Brokenshire College is a private, non-profit college in Davao City, Philippines administered by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). It was founded in 1954 as the Brokenshire School of Nursing and now offers programs in health sciences, theology, business, teacher training, medicine, as well as vocational and K–12 education. The college also administers two satellite campuses: one in Toril, Davao City and one in General Santos City.The college is named after the Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, which is in turn named after Dr. Herbert Cecil Brokenshire, who served as the hospital's director from 1926 until World War II.
Heavy metals enter riverine and estuarine environments through both natural processes and human activities, with sediments acting as primary sinks where these contaminants accumulate over time. Their presence at varying depths raises concerns about pollution sources, concentration levels, and spatial patterns. This study presents a spatial assessment of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, As, Hg, Cr, and Zn) in surface and bottom sediments collected from five sampling sites across the ecological catchments of Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), covering approximately 354 km2. Metal concentrations were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). Results indicate higher levels of As (0.103 mg/kg), Cu (195.11 mg/kg), Cr (69.92 mg/kg), Pb (27.59 mg/kg), Zn (170.0 mg/kg), and Mn (373.78 mg/kg) in industrial zones of Davao City compared to residential, riverine, and recreational areas. Spatial distribution patterns suggest that human activities are the dominant source of metal enrichment in these environments. The findings provide baseline data that can support water resource management planning and help address potential ecological risks within the Davao-IGaCoS catchment system.
The purpose of this hermeneutic analysis was to explore the pain and suffering of Jesus in the Gospel of Mattew using Ricœur’s Hermeneutic Circle. The New International Version of the Bible was used as corpora. This study employed qualitative design, specifically corpus hermeneutic analysis. The Gospel of Matthew presents a comprehensive portrait of Jesus as the fulfillment of divine promises and the savior of mankind. Jesus' life is intricately woven with significant themes that define his identity and mission, including his lineage, roles as a Rabbi and Miracle Worker, and his ultimate identity as the Messiah. The narrative emphasizes Jesus' physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering, challenging preconceptions of a stoic divine figure and inviting reflection on the depth of his sacrifice and love. The arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus depict his submission to God's will, sacrificial love, and the fulfillment of prophecies, inspiring believers to embody humility, obedience, and selflessness. The pain and suffering of Jesus Christ hold profound symbolic richness and theological significance, representing the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of mankind and embodying God's love for humanity.
CoVID-19 pandemic forced a countrywide lockdown in the Philippines from March 16, 2020 to May 15, 2020 and extended to May 31, 2020 in Metro Manila and some parts of Central Luzon. Because of these forced restrictions, the air pollution level in Metro Manila drastically slowed down just a few weeks upon the implementation of the lockdown. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a preliminary case review on the implications of the lockdown to the air quality in the country’s capital with the aid of data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Airtoday.ph station. The empirical analysis revealed that when Metro Manila was under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), tropospheric nitrogen oxide (NO2) dropped by approximately 52% compared to the 2019 levels in the same period. The city also registered the lowest PM 2.5 air pollution levels during the first 30 days of the lockdown with an average of 11.59 ug/m3. Moreover, the satellite image from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), UP Diliman showed a lower Atmospheric Optical Depth (AOD) of 0.01, which means that the air is clean during the lockdown period when compared with the AOD value during the same period in 2018 and 2019. At the Lung Center of the Philippines, a comparison of pre-ECQ and ECQ air quality levels showed that PM2.5 is reduced from 80% to 180%, particularly during evenings and early mornings. A similar trend along EDSA Munoz, where 70-90% reduction of PM 2.5 was observed since the ECQ. Overall, the study revealed that lockdown measures, fortunately, have brought the opportunity to rationalize human impact on the environment. Although we could say those travel restrictions or lockdown is an unconventional measure to air pollution prevention and control, it is possible to improve air quality by reducing nonessential individual movements by highlighting the importance of fuel-free activities or implementing short-term lockdowns (3-5 days).
The performance of two marine protected areas (MPAs) in Samal Island, Coral Garden and Aundanao MPAs were evaluated after more than 10 years of existence. The evaluation tools used were fishery dependent (i.e. focus group discussion) and independent (i.e. fish census, benthic assessment and crown-of-thorns density) samplings. All sampling was conducted at least twice for one year. In all sites, COTs densities were just above the alarming stage (∼1 individual.250m-2). Aundanao MPA showed a positive feedback system by supporting the spillover effect. There is high density of sexually mature fish (<30cm Total length and significantly higher fish biomass estimates of target species (16mt km-2) inside than outside the MPA. The relatively small catch (20mt year-1) from fishing adjacent to the MPA is attributed to the limited capacity of the core zone (only 3ha) to support the fishery. It also serves as a refuge site for small pelagic fishes (i.e. ox-eye scad, Selar boops) that aggregate along the slope. In contrast, the Coral Garden MPA had very low fish biomass (4.0mt km-2) and only a couple of sexually mature individuals both inside and outside the sites. Intermittent guarding which have resulted to occasional poaching in the no-take area was one of the reasons. Further, a newly introduced fishing gear bintol (modified lift net), for subsistence targeting damselfishes has started to operate near the area. This is an evidence of a lesser density of targeted food fish to catch. Coral Garden MPA has shown that the rate of extraction exceeded the presumed turnover rate of the associated reef fish standing stock suggesting an overfishing of the area.
An investigation on noise is important because all people are exposed to it andare, therefore, vulnerable to its possible harmful effects. This study determinedthe noise intensities in elementary, secondary and tertiary campuses along thestreets of Davao City and assessed their effects on the academic activities of thelearners. It also determined whether the noise goes beyond the acceptable level fora working environment and whether the learners are affected by the noise-relateddisturbances and annoyances. This investigation employed a descriptive method,specifically a mix of comparison and correlation. A survey to 750 purposivelychosen respondents from 15 schools about the effects of noise intensities to theiracademic activities in school was conducted. Findings revealed that the noiseexperienced by elementary and secondary learners goes beyond the acceptablelevel for the working environment. Further, university and college studentsexperience noise level that creates speech interference and communicationdisturbance. The extent of the effect of noise intensities to lecture sessions,classroom learning accomplishments and classroom session breaks experiencedby the learners in these campuses is on a moderate level. This study concludesthat the noise intensity is not significantly associated with the academic activitiesof the learners across the curriculum. Keywords: Environmental science, noise, noise intensity, campus, academic activities,learners, descriptive-comparative design, Philippines
