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Diwata-2 Microsatellite to be launched by 2nd quarter of 2018

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

The Philippines will soon launch in outer space its second microsatellite called the Diwata-2, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said.

The DOST will launch Diwata-2 this year from Japan, though no specific date has been set yet.

“What’s good about about the Diwata-2 is that it carries more refined instruments, and it also has an amateur radio made in the Philippines,”said Guevara.

Guevara noted that most of the parts of Diwata-1, the country’s first microsatellite, were crafted in Japan.

“This time, the microsatellite would carry something that was made here,” she added.

A team of Filipino engineers was sent to Japan to undergo an extensive course on microsatellites.

They made the Diwata-1 that was launched in outer space on April 27, 2016.

Diwata-1 weighs 50 kilograms and its size is similar to a “balikbayan” box.

It was created to capture images used for research and remote sensing.

The same team of engineers is working on the Diwata-2.

DOST officials earlier described Diwata-2 as lighter and more cubic.

It will be launched at a higher orbit via an H-IIA rocket that launches satellites into a geostationary orbit.

Meanwhile, Guevara said the DOST will also open the country’s first microsatellite laboratory this year.

“Through this laboratory, we would be able to make our own microsatellite by next year,” she said.

The Filipino engineers who created the Diwata-1 and Diwata-2 worked with engineers from Hokkaido University and Tohoku University in Japan.

DOST-STII expands library services through PPP

Philippine News Agency

TABLET AND LEGO DONATION. Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) Director Richard Burgos and FELTA Multi Media Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Mylene Abiva displays the study tablet and Lego Robotics, which was donated by FELTA at the DOSTv Studio PAGASA Weather and Flood Forecasting Center in Quezon City on Monday (Feb. 5, 2018). The DOST and FELTA signed a memorandum of agreement for a three-year partnership to build a Center for the Arts in Science and Technology (CAST). (PNA photo by Ben Briones)

MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology – Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) on Monday sealed partnership with private company, FELTA Multimedia, Inc, to.expand its library services.

The STII will launch the Center for the Arts in Science and Technology (CAST) in March, in time for its anniversary.

The STII is mandated to establish and develop science and technology library, disseminate information and take lead in science and technology information training.

“We used to have just a corner in our office that has educational materials. We normally have bus loads of children visiting STII and the NAST (National Academy of Science and Technology),” STII Director Richard Burgos told the Philippine News Agency at the sidelines of the signing of the agreement in Quezon City.

He said this was why the STII had approached FELTA, because the company offered educational solutions and robotics, and added that robots are interesting for students.

“We wanted to provide them (students) with demo activities, with educational materials they could use each time they visit us,” Burgos said.

DOST described FELTA as a company that provides multi-educational line that serves the educational requirements of both public and private schools. It has tied up with various multimedia publishers and manufacturers.

The agreement, signed at the DOSTv studio in Quezon City, would run for three years.

Under the agreement, FELTA would provide sets of LEGO EV3 and Yoga laptops. The company would also hold training sessions at CAST or webinars using the DOSTv studio.

For its part, FELTA would be provided with booths during DOST events such as during the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week every July. FELTA could also access CAST and DOSTv facilities for mutually agreed activities.

“FELTA’s main benefit from this partnership is the free exposure they could get for their products/solutions,” Burgos said.

10 Happy Healthier Heart Tips- DOST PCHRD

By MJ Olvina-Balaguer

This February as we celebrate Philippine Heart Health Month 2018, we emphasize the need to protect our heart. A study from Harvard Medical School suggested to start with ten small steps which people of all ages can easily follow:

1. Take a 10-minute walk. A simple walking is a great way to start the day even if you don’t exercise.

2. Lift yourself up, and some weights too. Lifting a two-pound weight a few times a day can help tone your arm muscles. When you start to become used to it, you can move on to heavier items by joining a gym as strength training helps condition your heart to be more efficient and better able to pump blood throughout the body.

3. Eat more fruits or vegetables a day. Love fruits and veggie, easily accessible but nutritious, and good for both your brain and body. By eating more fruits, you avoid consuming more calories, more sugar, more unhealthy fats.

4. Start your day with breakfast. Start the day with raw foods fruit and whole grains such as oatmeal, cereal, or whole-wheat bread. Whole grains help lower blood cholesterol levels and lessens heart disease risk.

5. Hold the caloric drinks. Cutting out one glass of sugar-sweetened beverage or calorie-filled coffee can easily save you 100 or more calories a day. Drinkd pkrnty of water.

6. Have a handful of nuts. Having a craving for chips and cookies? Try to grab a handful of nuts instead.locals nuts like cashew nuts, pili nuts, peanuts, and other mixed nuts contain unsaturated fats, which are the good guys You can also add them to salads for a healthful and tasty crunch.

7. Check what’s under the sea. Go seafoods diet. Eat fish and other types of seafood instead of red meat once a week. It’s good for the heart, the brain, and the waistline.

8. Breathe calmly and deeply. Inhale, Exhale take time gather your thoughts and breathe. Slow and deep breathing may also help lower blood pressure and calm your mind.

9. Wash your hands. Washing your hands with soap and water regularly is a great way to protect your heart and health. Flu, pneumonia, colds, and other infections can have an impact on your heart.

10.Take it easy. When life gives you calamansi, try tapping into other positive emotions. Positivity has been linked with better health, longer life, and greater well-being, the same way anger, worry, hostility, and negative emotions could trigger high blood pressure and heart disease.

Take note, Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number 1 cause of deaths in the world accounting to 17.7 million people dying of the disorder of the heart and blood vessels every year. Though a leading global killer, most CVDs can be prevented by addressing risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity, and harmful consumption of alcohol.

Attaining a healthier heart and a healthier life doesn’t need to be costly. By starting small and willingness to do it every day, it gets easier and you get to go for larger goals. A friendly reminder of 10 Happy Healthier Heart Tips from Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council of Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) (MJ Olvina- Balaguer, 09053611058, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)