to when the telemedicine facility will open in UP Cebu.

Patiño’s view of technology in 10 Years

By Emma Hernandez

Professor Chito Patiño, Computer Science faculty, sees that in 10 years’ time, the ‘Sixth Sense Technology’ will be what’in.

According to Professor Chito Patiño, this is a technology that ‘brings all good aspects into the person itself.’

People interact with a computer by using a keyboard or using the mouse. For smartphones the screen is used for interaction. But now with the ‘Sixth Sense Technology’ people can interact with the web by simply using their body.

For example, instead of having a screen or a monitor to read and counter from the web, you just need any flat surface to project the content or display,” Patiño said.

He added that Google has developed the Google glass—an optical-head-mounted display (OHMD) that has the capability of reflecting projected images as well as allowing the user to optically see through it. It is a computer device that is worn like normal eyeglasses.

This gadget is in a way the same with the sixth sense technology. However in using Google glass, it allows a person to control it via voice command.

“It’s a very visionary idea, to have the whole of your body being able to interact with technology. Interaction with the technology is something very much natural,” explained Patiño.

He added that a technology like this one would likely be popular in a matter of 3 to 5 years. And with this kind technology, browsing and researching for a certain work or activity will be much convenient and helpful to the student.

Computer Science instructor as the new dorm manager’s plans and projects

By  Hazel Pacturan

             

         Ryan Dulaca, a Computer Science Instructor was appointed as the new UP dorm manager this school year.

            “I was delighted and ecstatic. Nostalgic as well. You see, I was a resident of the dormitory myself from 1997-2001. That’s 3 dormitory managers, from Sir Carnaje to Miss Palma and the late Sir Mike Mende. Too excited for the new challenge and responsibility,” said Ryan Dulaca.

In his stay in the dorm for almost a semester now as the manager, he has already made several projects. Improvements include the doors of the rooms and comfort rooms to the ceiling and exhaust fans, replacement of router, repair of study room which included the repainting of walls and changing of lights.

 Residents’ complaints before included the improper ventilation of their rooms, which was given solution with their new ceiling and exhaust fans. They were also provided with a set of computer placed in their living room for everyone’s use. Dormitory residents were also able to use the medicine kit and nebulizer which they borrow from the clinic every night.

Mr. Dulaca also expressed his plans for the dormitory. “At the top of my head is helping the administration in providing for a safe and clean environment for the residents,” he said. These include renovation of the dormitory which is the priority of the dean.

He also plans to replace the double decks bunk beds and foams because those were still the original beds since the dorm erection. Mr. Dulaca likes to have desktop computers for each of the room. He added that something must be done with the study room because it is adjacent with the two rooms in the male wing.

 “Nindot na jud run ang dorm ky nipaspas na ang wifi” Donald John Roy Buna, dormitory resident said. “Importante man gud sa amo ang internet ky daghan kaayo mi ipang research,” he added.

The dorm manager also organized new activities that involved the residents of the dormitory such as trivia nights held ever first or second week of the month. The winning group receives cash prize.

Aside from all the plans the dorm manager has mentioned, he also wants the residents to build a happy and healthy relationship among themselves. “For them not to just consider the dorm as a place where they just sleep but a place that they can truly call home,” he said.

Shoot 1,000 Words

              Shoot UP Cebu allows your creative shots to become an instrument for social awareness.

              Shoot UP Cebu, a new organization in the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu was introduced just this school year.  It is a campus circle composed of 35 members.

Avrie German, the president of Shoot UP was inspired to put up a chapter of the organization in the campus because of her love for photography. “I was very much inspired by the concept of Shoot UP Manila and I think that it would be nice if we have a similar organization in our campus. So I decided to start the organization, with the help of a few friends,” she said.

        “A photograph tells a thousand words. It is up to the viewer on how he/she will depict the meaning of a certain photograph. Photography is a powerful tool for social change because it captures the reality of life and storing it in a static form of art. It can influence people to witness the underlying truth in a photograph,” German said.

According to John Isaac ‘JI’ Saguit, one of the founding members of the organization, they saw and felt the need to establish a photography organization in the campus not only for photography enthusiasts but for the entire UP Cebu community.

  Organization adviser is Mr. Jason Baguia from the Arts and Humanities Cluster. He helps Shoot UP Cebu on which campus events to cover.

Who can join?

      According to Avrie, anyone who has passion and love for photography may join. “The requirements in order to become a member include an online submission of a membership form (downloadable at their Facebook page) on where questions about photography and basic information about the applicant are asked.” Anyone interested to join may e-mail their application form to shootupcebu@gmail.com with their three best photos attached in it.

         “I always tell people who want to join our org that the camera doesn't matter. It's all in the skill of the person behind it. DSLRS, point and shoots, mobile phones, and film cameras are all welcome,” assures Arvie.

Struggle to be recognized

      The organization as well experienced struggles before they became a recognized organization of the university. According to Avrie and JI, they had a rough time in processing the papers required for the recognition especially in looking for interested members. Luckily, it turned out that there were a lot of photography enthusiasts in the campus and were able to join the group.

            “One of our struggles also includes completing the long list of org requirements, from the constitution and by-laws to the plan of activities. I'm so thankful to my cooperative members for really helping in making this org possible.”

Longshot plans

             “Since Shoot UP is a service-oriented organization that promotes social awareness, our main goal is to shoot and cover the different events in UP Cebu. We covered Freshies' Night 2013, UP Cebu Cookout 2013, and Intramurals 2013,” says Avrie.

              “Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE) also asked us to be their partner in their photo contest HOCUS FOCUS that promotes social awareness by capturing the nation's current state of education.” Avrie added.

            According to JI, the organization is looking forward for a lot of activities such as photography seminars and forums with renowned speakers, photowalks, photoshoots, and activities that will surely bond each member.

“We are still focusing on establishing our name in UP Cebu; to gather more members and plan out activities not only for the members but for the every student in the campus. “ JI ended.

The organization is open to all students of the University of the Philippines who love photography and want to develop their skills.

             Anyone interested to join may e-mail their application form to shootupcebu@gmail.com with their 3 best photos attached in it. Application form can be downloaded from their FB page.

  For more information contact: Avrie German 093-3424-7591.

By Neil Degal & Emma Hernandez

iCanServe Foundation Organizes Pink Zumba

             

By Hazel Pacturan

             

 In line with the celebration of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pink Zumba was held Last October 10, at the Ayala terraces. The event was organized by the iCanServe Foundation.

              Pink Zumba was packed with participants from all ages, fitness enthusiast or not. It was combined with the different latest craze in music. The event was facilitated by Zumba instructors from Holiday Gym & Spa.“Pink is not just a color. It symbolizes hope and support – a second chance for women who are fighting the battle against breast cancer,” said Libet Virata, chairman of the ICanServe board of trustees.

              “It was a nice feeling because Zumba is a healthy activity and at the same time, the event was for a cause,” said Candy Cari-Cari, Pink Zumba participant.

              The P50 fee per session will benefit the iCanServe Foundation, an organization that promotes early breast cancer detection through high impact information campaigns and community based screening programs.

            Anyone who missed the Pink Zumba could still join the next sessions. The event will still be held for the remaining Fridays of October, 7:30 PM.

BS Biology seniors study effects of oil spill in quails

By Monna Senara

  

A group of senior biology majors found out that fumes in oil spill do not affect the development of quails.

Milagros Pocong, Mia Salvosa, Cyrus Georsua, and Hacie de Erio teamed up in this special project as part of their Developmental Biology course.

The results showed that the development of the eggs from the control and experimental groups were similar.

“My hypothesis is oil spill is insignificant in the development of the Japanese quail egg because Japanese quail has factors that can protect from toxic fumes and I think it works” said Georsua.

Georsua said they are going to look for articles that will justify the result they obtained.

The project aimed to examine the abnormalities in the growth of the quail embryo if exposed to oil spill.

“We’ve known that crude oil has harmful effects in seawater creatures but birds are aerial. We’ll test if oil spill has effects to birds, which are not directly affected like the sea creatures,” said Pocong.

The researchers created two-set ups that mimic the site near the sea with a humidifier that uses sea water.

The experimental group is exposed to oil spill sediments that exude fumes while the control group is exposed to sediments without oil.

The set-ups have 35 quail eggs each, which were incubated and observed daily.

“Our representative animal is the quail because it is easily available. Development takes only 17 days compared to chick which is 21 days,” said Pocong.

The group started the observation period last September 21 and finished on October 8. They said they faced many challenges as they worked on their research.

“[It’s a challenge] to get the right number of eggs at a specific stage. When we get the egg we don’t know if it has later or earlier developmental stage compared to another egg. But we can’t do anything about it,” said Georsua.

“Sometimes the egg is not hundred percent fertilized, no embryo. But we have mechanism to cope up with that problem. We open three eggs a day so we can have something to observe,” adds Pocong.

Lack of equipment posed another difficulty in their experiment.

“There is no automatic turner for the egg. We just do the turning of the egg ourselves. If we don’t turn it, the embryo will stick to one side and might cause abnormality,” said Georsua.

Prof. Judith Silapan, their instructor in Developmental Biology, said that in the special project the students try to assess potential risk to organisms by subjecting the organisms to different factors that may enhance or retard their development. Aside from this, another objective of the project is to optimize the students’ procedure.

“I would like to see at the end of the activities they would be able to acquire the skills in conducting a science inquiry and for them to appreciate the activity itself, the learning process,” said Silapan.