Reaching for the Stars: Celebrating Philippine Space Week 2026

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The cosmos is no longer just a distant wonder for the Philippines; it is the new frontier for innovation, development, and national pride. As we mark Philippine Space Week 2026, the nation turns its eyes upward, celebrating a journey that has transformed space science and technology from a futuristic dream into an engine for economic and social progress.

A Legacy of Innovation

From the pioneering efforts to establish a space agency to the successful deployment of locally developed satellites, the Philippine space sector has come a long way. Philippine Space Week serves as a powerful reminder of how far we have traveled—and how much further we are prepared to go. It is a time to honor the engineers, researchers, and visionaries whose dedication has placed the Philippines firmly on the global space map.

Empowering the Nation

The significance of this week transcends mere celebration. It is an opportunity to highlight how space technology directly impacts the lives of every Filipino:

Climate Resilience: Satellites provide critical data for weather forecasting, disaster risk management, and environmental monitoring. 

Economic Growth: By fostering local expertise and international collaborations, the space industry creates high-value jobs and drives technological advancement across sectors. 

National Sovereignty: Secure and reliable access to space data is vital for national security, resource management, and strategic decision-making.  

The Future is Upward

As we look toward the horizon, the mission of the Philippine space community remains clear: to build a sustainable, space-faring nation that utilizes science for the benefit of all. Whether it is through advancing space education, developing new satellite technologies, or exploring new applications for space-derived data, the commitment is unwavering.

This week is more than just an event; it is a catalyst. It invites students, professionals, and citizens alike to engage with the possibilities of the Final Frontier. We are not merely observing the stars; we are reaching for them, transforming the way we see ourselves and our place in the universe.

Join us in celebrating the ingenuity, resilience, and boundless potential of the Filipino spirit as we continue our ascent into the stars.

What specific aspect of the country's advancements in space technology would you like to explore further?

SMC clears 116K tons of silt, waste from San Juan River in maintenance cleanup

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 




San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is close to completing maintenance cleanup along the San Juan River, removing over 116,000 metric tons of waste and silt over the last 10 months to help improve water flow and reduce flood risk in San Juan, Manila, Mandaluyong and Quezon Cities.

This follows SMC’s cleanup of the river from 2022 to 2024, clearing the waterway of about 322,000 metric tons of silt and waste through 7.6 kilometers of its entire stretch.

SMC’s cleanup teams returned in September after monitoring showed a buildup of waste in the river traversing Mandaluyong, Manila and San Juan Cities. To date, 116,157 metric tons of waste and silt have been removed along 6.1 km of its waterway — from the Pasig River junction to Talayan, Quezon City — reflecting SMC’s commitment to preserving the gains of its river rehabilitation effort.

“Regular maintenance clean-ups are a key component of our Better Rivers PH initiative. Even if we have restored rivers to their natural depth, flow, and water-carrying capacity, improper waste disposal can aggravate silt buildup,” said SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

“At no cost to government and in coordination with local authorities, we will continue to monitor and ensure that these waterways are cleared of obstructions so they can carry floodwaters efficiently, especially during the rainy season,” he added.

The maintenance cleanup of the San Juan River forms part of SMC’s continuing support for the government’s flood mitigation drive, including the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Oplan Kontra Baha which was launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last year.

In line with that, Better Rivers PH launched its first cleanup effort in the Visayas last month, deploying dredging teams tasked to remove waste and silt from a four-kilometer section of the Butuanon River in Mandaue City, Cebu that has restricted water flow to the Mactan Channel.

Maintenance cleanup operations continue along Tullahan River, removing 177,384 metric tons of debris along a 6.4-km stretch; the Bulacan River System, clearing it of 723,393 metric tons of waste and silt through 13.38 km; and Laguna rivers, where 107,192 metric tons have been cleared from 2 km of waterways.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation work remains in the Parañaque, Las Piñas, Alabang, Tabang, and Tanza river systems, with the overall progress of the river cleanup initiative reaching 201.27 km of river channels and 9.3 million metric tons of waste and silt removed over the last six years.





PHOTOS:



Pic 1 At Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City



Pic 2 At Barangay Batis, San Juan City







Pic 3 AT Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City

Ateneo card game Herbularyo blends Filipino traditions and organic chemistry

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Herbularyo gets players acquainted with both organic chemistry and traditional Filipino medicine in as little as five to ten minutes of gameplay. The scientifically-grounded traditional Filipino remedies found in the game are based on real research from the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). PHOTO: OAVP-RCWI


Medicinal plants have long been a cornerstone of Philippine traditional medicine, dating back generations. Tawa-tawa, a low-growing herb that thrives in open grasslands, is a valued supplementary treatment for dengue; the gel of the succulent aloe vera can help soothe a scraped knee; boiled guava leaves help disinfect wounds; tea from the yerba buena helps relieve minor aches and pains; and ampalaya helps with managing diabetes.

These and many other medicinal plants have long been a part of the albularyo’s (Filipino folk healer’s) toolkit, their value and use passed down through oral traditions. Rooted as they are in word of mouth, it’s a surprise to many that Filipino folk medicine is grounded in hard science.

The remedies are familiar. The chemistry behind them, less so.

Researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Chemistry and Health Sciences Program are ingeniously addressing this gap by bringing Filipino medical herbal traditions into the science classroom via the educational card game, Herbularyo.

Folk traditions backed by science

Inspired by Filipino albularyo traditions, the game incorporates familiar Filipino cultural concepts into its gameplay. Each player takes on the role of a traditional healer racing to cure illnesses using cards featuring medicinal herbs and their active compounds. Special cards inspired by binat (relapse), sumpa (curse), and himala (miracle) add strategy and reflect beliefs that are deeply embedded in Philippine folk healing traditions.

As the game progresses, players match herbs with illnesses and identify the organic compounds found in each plant. In the process, the gameplay reinforces organic chemistry concepts through interaction rather than mere rote memorization.

All the plants featured in the game were drawn from the Encyclopedia of Common Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Volume 3, a reference published through a project funded by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). The book documents medicinal plants commonly used in the Philippines, along with scientific evidence supporting their therapeutic properties. Ateneo chemists Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit and Dr. Rene Angelo Macahig served as editors of the volume, helping bridge traditional knowledge and modern scientific research.


Developed by Ateneo de Manila University chemists, Herbularyo is a fast-paced card game that lets players learn more about some of the actual organic compounds used in traditional Filipino medicine. PHOTO: OAVP-RCWI


Rethinking science education

In classroom testing with high school and college students, Herbularyo proved to be an effective learning tool. Kids who played the game showed significantly greater learning gains, and also described the experience as engaging and enjoyable.

Herbularyo makes chemistry feel less distant and more connected to everyday life. This was a deliberate choice by its makers.

“We wanted to make a game that not only teaches organic chemistry and Filipino traditions, but also how these areas of knowledge can inform each other,” said Herbularyo co-developer Maryjane Magsino.

“We wanted to underscore the value of traditional Filipino medicine that has stood up to scientific testing yet is within easy reach practically in our own back yards.”

Indeed, herbal medicine continues to play an important role in traditional and alternative healthcare for many Filipinos, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where traditional remedies continue to complement conventional medicine.

Through Herbularyo, the researchers demonstrate that meaningful science education can begin with what students already know. Sometimes it begins with the plants growing in our backyards and the remedies in our spice rack.

By uncovering the chemistry behind familiar medicinal plants, the game not only makes organic chemistry more accessible but also encourages a new generation to see the value of the medicinal knowledge that has long been part of Filipino life, and hopefully makes supplementary and complementary medical remedies more accessible to all.

Maryjane T. Magsino, Inah Marie Q. Rivera, Armando M. Guidote Jr., and Genejane M. Adarlo published their research, Herbularyo: A Card Game for Learning Organic Compounds of Medicinal Herbs and Their Therapeutic Benefits, in the May 2026 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education.