I began my career as a Science teacher teaching biology and earth science in the high school. I am based in Mindanao, Philippines, which is located at the southern end of the country and is the second largest land mass next to Luzon. I was born in Mindanao, specifically in Siay, Zamboanga del Sur.
My great interest and appreciation of bryophytes began as a biology teacher in Central Mindanao University. I felt so excited to discuss the so-called lowly plants – such as mosses, liverworts and hornworts in my class. Ever since, I realized that they are neglected plants in our region, and learned that no one seemed fascinated to study them for they are so tiny and occupy different habitats in moist environments. I prepared my classes with confidence and with learning objectives and the basic concepts so as to impart my knowledge-base so that students would value these bryophytes as nonvascular plants comprising a group of the most simply organized embryophytes. I was also able to show, that the bryophytes have a wide geographical distribution and are often pioneers in extreme habitats and are a significant biota – forming important roles in forest ecosystems. Fortunately, one of my students conducted an investigatory project on mosses as a medium for healthy plant growth. As the advisor, I gained more interest and then completed my Master in Science Teaching (Biology). I had the opportunity to design and develop instructional material for a biology laboratory for my students to interact. It was intended as an exercise to investigate moss plants identifying their internal structures using the compound microscope and moss external features using the field lens. The process of student’s involvement was so active and meaningful as they discovered the unique taxonomic characters of these tiny plants. I devoted my time to teaching combined with small-scale research. I also teach Earth science (Geology), studying the Geologic and Biodiversity of Caves in our province. I focused on examining the external cave walls and the distribution of tiny mosses that inhabit the moist limestone rocks. This was the first research I conducted and was followed by Morphology and Medicinal Value of Weed plants. These research ventures have been filled with great learnings and have had a profound impact on my teaching career. I received a plaque in recognition from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in the region on how I valued the cave forest especially its biodiversity and conservation efforts. From then on, I continued to perform my tasks to enrich my instructional approaches such as constructing teaching models from local indigenous materials and preparing laboratory slides. Likewise, assisting secondary teachers in conducting school science investigatory projects that focus on nonvascular flora. My teaching career as a noble profession of which most educators build on the premise ‘that one should be great in your chosen fields of discipline was rewarded by an Outstanding Teachers in the Philippines (secondary level) award in 1999 given by Metrobank Foundation. Also, as an Outstanding Professor award in 2015 given by the university. Indeed, my optimism and dynamism in science teaching coupled with research work brought with it great rewards and achievement.
I moved to the College in 2005, handling general science courses, but still offered my time doing research in biology education. It was an opportune time with resilience on my part when my five major students invited me for a Mountain Climbing activity in one of the natural parks – Mt. Dulang – Dulang of Mt. Kitanglad Range with 2,938 masl, and the second highest mountain in the country. Although it was my first time, I really enjoyed seeing the richness of mosses and how they capped the forest trees and shaped the forest understory. The love of nature and the adventures and discovery of some unique bryophytes and their diversity was wonderful.
In the year 2000, I decided to enroll in a PhD (Biology, Taxonomy), at Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines. My research focused on bryophytes. My research included the documentation, assessment, inventory, species distribution, richness and composition and bryodiversity of several montane forests in Mindanao. My field work in bryology was filled with challenges. I went to one of the Forest Natural Parks in Mt. Kalatungan in our province searching for some healthy sporophytes of a moss species Racopilum spectabile, to try to culture it under lab (ex-situ) conditions. I closely worked on and examined the growth of Racopilum for several weeks and was surprised with tiny green growth of protonemata with clear patterns emerging from the culture nutrient media. It was a remarkable lab investigation and with much inspiration on my part. I congratulated myself so I can submit the research report to my Professor in Developmental Biology. I valued deeply my new learnings and with increasing knowledge on the morphology and life-strategies of moss plants. The experience had a profound impact on being a ‘field bryologist’ and opened doors to more exciting field expeditions. More importantly, my Taxonomy Professor endorsed me for a training course at the National University of Singapore (NUS) meeting Dr. Benito C. Tan, my mentor, who provided the grant in aid and to whom I am forever grateful. I also had the chance to attend a 3-week training course on bryophytes and lichens at SEAMEO, Bogor, Indonesia in 2011 under the mentorship of Dr. Robbert Gradstein and Dr. Benito Tan. Both are great renowned mentors that I participated with advancing my learning experiences in the field of bryology. My engagement in this field grows with admiration and scientific research has contributed to rewarding academic endeavors. I had a collaboration with the bryologist Mr. James Shevock from the California Academy of Science when he came to the Philippines in 2015. He has visited recently on another expedition. I also met Dr. Anna Mezaka when her group visited one of the Universities in Mindanao. I had the chance to discuss and listen to her research presentations during a scientific meeting. Indeed, it was the best time to discuss the Philippine bryophytes as well.
Currently, I am an affiliate professor in two universities teaching the MS program and as Thesis adviser and external examiner on the Doctoral program. I am actively engaged in mentoring young science teachers in both secondary and tertiary levels in the region. It is composed of a small group of teachers who love nature and are committed to performing taxonomic research studies on nonvascular flora. For the past 15 years, we have all enjoyed conducting bryophytes research. As a lead researcher of the team, we share our research findings by attending local, national and international forays and conventions.
For now, being a retired science teacher, my quest is working in the field but my passion is to continue searching, learning and extending my teaching to both high school, college and graduate students and enthusiasts in the field by giving them brief lectures on how to conduct bryodiversity studies and how to translate their research into curriculum materials which are then very useful for students resulting in meaningful learning. I have my own private herbarium of nonvascular flora in my home. My enthusiasm stems from a love of what one is doing, and from my belief that Science is important and worth doing.
In Filipino language:
Nagsimula ang aking karera bilang Science teaher na nagtuturo ng Biology at Earth Science sa hayskul. Nakabase ako sa Mindanao, Pilipinas na matatagpuan sa katimugang bahagi ng bansa at itinuturing na pangalawa sa may pinakamalaking kalupaan ng Luzon. Ipinanganak ako sa Mindanao, partikular sa Siay, Zamboanga del Sur.
Ang dakila kong kawilihan at pagpapahalaga sa bryophytes nagsimula bilang Biology Teacher sa Central Mindanao University. Naramdaman ko ang kasabikan na madiskubre ang tinatawag na maliliit na halaman gaya ng mosses, liverworts, at hornworts sa aking klase. Sa simula pa lamang, ito yaong itinuturing na pinagwawalang-bahalang halaman sa ating rehiyon at natuklasan kong walang sinuman ang nagkainteres na pag-aralan ang ganitong mga uri sa kadahilanang sobrang liliit at nananahan sa iba’t ibang uri ng mga malalamig at basang kapalirigan. Inihanda ko ang aking sarili na may kompyansa kasama na ang layuning pampagkatuto at mga batayang konsepto na maikintal sa mga mag-aaral na pahalagahan ang mga bryophyte bilang mga halamang nonvascular na binubuo ng grupong inorganisa ng simpleng embryophyte. Naipakita ko, na ang mga bryophyte ay may malawak na distribusyong heyograpikal at nananahan sa mga di-karaniwang lugar at mahalagang biota – humuhubog ng importanteng gampanin sa ekosistema ng kagubatan.
Sa kabutihang palad, isa sa aking mag-aaral nagsagawa ng investigatory project ukol sa mosses bilang midyum nang malusog na pagtubo ng halaman. Bilang tagapayo, mas lumawak ang aking interes at natapos ko ang kursong Master of Science Teaching (Biology). Nabigyang pagkakataon ang aking sarili na makapagdisenyo at makapagdebelop ng kagamitang instruksyonal sa biology laboratory para makapag-ugnayan ang mag-aaral sa bawat isa. Hangad ng materyal na yaon na maimbestiga ang halamang moss lalo pa ang pagkilala ng mga internal na istruktura nito gamit ang compound microscope at ang panlabas na katangian ng moss gamit ang field lens. Nagkaroon ng aktibong interaksyon ang mag-aaral at naging makahulugan habang tinutuklas nila ang katangi-katangiang taksonomiyang katangian ng mumunting halaman.
Inilaan ko ang aking panahon sa pagtuturo kaugnay ng maykrong pananaliksik. Nagturo rin ako ng asignaturang Earth Science (Geology), ang Geologic at Biodiversity of Caves ng aming probinsya. Pinokus kong suriin ang mga panlabas na pader ng kuweba at distribusyon ng maliliit na mosses na nananahan sa mahalumigmig na batong-apog. Ito yong kauna-unahang pananaliksik na aking naisagawa at nasundan pa ng Morphology at nakapagpapagaling na mga halamang-damo. Ang pakikipagsapalaran sa mga pananaliksik ay nagdulot ng dakilang pagkatuto at malalim na impak sa aking karera.
Nakatanggap ako ng plake bilang pagkilala mula sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources ng aming rehiyon kung paano ko pinahalagahan ang mga kweba sa gubat lalo na ang biodibersidad at pagsisikap ng konserbasyon nito. Mula noon, ipinagpatuloy ko ang nasimulan na pagyamanin pa ang pagdulog pampagtuturo gaya ng pagbuo ng mga modelong pampagtuturo mula sa lokal na katutubong materyal at paghahanda ng mga laboratory slide. Gayundin, tumutulong ako sa mga hayskul titser sa pagsasagawa ng investigatory project na nakatuon sa nonvascular flora. Dahil sa aking paniniwala na ang pagtuturo ay isang marangal na propesyon na pinanday ng makatotohanang palagay na, “sinuman ay magiging dakila sa kanyang napiling propesyon,” naparangalan ako bilang Outstanding Teachers in the Philippines (secondary level) noong 1999 ng Metrobank Foundation. Nasundan pa ito noong 2015 na hinirang ako bilang Outstanding Professor na ipinagkaloob ng unibersidad. Bilang pagpatotoo, ang aking pagiging optimismo at dinamismo sa pagtuturo ng agham na sinamahan pa ng gawaing-pananaliksik naglundo ng dakilang gantimpala at tagumpay.
Nailipat ako sa kolehiyo taong 2005, nagtuturo ng mga pangkalahatang kurso sa agham, naipagpatuloy ko pa rin ang pagsasagawa ng pananaliksik sa biology education. Isang magandang pagkakataon noon nang maimbitahan ako ng aking limang (5) mag-aaral para sa isang Mountain Climbing activity sa isa sa mga natural na parke – ang Mt. Dulang-Dulang ng Mt. Kitanglad Range na may taas na 2,938 masl at pangalawa sa pinakamataas na bundok sa bansa. Unang pagkakataon man iyon, nalugod ako sa kasaganaan ng mga moss at kung paano nito napapalibutan at maliliman ang kabugatan ng mga puno. Ang pagmamahal sa kalikasan, pambihirang karanasan, at pagdiskubre ng katangi-tanging bryophyte at dibersidad nito ay kahanga-hanga.
Taong 2000, nag-enrol ako ng PhD (Biology, Taxonomy) sa Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon. Nakapokus sa Bryophytes ang aking pananaliksik na kinalalangkapan ng dokumentasyon, pagtataya, inventory, distribusyon ng species, kasaganaan at komposisyon, at bryodiversity ng bulubunduking kagubatan sa Mindanao. Puno ng hamon ang karanasan ko ukol sa bryology. Nagtungo ako sa isa sa mga Forest Natural Park sa Mt. Kalatungan ng aming probinsya upang hanapin ang ilang malulusog na sporophytes ng moss species – Racopilum spectabile, para masubukang maparami sa ilalim ng laboratoryo. Matiim kong pinag-aralan at ineksamin ang paglaki ng Racopilum ng ilang linggo at nasurpresa ako na may malillit na berdeng tumubong protonemata na may malinaw na dibuhong umusbong mula sa culture nutrient media. Isang pambihirang lab investigation ang nangyari at labis na inspirasyon sa aking sarili. Binati ko ang aking sarili dahil maipapasa ko na ang nasabing ulat-pananaliksik sa aking professor sa Developmental Biology. Sobra kong pinahalagahan ang aking natutuhan at sa lumalawak na kaalaman ukol sa morphology at siklo ng buhay ng halamang moss. Ang karanasang iyon ay naghandog nang malalim na impak bilang ‘field biologist’ at nagbukas sa mas marami pang paglalakbay sa aking larang. Higit sa lahat, inindorso ako ng aking Taxonomy Professor sa isang training course sa National University ng Singapore at makasalamuha ang aking guro na si Dr. Benito C. Tan na naghandog ng grant-aid dahil dito, habambuhay ko siyang pinasasalamatan. Nabigyan din ako ng pagkakataon na makadalo sa tatlong linggong training course sa Bryophytes at Lichens sa SEAMEO, Bogor, Indonesia noong 2011 sa ilalim ng pamamatnubay ni Dr. Robbert Gradstein at Dr. Benito Tan. Kapwa dakilang tagapayo na aking nilalahukan upang mas maisulong ko pa ang kaalaman sa larang ng bryology. Ang aking pakikilahok sa ganitong larang ay umusbong na may paghanga at ang gawaing siyentipikong pananaliksik na nagbunga ng gantimpala. Nagkaroon ako ng kolaborasyon kay Mr. James Shevock mula sa California Academy of Science nang minsang makapunta siya sa Pilipinas noong 2015. Ang kanyang pagbisita ay isang panibagong ekspedisyon. Personal ko ring nakasalamuha si Dr. Anna Mezaka nang makabisita ang kanyang grupo sa isa sa mga unibersidad sa Mindanao. Nagkaroon ako ng oportunidad na makipagtalakayan at makinig sa kanyang mga pananaliksik sa isa sa siyentipikong pagpupulong. Isang tunay na pagkakataon iyon na matalakay ang Philippine bryophytes.
Sa kasalukuyan, isa akong affiliate professor sa dalawang unibersidad na nagtuturo ng programang masteral, thesis adviser, at examiner sa mga doktoradong programa. AKtibong akong nakikilahok bilang tagapayo ng mga batang guro sa agham kapwa sa sekondarya at lebel tersyarya sa rehiyon. Ito yaong maliit na grupo ng gurong nagmamahal sa kalikasan at may damdaming tinatalima ang pag-aaral ukol sa nonvascular flora. Sa mahigit labinlimang taong (15) nakalipas, naramdaman ko ang giliw sa pagsasagawa ng pananaliksik ukol sa bryophytes. Bilang nangungunang mananaliksik sa grupo, nagbabahaginan kami ng mga tuklas sa pananaliksik sa pamamagitan ng pagdalo sa mga lokal, pambansa, at pandaigdigang pagpupulong at kombensyon.
Sa ngayon, bilang isang retiradong guro sa agham, hangad ko ang makipagsapalaran sa kagubatan o kabukiran, ngunit ang aking hilig ay ipagpatuloy ang pagsasaliksik, matuto, at maibahagi ang kaalaman sa aking mga mga-aaral sa hayskul, kolehiyo, at gradwadong mag-aaral at masigasig na maihahandog ang tumpak na lektura ukol sa kung paano isasagawa ang mga pag-aaral ukol sa bryodiversity at kung paano maililipat ang pananaliksik sa kagamitang kurikulum na magiging kapaki-pakinabang tungo sa makabuluhang pagkatuto. Mayroon akong pribadong herbarium ng non-vascular flora sa tahanan. Ang kasigasigang ito ay nag-ugat sa pagmamahal kung ano ang aking ginagawa, at sa paniniwalang – mahalaga at karapat-dapat pag-aralan ang AGHAM.
PUBLICATIONS
Canakan, M. C., Lubos,L.C., Azuelo, A.G, & Villegas J.P. (2022). New records of Moss flora in Mt. Mayo Range, Davao Oriental, Philippines. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, 11(1): 154-159.
Azuelo, A. G., Magday, E, J., Sariana, L. G., Manual, A. A., Salinasal, R. L., Segumpan, W. C., & Montecillo, R. G. G. (2020). Species richness of moss flora on the montane vegetation of Mt. Apo Natural Park, Philippines. Journal of Ecosystem Science and Eco-Governance, 2 (2), 18–29.
Rebucas, E., Azuelo, A. G., Lubos, L., Dizon, D. (2019). Inventory of Epiphytic Moss Flora in the Montane Forest of Mt. Kasiling Dako, Tarragona, Davao Oriental International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research. 48(3),179-189.
Azuelo, A. G., & Puno, G. R. (2018). Moss and lichen diversity in Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park, Bukidnon, Philippines. International Journal of Biosciences (IJB), 12(3), 248–258. https://doi.org/10.12692/ijb/12.3.248-258
Tan, B. C., Shevock, J. R., Azuelo, A. G., & Lubos, L. (2017). Additions to the moss floras of Mindanao and the Philippines with a focus on the rediscovery of Euptychium setigerum. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society, 62(1), 15–20.
Azuelo, A. G., Manual, A. A., Obemio, C. D. G., Oconer, E. P., Gubalane, R. B., & Lobredo, G. G. (2016). Bryophyte flora of Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape, South General Santos City , Philippines. 9 (3), 1–12.
Azuelo, A. G., Tan, B. C., Shevock, J. R., Manual, A., Yorong, A., & Sariana,L. G., (2015). Mosses new for Mindanao Island, Republic of the Philippines. Proceeding of the California Academy of Sciences 62: 127-134.
Azuelo, A. G., Sariana, L. G., Magday, E. R., Montecillo, R. G., & Bandiez, M. C. L. (2012). Species Richness and Biodiversity of Bryophytes and Lichens in Mt. Kalatungan, Bukidnon. Technical Research Report. CMU.
Azuelo, A.G., Sariana, L.G., & Pabualan, M. P. (2011). Some Medicinal Bryophytes: Their Ethnobotanical Uses and Morphology. Asian Journal of Biodiversity, 2 (1), 49-80. Azuelo, A. G., Sariana, L. G., & Pabualan, M. P. (2010). Diversity and Ecological Status of Bryophytes in Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon. Asian Journal of Biodiversity, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.7828/ajob.v1 i1.102