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Gideon Lasco

PhD candidate in Medical Anthropology, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), University of Amsterdam

Gideon Lasco, MD, MSc is a licensed physician, medical anthropologist, and writer from the Philippines. He received his medical degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 2010, and completed his MSc Medical Anthropology in the same college in 2014. He is currently taking up a PhD in medical anthropology at the University of Amsterdam's Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research (AISSR). A regular op-ed contributor at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, his essays have been published in the Singapore Straits Times, Jakarta Post, China Post, and other regional newspapers.

His research has focused on the traditional and modern ways that various sectors of society utilise to improve their bodies and their everyday lives. In 2011, he traveled around the Philippines to interview over forty traditional healers from various cultural traditions and observe their ways of healing. From 2012 to 2013, he did ethnographic work on young drug users in an urban poor community. His ongoing PhD research is about the meanings and materialities of height (human stature) in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, the premium placed on height is no tall tale

Apr 04, 2017 14:12 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

During the 1936 Berlin Olympics the first time basketball was played as an Olympic sport the Philippine mens basketball team was a surprisingly strong contender. Largely seen as underdogs because of their short stature,...

Southeast Asia's war on drugs doesn’t work – here's what does

Dec 21, 2016 07:10 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes bloody war on drugs is just the latest in a region where drug use has usually been met with draconian measures. Thailand embarked 13 years ago on a drug war that strikes eerie...

Tall, pale and handsome: why more Asian men are using skin-whitening products

Nov 25, 2016 10:30 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

Jose, 19, is a college student in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. On a regular school day, after he wakes up, he takes a shower, scrubbing his body using soap made of papaya (Carica papaya), a fruit thats said to...

Economy

Deutsche Bank Sees Global Capital Shifts Reshaping Long-Term U.S. Dollar Outlook

Structural changes in global capital flows, technological innovation, and geopolitical developments are redefining the long-term outlook for the U.S. dollar, according to a new research note from Deutsche Bank. The bank...

Trump, Canada Reach Gordie Howe Bridge Deal Ahead of July 27 Opening

The $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is set to open on July 27 after the United States and Canada reached a new agreement on toll revenue, ending months of uncertainty...

Gordie Howe Bridge to Open July 27 After U.S.-Canada Reach Toll Revenue Agreement

The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, is set to officially open on July 27 after the United States and Canada reached a new agreement over toll revenue,...

Fed Reaffirms 2% Inflation Goal, Vows Forceful Action to Anchor Price Expectations

The Federal Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to restoring price stability, saying it is prepared to act forcefully if necessary to keep longer-term inflation expectations anchored around its 2% target. The pledge came in...

Dollar Ends Week Higher as Yen Jumps on Japan Pension Fund Investment Plans

The U.S. dollar traded within a narrow range on Friday and was on track for a modest weekly gain as investors weighed evolving inflation expectations, Federal Reserve policy signals, and renewed geopolitical tensions in...

Politics

Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Revenge as Trump Threatens Massive U.S. Military Response

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed on Saturday to avenge the death of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalating tensions with the United States as President Donald Trump warned that...

Iran Says It Closes Strait of Hormuz After Warning Shot at Vessel

Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) navy announced early Sunday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice after firing a warning shot at a vessel it claimed was attempting to transit through the strategic...

DOJ Subpoenas New York Times Journalists Over Air Force One Leak Report

The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to appear before a federal grand jury after the newspaper reported on security concerns surrounding President Donald Trumps new Air Force One...

Ann Widdecombe Murder: Police Arrest Second Suspect, Rule Out Terrorism Motive

British police have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murdering former UK government minister Ann Widdecombe, while investigators said there is currently no evidence linking the case to terrorism or a political...

Ukraine Says Drone Strikes Hit 21 Russian Oil Tankers as Russia Launches Fresh Missile Barrage

Ukraine said its military damaged 21 Russian tankers carrying crude oil and petroleum products during overnight drone strikes in the Sea of Azov, marking one of Kyivs most significant attacks on Russias energy transport...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Apple Sues OpenAI, Former Employees Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former Apple employees, accusing them of misappropriating confidential company information and trade secrets tied to its hardware development efforts. The lawsuit, filed...

SK Hynix Soars 13% in Nasdaq Debut After Record $26.5 Billion IPO

SK Hynix made a strong debut on the Nasdaq on Friday, with its American Depositary Receipt (ADR) shares closing 12.8% higher at $168.01 after completing a record-breaking $26.5 billion U.S. initial public offering (IPO),...

Elon Musk Says Anthropic Leads AI Race as Claude Models Challenge OpenAI

Elon Musk has publicly praised artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, saying the company is obviously the current leader in AI, in a rare acknowledgment of a key rival as competition among top AI developers...

OpenAI Executive Fidji Simo to Step Down Amid Health Challenges Ahead of IPO

OpenAIs head of products and business, Fidji Simo, announced on Thursday that she will step down from her leadership role and transition to a part-time advisory position after experiencing complications from a chronic...

Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong Expected to Meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on AI and Chip Partnership

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is expected to meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in the United States by the end of July as the two technology giants explore deeper cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing and...