Comments on: What’s really wrong with Philippine science?

By: Arizza Nocum

Arizza Nocum — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:18:18 +0000

Dear Sir,

I am a 4th year student of Pisay Main. I came across your blog as I was leafing through websites to look for, coincidentally, a research topic.

And I do have to express my surprise in seeing that the school that I have been in — that I have been nurtured in — for 4 years now is merely a showpiece of DOST.

Although I see the effects of their lack of seriousness in our comfort rooms, our dilapidated gym, our lack of equipment, it is my duty to say that we are more or less trying to do our part.

My schoolmates have been winning international tilts, pinning medals on their research posters, and fulfilling their duty as scholars for as long as I can remember.

The curriculum is difficult. And the decision to serve after having graduated from Pisay is even more difficult. But, somehow, people I know — my teachers, even — have stuck to their pledge of service and excellence.

I think the central problem is not the people or entity that receives the money but the system that is run by the money.

DOST is investing, as you said, so much on us. But they are giving us so little attention. Having seen this, the general impression we get is that of a lack of “utang na loob”, a lack of seriousness in our contract.

But I do believe that if we cease to be a showpiece and continue to be a life-changing community that is expected to usher the Philippines into an exemplary culture of science, then we will deliver.

By: observer

observer — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:47:19 +0000

But as DOST officials have told us, even with the money, they are on their knees begging students to apply for their grants. DOST has even relaxed its once stringent requirements (like the international travel ban for two years and a return service in government). Still no takers.
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begging students to apply for their grants?! eh bakt nila tinigil o ni-limit yung scholarship grants to 1 student per university for the current semester? balita ko dahil daw sa parating ang eleksyon! Yung mga kaibigan kong graduates ng UPLB,ilan sa kanila with honors pa ay na-discourage kasi wala daw funding kaya di kayang suportahan ng DOST yung mga gusto mg-MS o PhD. Harapin na natin ang katotohanan na marami sa mga estudyante natin ang galing sa mahihirap na pamilya (lalo na kung taga-UPLB ka) at di kayang tustusan ang sarili nilang pag-aaral kaya gustuhin man namin di kami makapag-pursue ng graduate studies, tapos hindi ka pa suportado ng DOST. Marami sa amin napipilitan mag-trabaho muna sa mga call centers para suportahan ang aming pamilya, mga scholarships lamang ang nagbibigay sa amin ng allowance para makapag-aral habang nagtatrabaho, tapos sasabihinh ng DOST walang takers?! ugh.

By: Lamentations to the States of The Sciences and Education in the Philippines « …and we must rise again to the stars.

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:15:49 +0000

[...] http://filipinovoices.com/whats-really-wrong-with-philippine-science [...]

By: July 21 ‘09 Bullets | Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:40:56 +0000

[...] in the Philippines, which has been discussed time and time again by The Jester-in-Exile and blackshama (update: must read, btw those two articles, which show insight into education). This is about [...]

By: Tasio

Tasio — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:33:05 +0000

Science and Technology are the lifeblood for the progress of a
nation. It is very sad, that most of our Scientists and Technical
People have migrated abroad. The Low Pay is the cause. Until
people are paid well. They will always find ways to get better pay.

By: Marvin Angelo Oloris

Marvin Angelo Oloris — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:24:03 +0000

^^^

That’s the sad part. Locally, it’s UPD that is known to people. Alas, UPLB’s arena is international.

By: ASTI user

ASTI user — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:41:16 +0000

“Seriously though, a subject in science journalism should be taught at UP. I spoke with the journ professors and we can’t identify a person with the right credentials to teach it. Perhaps DOST should provide scholarships in this arena.”
_________________________
Actually, there is a such a course in UP, but not in Diliman. In UP Los Banos, they have BS development communication and one of its majors is Science Communication. As part of the curriculum, all those majoring under it are required to take technical courses such as statistics, physics, chemistry, forestry, agriculture (basically any hard science course offered in UPLB). Sadly, most Filipinos only look at UP Diliman so they’re not aware of this. The Department of Science Communication collaborates with almost every science institution not just in the country, but also abroad. I know for a fact that DevCom is widely known internationally because I came from that college and majored in Science Communication.

By: Can the Future Be Designed (Redux)? | Filipino Voices

Can the Future Be Designed (Redux)? | Filipino Voices — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:48:59 +0000

[...] “is the world moving too fast for comfort?” Then there was blackshama’s What’s really wrong with Philippine Science?, and What is terribly wrong with the University of the Philippines?, as well as The [...]

By: Revamp the Philippine Educational System? | Filipino Voices

Revamp the Philippine Educational System? | Filipino Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:54:34 +0000

[...] on Filipino Voices, our new colleague blackshama has posted two interesting articles: What is terribly wrong with the University of the Philippines? and What is terribly wrong with the University of the Philippines?, in which he brings to the table [...]

By: BrianB

BrianB — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:05:07 +0000

DJB, UP presidents tend to be so unremarkable.