UP Materials Science Society

14/01/2026

It was cold and quiet deep into the night. Suddenly, the door k**b turns, the locks click - the door slowly creaks open. Everything was silent, until an alarm suddenly blared. Unbeknownst to the person behind that door, what detected the movement was not a camera, nor a motion sensor, but a tiny component hidden in the door frame - a reed switch.

Let’s take a closer look at the small magnetic wonder that quietly keeps watch in this week’s Wisdom Wednesday!

A reed switch is a small electrical component that switches in response to a magnetic field. It is composed of two essential parts: flexible metal blades called “reeds”, and the glass capsule in which these are hermetically sealed. These reeds are made of ferromagnetic iron-nickel alloys (~52% nickel) which allow for the ideal magnetic sensitivity and springing. The reeds are typically positioned very close, but not in contact with each other.

Think of a switch like a drawbridge and electrical current like the cars passing through it. When the drawbridge is lifted, cars cannot cross - the switch is off; and if the drawbridge is let down, cars can cross - the switch is on and current can flow. The same concept applies to reed switches: when the reed switch is exposed to the magnetic field, the two reeds become polarized in opposite ways. This causes them to attract each other and snap together, completing the electrical circuit. When the source of the magnetic field disappears, however, the reeds lose their magnetism and spring back to their original position, opening the circuit once again. The entire mechanism happens without any physical contact, solely relying on magnetism and the flexibility of the ferromagnetic metal reeds.

This configuration of the reed is industrially known as the Form A or “normally open.” Other configurations include the Form B or the “normally closed” in which a weak magnet is attached to the switch to keep the reeds in contact, and the Form C, in which two reeds are sealed on one side to create a change over switch which changes from “normally closed” to “normally open” when exposed to a magnetic field. The contacts of the reeds are typically coated with multi-layer metallic thin films of iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, gold, titanium, or other metals to improve properties such as heat and wear resistance, hardness, and electrical conductivity.

As mentioned earlier, the reeds are sealed inside a glass capsule and protected from air, dust, and moisture. This makes the reed switches highly reliable, with minimal wear and required maintenance. The hermetic seals are made by melting the ends of the glass capsule using a lamp, coil, or laser sealing equipment. It is for this reason that most reed switches use borosilicate glass doped with iron oxide which gives it a green color. The green color allows for the highest infrared absorption, making the sealing process more efficient.

The glass seals also allow for the reed switch to have an inert gas environment which can improve the current and voltage rating it can handle. This is linked to a property of gas known as dielectric strength, which is its resistance to electrical breakdown. Gases with higher dielectric strengths relative to air such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6 and nitrogen (N2) allow the reed switches to handle higher voltages without risk of arcing and electrical failure. Vacuum switches, which theoretically have the highest possible dielectric strength, are able to handle thousands of volts. Other reed switches also use thermoplastic housings such as polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) at the cost of lower heat resistance and less reliable seals.

In security alarm systems, a reed switch is installed in the door or window frame, while a magnet is attached to the moving part. When the door is closed, the magnet keeps the reeds together and the system remains closed and inactive. The moment the door opens, the magnet moves away and the circuit opens, then the alarm is triggered. Reed switches are also used in fluid level sensors, proximity sensors, automotive components, medical equipment and even automatic shut-off systems in laptops which tell them to go to sleep mode when the lid is closed. The most prominent use of reed switches are in reed relays, in which electromagnetic coils are used to operate the reed switches.

Small and easy to miss, reed switches turn a simple setup change into a clear electrical signal. Using magnetism alone, these switches quietly stand guard, ready to respond the instant something changes.

Content by: Lyn Mary Blancaflor and Kenn Gabriel Causaren
Design by: Alyhana Ashleigh Abrogena

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07/01/2026

It's the first week of 2026! Have you listed your New Year’s resolutions for this year? Let's flip through the pages of our calendars and plan ahead in this year’s first Wisdom Wednesday!

Calendar binding wires are typically made from low-carbon steel, which typically contains less than 0.10 wt% carbon. Steel is an alloy which fundamentally consists of iron (Fe) and carbon (C). The inclusion of carbon in the material increases its strength and hardness through the formation of a phase known as cementite (Fe₃C). Carbon restricts crystal defects such as dislocations from propagating, hindering deformation. However, too much carbon content, such as in high carbon steel which contains about 0.60 to 1.00 wt% carbon, can make the steel too brittle, less malleable, and less weldable. Thus, the steel used for calendar binding wires either undergoes decarburization (removing carbon content) or undergoes a carefully controlled manufacturing process which controls the carbon content to be less than 0.10 wt%. This composition provides excellent ductility or bendability that will be useful for the process of wire production.

Manufacturing of calendar wires begins with hot-rolled steel rods that are ductile but have relatively low strength. The rod then undergoes cold wire drawing, in which the steel rod is pulled through progressively smaller holes to reduce its diameter and increase length. As cold drawing proceeds, dislocations increase, which in turn increases metal hardness but reduces its ductility. These dislocations can be compared to traffic jams: as more vehicles (representing atoms and dislocations) crowd the road, movement becomes restricted, making the steel harder to bend. When this happens, the steel needs to be heat-treated through "process annealing:" where steel undergoes “recovery” in which residual stresses are reduced by rearranging dislocations, followed by “recrystallization” where new strain-free grains form and restore ductility.

The cycle of cold drawing and process anneal may be repeated multiple times until the desired wire diameter is achieved. The final finished round wire is then bent and shaped as specialized into the signature double-loop bindings used in Wire-O.

To ensure that the surface of the metal is smooth, the metal wire undergoes extrusion coating with a molten polymer, such as nylon or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This coating process does not change the microstructure of the steel, although mild heating may relieve minor residual stresses. During extrusion coating, a molten polymer is applied concentrically around the steel wire and cooled to solidify the tough protective outer layer. The polymer coating provides the calendar wire with abrasion resistance, electrical insulation, and corrosion protection. In recent years, nylon has become preferred over PVC because it withstands repeated page turning without flaking into microplastic fragments, such as the white or black particles seen on older bindings. As a result, this allows your calendar to turn smoothly throughout 12 months and 365 days of the year!

Another feature of Wire-O is its double loop design, which supports the weight of paper across its area while preventing pages from shifting laterally left or right as you flip pages after a month. The binding is more stable because the double-loop design has a parallel wire loop for every punched hole on paper. Unlike single-coil bindings, which tend to pull pages at an angle, introducing axial tension, the double-loop maintains alignment throughout rotation. This minimizes the risk of tearing, allowing pages to rotate smoothly and remain neatly aligned over repeated use. Aside from flip-style desk calendars, the same wire design is also used for executive planners, diaries, sketchbooks, and more.

As we look forward to the busyness of the year, let us not forget what holds our calendars together, the Wire-O! It might be small, but it has been through a lot to support the papers hanging on our desks. Much like our busy days and vacation days, the cycle of stress (cold drawing) and recovery (annealing) is what makes the wire strong enough to hold our year together.

Content by: Ma. Theresa Ruth C. Queypo
Design by: Erl Benedict Legaspina & Chelxea Soleil Aguilar

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31/12/2025

Three hours left before the year 2026!

New Year celebrations are known to be loud, colorful, and full of joy as a way to greet the incoming year. The sights of mesmerizing firework displays, the sounds of blaring car horns, coins shaking inside our pockets, children jumping in hopes of growing taller - all of these make up the Filipino ‘Bagong Taon’ experience. Among the noisemaking methods we are very familiar with is the use of party horns or toy trumpets, locally known as “torotot,” to make the holidays livelier. Learn how simple gusts of air turn into loud and festive sounds in this year’s last Wisdom Wednesday!

The use of ‘torotots’ is a symbolic element in Filipino New Year’s Eve traditions. It is linked to beliefs regarding fortune as Filipinos believe that making a lot of noise at midnight would help ward off evil spirits and bad luck, and invite good luck and prosperity to ensure a peaceful start to the incoming year. Aside from this fact, the ‘torotot’ is also highly valued as a safer and more sustainable alternative to firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices. The use of safe substitutes like light sticks, torotots, drums, or even pots and pans is promoted by the Department of Health (DOH) as part of their “Iwas Pap**ok” campaign, which aims to encourage a peaceful and injury-free celebration.

So how does the ‘torotot’ work?

The loud sound it produces is a result of vibrations coming from the membrane inside it. Sound is a type of energy produced when objects vibrate. Blowing air into the membrane makes it vibrate, which then propagates to nearby air molecules to produce sound waves. The vibrations then travel out of the “bell” or the air outlet typically shaped like a cone. The same mechanism is also used in airhorns, which uses a pneumatic pump to compress air towards the membrane.

The resonant frequency and pitch (highness and lowness) of the sound produced is determined by the membrane’s properties. The thickness determines the pitch as it determines the inertia or how much resistance to vibration the membrane has. Thicker membranes have more inertia which produces sound with lower frequencies and longer wavelengths - a lower pitch! Whereas thinner, lighter, and tightly stretched materials will produce a higher pitched sound. Materials used to make the torotots’ membranes are mostly thin films that have small surface density, making them suitable noisemakers. This characteristic allows the material to vibrate easily in response to air pressure or sound waves, which is critical for the horn’s ability to produce sound efficiently. The bell also helps amplify the sound produced by directing the sound waves into a unified direction. Most ‘torotots’ are cone-shaped and have a flare at the end for a reason - increasing the cross-sectional area through which the vibrations travel means that more and more air molecules vibrate - producing a louder sound!

While the ‘torotot’ is traditionally made of simple materials such as plastic and bamboo, studies highlight uses of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) film and more sustainable material designs. PVC film is commonly used commercially, often in lightweight polymer film materials like bubble wrap. However, this material is often discarded after use, leading to environmental pollution. In order to address environmental concerns, research tries to focus on the secondary use of discarded film bubble materials and other similar items, recognized to be beneficial to environment protection. Likewise, the use of paper and cardboard as materials for the bell of the ‘torotot’ serves as a biodegradable alternative to plastics as it is still a light material with similar properties needed to create high-frequency vibration and loud pitch production. The use of recycled materials adds to its purpose of being a more sustainable way of celebrating. It is able to fulfill its role in the Filipino New Year’s tradition of creating celebratory noise, while also welcoming prosperity with safety and simultaneously reducing environmental pollution caused by discarded wastes.

The UP Materials Science Society wishes everyone a safe, happy, and prosperous new year! See you all on the other side!

Content by: Keiara Soleil Jumaquio
Design by: Ezekiel Jaye Dayao and Anzelmei De Castro

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24/12/2025

"Let it snow! Let it snow! Oh, the weather outside is frightful…"

Maligayang Pasko! Around the world, the holiday season is often associated with soft, white flakes of snow. However, for tropical countries such as the Philippines, snowfall has never been recorded, even in Baguio. This is because for snow to occur, the temperature must be 0°C or below for sub-zero clouds to form which contain clusters of ice crystals that constitutes what we know as “snow.” But did you know that materials science and engineering has developed a way to recreate the magic of real snow? Let us ‘snow’ more in this week’s Wisdom Wednesday!

Polymer snow, often known as the “instant snow,” is a common alternative used in Christmas installations and attractions in tropical countries. It is made from sodium polyacrylate [CH2-CH (CO2Na)]n, a highly cross-linked acrylic polymer, which has the right properties to mimic the appearance, behavior, and feel of actual snow. Although the polymer is intrinsically transparent, its microstructure, which contains numerous air-polymer interfaces, strongly scatters visible light, making it appear white. The polymer is also superabsorbent, absorbing liquids up to 800 to 1000 times its own volume! In water, the sodium counterions (Na+) dissociate leaving negatively charged carboxylate groups (-COO-); osmotic pressure from mobile ions and electrostatic repulsion between charged polymer segments drives swelling (Osmotic swelling), producing the gel we know as polymer snow. This cross-linking action allows the sodium polyacrylate network to expand into a 3D network and trap many water molecules without dissolving.

As it absorbs water, it expands into a white, fluffy, snow-like gel that simulates the feel of real snow. It is even cold to the touch as the water absorbed starts to evaporate and takes heat from the environment - perfect for mimicking the winter experience! Instant snow is also regarded for its low-toxicity, as sodium polyacrylate is also used in hygiene products such as absorbents in diapers, wipes, and sanitary napkins, as well as additives in lotions and gels. It can also be reused by completely evaporating the absorbed water. However, inhalation may cause respiratory irritation or obstruction, and ingestion may pose a choking risk; therefore, proper handling is recommended.

Aside from the polymer-based snow used in Christmas-themed displays and theater productions, there are also other methods of producing snow artificially. For instance, artificial snow has been used in winter sports made by blasting atomized water droplets mixed with compressed air into a cold environment. This is much preferred for skiing and snowboarding since artificial snow is more stable and does not melt as easily compared to natural snow, providing a safer and more consistent playing surface for athletes. For instance, during the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China, almost 100% of the snow used for alpine events was artificial snow - and the same is being eyed for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Rome, Italy.

However, a major concern regarding the use of polymer snow is its environmental impact. Even though it can be reused, it can leave behind residues contributing to plastic pollution when not handled and disposed of properly. As previously mentioned, sodium polyacrylate does not dissolve in water and was discovered to degrade extremely slowly, with complete degradation estimated to take from years to centuries. This poses the risk of waste accumulation and fragmentation into microplastics through physical, ultraviolet, and microbial degradation. The manufacturing of artificial snow is also water-intensive: large amounts of sodium polyacrylate need to absorb quantities of water needs for grand installations. The same can also be said for polymer-less artificial snow. In the aforementioned 2022 Winter Olympics, an estimated 49 million gallons of water (~186 million liters) or an equivalent amount of 75 Olympic sized swimming pools was used! As such, artificial snow must be used with careful consideration of environmental factors and possible after-effects.

So, the next time you visit indoor snow parks or attractions, know that it is made possible through the science of polymers. With the gift of materials science and engineering, the Christmas magic of snow becomes possible for everyone!

Content by: Lawrence Patrick Salonga
Design by: Katherine Pablo and Isabella Valentino

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19/12/2025

17/12/2025

From starting to put up decorations in September or even celebrating the unique tradition of the “Simbang Gabi”, the Filipino Christmas is a unique experience. But arguably the most important Filipino tradition is the Noche Buena, a ‘Thanksgiving’ meal where families get the opportunity to spend time with each other and share the holiday spirit. But instead of the roasted turkey, the signature of the Noche Buena is usually a combination of Christmas Ham, Macaroni Salad, Leche Flan, and Bibingka. But of course, nothing says “Filipino Christmas” more than the ball of pure deliciousness inside a wax casing, the Keso de Bola. But how exactly are these made?

Let us bite into these delicious facts in today’s Wisdom Wednesday!

Our story first starts with the base material of all cheese, milk. Milk is a mixture formed by water, proteins, sugars, fats, and minerals. The most important of these ingredients for the creation of cheese is the casein micelles, essentially blobs of tangled casein protein chains. This outer layer of negative charge on the protein blobs keeps them suspended evenly in water by interacting with the water’s partially positive hydrogen ions.

After being pasteurized by heating dangerous microbes such as Salmonella or E. coli, acids like vinegar neutralize the net negative charge causing the casein molecules to unfurl. This reduction of charge also reduces electrostatic repulsion causing these micelles to aggregate and clump together. These white clumps are the curds that make up most of the cheese in the world as they are separated from the rest of the mixture by cheesecloth.

Afterwards, they are dried and placed in the titular spherical mold where it is soaked in a saltwater brine. This brine allows for the internal water to seep out and allow the salt to diffuse into the cheese, creating the dry texture and the salty flavor it is known for. This brining process also leaves out a harder outer layer coming from the higher salt concentration and moisture loss at the surface which forms the darker yellow rind layer seen in Keso de Bola. The spherical mold helps this process by minimizing the rind surface area to cheese volume ratio.

During the aging process which usually lasts several months to a year, the cheese is stored in a cool, humid, and well-ventillated environment that provides sufficient moisture to support controlled biochemical reactions inside the cheese which changes its flavor. Once the flavor is perfect, the final product of cheese is finally dip-coated in its iconic but also functional red wax.

This wax forms a near airtight seal around the cheese preventing moisture loss which could cause internal cracking or drying out. Not only that, this protective barrier also seals off the cheese to limit external contaminants. This makes the wax into a pseudo-aging chamber where the cheese can undergo limited aging. Sometimes, Keso de Bola is “further covered” by a cellophane film to increase moisture retention and decrease contaminants. At this point, this cheese is finally ready for consumption alongside Filipino favorites like pandesal, bibingka, and certain pasta dishes.

From the mix of the Spanish tradition of eating Dutch-imported cheese, the Chinese superstitions of the color red symbolizing luck and prosperity, and the Filipino tradition of familial bonding over a hearty meal, Keso de Bola became known as a Filipino staple on a traditional Noche Buena table. From humble milk to a festive red ball of cheesy delight, it shows that the cornerstone of the Noche Buena is crafted from a pinch of ingenious food chemistry, a dash of an engineering mind, and a hint of holiday cheer!

Content by: Jason Angelo Zafra
Design by: Sebastian Henry Estandarte

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15/12/2025

Before the year ends, let us take a look back and reminisce at our history. 😌

Take your chance and get yourself one of our limited edition Wisdom Wednesday (WW) Merchandise Sale! This merch line is all inspired from the Wisdom Wednesday articles published.

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Pre-order are accepted until January 09, 2026.

Grab a piece of history today!

Merch are designed by Alyhana Abrogena, Cathrynn Julia Encarnacion, Janna Cherrae Jugador, Mikaela Alagar, and Yzhae Villaruel.

10/12/2025

It is Noche Buena (definitely worth more than 500 pesos), and the house smells like every Christmas you grew up with: hamon glazing in its sweet, pineapple syrup; the saccharine-savory Pinoy spaghetti with lots of sliced hotdogs and grated cheese; lumpiang shanghai that disappears faster than it cools; menudo simmering in that familiar tomato-liver scent; queso de bola waiting for whoever finally cracks it open; and the chilled, coconut-milky buko salad sitting in the ref like a reward for surviving the long table. Even the p**o bumbong and bibingka—still warm in banana leaves—carry the unmistakable dawn scents of the churchyards and street stalls after Simbang Gabi. Outside, the gentle December breeze sneaks through the jalousie windows, and the neighborhood Christmas lights blink a little unevenly. The whole street looks softly lit, as if everyone agreed to be warm and bright at the same time. In the windows hang parols—star-shaped lanterns of bamboo ribs and translucent papel de hapon (or modern capiz and plastic), their pointed spokes converging into a radiant star that shimmers like the Guiding Star itself. Forks and spoons clatter, titas and titos press crisp bills into eager palms as aguinaldos, cousins unwrap regalos, and a playful round of monito-monita threads through the room. In the middle of all the k’wentuhan and handa refills, one bright, flashing box keeps everything tied together: the videoke machine. As someone hits play and launches into “Beer,” “Pare Ko,” or Kitchie Nadal medley at full volume, the room comes alive. Laughter, cheers, and voices joining in fill every corner, and just like that, the celebration begins—full of sound, energy, and the familiar chaos of Filipino family Christmas. Let us join the fun: pass the mic and sing along to the science and soul of videoke in this week’s Wisdom Wednesday.

The story of our beloved cultural appliance begins half a world away, rooted in the specific social anxieties of post-war Japan. In 1970s Kobe, Japan, nightclub musician Daisuke Inoue grew tired of supplying instrumental tapes to business clients who loved to sing along during social gatherings like nomikai but struggled with rhythm and often felt exposed without a backing track. In 1971, he collaborated with an electronics technician to build a solution that seeks to merge these pre-taped accompaniments with a jukebox: a prototype coin-operated box that contained an amplifier, a microphone, and a car stereo which plays specially made 8-track tapes. This breakthrough freed singers from relying on a live band.

This Japanese invention was functionally named karaoke (カラオケ), derived from the words kara (空, “empty”) and oke (オケ; short for ōkesutora/オーケストラ, “orchestra”)—literally “empty orchestra.” It was conceived as a mechanical substitute—a technology designed to fill a literal absence. Inoue’s contribution was recognized globally not just for the hardware, but for its social impact, acknowledged by the Ig Nobel Peace Prize for "providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."

The technology soon found a new, radically different spiritual home in the Philippines. The lonely “empty orchestra” became a communal one. While Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario developed and commercialized his audio-only "Sing-Along System" in the mid-1970s and later secured patents in 1983/1986, the local landscape was soon dominated by the evolution of Japanese-style, coin-operated machines into the “videoke” that incorporated synchronized video and running lyrics. The addition of a scoring system elevated the simple sing-along into a high-stakes competition, transforming it from a polite Japanese social lubricant into a fierce, exhilarated barkada activity. This technological shift required a massive leap in durable design. Where Japanese culture often reserved karaoke for contained, private “karaoke boxes,” the Filipino machine often operates in open, high-traffic spaces. The local technology had to be rugged, cheap, and easily serviceable, capable of handling rapid-fire renditions of “Torete,” “Weak,” “Just Once,” or “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” under continuous stress.

The ability of the videoke machine to withstand the marathon Christmas season—the spilled drinks, the vigorous button-mashing, the tropical humidity, and the sheer volume of continuous operation—is a silent testament to practical materials science and engineering. The internal workings and external casings of these machines often rely on durable, engineered polymers to ensure longevity. Unlike traditional metals, which are susceptible to corrosion in humid Philippine air and can transmit unwanted vibration, polymers utilized in components (such as specialized plastic wear pads) offer a low coefficient of friction and self-lubricating properties. This design choice is critical for the coin mechanism and housing integrity, ensuring the device remains operational despite constant use and external contaminants, thus lowering the total cost of ownership. High-performance polymers, such as semi-crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (PET, BOPET or PET-P), offer high mechanical strength and outstanding abrasion resistance, essential for coin-operated technology that endures a relentless stream of singers.

The emotional clarity of OPM rock staples like “Tadhana” and “Kung Wala Ka,” or international boy-band classics such as “I Want It That Way,” hinges on precise acoustic materials. Sound conversion in microphones and speakers requires diaphragms—thin, flexible membranes—to vibrate accurately in response to pressure. Speaker cones, vital for translating the electrical signal back into sound waves, are often fabricated from materials like pressed paper, polypropylene, or Mylar (a polyester/PET film). These composites possess an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio. These composites possess a high strength-to-weight ratio and internal damping properties that affect transient response and distortion: stiffer, lower-mass cones respond faster to the rapid changes in musical dynamics (known as transient impulses) and may push breakup resonances higher, while damping/distributed mass controls breakup modes and audible distortion. This minimizes acoustical distortion, ensuring that when cousins scream to “Jopay” at the top of their lungs or when someone boldly attempts the demanding high notes of “My Way,” the speaker doesn't crack—even if the singer's voice does.

The machine is not just a sum of its parts; it is a repository of touch. The polymer housings of remotes and machines pick up tiny scars. The silicone buttons—rounded, now slightly flattened—tell of a thousand urgent presses: “reserve,” “stop,” “play.” These are not inert components. The polymer of the remote whose labels have rubbed thin, the vinyl of a speaker, all develop a familiar friction that invites touch. A cracked housing held together with duct tape, a microphone plugged into the same braided extension cord year after year: the improvisations we accept are themselves a kind of engineering—practical, resourceful, affectionate.

The Christmas of every Filipino household deserves a noche buena worth more than 500 pesos — and a videoke. Materials science and engineering—the polymer casing that endures years of use, the precise polypropylene speaker cone built to withstand full-volume sing-alongs, the durable LED that keeps the lyrics moving—allowed a simple Japanese invention to become a fixture of Filipino culture and celebrations. This hardware turns our breath into sound energy, transforms that sound into electricity, and electricity back into belonging, even bridging distances and comforting a scattered diaspora during the most cherished time of the year. Through years of gatherings, repairs, borrowed cables, and long Christmas nights, the videoke stays—much like our instinct to gather, to sing, to make a room, an “empty orchestra” feel full, and much like our love for Christmas, music, and family. And so we keep singing and celebrating “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok” natin.

Content by: Sebastian Genesis Viduya
Design by: Alyhana Abrogena

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Wisdom Wednesday is brought to you by the UP Materials Science Society. Want more knowledge? Stay tuned next week for another amazing Wisdom Wednesday!