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Sugar, Culture, and the Rising Burden of Diabetes | Dan Degamo

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Sugar, Culture, and the Rising Burden of Diabetes Dan Angello Rafael Degamo April 23, 2026 In the Philippines, food is more than nourishment—it is memory, comfort, culture, and celebration. Yet behind many of the country’s most beloved dining habits lies a quieter and more dangerous reality: the growing burden of sugar exposure and its connection to metabolic disorders. Coffee, cream-filled donuts, and cup after cup of rice—these are just a few highlights of the Philippines, a nation celebrated for its complex gastronomy. Even under the blazing 40-degree summer heat, Filipinos find joy in savoring a hot cup of coffee paired with sweet treats like banana cue or the mild taste of pandesal. Let us not forget the cultural significance of extra rice. Who can resist multiple servings after indulging in flavorful inasal or tender spare ribs when hunger strikes? And of cou...
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The Lifeline When the Grid Fails | Dan Degamo

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Dan Angello Rafael Degamo April 20, 2026 We live in an era defined by instant global connectivity, where billions of messages travel across oceans and satellites in mere milliseconds. Yet, this modern infrastructure is surprisingly fragile. When the grid collapses, how do emergency responders, hospitals, and everyday people coordinate to save lives? The answer lies in one of the most reliable and resilient communication methods ever created. HAM radio remains a crucial tool, even aboard the International Space Station. To understand the true value of decentralized communication, we must first look at the global picture. Worldwide, standard telecommunications rely heavily on a delicate web of cell towers, undersea cables, and massive power grids. When a natural disaster strikes—whether it is a hurricane in the Atlantic or an earthquake in th...
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Translating Space Technology into Everyday Impact | Dan Degamo

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Dan Degamo April 20, 2026 Space technology is often associated with distant planets, rockets, and missions beyond the atmosphere. Yet some of its most meaningful contributions are found much closer to home. Many of the systems that improve communication, healthcare, disaster response, and environmental monitoring on Earth draw directly from innovations made for space exploration. Photo by NASA via Flickr Looking upward has never only been about leaving Earth. In many ways, it has become a way of understanding and improving life on it. The technologies created to survive, communicate, and observe in space have gradually shaped the infrastructure of everyday living below. Below are some of the most important ways space technology continues to benefit people, communities, and systems on Earth. 1. Communication and Connect...
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The Nursing Exodus: Why the Philippines is Losing its Lifeline | Dan Degamo

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Dan Angello Rafael Degamo April 19, 2026 This column explores the growing nursing shortage in the Philippines and the realities faced by healthcare workers on the frontlines. As a nursing student, I reflect on the challenges, systemic gaps, and the urgent need for reform. Photo by Arthur Uzoagba via Pexels Across the Philippines, hospital hallways overflow with patients from across the island, who have traveled for hours, only to find out that there are too few hands to care for them. As much as nurses want to cater and serve everyone fairly, they can only do so much. Every day, our nurses stretch themselves toward the breaking point, leading many to make the difficult decision to leave the profession, sometimes en masse, for nursing opportunities abroad. Inside our hospitals, a staggering imbalance persists. Nurse-to-patient ratios...
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Location: Philippines
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