FISH MUCUS AND FOOT FUNGUS
by Gian Dapul
When I was in 6th grade, I hated Mathematics. You would have, too, if you had my teacher. He would drop huge workbooks on our tables and croak, “Thirty problems, fifty minutes.” A lot of these problems seemed unsolvable, so we complained: “Sir, there are no answers to these!” But then he’d reply, “To every question there is an answer, to every problem there is a solution.”

Although I’m only sixteen years old and an incoming 4th year high school student, I know that my country has more problems than any Mathematics book. Strangely enough, the answers to some of our problems are fish mucus and foot fungus. These seemingly improbable items are products of what we call scientific research.

Research turns our guesses into real knowledge, serving as the sifting pan of our hypotheses. It challenges what we assume, because, as they say, if you only learn from what you ASS-UME, you make an “ass” out of”u” and “me”.
In the early 1800s, someone warned that the streets of London would be filled with horse manure due to the uncontrolled use of horse-drawn carriages. Of course, that never happened. Combustion engines,products of research and invention, replaced horses, and the manure piled up in Parliament instead.

While on the subject, few people know that the most expensive coffee in the world is taken from the droppings of the Asian Palm Civet found in the Philippines and Indonesia. The small mammal excretes the coffee berries it eats, and forest trackers recycle the fruity feces to create what is known as Kopi Luwak in Indonesia or Kape Alamid in our country. Research has led to a synthetic process that simulates the droppings’ exotic flavor and quality.
So, who’s had coffee with their breakfast? Well, soon nobody will have had coffee and breakfast if the looming global food crisis worsens.Are you all feeling fine? Well, nobody might be fine for long if some new disease creeps up on us.
Health can be enhanced and life can be extended. The nudibranch, a beautiful, soft-bodied creature unfairly called a “sea slug” — a favorite among underwater photographers for its marvelous colors and shapes — has actually been used in tumor research. Samples of fish mucus have also displayed certain antibacterial properties.
And as the Home Shopping Network would say, “Wait! There’s more.”

Certain types of infectious fungi that coat some of your toes here form beneficial relationships that support plant growth. The International Rice Research Institute based in the Philippines continues to develop ways to improve rice growth and help alleviate the current food crisis.

New challenges are coming, and they will always confront us. What we need is an army of scientific researchers that will help find the solutions in advance. I want to be part of that army that would cross the new frontiers first.
If only we could make science fairs and contests as popular as the thriving “Pop Idol” franchise. Although I’m not sure if Simon Cowell’s sardonic comments will sit well with my peers. But we need the same hard-hitting passion in research and invention.

To conduct research is to be innovative; avant-garde. Researchers are like artists with test tubes and lab gowns instead of paintbrushes and smocks. When I graduate from the Philippine Science High School next year, I want to begin my “masterpiece” and apply for a university degree in Biochemistry.

But sometimes, I am discouraged by those who say that a researcher from a Third-World nation is like a Jesuit adhering to a vow of poverty, or worse, like a Benedictine monk observing the vow of chastity. It is indeed a challenge, but it’s also another frontier to cross, for me and many young people like me.

We Filipinos are well known for their dedication to service, in foreign homes, hospitals and hotels. In the hotel, I found three Filipinos working there. I want to be one of the pioneers that will make the Philippines known for its excellence in scientific research,as part of the driving force that will expand our horizons towards tomorrow. And I intend as a 1to have a lot of fun while doing it.

Going back to my math teacher, I eventually realized that, well, he was right. As he said, “To every question there is an answer, to every problem there is a solution.” We just have to go looking for the right ones. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be answering the questions that haven’t been asked yet.

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Comments ( 41 )

Wow! Gian’s speech boosted my Filipino pride! Galing ng Pinoy!

Lakwatsero added these pithy words on May 13 08 at 5:26 pm

Wow, nasa France ka? LOL

Yup, it’s a good speech. This was the same speech he delivered during the Philippine qualifiers.

benj added these pithy words on May 13 08 at 6:28 pm

You the man Gian! I mean you rock!

I am 8000 miles plus away but I know there is only 3 degrees of separation between me and this kid. My nephew, a PSHS drop out (moved to Cumming GA), might be in same batch.

You make us proud to be Pinoys!!

Masamang Damo added these pithy words on May 13 08 at 8:27 pm

LOL @ ASSUME.

Nicely done. A good way to introduce researchers as more than ‘nerds’. Go Pisay! Hehe.

Spife added these pithy words on May 13 08 at 8:37 pm

LOL @ ASSUME.

Nice speech. A good way to introduce researchers as more than ‘nerds’. Go Pisay!

Spife added these pithy words on May 13 08 at 8:40 pm

Nice jab at the Jesuits and the Benedictines, heh.

This speech is so much better than the Patricia Evangelista snorefest.

joyfulchicken added these pithy words on May 13 08 at 10:32 pm

I didn’t know Chickens evolved from crabs!

benj added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 12:42 am

If I’m not mistaken, Gian is also doing his research proposal (since he’s an incoming senior). Perhaps this was his inspiration in making his winning speech.

He has a great future in Biochemistry. I just hope it starts next year when he presents his project to Science Fairs.I was personally disheartened to pursue research when our Research Advisers failed to support us. (Back in high school, the only thing I was good at was research. LOL) We still competed and we did win. LOL But the research paper was left to rot in our library. I hope he doesn’t land the same plight.

Cecile Maris added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 5:42 pm

I’m really frustrated with how our research project turned out in high school. The concept never excited me one bit. I wish I had a cooler project like some of my classmates. My research was 90% manual labor - preparing the soil, planting seeds, transplanting seedlings… Jeez.

benj added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 6:48 pm

Yo, Benj. My Net connection’s been busted these past coupla days. I type from a Net cafe. Surprised and glad to see you at Filvoices.com.

And yer right. This guy’s going to UP Manila. LOL

J added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 8:14 pm

Awwww.;( That’s sad. High school research sucked bigtime for most of the people I know. So I guess you’re not alone. LOL

Cecile Maris added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 8:31 pm

Aww.. I miss my high school days..

Ooops, i thought gian is not a filipino. ayos sa banat. kewl!

he makes me proud of my motherland. ^_^

earthlotus added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 8:40 pm

Benj, have you seen the video of Gian Dapul’s speech?

Earl added these pithy words on May 14 08 at 11:19 pm

Thanks for the heads up, Earl.

benj added these pithy words on May 15 08 at 12:12 am

Kicks ass. Nice.

spliceanddice added these pithy words on May 15 08 at 7:49 am

i’m more inspired to know dat at ur age, u were able to have a desire and passion in researches Gian. I hope for more Filipino individuals to pursue on bio researches especially those wth a great economic impact.

franz added these pithy words on May 15 08 at 11:22 am

Gian, if i were your English, I’d be very proud of you for making it to the top!

I was once a declaimer, a contestant in college, and winning the second place in my elementary days and none in college…

but you… you are truly one Filipino who our fellowmen should be proud of and our Filipino youth should emulate…

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! =)

an English Teacher added these pithy words on May 15 08 at 1:38 pm

Reality tv shows for research People have ways to sensationalize everything now. It`s highly possible so as long as there are people willing to invest in it.

But, then again, unlike artist, people never venture into research for fame to begin with. We certainly need more speeches like this to motivate young people to pursue this field.

alex added these pithy words on May 15 08 at 6:33 pm

awesome speech Gian.

mzpakipot added these pithy words on May 16 08 at 11:08 am

Good speech. Though it would have been a lot better had you been a believer. Lol.

Elliot added these pithy words on May 16 08 at 8:08 pm

THIS does not happen every day so I want to join the cyber Pinoys in celebrating Gian’s win.

Good job, Gian, and may your inspiring speech breed more reasons for all of us to become proud (at least in this seemingly age of diaspora) Filipinos!

mikkomikz added these pithy words on May 17 08 at 4:21 pm

Congratulations Gian….You rock…

Kirby added these pithy words on May 19 08 at 7:08 am

Gian! I know a lot of Filipinos are now becoming proud of their identity - and i am one of them. Research endeavors entail a lot of rigid time and money, but as i assess your eagerness, you will make research an inspiring element for us Filipinos to become on TOP again… “ASSUME” heheheh. After research, divert your interest on POLITICS, becuase i have never witnesseD a CLEAN GAME OF POLITICS in the country. MABUHAY PINOYS!

William added these pithy words on May 19 08 at 3:05 pm

You made me proud to be a FILIPINO. Congrats….

alou added these pithy words on May 21 08 at 12:44 pm

superb! go go Pinoy

lucas added these pithy words on May 22 08 at 8:59 pm

Perfect! Better than Patricia Evangelista’s speech.

MJV added these pithy words on May 23 08 at 11:03 pm

Gian, the Philippine Science High School Community is asking if you could deliver that speech again on June 2, first day of class during the Flag Ceremony.

MJV added these pithy words on May 23 08 at 11:08 pm

i’m proud to be a filipino! good job gian…..

esterjoy added these pithy words on Jun 10 08 at 7:31 pm

lam moh Gian assignment nmn yan……… ok lng!!!!! bilib aq sau!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more power to ur career!!!! tnx! itaguyod mo ang pinoy!!!! hakhak

Tricia added these pithy words on Jun 10 08 at 8:14 pm

sa mga classm8 q n gumgwa ng reaxon paper about this!!!!! 4xeNon aq s imus institute go!!!!!! do ur ass nd q p xa mxadong naintndhan!!!!! bshin q uleh heehee joke lng simple lng x eh!!!! aira gwapo kya yang Gian n yan???/// hakhak

Tricia added these pithy words on Jun 10 08 at 8:18 pm

black3_sha@yahoo.com frend n tau ha!!!

Tricia added these pithy words on Jun 10 08 at 8:19 pm

hahaha,,, pti bah i2 gawing assignment ng teacher namin,,

Whatever added these pithy words on Jun 10 08 at 8:25 pm

Pag malaki mo ang galing ng mga pinoy….
saNa maging kasing galing kita kasi mababa lang ang mga grades ko ehhh…..peo gagayahin kita magsiskap ako ng mabuti…salamat..jason from cavite
Taga imus INSTITUTE din AKO anu kaya pede Reaksyon D2?????

Jason added these pithy words on Jun 11 08 at 5:29 pm

_.. so beli dandah poh..

_.. nagustuhan coh ung speech..
hahaha kahit mEjUi mAhiwAp
inTindiHin,qXeh eNgLish..
hAhAhA..aAhM sNa mAy iBa pAnG
sTorY LikE diZ..
_.. DaTz oL..

avhie_bhe01 added these pithy words on Jun 11 08 at 6:24 pm

aus speech moh.gling!!
assignment dn namin toh eh.hehe!

tricia.kilala ata kita??
tga IMUS INSTITUTE din ako.

oo added these pithy words on Jun 11 08 at 7:18 pm

aw kamu pud diay???!!!kami pud dri sa bukidnon gpa.assignment me ug rxn paper…nkaxabut mo?hehe..

christine added these pithy words on Jun 14 08 at 7:43 pm

Ure speech was used in our science research subject and we were asked to write a reaction…but all i could say was, it was awesome…hey, cmuans…taronga ug buhat ang inyong papers and gud luck xa atong science reasaerch..harhar!

kishel added these pithy words on Jun 15 08 at 8:07 am

hey!! nice talaga the speech…hahai…gpa assignment ni sa amua ai.. ano daw ang reaction namin about the speech?? we wil have also our science congress..required kasi eh.. sana makagawa kami… hindi talaga mapantayan ang galing ng PINOY!!

christie Von added these pithy words on Jun 15 08 at 7:18 pm

well done gian! iba tlga ang pinoy!

venz added these pithy words on Jun 20 08 at 12:12 am

niiice. I like the home shopping network joke.

jdawn added these pithy words on Jul 11 08 at 11:11 am

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