Tuesday: Philippine Genome Center & Davao School for the Blind

Today really made me question just how many things we can pack into one day.

After starting at the University of Mindanao’s insect research center, we were fortunate enough to be guided through the University of the Philippines’ Mindanao campus where we learned about their science labs and the Philippine Genome Center. At the Center, researchers study prominent issues like the rise of HIV transmission and indigenous peoples’ genetic mapping. This is a major consideration in the area, as little is known about the genealogy of the 13 Mindanaoan indigenous tribes.

After trying durian and taking our first tricycle ride, we were fortunate enough to be welcomed to the Davao School for the Blind (DSB). Since 1981, visually impaired adolescents, many of whom have been shunned by their families due to their impairment, have found a home at DSB. The school supports them in their studies and extracurriculars. Showcasing their incredible musical performers and sharing about their Judo team, who recently won a bronze medal at the paraolympics in Thailand, the school highlighted many of the realities facing visually impaired youth in Davao today. This includes bullying, exclusion from school, and abandonment from family. However, we also learned about the incredible academic achievements of their graduates, many of whom have gone onto receive bachelors degrees. We were also fortunate to learn from their very own Fulbright scholar who studied at the University of Missouri!

Overall, this was an incredibly enlightening day and it was a privilege to learn from the educators at all of the fantastic institutions we visited today.