UNDER THE MICROSCOPE It’s summertime and the fruit picking are easy... (apologies to George Gershwin). But truly, we in the Philippines are blessed with a wide variety of fruits to enjoy in the summer. Mangoes are just exploding literally on our rooftops, as they are so abundant, and we can’t...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Nitrous oxide is known as the laughing gas for its effect when inhaled in certain quantities. So I had to laugh when I read a front-page story last week that the PNP is considering to include it in its list of dangerous substances. Nitrous oxide is a gas that is used as an...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE On May 5, 2023, the WHO declared an end to the Covid-19 health emergency. While this is reason to celebrate, having endured three years of various restrictions, we have to pause and consider the repercussions on the testing labs. To combat the pandemic, over 300 Covid-19...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Travelling to other countries is always a good way to broaden your perspective and see the contrasts between your home country and that of others. I was in Krakow, Poland, last week for a three-day pathology conference and again saw how much farther the Philippines is...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Earth Hour has come and gone. But what about the other 8,759 hours of the year? We seem to be fixated on the ceremonial observances of environment-saving practices rather than being genuinely concerned about saving Mother Earth. There are many aspects to environment protection:...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo Lasers have been very much in the limelight since it was alleged that a Chinese Coast Guard ship trained a laser beam on a Philippine Coast Guard ship that was on a re-supply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea. This incident temporarily...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo In the aftermath of the blowup about the improper autopsies done on the anti-illegal drugs campaign victim Kian delos Santos, it was front-page news that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached an agreement with United Nations special rapporteur Morris...
UNDER THE MICRSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo Once again, the Philippines is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is proceeding with the investigation on the extrajudicial killings in the country. Soon after that announcement, another related development arose...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo Recently, my equanimity was shattered by a development arising out of my medical practice. I have been performing paternity testing for the past 32 years and have had to testify in court as an expert witness in over 100 paternity cases so far. All my...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo Recently, a news article stated that Germany and the United Kingdom are luring second-year nursing students to continue their studies in their countries with free tuition and lodging. Once they finish their nursing course, they have to serve a period of time...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo Looks like the economic prospects for 2023 are not good. It’s not going to get any better, what with the continuing Ukraine war, rampant inflation, and the threat of new Covid variants arising in China. I’m not an economist, so I have no financial advice...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo It’s that time when we wonder what the new year holds for us. Well, allow me to peer into my crystal ball to see what’s ahead of us in Covid matters. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that its experts would meet when it’s time to...