Meet Sir Nino: A Young Filipino Scientist in the Making

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So imagine how a comment would brighten up my day. Since the other day, I have been dying to see my wife and kids before all these academic stuffs begin. Early today I was lining up again at the cashier’s office (so far the longest queue of people I had been) and was chasing against time to be done before 12 noon. True enough. It was exactly 12 noon. I was just requested by my cousin though. So I still waited until 1 pm when I had her OR presented at Vinzon's. And the next thing was a real ‘speed story’. My goal was to be at Batangas Port in the soonest possible time.

I boarded a Katipunan-bound jeepney. It was barely empty so I dismounted. I hailed a taxi to send me to Cubao Bus Station. When I asked at what time it would arrive in Batangas, the driver was uncertain if he could make it before 5. So I hailed another taxi towards the nearest LRT station, Gilmore, to Recto, to Gil Puyat… the mecca of bus stations to the south. I was holding my breath hopeful that I could hear from the driver a positive reply but he was too honest to tell me that I couldn’t make it.

So I slowed down, had a joy ride in MRT and a good chow at Jollibee. I had not eaten my lunch yet. When I opened my blog, I was surprised and definitely honored that Sir Nino left a message. Sir Nino is a biology specialist from Pisay. Based on his description of himself and his interests, he is indeed steeped in bio contents…very much! Any bio teacher would be intimidated by his interests: signal theory of plant-animal communication, molecular ecology, behavioral ecology, and ethology of hornbills.

But here are his reasons:

My interest is a bit intimidating? Yes, probably I agree. Even my colleagues freaked out upon seeing my wordpress description. But, I guess, it's time for Filipinos to become specialists. Biology educators should be in a way a specialist in one of the myriads of biological fields. How do you compete or update yourself with all the information available in this world? Be a specialist.

So what more could I say? Sir Nino is very active in BIOTA, an organization of biology teachers. His blogsite http://ninoaespinas.wordpress.com offers a lot of powerpoint presentations which bio teachers can download for use or for professional development. I for one, is an avid fan and viewer of his slideshows.

He is one of the researchers in the Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Project of the Frankfurt Zoological Society and Ruhr University Bochum Germany. It is no doubt that one of these days, he could be given the TOYS award. Keep it up Sir Nino.

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