Taste the Future: Philippine Salt Innovation to Entice Global Palates

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the fast-paced world of culinary innovations, one Filipino invention is turning heads, delighting taste buds, and reshaping traditions. Enter Ms. Maricar Carandang, one of the creative minds behind the Flavored Salt and Food Seasoning invention developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI). With a blend of scientific savvy and culinary flair, Maricar and her dedicated team are flipping the script on what it means to season with style.

A Journey of Innovation: From Lab to Kitchen 

Maricar Carandang's adventure in innovation started with a curious mind and a love for chemistry. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the Central Luzon State University and a hunger for discovery, she found herself at the laboratory of the DOST - ITDI, where her passion for experimentation collided with the world of testing and analysis. Little did she know, her journey would take her from the lab to the community outskirts, and now to the dinner table, sprinkling a little magic along the way.

“When I started working, I always thought that I would only be confined in the four walls of the laboratory. However, I soon discovered opportunities to share our expertise with the public. It has taken me to numerous provinces across the Philippines, allowing me to engage with diverse audiences and spread awareness about our work beyond the confines of the lab”, Maricar shared. 

Reflecting on her creative process, Maricar speaks of a passion for learning and a boundless curiosity. It is this insatiable thirst for knowledge that propels her forward, constantly pushing the boundaries of possibilities in science and technology. Trained by industry veterans, she credits her mentors for molding her when she was a very young researcher into an inventive powerhouse where she is today. 

From Concept to Creation: The Birth of Flavored Salt

Despite being an archipelagic country, the Philippines relies heavily on salt imports to meet its needs. In the early 1990s, provinces like Bulacan, Pangasinan, Occidental Mindoro, and Cavite supplied 85% of the country's salt needs. However, by the turn of the millennium, various factors led to a significant decline in domestic production. Today, local production only accounts for a modest 17% of the country's salt requirement, with Occidental Mindoro leading the charge according to the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute.

by Marvin Eric O. Dela Cruz

Science Majors Participate in Month-long Singapore-PH Leadership Exchange Program

Program participants at Mt. Pinatubo (Photo credit: Lillian Rodriguez).


Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Students of the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) and the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore (RP) immersed themselves in the month-long Temasek Foundation International Specialists’ Community Action and Leadership Exchange (TFI SCALE) Programme, the first half taking place in Singapore on September 6 to 19, 2023, and the second half in the Philippines last March 31 to April 8, 2024.

The TFI SCALE Programme aims to promote cultural, cognitive, social, and emotional engagements among Southeast Asian youths. In the 9th iteration of the program, students from the National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPD-CS NIGS), Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB), and National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB) collaborated with students from RP’s School of Applied Sciences.

As part of the program in the Philippines, the exchange students visited Mt. Pinatubo, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP), and the Parañaque Science High School (ParSci) to explore the country's climate, biodiversity, research, and sustainability issues.

The participants were divided into three groups: the microplastics group which examined the presence of microplastics in Manila Bay, the coliform group which investigated human and animal waste in the bay, and the mangrove cleanup trash segregation group which surveyed various types of trash found in the protected mangrove area of LPPWP.




Participants performing a clean-up drive at LPPWP (Photo credit: Lillian Rodriguez).


They also conducted a Youth Community Engagement Program for Grade 7 students of ParSci. The outreach program included activities meant to raise awareness of climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability among ParSci students, especially since the school is located right beside one of the major tributaries of Manila Bay.

In her closing remarks, Program Coordinator Dr. Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez underscored the program’s importance in teaching the youth about sustainability, building lifelong ties, and producing future leaders. “You are our future leaders,” she said, reminding them of their responsibility to apply the knowledge they have gained from the program.

Last April 4, 2024, UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the presence of RP officials, solidifying future partnerships between the two institutions. The MOU stated that both parties will collaborate on the “exchange of students, including student internship; joint lectures, research activities, symposia, and projects; exchange of academic materials, publications, and information; and exchange of academic staff.”




MOU signing by UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II and RP’s Senior Director (Student Services) Mr. Ashley Chua at UPD-CS Administration Building Auditorium (Photo credit: Jefferson Villacruz, UP Diliman Information Office).

“This program fostered a rich exchange of experiences,” said Raymond Gallego, one of the program’s participants and student of UPD-CS NIGS, in his testimonial. “The formalization of this partnership between UP Diliman and Republic Polytechnic definitely paves the way for more students to forge friendships, expand their knowledge, and strengthen relations between our countries.”

Aside from Gallego, the CS students who completed the program were Francesca Petero, Alena Taladua, Kristina Marie Dela Cruz, Johannah Isabel Sengson, Florence Maryanna Agcaoili, Sabine Alexa Guinto, Martine Gabrielle Rosete, Josef Emil Artiaga, Sean Michael Maghirang, John Daniel Regala, John Nash Guzon, and Glenn Vallespin.


By Harvey Sapigao

Video Documentary Launch and Forum on Mercury-Added Skin-Lightening Products

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



In commemoration of Earth Day on April 22, 2024, BAN Toxics and La Consolacion University Philippines (LCUP) in Malolos, Bulacan, through their partnership via the Toxic-Free Schools Program (TFSP) will be holding a video documentary launch and forum on mercury-added skin-lightening products (SLPs) and their hazardous effects to human health and the environment.


When: Apr 22, 2024 | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Kalinangan Auditorium, La Consolacion University Philippines Main Campus, Malolos Bulacan

Audience: An estimated 1,200 senior high students are expected to attend the forum, along with members of the LCUP academe and other esteemed guests.


Photo Opportunity:

- During the forum proper, there will be an XRF testing of SLPs available in the market to demonstrate the mercury content of these products

- Mockup of mercury-added SLPs with slogans as well as placards will be available; the senior high students attending the forum are also expected to bring their own placards.


Personalities available for Interview:

A representative from the Food and Drug Administration is expected to attend the forum as one of the speakers and will be available for interview, along with members of the LCUP academe and BAN Toxics.


About the video documentary:

"The Dark Side of Skin-Lightening" is a 13-minute short documentary shedding light on the hidden dangers lurking within many skin-lightening products readily available in the Philippines. Produced by environmental NGO BAN Toxics with support from the European Environmental Bureau, the documentary uncovers the dangers posed by mercury-laden skin-lightening products, providing insight into their impact on human health and the environment.