Loving "Bahalina", pride of the Visayans

sample label of Coconut wine in Cabucgayan

Coconut wine had been the traditional pride of the "Waray" speaking people of Eastern Visayas. Immigrants to these islands in central Philippines, and even the entire archipelago joined the Leyte-Samar natives in loving these fermented wine from coconut toddy, which has about 10% alcohol. And this "Tuba," as they locally call it, was the best the Samareneos could offer to Ferdinand Magellan's army during the country's early history.

I am a light drinker and I appreciate the taste of good coconut wines. But my obsessions in having to see "bahalina" as valuable as grape wines started when I realized many in the rural coconut planted areas depend on the industry, which was not even given emphasis on improving. Well, drinking may not be acceptable to many, but "grape wines" from the west is well accepted. So why not improve the coconut wine and package it to be known if not like the popular grape and other fruit wines, the rice wine of Japan, and others but at least establish its own name not to remain as a lowly local drink even considered as a "poor man's wine".

The coconut wine industry needed much more attention from researchers and government support agencies. There are several researchable areas I discuss below, these include: process standardizaton, identification and use of appropriate yeast strains, formulation studies, equipment design, and process improvement.

DOST Biliran PSTC conducts Scholarship caravan

It's DOST Scholarship season once again, and DOST Biliran PSTC is promoting the DOST Science Education Institute's (DOST-SEI) scholarship program through a series of information forum around the Province of Biliran.

DOST in partnership with DepEd aimed to educate the students who are currently enrolled in Senior High School about the Science Scholarships intended for those who will be going to college next school year. While college tuition has become free for all state universities and colleges, the DOST gives opportunity to deserving students who want to pursue science and engineering courses special privileges such as monthly stipend, book allowance, uniform allowances among other benefits. They must however pass the DOST-SEI Scholarship examinations to be conducted on October 21, 2018.

As part of the forum, DOST distributed application forms to students and briefed them on how they are accomplished and what are the needed documents. Ms. Maria Catherine G. Maniba, Science Research Specialist II, led the DOST-Biliran Team who conducted the presentation and briefing on various DOST-SEI scholarship programs. Ms. Gracevillalyn Saldo, Project Assistant II, and Mr. Teddy Abenido, Project Assistant I joined the team.

PTRI-DOST trains handicraft makers in Cabucgayan on dyeing of pandan fibers

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Members of the Looc Cabucgayan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (CARECO) gained improved experience on quality dyeing of romblon or pandan fibers used in the manufacture of their popular products- the romblon bags and other handicrafts. This was made possible through the expertise of Engr. Thelma Sipin assisted by her staff Mr. Ronelo Vallente both from the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology who conducted the training on July 3-5, 2018 at the Multi-purpose Center of Brgy. Looc, Cabucgayan, Biliran. There were 24 members who joined the technology training.

Tube ice production plant soon to open in Naval, Biliran Province

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The much needed clean and safe tube-ice for refreshments and other food application will soon be available in the markets of Naval, Biliran.

This will be made possible with the funding of DOST-8 SETUP of the upgrading project of D'Adaone Bar and Restaurant entitled "Adoption of Tube Ice Production Technology for the Food and Beverage and Tourism Industry Needs of Biliran Province". As the project title states, the D'Adaone will set up a 2 tonne capacity tube ice production equipment through funding support from DOST-8 SETUP which will cater to the needs of tourism outlets (hotels, restaurants, refreshment bars, etc) throughout the Province of Biliran.

More updates will be posted related to this project in the coming months. Meanwhile, interested buyers who plans to place reservation and advanced orders may contact directly with the management of the D'Adaone Bar and Restaurant.

Work Immersion in DOST: A Journey through Science and Technology

(A feature story by Miles Vincent Garrido and Aura Gahera as part of their immersion task)

Work Immersion sounds stressful for Senior High School Students. Yet, as part of the K-12 curriculum, we, STEM students are required to gain relevant learning experiences through actual work by assigning us to a specific partner institution, business organization or establishment parallel to our specializations to help us reinforce our knowledge from classrooms and enhance our skills. For us, with a group of six students, we were engaged with the Department of Science and Technology.

Foremost, we learned that DOST is the premiere science and technology body in the country charged with the twin mandate of providing central direction, leadership and coordination of all scientific and technological activities, and of formulating policies, programs and projects to support national development. DOST Biliran, officially called Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center (DOST BILIRAN-PSTC) is one of the six provincial centers of the DOST-8 currently located inside the campus of Naval State University.

12 Biliranons qualify for DOST SEI JLSS Scholarships

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4,529 third year college students passed the 2017 Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) examination which was administered last November 19 nationwide as announced by the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) on December 31, 2017.

The JLSS is a scholarship program under the Republic Act No. 7687 or the “S&T Scholarship Act of 1994,” R.A. No. 10612 or the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013,” and the R.A. No. 2067 or the Merit Scholarship Program.” There were a total of 6,049 third year college students who are enrolled in various S&T courses that took the examination for the said program. Qualifiers to the program will enjoy two to three years of scholarship benefits, which include tuition subsidy, monthly stipend, book allowance, and others. Passers of the Merit Scholarship will likewise receive the same benefits except for the pro-rated monthly stipend that is based on the scholar’s socio-economic status.

The following students are the qualifiers from Biliran Province: