You may have previously encountered golden rice before. This rice variety is engineered genetically to produce beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A, in its edible parts.

Commonly referred to as Malusog rice, golden rice aims to serve as a fortified food source in regions where dietary vitamin A is lacking. The genetically modified rice reportedly can yield up to 23 times more beta-carotene than the original version.

Unknowingly, there exists another type of fortified rice that many Filipinos may not be familiar with. This is known as zinc-rich rice, which can fulfill up to 60% of the daily zinc requirements and help mitigate zinc deficiency in nations with high rice consumption.

Although rice is not particularly abundant in zinc, it does contain some amount. For instance, brown rice offers around 1.2 milligrams of zinc for every 100 grams of cooked rice. Zinc is an essential trace element commonly found in red meat, poultry, and fish.

“Zinc is known to play a critical role in biological processes including cell growth, differentiation and metabolism,” the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) states.

A study cited by the United Nations health agency showed that zinc supplementation “may have a greater impact on growth in stunted children compared to non-stunted children.”

Zinc-rich rice was created through a global collaborative initiative spearheaded by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and HarvestPlus, in conjunction with various national agricultural organizations.

In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has developed and introduced local high-zinc varieties such as NSIC Rc 460 and NSIC Rc 648.

Here is some positive news. A high-zinc rice variety grown in Ilocos Norte has yielded nearly double the national average, aiding the country in its search for alternatives to combat child stunting and micronutrient deficiencies.

In barangay Sta. Cecilia, San Nicolas, farmer Ricky A. de Guzman achieved a harvest of 8.14 tons per hectare from NSIC Rc 648. This yield surpasses the national average palay yield of 4.07 tons across all ecosystems for the first quarter of this year. Furthermore, it exceeds the reported yield potential of the variety, which ranges from 4 to 7.4 tons per hectare under optimal growing conditions.

According to a report from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), stunting among Filipino children continues to be a significant national nutrition issue. The FNRI’s 2025 Updating Survey indicated that the rate of stunting in children under five rose to 25.3% in 2025, up from 23.6% in 2023.

De Guzman, who is a first-time grower of high-zinc rice and an experienced seed cultivator, volunteered to plant this variety after discovering its nutritional advantages. Typically, he harvests between 7 and 10 tons per hectare from various rice types.

“I was surprised that this variety can produce high yield. With proper irrigation, fertilization, and crop management, it can also compete with the high-yielding inbred varieties that many farmers prefer,” he said.

NSIC Rc 648 reaches maturity in 122 days and thrives optimally in irrigated lowland regions throughout both dry and wet seasons.

Anielyn Y. Alibuyog, the focal person for the Healthier Rice Program at PhilRice Batac, stated that the findings indicate farmers can cultivate rice with enhanced nutritional benefits while maintaining productivity levels.

“This variety shows that farmers do not have to sacrifice yield to produce healthier rice. It combines nutritional value with competitive productivity, making it a promising option for farmers and consumers,” Alibuyog said.

However, Alibuyog emphasized that the zinc-enriched rice variety should not be viewed as a standalone remedy for stunting; rather, it can complement nutritional initiatives by contributing to increased zinc consumption through the staple food of Filipinos.

A beneficial method to prevent heart disease is to ensure adequate sleep each night. “Lack of sleep may elevate the risk of developing cardiovascular issues,” said Dr. Rafael Castillo, a consultant cardiologist at Manila Doctors Hospital.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses various specific conditions that impact the heart and/or the vascular system, particularly the veins and arteries that transport blood to and from the heart.

In the Philippines, CVD is responsible for 30 percent of all fatalities. “The death toll from cardiovascular diseases in the country is about one every 7 minutes,” says Dr. Philip S. Chua, one of the country’s top cardiologists. 

Physiologic studies suggest that a sleep deficit may put the body into a state of high alert, increasing the production of stress hormones and driving up blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, people who are sleep-deprived have elevated levels of substances in the blood that indicate a heightened state of inflammation in the body, which has also recently emerged as a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

“Based on our findings, we believe that if you lose sleep that your body needs, then you produce these inflammatory markers that on a chronic basis can create low-grade inflammation and predispose you to cardiovascular events and a shorter life span,” explained Dr. Alexandros Vgontzas of Pennsylvania State University, who presented data at a scientific meeting in the United States indicating that naps can help counter harmful effects of sleep loss.

Other studies have found that sleep influences the functioning of the lining inside blood vessels, which could explain why people are most prone to heart attacks and strokes during early morning hours.

“We’ve really only scratched the surface when it comes to understanding what’s going on regarding sleep and heart disease,” pointed out Dr. Virend Somers of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  “I suspect as we understand more about this relationship, we’ll realize how important it really is.”

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Archives of Internal Medicine, cutting back on sleep could increase the risk of heart disease.  The study showed that sleeping less than 7.5 hours a night was associated with a 33 percent higher rate of cardiovascular incidents such as strokes and heart attacks.

Japanese researchers monitored the sleep of 1,255 people with hypertension for an average of 50 months. They tracked daytime and nighttime blood pressure, sleep duration and cardiovascular disease events such as stroke, heart attack and sudden cardiac death.

They recorded 99 incidents of cardiovascular disease and found the rate among those who slept less than 7.5 hours was 2.4 per 100 person-years. Those who got more sleep had an incident rate of 1.8 per 100 person-years.

Subjects whose blood pressure rose at night also were more prone to heart disease, the study found. Another study, done by Columbia University, found that sleeping less than five hours doubles the risk of high blood pressure.  

“Two in every 10 Filipino adults, 20 years and over, are hypertensive,” reports the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

About half of 12.6 million Filipinos with hypertension are not aware of their condition until they begin to suffer illnesses that have associated complications with hypertension.

“Hypertension per se does not kill, but the complications are the ones that disable and kill a hypertensive,” says Dr. Castillo.

Some people say that snoring is a good sign of a sound sleep.  Actually, snoring is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea.  

“The person literally stops breathing,” explains Dr. Earl Dunn, a professor of family medicine at the Sunnybrook Medical Center Sleep Laboratory in Toronto.  “People who are heavy snorers, who stop snoring at night, can have episodes where they are not breathing.”

Sufferers awake – usually without realizing it – to restart their breathing.  That continual arousal interferes with the quality of sleep, says Dr. Adrian Siew Ming Saurajen, a consultant at the Ear, Nose, Throat and Snoring Center of the Mt Elizabeth Medical Center in Singapore.

A new study suggests that sleep apnea may be linked with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men.  The researchers based their conclusion on an analysis of 5,422 participants for an average of about nine years.

During the study, 193 participants had a stroke – 85 men (of 2, 462 men enrolled) and 108 women (out of 2,960 enrolled), reported the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

After adjusting for several cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers found that the effect of sleep apnea on stroke risk was stronger in men than in women.

In men, a progressive increase in stroke risk was observed as sleep apnea severity increased from mild levels to moderate to severe levels. In women, however, the increased risk of stroke was significant only with severe levels of sleep apnea.

The researchers suggest that the differences between men and women might be because men are more likely to develop sleep apnea at younger ages. Therefore, they tend to have untreated sleep apnea for longer periods of time than women.

“Our findings provide compelling evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for stroke, especially in men,” noted lead author Susan Redline, professor of medicine, pediatrics, and epidemiology and biostatistics, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.  “Overall, the increased risk of stroke in men with sleep apnea is comparable to adding 10 years to a man’s age. Importantly, we found that increased stroke risk in men occurs even with relatively mild levels of sleep apnea.”

Experts disagree on how much sleep you need to stay healthy. The idea that you can train yourself to sleep for just a few hours a night is a matter of debate. A good night’s sleep means waking up rested and energized.  On average, a healthy adult needs between six and eight hours of sleep a night, according to Dr. Ravi Seshadri, a sleep expert and clinical director of MD Specialist HealthCare at the Paragon Medical Center in Singapore.

However, the amount of sleep it takes to achieve rejuvenation varies from person to person.  “It’s not a fixed number,” says Dr. Patrick Gerard Moral, head of the sleep and snore diagnostic and treatment unit of the University of Santo Tomas.  

He adds that length is not the only important factor in sleeping but the quality as well.  Also, people who lose sleep every night will suffer from what he calls sleep debt.  “The sleep debt is compounded over a prolonged period and recovery will take much longer than the actual hours lost,” he explained.

Durian, a fruit that is beloved by many yet often maligned by others, is once again in season. If you are in Davao City, you can detect its distinctive odor even from a considerable distance. 

In his book Following the Equator, Mark Twain wrote about his durian experience in Southeast Asia through these words: “It was a strange fruit, and incomparably delicious to the taste, but not to the smell.”

The American humorist further wrote: “We found many who had eaten the durian, and they all spoke of it with a sort of rapture. They said that if you could hold your nose until the fruit was in your mouth a sacred joy would suffuse you from head to foot that would make you oblivious to the smell of the rind, but that if your grip slipped and you caught the smell of the rind before the fruit was in your mouth, you would faint.”

British naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace had the same experience. After a visit with the Interior of Borneo in 1855, he observed the offensive smell of durian in the house; some persons did not even attempt to taste it. “This was also my own experience when I first tried to taste it in Malacca; but in Borneo, I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and eating it out-of-doors, I became a confirmed durian eater.”

Because of the durian’s “foul-smelling odor” that most airlines don’t allow the fruit on board.  In Singapore, the Asian country with the most rigid policy and rules concerning the care for the environment, the durian is forbidden on subway-stations and trains.

Despite this, there is an increasing demand for durian in the export market. It is called an “exotic tropical fruit” in North America and Europe where customers offer premium prices.   Durian is also highly regarded in other Asian countries.

By weight, the edible portion (or aril as experts call it) is only 26% on the average.  Sixty percent of it is the rind while the remaining 14% are seeds.

According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the fruit is rich in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, and iron.  It also contains fair amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin.  It is also a good source of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

For the uninformed, the aroma (or odor if you will) of the fruit comes largely from thiols or thioethers, esters and sulphides.

The word “durian” comes from the Indonesian “duri” (thorn) and is botanically known as Durio zibethinus. It is native to Indonesia and Malaysia. It also grows in other Asian countries like Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Durian is eaten right after opening the fruit or as a frozen commodity.  Like most exotic fruits, durian is touted to have aphrodisiac powers. In Thailand, durian is eaten as a side dish with glutinous rice or it is made into a paste (often packed like long sausages).  In Sabah, Malaysia, red durian is fried with onions and chili and served as a side dish.

The Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD_ says durian can be made into jam, candy, tart, and “polvoron.”  Unripe durian can be cooked like a vegetable.  Half-ripe or unripe durian are also utilized in making chips and soups.

Durian can be transformed into a delightful ice cream or a refreshing milkshake. However, as an ingredient in a blender, this king of fruits tends to overshadow its lesser counterparts. The unique flavor of durian often prevails, and in certain instances, combining it with other fruits can enhance the garlicky notes of durian in an undesirable manner.

A widely recognized flavor that pairs well with durian is coffee. The combination of coffee and durian is both enjoyable and invigorating – furthermore, a gourmet coffee infused with durian would present a distinctive delicacy. If you happen to be in Davao City, you can find venues that offer coffee blended with durian fruit.

For those who are keen to try durian for the first time, it is crucial to choose the highest quality fruit. But how can you ascertain the authenticity of the durian you intend to buy? Here is a tip from the experts: “When selecting a durian, inspect the stem; if it appears dry, the fruit is likely aged. If the stem has been cut, shake the fruit and listen for the seeds rattling inside; if you hear them, the pulp may have lost some moisture and may not be as flavorful.”

Contrary to common notion, crocodiles and sharks are not the deadliest living creatures. Public enemy number one is that tiny speck of a living thing that irritates many Filipinos on a daily basis. It’s called mosquitoes.

Every year, crocodiles kill 1,000 people while sharks manage to take 10 lives, according to studies. In contrast, mosquitoes snatch the lives of 725,000 people each year, reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) show.

It’s no wonder why philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates posted an infographic on his blog some years back showing mosquitoes at the top of the deadliest animals list.

“Considering their impact, you might expect mosquitoes to get more attention than they do,” Gates wrote on his blog. “Sharks kill fewer than a dozen people every year and in the United States they get a week dedicated to them on television every year. Mosquitoes kill 50,000 times as many people, but if there’s a TV channel that features Mosquito Week, I haven’t heard about it.”

That observation is not debatable. Even in the Philippines, where279 species, subspecies and varieties of mosquitoes can be found, mosquitoes are not given prominence except when there is a dengue outbreak or when never heard before diseases – like chikungunya fever and Zika virus – are reported. All three are spread through the bites of mosquitoes.

Now comes this enlightening report from the Diliman-based University of the Philippines. A recent study examined the diversity of viruses carried by mosquitoes and how land use changes may influence these patterns in the country.

“Mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus may carry more than just viruses that affect humans,” reports Eunice Jean C. Patron of the finding of the study which was published in Parasites & Vectors journal. “They also host insect-specific viruses that do not infect people, some of which may even inhibit the multiplication of disease-causing viruses.

“This implies that mosquitoes can serve as valuable tools for detecting both known and emerging viruses that may impact public health,” Patron adds.

Irish Coleen Asin, John Michael Egana, and Dr. Ma. Anita Bautista from the College of Science’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB), along with Dr. Richard Paul of Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, gathered mosquitoes from three distinct locations in Los Baños, Laguna, each differing in topography and land use.

They employed viral metagenomics—a technique that detects all viruses present in a sample—to examine the virome within the mosquitoes.

The study uncovered that the mosquitoes harbored viruses from 12 separate taxon groups. The majority of these were insect-specific viruses (ISVs), which infect mosquitoes but do not affect humans. Both A. aegypti and A. albopictus were found to share most of the identified viruses.

The molecular biologists obtained mosquito samples from three barangays in Los Baños, Laguna: Bagong Silang, Lalakay, and Bayog. Bagong Silang serves as the upstream (mountain) site, situated at an elevation of 305–331 meters above sea level, featuring a rolling landscape. Lalakay represents the midstream site, noted for its rolling to slightly uneven terrain. Bayog, the lakeshore site, is characterized by a flat landscape.

“Based on the land cover maps, Bagong Silang retained its forest cover in the last 4 decades as of the study date. At the same time, both Lalakay and Bayog underwent conversion from agricultural to built-up areas during that period,” the researchers reported.

The research indicated that a greater variety of viruses were identified in regions impacted by human activities—such as urbanized areas or deforested land, including Barangays Lalakay and Bayog—when compared to the forested area of Bagong Silang.

“These mosquitoes are usually disturbance-resilient and are more competent hosts for several viral isolates or strains,” the molecular biologists added.

Importantly, the research team did not find evidence of dengue, Zika, or chikungunya viruses in the collected samples. Interestingly, mosquitoes from two barangays were identified as carriers of the Cell Fusing Agent Virus (CFAV), which is believed to suppress the replication of dengue and Zika viruses.

“The potential risk of emerging and possibly unknown arboviral threats calls for strengthened surveillance programs and advanced research on arboviral diseases—those transmitted by insects like mosquitoes,” they said.

The researchers highlighted the importance of arbovirus surveillance programs for public health, as they provide real-time monitoring of both endemic and emerging viruses to assist in outbreak management. This monitoring can be improved through advanced sequencing methods, including virome sequencing.

The molecular biologists also pointed out that mosquitoes could be significant biological targets for surveillance programs focused on zoonotic and arboviral diseases.

“Mosquitoes act like biological syringes, feeding on multiple kinds of hosts,” the team pointed out. “Because of this, they can provide valuable insights into viral diversity across space, time, and species.”

A locally abundant wild grass once used primarily for traditional crafts is now creating new livelihood opportunities in Apayao through science, technology, and innovation.

The Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) highlighted its pivotal role as a project co-implementor during the official inauguration of the Runo Processing Facility and showroom at the Agguimangan Agro-Eco Tourism Farm in Swan, Pudtol, Apayao, on 18 May 2026. The event spotlighted the specialized processing technologies and technical interventions provided by the Institute, which are designed to transform a locally abundant wild grass into high-value commercial products and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the province.

To drive the facility’s operations, DOST-FPRDI equipped the new processing hub with an Eco-dryer. This DOST-FPRDI technology significantly shortens the drying time of runo (Miscanthus sinensis Andersson) while ensuring dimensional stability, better preservative retention, and overall production consistency.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized the importance of harnessing local resources to create inclusive and sustainable development.

“Across the country, many communities possess resources with untapped potential. Through science, technology, and strong local partnerships, we can transform these resources into sustainable enterprises that create jobs, strengthen local economies, and improve the lives of our people,” Solidum said.

During the inauguration, DOST Assistant Secretary for Countryside Development Engr. Maria Teresa B. De Guzman highlighted Apayao’s broader significance beyond its natural landscape. She noted that the province is not only known for its forests, rivers, and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, but also for a community that actively works with nature, learns from it, and turns local resources into meaningful livelihood opportunities. Her message underscored that rural communities should be recognized not just as protectors of heritage, but as active creators of economic value.

Meanwhile, DOST-FPRDI Director Rico J. Cabangon underscored the significance of the facility as a model for community-based forest products enterprises.

“This facility represents an opportunity for the people of Apayao because it can generate livelihood, build local capacities, and empower communities to actively participate in sustainable forest-based enterprises,” Cabangon said.

According to Cabangon, the initiative reflects what can be achieved when government, local leaders, and communities work together to develop sustainable, high-value products from underutilized resources. He added that the project reflects the value of collaboration in building community-based enterprises that generate economic opportunities while promoting sustainable development.

Before the inauguration, DOST-FPRDI had conducted a series of technical training sessions for local artisans, covering the Eco-dryer operations, runo preservation, advanced finishing techniques, machine operations, and mixed-media product development to elevate the grass into a market-ready resource.

The newly launched facility is a core component of the project “Revitalizing and Unlocking the Potential Economic Opportunity (RUNO) of Handicrafts in Apayao through Science, Technology and Innovation.” Supported by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development Women-Helping-Women: Innovating Social Enterprises (WHWise) program, this initiative empowers enterprises in rural communities by providing equipment and capacity building.  Also present during the event were DOST Apayao Provincial S&T Director Engr. Debbie Glynn V. Manangkil and DOST CAR Regional Director Dr. Nancy Bantog.

As DOST’s research and development arm on forest products utilization, DOST-FPRDI continues to develop and transfer technologies that enable communities to create greater value from wood and non-wood forest products. Through sustained partnerships and continuous innovation, the Institute helps transform raw local resources into viable enterprises that generate livelihoods, strengthen local industries, and contribute directly to nationwide countryside development.

The Forest Products Research and Development Institute is one of the attached agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All.