Vigan’s Timeless Treasures: Heritage, Nature, and Craft

These photos show the iconic Calle Crisologo, where cobblestone streets, Spanish-era houses, and calesas create a timeless scene. It’s the heart of Vigan’s heritage, offering visitors a nostalgic walk through history.

Baluarte is a famous Vigan attraction where guests can see and interact with animals up close while enjoying nature and scenic views. It’s a fun and educational stop for families and animal lovers.

Hidden Garden is a lush sanctuary filled with tropical plants, pottery, and local food. It’s a peaceful place where visitors can relax, dine, and experience Vigan’s green side.

Cristy’s Loomweaving showcases the artistry of Abel Iloco, Vigan’s traditional handwoven fabric. Tourists can watch local weavers at work and buy beautifully crafted textiles that preserve Ilocano heritage.

Reference: Blogger.com 

Tagged with Growth

Throughout the second quarter, I have learned many new lessons in ICT 10, especially about the different tags, font attributes, and other basic elements. I discovered how these tags work together to format text, change styles, and improve the overall look of a document. These lessons helped me understand how technology and proper formatting make digital tasks more organized and professional-looking.

One of the challenges I encountered this quarter was the lack of time to finish the given activities. Some exercises required careful attention and multiple steps, and balancing them with other schoolwork was sometimes difficult. I often found myself rushing to meet deadlines, which made it harder to focus and produce my best work.

To address these challenges, I learned to manage my time better by setting specific schedules for each subject and working more efficiently. I also tried to concentrate fully while doing my ICT exercises so I could finish them faster and with fewer errors. This approach helped me reduce stress and improve the quality of my work.

Moving on, I will be more focused and disciplined in doing my activities. I plan to avoid distractions, start my tasks earlier, and continue practicing what I have learned in ICT. With better focus and time management, I believe I can improve my performance and accomplish more in the next quarter.

Reference: Blogger.com

Through the Ocean’s Veil

Title of the Article: New MIT Tech Sees Underwater As if the Water Weren’t There

The color-correcting tool called “SeaSplat” shows underwater features in colors that appear more true to life. The ocean is filled with life, yet much of it remains hidden unless observed at very close range. Water acts like a natural veil, bending and scattering light while also dimming it as it moves through the dense medium and reflects off countless suspended particles. Because of this, accurately capturing the true colors of underwater objects is extremely difficult without close-up imaging.

Researchers at MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have created an image-analysis system that removes many of the ocean’s optical distortions. The tool produces visuals of underwater scenes that appear as though the water has been removed, restoring their natural colors. To achieve this, the team combined the color-correction tool with a computational model that transforms images into a three-dimensional underwater “world” that can be explored virtually.

The team named the tool “SeaSplat,” drawing inspiration from both its underwater focus and the technique of 3D Gaussian splatting (3DGS). This method stitches multiple images together to form a complete 3D representation of a scene, which can then be examined in detail from any viewpoint.“With SeaSplat, it can model explicitly what the water is doing, and as a result, it can in some ways remove the water, and produces better 3D models of an underwater scene,” says MIT graduate student Daniel Yang.

The researchers applied SeaSplat to images of the sea floor taken by divers and underwater vehicles, in various locations, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The method generated 3D “worlds” from the images that were truer, more vivid, and varied in color, compared to previous methods. The researchers note that SeaSplat could become a valuable tool for marine biologists studying the condition of ocean ecosystems. For example, when an underwater robot surveys and photographs a coral reef, SeaSplat can process the images in real time and create a true-color, three-dimensional model. Scientists could then virtually “fly” through this digital environment at their own pace, examining it for details such as early signs of coral bleaching.

“Bleaching looks white from close up, but could appear blue and hazy from far away, and you might not be able to detect it,” says Yogesh Girdhar, an associate scientist at WHOI. “Coral bleaching, and different coral species, could be easier to detect with SeaSplat imagery, to get the true colors in the ocean.” Girdhar and Yang will present a paper detailing SeaSplat at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). Their study co-author is John Leonard, professor of mechanical engineering at MIT.

Light behaves differently in water than in air, altering both the appearance and clarity of objects. Over the past several years, scientists have tried to design color-correcting methods to recover the original appearance of underwater features. Many of these efforts adapted techniques originally developed for use on land, such as those used to restore clarity in foggy conditions. One notable example is the algorithm “Sea-Thru,” which can reproduce realistic colors but requires enormous computing power, making it impractical for generating three-dimensional models of ocean scenes.

At the same time, researchers have advanced the technique of 3D Gaussian splatting, which allows images of a scene to be combined and filled in to create a seamless three-dimensional reconstruction. These models support “novel view synthesis,” enabling viewers to explore a 3D scene not only from the original vantage points of the images but also from any other angle or distance.

But 3DGS has only successfully been applied to environments out of water. Efforts to adapt 3D reconstruction to underwater imagery have been hampered, mainly by two optical underwater effects: backscatter and attenuation. Backscatter occurs when light reflects off of tiny particles in the ocean, creating a veil-like haze. Attenuation is the phenomenon by which light of certain wavelengths attenuates, or fades with distance. In the ocean, for instance, red objects appear to fade more than blue objects when viewed from farther away. 

Out of water, the color of objects appears more or less the same regardless of the angle or distance from which they are viewed. In water, however, color can quickly change and fade depending on one’s perspective. When 3DGS methods attempt to stitch underwater images into a cohesive 3D whole, they are unable to resolve objects due to aquatic backscatter and attenuation effects that distort the color of objects at different angles. 

“One dream of underwater robotic vision that we have is: Imagine if you could remove all the water in the ocean. What would you see?” Leonard says. 

In their new work, Yang and his colleagues developed a color-correcting algorithm that accounts for the optical effects of backscatter and attenuation. The algorithm determines the degree to which every pixel in an image must have been distorted by backscatter and attenuation effects, and then essentially takes away those aquatic effects, and computes what the pixel’s true color must be. 

Yang then worked the color-correcting algorithm into a 3D Gaussian splatting model to create SeaSplat, which can quickly analyze underwater images of a scene and generate a true-color, 3D virtual version of the same scene that can be explored in detail from any angle and distance.  The team applied SeaSplat to multiple underwater scenes, including images taken in the Red Sea, in the Caribbean off the coast of Curaçao, and the Pacific Ocean, near Panama. These images, which the team took from a pre-existing dataset, represent a range of ocean locations and water conditions. They also tested SeaSplat on images taken by a remote-controlled underwater robot in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

From the images of each ocean scene, SeaSplat generated a true-color 3D world that the researchers were able to virtually explore, for instance, zooming in and out of a scene and viewing certain features from different perspectives. Even when viewing from different angles and distances, they found objects in every scene retained their true color, rather than fading as they would if viewed through the actual ocean.“Once it generates a 3D model, a scientist can just ‘swim’ through the model as though they are scuba-diving, and look at things in high detail, with real color,” Yang says. 

For now, the method requires hefty computing resources in the form of a desktop computer that would be too bulky to carry aboard an underwater robot. Still, SeaSplat could work for tethered operations, where a vehicle, tied to a ship, can explore and take images that can be sent up to a ship’s computer. “This is the first approach that can very quickly build high-quality 3D models with accurate colors, underwater, and it can create them and render them fast,” Girdhar says. “That will help to quantify biodiversity, and assess the health of coral reefs and other marine communities.”

Chu, Jennifer (2025, September 13). New MIT Tech Sees Underwater As if the Water Weren’t There. SciTechDaily. https://scitechdaily.com/new-mit-tech-sees-underwater-as-if-the-water-werent-there/

Guiding Hands, Heroic Hearts

The 2025 Teacher’s Month Celebration with the theme “My Teacher, My Hero” serves as a powerful tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to education. Teachers may not possess superhuman powers, yet their patience, perseverance, and devotion make them heroes in the truest sense. They light the path of learning, shaping not only our knowledge but also our character. 

A true teacher is more than a giver of lessons; they are mentors and role models who instill discipline, integrity, and compassion. Their influence extends beyond the classroom, inspiring us to dream, to strive, and to believe in our potential. Every word of encouragement, every lesson patiently taught, and every sacrifice silently made reflects the heroism embedded in their profession.

Expressing gratitude to our teachers can be done through both small and meaningful acts. Listening attentively, striving to do well in our studies, and applying their teachings in our daily lives are simple but sincere ways of honoring their efforts. Words of appreciation, a heartfelt “thank you,” or even the respect shown through good conduct are testaments to the value we place on their hard work. 

Equally important is our recognition of the countless sacrifices teachers make. Many devote long hours preparing lessons, guiding students individually, and even spending personal resources to ensure quality education. Acknowledging these efforts, not just during Teacher’s Month but every day, is a way of giving back the respect they so richly deserve. Their dedication is the foundation upon which our future is built. 

In conclusion, the theme “My Teacher, My Hero” is more than a slogan—it is a truth lived out daily in every classroom. Teachers mold us with knowledge, shape us with values, and inspire us to become the best versions of ourselves. Expressing gratitude and respect is the least we can do for those who dedicate their lives to ours. Truly, our teachers are heroes whose legacy will guide us for a lifetime. 

Reference: blogger.com

Curiosity Unleashed

The 2025 National Science Month theme, “Harnessing the Unknown: Powering the Future through Science and Innovation,” reflects the boundless potential of human curiosity and ingenuity. It reminds us that while the future is uncertain, science and innovation give us the tools to navigate and shape it. By daring to explore the unknown, humanity can unlock solutions to today’s problems and open doors to opportunities that will define tomorrow.

Science and society share a deeply interwoven relationship. Every scientific breakthrough—from vaccines to renewable energy—reshapes the way people live, while society’s needs and challenges inspire the direction of scientific research. For instance, the global pandemic pushed medical science to develop innovations in record time, proving how necessity drives discovery. In the coming decades, we can expect this synergy to grow stronger, as pressing issues like food security, sustainable energy, and artificial intelligence demand both innovation and responsible application.

One of the most exciting prospects for the future lies in the advancement of emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space exploration, and renewable energy systems are not just scientific milestones—they are transformative forces that can redefine economies, education, and even culture. However, these advancements also bring questions about ethics, equity, and sustainability. Society’s role will be to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly and inclusively, so their benefits reach everyone and not just a privileged few.

Innovation, however, is not just about invention; it is about empowerment. When society embraces scientific progress, it opens doors to opportunities that uplift communities, improve quality of life, and ensure sustainability. But for this to happen, science must be inclusive, accessible, and grounded in ethical responsibility. The challenge for future generations will be balancing rapid innovation with the preservation of human values and the environment.

Ultimately, the theme calls on all of us—scientists, educators, students, and citizens—to view science not as a distant concept, but as a shared tool for progress. By harnessing the unknown with creativity, courage, and wisdom, we can power a future where society thrives alongside technology, ensuring that every step forward is a step toward collective growth and resilience.

Reference: Blogger.com

Beyond Resilience

When we hear the words “climate change,” it often feels like a distant global issue. But for Filipinos, it is a daily reality. From powerful typhoons that destroy homes to scorching heatwaves that make life unbearable, the changing climate is already shaping the way we live. In fact, the Philippines ranks 9th among the ten countries most likely to suffer the consequences of the increasingly warming global climate by the year 2025. This vulnerability makes it clear that climate change is not just a future concern—it is an urgent crisis we face today. 

The adverse effects of these changes are felt most by poor and rural communities, who often rely on agriculture and fisheries for survival. Typhoons destroy crops, floods displace families, and rising sea levels threaten coastal areas. Additionally, urban areas also suffer from heatwaves, water shortages, and poor air quality. These conditions worsen existing social and economic inequalities, leaving Filipinos more vulnerable to poverty, health risks, and displacement.

Despite these challenges, Filipinos have continuously shown resilience. Communities come together to rebuild after disasters, strengthen local initiatives, and adapt through sustainable practices such as mangrove planting, waste management, and disaster preparedness training. However, resiliency alone is not enough. There is a growing need for stronger government policies, climate education, and global cooperation to mitigate further damage and ensure that future generations can thrive in a safer environment.

In conclusion, while Filipinos remain steadfast and adaptable in the face of climate change, it is crucial to address the root causes of these environmental changes. Collective action, both locally and globally, is essential to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment. Climate change is not only a natural issue but a human-made crisis that requires urgent solutions.

Reference: Philippine Clearing House Mechanism. (n.d.). About Climate Change PH. Retrieved from http://www.philchm.ph