Deo Florence Onda

Deo Florence Onda
Born	Brooke's Point, Palawan
Citizenship	Filipino
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Baguio (BS) University of the Philippines Diliman (MS) Laval University (Ph.D)
Known for	First Filipino to descent to Emden Deep; among the first two people to do so (with Victor Vescovo)
Scientific career
Fields	Microbial oceanography
Institutions	University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute

Deo Florence L. Onda is a Filipino microbial oceanographer. He is known for being the first Filipino to descend into the Emden Deep in the Philippine Trench.

Early life and education

Deo Florence Onda was born in Brooke's Point, Palawan.[1] Onda obtained his Interuniversity PhD in Oceanography from the Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada. He also had a post-doctoral fellowship at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany.[2]

Career

University of the Philippines

Onda is an associate professor at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI); the youngest faculty member of the institution as of March 2021.[3]

Protect WPS

Onda was the chief scientist of the Protect WPS (Predicting Responses between Ocean Transport and Ecological Connectivity of Threatened ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea) expedition group which conducted research in the Spratly Islands in 2019. The expedition noted "relatively unhealthy" conditions of reefs in Thitu Island and the Sabina Shoal. The research also noted new sightings of seaweed species previously unrecorded in the area and also collected six crates of trash from the sea.[4][5] The expedition used the RV Kasarinlan, a research marine vessel owned by UP MSI.[3]

Emden Deep expedition

Victor Vescovo's Caladan Oceanic initiated an expedition to the Emden Deep, the deepest point in the Philippine Trench and third deepest in the world. Deo Florence Onda was invited to join Vescovo in the expedition's descent to the Emden Deep which would make Onda, the first Filipino to make a descent to the deep. The expedition started off in Guam on March 15, with Vescovo and Onda on board the DSSV Pressure Drop where they would be deployed in a separate submersible vehicle, the DSV Limiting Factor.[6] Onda agreed to take part in the expedition to " assert the sovereign rights" of the Philippines over the underwater feature.[7] The descent took place on March 23. At Emden Deep, Onda waved the Philippine flag.[8]

References

1. Contrivida, Evo Joel (18 March 2021). "Software could make rare diseases easier to spot". Palawan Daily News. Vol. 218, no. 2913. p. 21. doi:10.1016/s0262-4079(13)60985-9. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
2. "Deo Florence L. Onda, Ph.D. - Marine Science Institute". University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
3. Enano, Jhesset (19 March 2021). "Pinoy scientist ready to make history in deep dive mission". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
4. Rocamora, Joyce Ann (9 May 2019). "Collective efforts needed to heal 'relatively unhealthy' reefs in WPS". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
5. "PROTECT WPS: An All Filipino Scientific Expedition to the KIG in the WPS". National Coast Watch Council Secretariat. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
6. Viernes, Franchesca; RC (17 March 2021). "Scientist to make history as 1st Filipino to reach 3rd deepest spot on Earth". GMA News. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
7. "'Atin ang Emden Deep': Filipino scientist stakes claim after dive to 3rd deepest place on earth" ['Emden Deep is Ours': Filipino scientist stakes claim after dive to 3rd deepest place on earth]. ABS-CBN News (in English and Tagalog). 29 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
8. "'We've waved the Philippine Flag': Filipino scientist reaches the third deepest spot on Earth —". Asian Journal News. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.