Dumaguete Food Trippin.

Sans Rival

    

KRI

      

        Panda Ice Cream

Rizal Boulevard

   

Why Not?

                                        Gabby's Bistro

Earthquake in Dumaguete: 2/6/2012

It was a little past noon when the earth shook and took us all by surprise. I was lying on my bed on the phone, my tita on her wheelchair with her two attentive caregivers, my other tita and cousin in the kitchen preparing our lunch, and my tito already eating ahead of everyone else seated on the kitchen table, when our house trembled and shook. What a reminder that our days are fleeting and can vanish so easily without a notice. How can we prevent an earthquake or even know it was coming?! Thank you Lord no one was hurt and no structural damage done! Naturally everyone in town was in panic and apparently created a stampede downtown. After the level two tsunami warning, residents fled up to higher ground in Tierra Alta, Valencia, in fear that Dumaguete would get swallowed up in another disaster. However, no worries, Dumaguete was safe from the tsunami but did experience a few strong after shocks till 7am this morning. There were a few causalities reported on the news and here are some photos circulating in Facebook showing the damage and the panic caused by the earthquake.

Here are a few links for further information:

USGS - United States Geological Survey

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/region/Asia_eqs.php

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/region/Asia.php

ABS-CBN News

Aftershocks stir panic among residents in quake’s epicenter | ABS-CBN News

My Thesis: A love and hate relationship between fish and parasite.

Anyone else a fish parasite enthusiast? Recently, I've been wracking my brain trying to put a proposal together so I can start applying for grants for my thesis.  The great thing about doing parasitology work in the Philippines is that not much as been done and that means, there's a plethora of things I can explore.   Maybe someone will see the value of my work and give me some funding!  All I need is one thorough, sound, straight-forward problem that doesn't require a long sampling period.  Thank you God for Paul Sikkel who agreed to be my external advisor.  He happens to be one out of the few scientists spearheading this fresh field. 

Underside of an Argulus sp. (*google images*)

My first encounter with parasites was during my two year internship as a fisheries technician for Mirant, now called Genon.  I worked in a aquaculture facility that was in collaboration with Department of Natural Resources' Restoration program for anadromous species, specifically Atlantic sturgeon  (Acipenser oxyrhynchus).   Every summer, our poor sturgeon was heavily infested with irritating, persistent sea lice (Argulus sp.).

After my two years as a technician, I went back to school for my masters degree in Silliman University.   Come to find out that no one has done any parasitology work in the lab before (for a master's thesis or dissertation).  I was nervous about choosing the topic considering none of the faculty is even specialized in that field.  But God answered my prayers when Renclar (a researcher at the marine lab) informed me about a scientist coming to Silliman conducting some parasite work.  That fateful day, I met Paul Sikkel.  He gave me the motivation, with a renewed enthusiasm, to pursue my topic. 

Lionfish taken at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas

Paul has done plenty of work with lionfish and gnathid isopods.  There's a chance my thesis will be based on his work and be used to compare Caribbean and Indo-Pacific parasite loads of lionfish.  Now, all I need to do is to get the ball rolling. Finish these old reports, take my comprehensive exam and present my proposal. Oh boy, Jesus give me the strength and wisdom to finish all of this by April! I need to graduate by next March!

Gnathid female (*google images*)

Before and After Bagyong Sendong in Dauin Poblacion I

The Philippines was recently hit with a terrible typhoon named "Bagyong Sendong" this past December 2011. I, along with the marine lab crew, was safe in Davao Oriental conducting our assessments, however many citizens in Cagayan de Oro and Dumaguete City lost their lives and homes to the unmerciful storm. It left behind a whopping 400+ death toll with many more still missing. Thank God my family in Cagayan de Oro was safe with no injuries (as far as I know) although their water supply was cut off for quite some time. My family's home in Duma wasn't even touched although the streets were flooded. 

http://www.philippinecanadianfoundation.com

One month later, my classmate Jean informed us graduate students about possibly doing an assessment of one of our local marine sanctuaries. We were asked by a local businessman and close friend, Harold of Harold's Mansion, to voluntarily do an assessment of Dauin Poblacion I. Dauin is a hotspot for diving/snorkeling enthusiasts attracting many locals and tourists thereby generating revenue for the local barangay. Apparently the coral reef has suffered noticeable damage after Bagyong Sendong. A handful of us from the marine lab (Jean, Ting, Mark, Fanny, Padi, ate Ching, Jared and I) decided to take a look for ourselves.

The "Non-Marine Lab" Dive Crew ;)

Fortunately a few of us grad students went snorkeling in Dauin this past September and saw the reef in its original glory. The reef was healthy, full of color and life with damsels dancing on top of table coral, parrotfish and rabbitfish nibbling on algae covered coral, goatfish rummaging through the sandy bottom, clownfish hiding in their anemone home, while the more larger snappers and groupers roam about. Not too far were the shy garden eels followed by a neighboring reef. 

But sadly, not even our beautiful marine sanctuary could escape Sendong.

Despite the rubble left behind, signs of life along with a hope for recovery are found in the present marine community. This is their home. Where else can they go?

School of jacks

New Species: Marklorurus Depazis

Needless to say, our spirits were down after witnessing the extensive reef damaged left behind by Sendong. There is nothing much we can do but place fallen corals upright and let the reef recover on its own. It comes to show you that nature is an unpredictable force that can't be fought. As residents of this planet, we need to take charge and become good stewards of our ecosystems and resources before they all disappear. Wouldn't you want your children to see all of these beautiful creatures under the sea?