Filipino Science Hub

Interested parties may register thru the link in the original post.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒!

The National Museum of the Philippines is accepting interested participants for the 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲, a five-day training program open to 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 and 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬.

Learn from NMP’s experts as they discuss the essential aspects of museum work, covering research, collections management, exhibition development, curation, conservation, museum education, operations, and community engagement.

📅 𝟏𝟓-𝟏𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 (𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲)
🕓 𝟗:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌 - 𝟓:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝐆/𝐅 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦, 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚

✍️ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: https://tinyurl.com/Pre-registration-IFI-June-2026 (or scan the QR code in the poster)

📌 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝟖 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐍𝐍

The training is free, but slots are very limited. Applicants will be screened based on their professional profile, affiliation, and interests. Shortlisted participants will be notified via email.

For more information, email us at [email protected]

Science 🤝 History

A Spanish galleon named Santo Cristo de Burgos, vanished off the west coast of what would become the USA (in Oregon State) after avoiding a hurricane in 1693. How do we prove it came from the Philippines? 🌊⚓️

The origin of the famous "Beeswax Shipwreck"—named after the massive blocks of beeswax found in its cargo—once remained a mystery.

But through the meticulous analysis of DOST-FPRDI expert and by cross-referencing samples within our Xylarium collection, the ship's primary timbers were re-examined. The scientific verdict? The vessel was crafted from Molave (𝘝𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘹 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 A. Juss.) and Supa (𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘢 Merr.)—two native Philippine hardwoods. 🪵🔬

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗼𝗻?

𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲: Its incredible density made it a great choice for the load-bearing frames of Manila-Acapulco galleons (as well as our ancient houses and churches).

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗮: Used for ship flooring or decking and known for its extreme impact resistance (the same properties that make it perfect for bowling alleys), it provided the flexibility and strength needed to survive grueling trans-Pacific voyages. 🇵🇭⛵️

These identifications enhance our understanding of timber selection in galleon construction and provide valuable material evidence for maritime heritage research. 🔍⚓🪵

‘𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁’ 𝗟𝗲𝘆𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲-𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆

SAN MIGUEL, LEYTE – Distinct and mysterious, deeply connected to the forests of Leyte, the ‘lost’ Leyte bleeding-heart has now been photographed.

Rare and long-considered elusive, the Leyte bleeding-heart (𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) was photographed in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LSBP) Hydrological Unit. This may be the first documented sighting of the subspecies on the island, with the photo serving as its first contemporary and publicly known evidence in more than a century.

A ground-dwelling and forest-dependent dove, the Leyte bleeding-heart is characterized by a red patch on its chest and highly cryptic behavior in dense understory and leaf-litter habitats.

The last recorded sighting of the bird in Leyte was way back in 1918. Having no widely recognized photo of the subspecies, scientists relied on earlier notes from ornithologist Ernst Hartert for leads to the Leyte bleeding-heart. While records of bleeding-heart doves exist in other islands, like Bohol and Samar, these have often been attributed to other subspecies, such as the Mindanao bleeding-heart (𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢).

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The photograph was taken by Marvin Jay Sarmiento and his team during biodiversity monitoring activities under the LUYON project. A four-year project, co-managed by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and Visayas State University Alangalang, LUYON aims to raise and inspire local awareness and action towards peatland restoration.

As part of the project, biodiversity assessments are conducted to record what species of flora and fauna reside within the peatland’s unique ecosystem. Previous assessments revealed that LSBP housed several endangered species, like the Philippine Tarsier, Samar Hornbill, and Blue-naped Parrot.

Sarmiento and his team recounted the challenge of taking the photo. “Pure blood and sweat po ng team,” he shared, “Imagine spending 7 to 9 hours of silence each day for 5 days straight, waiting beneath heavy rain-soaked canopies. Hunger, insect bites, sleepless nights on sloping ground, and cameras wrapped in trash bags just to survive the weather.”

Sarmiento added, “There were moments we nearly gave up, moments we dozed off from exhaustion—but the research expedition has always been about patience, grit, and believing that nature reveals itself only to those willing to endure.”
Their persistence was rewarded with the rare privilege of witnessing the bird scurrying through the wet forest floor, as it foraged for seeds and fallen fruit.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The sighting not only confirms the species’ continued presence in the island, it also confirms that the LSBP supports the specific conditions for the species to thrive. With the looming threats of hunting and deforestation, LSBP may serve as one of the few viable habitats for the Leyte bleeding-heart, making it even more important to protect.

Unfortunately, the peatland is in a state of degradation. Decades of land conversion and drainage have left the peatland dry and susceptible to peat fires, contributing to further environmental disturbances and habitat loss. Last April, catastrophic peat fires ravaged through LSBP and Agusan Marsh, renewing urgent calls to enact a national peatlands policy.

In response, LUYON is working alongside LGUs, NGAs, CSOs, and NGOs to promote peatland-friendly policies and engage communities in restoration activities, such as rewetting and revegetation activities, to rescue degraded areas.

With the rediscovery of the Leyte bleeding-heart, the LUYON project team calls on all Leyteños to join in raising awareness and supporting efforts to conserve the island’s unique and precious peatlands and watersheds for generations to come.

Photo Credits: Marvin Jay Sarmiento

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗨𝗬𝗢𝗡
Funded by Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA), LUYON is a four-year project, aiming to enhance local stewardship of the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland. REDAA is funded by UK International Development from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and managed by IIED.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18HpTAUTWw/

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬, 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐬? 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡?

Then the 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 is the perfect adventure for you!

🌟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟐 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝
📅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 25–26 May 2026 | 🕘 9 AM – 4 PM
📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: G/F Vergara and Co Education Rooms, National Museum of Natural History
🎟 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄!

Young explorers will discover amazing rocks, minerals, fossils, and the dynamic forces that shape our planet through exciting activities and hands-on learning.

👥 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟎 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. So, register now: https://forms.gle/DR1ToqCmtSthNVRx7

⚠️ 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: Registered participants are expected to attend both days of the camp.

Bring your curiosity, explorer hat, and backpack, and get ready for two days of discovery, new friends, and fun. See you there!