BREAKTHROUGH IN LUNG CANCER: UP Scientists Uncover Biomarkers That Could Revolutionize Early Detection

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a country where lung cancer remains one of the deadliest health threats, a team of Filipino scientists has unearthed a discovery that could dramatically alter the trajectory of diagnosis and survival. A groundbreaking study from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) has identified 33 potential biomarkers that may enable earlier detection of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), a game-changing development in the fight against this silent killer.

With nearly 2 million lives lost to lung cancer worldwide each year, and over 20,000 deaths recorded in the Philippines in 2022 alone, the gravity of the disease is undeniable. NSCLC, the most prevalent form of lung cancer, accounts for more than 80% of all cases. The tragedy lies not just in its prevalence, but in how it often eludes detection until it is far too advanced to treat effectively.

But hope may be on the horizon.

A Filipino-Led Scientific Triumph

Led by Dr. Baby Rorielyn Dimayacyac-Esleta of UPD-CS’s Institute of Chemistry, a collaborative research team composed of experts from UP Diliman and the Lung Center of the Philippines embarked on an ambitious journey using advanced quantitative proteomics. Their mission: to investigate protein expression in early-stage NSCLC lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and compare them with adjacent healthy tissues from Filipino patients.

What they found could be the breakthrough modern medicine has long been waiting for.

In total, the researchers detected 4,403 proteins exhibiting abnormal behavior within cancerous tissue. Among them, 33 proteins stood out—acting like biochemical flags waving urgently from within the tumor itself.

“These proteins have aberrant expression in both gene and protein levels, and their gene levels are correlated with poor 5-year survival rates of NSCLC patients,” explained Dr. Esleta. “Some of them have already been found in either tissues or blood plasma of NSCLC patients, which heightens their potential clinical utility.”

These key proteins are involved in crucial biological functions such as protein translation, carbohydrate metabolism, and the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway—functions often hijacked by cancer cells to promote rapid growth and spread. Disruptions in these processes, the study confirms, are linked to NSCLC progression.

The Promise of Precision Diagnosis

The implications are staggering. These biomarkers could potentially serve as early warning signals, allowing doctors to diagnose NSCLC in its earliest stages—when it is most treatable—long before symptoms even appear.

Dr. Esleta and her team are now accelerating the biomarker development pipeline, beginning with the qualification phase, which will test large sets of patient specimens using targeted proteomics techniques. This effort is expected to pave the way for more precise, non-invasive diagnostic tools that could complement or even surpass current methods like chest X-rays, low-dose CT scans, and bronchoscopies.

The researchers are establishing a dedicated Clinical Proteomics Laboratory at UP Diliman’s Institute of Chemistry—a state-of-the-art facility designed to harness this new frontier in cancer diagnostics.

A Beacon for Future Research

Their study, “Discovery of Key Candidate Protein Biomarkers in Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma through Quantitative Proteomics,” was recently published in the Journal of Proteome Research, a prestigious international journal renowned for cutting-edge studies in global protein science.

This landmark achievement was made possible through the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)—a strong testament to what can happen when Filipino science is empowered and funded to rise to global challenges.

Hope for Millions

Lung cancer has long held a grim reputation: deadly, elusive, and devastating. But this new discovery ignites a powerful sense of hope. With science as its ally and determination in its core, the Philippines is not just following global health innovation—it’s leading it.

As Dr. Esleta and her team continue their pursuit of diagnostic precision, one truth becomes clear: The battle against lung cancer is not yet lost—and with this discovery, the tide may finally be turning.

Revolutionizing Inclusion: DepEd Unveils Ambitious Overhaul for Learners with Disabilities

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a nation where inclusivity has often been overshadowed by systemic limitations, the Department of Education (DepEd) is now staging a dramatic transformation that may forever alter the Philippine educational landscape. In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s urgent call for equitable and accessible learning for all, DepEd has launched a series of pioneering reforms aimed at ensuring that no learner is left behind—especially those with disabilities.

With powerful momentum and renewed leadership under Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the department is championing a bold vision: an education system that breaks down barriers, embraces diversity, and harnesses technology to give every child—regardless of ability—a fair shot at a better future.

“The Department is fully committed to harnessing technology not only for instruction but also for decision-making, resource planning, and inclusive service delivery,” Secretary Angara declared in a meeting of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Council for Learners with Disabilities.

This Council, comprising key agencies such as DOH, DSWD, DPWH, DILG, DOF, NCDA, DOLE, TESDA, ECCD, CHED, and PRC, signals a whole-of-government approach. The urgency is clear: millions of Filipino children with disabilities have for too long been neglected, sidelined by insufficient infrastructure, outdated methodologies, and a severe lack of trained educators.

But change is not only coming—it’s already in motion.

From SPED Centers to Inclusive Learning Resource Centers

One of DepEd’s most ambitious undertakings is the transformation of Special Education (SPED) Centers into Inclusive Learning Resource Centers (ILRCs). These centers will serve as localized hubs of learning support, ensuring that every city and municipality has a gateway to inclusive education.

These ILRCs will not remain static or confined to brick-and-mortar spaces. Plans include virtual and satellite ILRCs, with institutionalized multi-disciplinary teams comprised of educators, therapists, and support personnel. Importantly, these teams will operate under sustained funding, ensuring their continued service and effectiveness.

It’s a vision that reimagines the very architecture of how education is delivered.

Alternative Learning Reinvented

For learners who cannot access traditional classrooms, DepEd is enhancing its Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM) and Alternative Learning System (ALS). These programs are being recalibrated with a special focus on capacity-building, real-time policy monitoring, and the integration of assistive technology and artificial intelligence—an innovation that promises personalized, adaptive learning for students with varied needs.

From mobile learning kits to AI-driven educational content, the future of inclusive learning is not only digital—it is dynamic and deeply personal.

SABAY: AI that Empowers, Not Replaces

At the core of this revolution is a technological marvel in the making: the SABAY Project (Screening using AI-Based Assistance for Young Children), spearheaded by the DepEd-Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR). This AI-powered tool is designed to identify potential developmental disabilities early, reducing screening time while lifting the burden from overworked teachers.

“Through the SABAY Project, we affirm our mission that every Filipino child—regardless of ability—deserves timely support and access to quality education,” Secretary Angara emphasized. “We are making sure that learners with disabilities are no longer left behind.”

Dr. Erika Legara, ECAIR Managing Director, underscored the importance of building AI tools that are interpretable, practical, and grounded in real-world educational contexts.

“We’re designing ways to automate parts of the screening process to help make school-level decision-making more efficient,” she said. “The goal is not just speed, but clarity and impact.”

Currently in its early stages, the SABAY project is being crafted in collaboration with the Bureau of Learning Delivery – Student Inclusion Division (BLD-SID), as well as special education experts and healthcare professionals. Pilot data collection begins in select schools in Metro Manila, with national expansion already on the horizon.

Unity for Inclusion: A Whole-Nation Effort

What sets this initiative apart is the unprecedented synergy between government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. Specialized training for educators in Special Needs Education (SNEd) is being scaled up, and access to customized learning materials is being democratized.

These aren’t isolated moves—they form a cohesive, strategic blueprint for a more compassionate and inclusive Philippines.

A Future Where Every Learner Counts

What DepEd is attempting is nothing short of a national awakening—a refusal to allow the invisible walls of disability to define the educational potential of any child. The department's initiatives are not just about technology or infrastructure; they’re about dignity, justice, and equality.

For countless Filipino children with disabilities and their families, these reforms represent hope—a powerful, long-overdue promise that they, too, belong in the nation’s classrooms and dreams.

And as DepEd presses forward, the message is clear: the era of exclusion is ending. The era of inclusive, empowered learning has begun.

Waves of Wisdom: Catanduanes Student Wins National Title in PHLPost’s 54th UPU International Letter Writing Contest

Wazup Pilipinas!?

In an era dominated by instant messaging and digital chatter, a single handwritten letter has made waves strong enough to cross oceans—literally and figuratively. The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) proudly announced the national winners of the 54th Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, a global initiative that elevates the timeless art of letter writing. This year’s theme, “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you,” invited the youth to channel the voice of our planet’s most vital resource—and one student did just that, with remarkable clarity and emotion.

At the heart of this national celebration is Mikaela Ashika Vargas, a student from Catanduanes National High School, whose poetic and impassioned letter rose above submissions from across the country. With a voice as vast and stirring as the seas she embodied, Vargas gave the ocean a soul—and with it, a cry for help that was impossible to ignore.

“I'm the ocean near the Philippines, but really, I’m just a small part of something much bigger. I’m connected to all the other oceans and seas around the world. Water moves, creatures travel, and the winds above me carry my warmth and storms across the planet. What happens to me does not stay with me — it reaches you too!”

Her poignant words not only won her the national first prize of ₱25,000, a medal, and a certificate—but also the honor of representing the Philippines in the international competition to be held in Berne, Switzerland, where the world will listen to the voice of the ocean through the pen of a Filipino youth.

Following closely in this wave of brilliance are the second-place winner Aime Renny B. Suon from Agusan National High School in Butuan City, who receives ₱20,000, and the third-place winner Jayden Lyle Darcy V. Tonosgan from Antique Vocational School in Bugasong, Antique, who takes home ₱15,000. Both students will also receive medals and certificates, a testament to the depth and creativity of their writing.

Beyond the prizes, however, lies a deeper purpose. The competition, sponsored by the UPU—a specialized agency of the United Nations in which PHLPost is an active member—is not just about winning. It aims to develop young people’s composition and communication skills, rekindle the fading joy of letter writing, and above all, foster international friendship through personal expression.

This year’s theme echoes the urgency of today’s environmental crises and aligns closely with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The ocean, often taken for granted, was given a human voice—one that longs to be heard, respected, and protected.

The esteemed panel of judges—Ms. Melanie Viloria-Briones, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the City College of San Fernando Pampanga and founder of the School Press Advisers Movement Inc.; Dr. Rachelle Bellesteros-Lintao, President of the Linguistic Society of the Philippines and UST professor; and Mr. Archie Bergosa, Editor-in-Chief of Explained PH from UP Los Baños—had the herculean task of selecting from letters that were not only eloquent but emotionally resonant and rich with insight.

In celebrating young voices like Mikaela’s, this competition proves that the pen remains mighty. More than a contest, it is a clarion call—written in ink, carried by post, and destined to stir minds and hearts across continents.

As her letter sails into international waters, Mikaela Ashika Vargas is not just representing the Philippines. She is speaking for the ocean—for its depth, its power, and its plea. And the world, we hope, is listening.

Let this be a reminder: the ocean has written. Now it’s our turn to respond.