A “mute” one and two “singing” are the new species of crickets just described from Siargao Island, the surfing capital of Philippines, this 2019. A result of surveys done last year in several areas of Del Carmen town of this island in Mindanao, the new crickets reinforce scientific literature that the nation is indeed one of the megadiverse countries in the world.

The three new species is a product of the close scientific collaboration between researchers of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), National University of Singapore, Paris-based Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle and the Russian Academy of Sciences. The researchers from UPLB were MNH curator Dr. Sheryl A. Yap and current director of the College of Agriculture and Food Science-Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology and University Researcher Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension-Bee Program.

Tis that time of the year when hikers and nature-trippers flock to the mountains to "bathe in the forest" and meditate in observance of the Lenten Season. Many people especially those from the nearby urban areas climb Mount Makiling which is easily the most accessible natural forest park from Metro Manila. 

While most people find the eco-tour of the mystical mountain which Los Baños locals hold dear as serene and peaceful, others can find luck in "discovering" a treasure which the deity Maria Makiling dutifully guards. Selfies and group pictures with this nature’s sensation has made rounds in social media and even recently featured on a regional TV news program.

The treasure being referred to is a rare beauty of a flower -- the Rafflesia or commonly called malaboô -- that hides itself for almost half of the year within the body of the Tetrastigma vine and then magically blooms from late February to June.

Dr. Marian P. De Leon, University Researcher II and Curator of the Microbial Culture Collection of the UPLB Museum of Natural History was recently conferred as Certified Biosafety Officer during the Philippine Advanced Biosafety Officer Training (ABOT) Graduation Ceremony last 01 February 2019 at the Hotel Jen, Pasay City.

The ABOT is a five-week, intensive training program which provides new opportunities to qualified persons to improve Philippine public and animal health by expanding their knowledge on the increased biological risk of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and microorganisms with potential for dual-use. Likewise, the program aims to further strengthen the country's biorisk management system as authorities prepare the National Framework for Biosafety and Biosecurity.

A new species of cave-dwelling spider has been recently described by University of the Philippines Los Banos graduate student Joseph B. Rasalan and Museum of Natural History curator for spiders and moths Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo, the description of which has been published in advance in the Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity.

Rasalan, a graduate apprentice of Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo is undertaking MS Forestry with forest entomology as focus.

According to the authors, the new spider species Masteria urdujae sp. nov. has been collected under rock debris near the entrance of Pelpel Cave in Brgy. Centro Toma, Bani, Pangasinan during a cave assessment activity by students taking BIO 154 Cave Ecology in 2017.

Japanese universities continued its long-time collaboration with the UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the UPLB Museum of Natural History (MNH) to investigate the presence of zoonotic viruses in Philippine bats in a fieldwork held last 24-27 January 2019 at the foot of Mt. Isarog as well as the secondary-growth forest in Mt. Isarog National Park in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Japanese researchers included Professor Shigeru Kuwa and Ms. Yuki Sugiura (The University of Tokyo), Professor Kentaro Kato and Dr. Frances Recuenco (Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine), Professors Yumi Une and Shumpei Watanabe (Okayama University of Science) and Professor Tsutomu Omatsu and Satoko Sugimoto (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology).

James is home, at last.

On behalf of James, his family and companions in Mt. Apo, we are extremely thankful for the outpouring of love, prayers, financial and emotional support for James and his friends during those days of need and despair:

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Dr. Jonald Pimentel, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato and the Department of Biology faculty and staff, especially to Lothy Casim, John Aries Tabora, Bryan Lloyd Bretaña, Teodora Cabasan and Leane Jay Mancera. The Suetos and Javison families of Matalam, North Cotabato.

LGU OF KIDAPAWAN CITY

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, City Tourism Officer Joey Recimilla, City Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn C. Etulle-Encienzo, Brgy. Ilomavis Chairman Datu Jimmy Mantawil and the Kidapawan Rescue 911 Team.

DENR REGIONS XI and XII, DENR PASu OFFICE - MT. APO AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

UP MINDANAO

Chancellor Sylvia Concepcion, through the generous assistance, ground-working and coordination by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nila Oponda and Vice Chancellor for Administration Dr. Antonio Obsioma. The help of Prof. Mac Achondo and Prof. Lief Erikson Gamalo is deeply appreciated.