Marine Pharmacognosy Laboratory

𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿!

Congratulations and best wishes to our Kuya Melfeb Chicote, who officially moved to a permanent position at UP Diliman last May 15.

Melfeb has been a dependable lab technician for many years. In and out of the lab, he has been a kuya and friend to many at the Marine Science Institute. He is best known as the lab’s official shipworm whisperer, always ready to lend a hand and share a laugh with everyone around him.

We are proud of you and wish you all the best in this new chapter!

Congratulations to our laboratory undergraduate student, Samantha Opeña, for successfully presenting her poster entitled “Bioactivity and Metabolite Assessment of Non-Cellulolytic Shipworm-Associated Microorganisms” during the Arribada 2026 UP MSI Research Fest held last April 17, 2026.

Arribada is the annual research fair of UP MSI, where students showcase their studies, engage in scientific discussions with their peers, and receive valuable insights from esteemed marine scientists.

We are proud to be part of your first steps in your scientific journey, and we look forward to your future research endeavors, Sam!

We proudly congratulate our very own MPL Lab alumna, Hazel Jane M. Cano, and the Marine Science Institute Library team for being recognized with the GALING ng UP Diliman Award para sa Natatanging Pangkat during the "2026 Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas," held at the University Theater, UP Diliman. Wishing you continued success and excellence in service to the MSI and UP Diliman.

🥈 The results are in—Philippines' 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢 places SECOND in the 2026 International Mollusc of the Year competition!

With an outstanding 5,097 votes, the humble antingaw is the 2026 IMOY's First Runner-Up, placing a close second after the winning mollusc, the Mediterranean Vampire Snail (𝘊𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘢).

UP MSI would like to thank everyone who rallied behind the antingaw and brought it to the world's stage. More than a competition, the International Mollusc of the Year has become a celebration of mollusc diversity across the world. The antingaw in particular shone a spotlight on the mysterious potential of Philippine shipworms. Thank you to everyone who voted and took the time to learn about the chalk-chomping clam!

Thanks especially to the following partners, collaborators, and organizations who promoted antingaw across their networks:

🌻
UP Diliman College of Science
UP Diliman Information Office
UP Los Baños UPLB Malacology Laboratory

👥
Philippine Association of Marine Science
Marine Protected Areas Support Network
Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines
Haynayan Philippine Biology Updates
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
The Outstanding Women in Nation's Service (TOWNS Foundation Inc.)

🏛️
Governor Erico Aris Aumentado of Bohol
Mayor Trisha V. Chatto of LGU Balilihan
All other official organizations of Bohol

📺
Gusto TV PH
John Sherwin Felix and Lokalpedia
Kuya Kim Atienza and Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim
Dexter Macaraeg

📰 Media outlets who picked up our press release
🌊 And the flood of reshares and reposts that are too many to name!

You may still visit the IMOY official website and read about antingaw's fascinating competitors: the Mediterranean Vampire Snail, the Florida Horse Conch, the Mysterious Moon Clam, and the Seychelles White Slug. https://www.unitasmalacologica.org/mollusc-of-the-year-2026.html

International Mollusc of the Year is hosted annually by Senckenberg and the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance - SOSA, in partnership with Unitas Malacologica. Read the official announcement of results here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G2n6vDHTn/

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 for International Mollusc of the Year: https://sgn.one/moty2026

✅ Vote for 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢! bit.ly/IMOY2026_AntingawPH

Meet the Philippine entry for International Mollusc of the Year! 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢, also locally known as “antingaw” in Bohol, is the first known shipworm that lives within and eats through rock.

Unlike the rest of the shipworm family, 𝘓. 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢 bores and burrows its way through limestone rather than wood. Its shell has uniquely evolved to cut through rock: while the teeth-like denticles of tamilok and ugaong are small and sharp, 𝘓. 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢 instead has denticles that are large and blunt. The mechanism of how this odd animal gets nutrients from rock remains a mystery. Scientists believe that it may harbor symbiotic microorganisms in its gills that help break down its inorganic diet, and that further study of these digestive processes may lead to future biotechnology products. With support from the DOST National Research Council of the Philippines, the UP Marine Science Institute is currently investigating this species through the "Teredinids and Associated Microbes: A Multi-level Investigation of Lifestyles and Outstanding Compounds as Sources of Novel Therapeutics" or TAMMILOC Project.

✅ Vote for 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢! bit.ly/IMOY2026_AntingawPH

𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢 is found exclusively in the Abatan River of Bohol, which is honored in its species name. Like its fellow shipworms in other regions, It is also eaten as a local delicacy.

This quirky and promising clam is representing the Philippines against Italy, Australia, the United States, and Seychelles for International Mollusc of the Year 2026. The annual competition is hosted by Senckenberg, Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance - SOSA, and Unitas Malacologica.

Let's show our national pride and give antingaw our full support! Public voting starts today and ends on April 26.

For more information about International Mollusc of the Year, visit the official website: https://www.unitasmalacologica.org/mollusc-of-the-year-2026.html

Read the original 2019 paper on its discovery: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0434

Species Splash is an initiative of the UP Marine Science Institute that features the marine biodiversity being studied by our scientists. For interview requests and other media inquiries, please contact content(at)msi.upd.edu.ph.