Biolumin: Blue Light Green World

How I made the World’s First Bioluminescence

Illuminated Christmas Tree
Edward A. Quinto

The World’s First Bioluminescence Illuminated Christmas Tree

If the year 1992 was for her Excellency Queen Elizabeth II an “Annus Horribilis” or
horrible year, the following year 1993 was for me my “Annus Mirabilis” or wonderful
year. In that year, I discovered up close and personal one of nature’s most awe-
inspiring living wonders. As I entered a dark laboratory in Germany, I vividly saw for the
first time nutrient broths contained in Erlenmeyer flasks shining brightly with a blue-
green hue of captivating spectacle. Swimming in the broths were the teeming trillions of
shining cells of the marine luminous bacterium: Aliivibrio fischeri. The combined
radiance of the astronomical number of cells each shining like tiny light bulbs generates
the homogeneously luminous blue liquid or plate colonies we humans see as the
biological phenomenon of bioluminescence. While electrical light bulbs generate heat
over time, bioluminescence does not, thereby aptly earning for it the title of “cold light”.
Since, Aliivibrio fischeri and many other luminous microbes are the bearers of light in
the world of the smallest; I fondly called them the “Microbes of Light”.

Bioluminescence can reveal itself in rare occasions and on a grand scale as the
mysterious light illuminating a vast region of the powerful nighttime sea. This eerie
shining sea, not to be confused with St. Elmo’s Fire, was mentioned by Jules Verne in
his book “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. Sailors through the ages chronicled this
mystifying light of the sea in their logbooks now known in science as the phenomenon
of the “Milky Sea”. If one were cruising in the midst of a “Milky Sea”, the sea will appear
shiny white like fresh milk stretching out far into the horizons. That is how this
uncommon marine occurrence got its name. The satellite of the U.S. Naval Research
Laboratory captured the image of a large “Milky Sea”, the size of Palawan Island, for the
first time on 25, 26, and 27 January 1995. Seamen in a merchant ship at that time
located off the coast of the horn of Africa also witnessed this unusually bright “Milky
Sea”. For a bioluminescent phenomenon close to my heart to fall on a 26 January, my
natal day, is indeed an honor!

Bioluminescence is the “Light of Life” resulting from chemical reactions taking place
inside the cells of living organisms. It renders the lantern fishes and the firefly squids
luminous in the darkness of the depths. Furthermore, in the perpetually dark abyss,
which covers a large part of the oceans’ basin, bioluminescence holds a significant role
in the interactions of living organisms. Bioluminescent organisms have played out
beautiful pyrotechnic flashes to deep-sea research submersibles. The “Light of Life”
abounds in nature but is far more common in the hydrosphere than on the lithosphere.
On land, bioluminescence unfurls its beauty by the twinkling of Fireflies, glimmering of
mushrooms and the glowing of some worms. However, in the dark void of the
continental ocean basin it is the only means of communication for marine denizens
grand and small. Fishes flash, squids shine, Jellyfishes flicker, and a host of
invertebrates shimmer in this dark largely unexplored world. Indeed, as an amateur
astronomer I realized that the “The Microbes of Light” are like heavenly bodies called
stars for they produce their own radiant energy in the darkness of their own deep-sea
universe. These marine organisms like fishes and squids can produce their own lights
by utilizing special “Light Organs” harboring dense loads of symbiotic luminous
microbes. The Flashlight fish carries light organs under its eyes shining like headlights
in the dark. My favorite luminous animal, the “Hawaiian Bobtail Squid” used light organs
located in its belly to shine thereby canceling its shadow during full moons and so
disappear from the lurking eyes of hungry predators swimming beneath it. These
luminous microbes were the very same microbes that I saw in the shining broths in
Germany in 1993. I was also fortunate to have isolated these luminous organisms from
local sources here in the Philippines. Having successfully cultivated these luminous
microbes, I stored and preserved them in the microbiology laboratory in UST. These
microbes are identified by their scientific names: Aliivibrio fischeri, Aliivibrio harveyi,
Photobacterium phosphoreum, Photobacterium leiognathi and many others. When they
are isolated and cultivated in special microbiological broths and agar media, they can be
made to shine with a strong and enduring luminosity of alluring wonder. Scientists have
estimated that each cell acting like miniature light bulbs generate 10,000 to 100,000
photons per second. A photon is the particle of light carrying discrete packets of energy.
In the dark, our own scotopic vision (Dark Vision) is so sensitive to the bluish-green
color of bioluminescence. Photoreceptor cells called rods in human eye can visualize as
little as one photon! One culture agar plate of these marine luminous microbes can
produce enough light to enable one to read books in the dark!

When stained and observed through a microscope, the one-celled luminous microbe
Aliivibrio fischeri appears as a plump rod occurring singly or in pairs. This “heavenly
microbe” can also be found non-luminously in the intestinal contents and on the bodily
surfaces of squids, fishes, crustaceans, and seaweeds. The bioluminescent animals
use light to attract their mates and prey, as well as to distract and evade their predators.
When the luminous microbes are isolated and grown in special nutrient broths, the
population increases until a critical size is reached when every cell of about five billions
per drop of broth shine all at the same time. What an awesome sight it must be to
behold this phenomenon at the cellular level! This ability of microbes to communicate to
one another to determine how big their population size is, comparable to conducting
their own roll call, is termed “Quorum Sensing”. Imagine the action of five billion cells
switching on their lights simultaneously! So stand aside, the lighting up of the light bulbs
of the New York Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Evolution chose the emitted light of
bioluminescence to be blue because this color is more energetic than green, yellow,
and red thereby enabling it to travel farthest in the sea. To travel far in the sea, makes
blue an efficient means of signaling among living organisms in a world where
astronomical open spaces is the norm. Red and yellow “living lights” also occur in
nature though minimally. It is also the reason why the marine world appears with a cool
bluish tinge under white light or sunlight.
Glowing colonies of a plate culture of Vibrio fischeri Brightly shining broth of Vibrio fischeri in a flask

Upon my return to the Philippines in 1993, after successfully finishing my

“Aufbaustudium” in Germany, I thought then that it would be the end of my work with
microbial bioluminescence. I never thought of bringing the luminous microbes home
with me though it is possible to do so. However, my desire to work again with microbial
bioluminescence was simply too strong to be side stepped. So armed with my
knowledge of microbiology, I embarked on an exciting quest to seek out these tiny
luminous creatures in our locality. What a fulfilling quest it surely was! To my delight, I
realized that the wet markets of the Philippines are virtual goldmines of these marine
luminous microbes. Squids, saltwater fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, and even seawater
itself are excellent sources of these bioluminescent microbes. In 1995, not long after I
started scouting for them, I venerably held and beheld once more the radiance of the
Philippine strains of the marine luminous microbes. Alone in a dark room, I just found
myself staring at the luminous plate cultures shining as bright as the ones I saw in
Germany. Sentiments of euphoria overwhelmed me for it felt so much like having found
a long lost cherished friend. It was an unforgettable exhilarating experience as I felt their
life’s radiant energy piercing the darkness and illuminating my improvised dark room.
When it comes to catching people’s attention, my “Microbes of Light” did not let me
down. The cool blue light of bioluminescence always generates gasps of amazement
whenever I show them to friends and colleagues.

My research started and centered on how I can simplify the utilization of these luminous
microbes to uplift the quality of life. The rest as what they say is definitely history!
Results of my research showed that these luminous microbes can be used
inexpensively as a biological sensing device for the detection of toxic chemicals in
water, foods, produce, and other samples. If these shining microbes are added to a
water sample containing minute amounts of toxicants like heavy metals, detergents,
pesticides, etc., their generated light fades significantly or may even black out
completely. The strongly toxic a substance is and the higher its concentration in the
water sample tested, the faster is the complete inhibition of light production. Thus,
checking drinking water, foods, and produce for safeness and the biomonitoring of
environmental water for pollution are the main applications that I developed from my
research work with microbial bioluminescence. Numerous blessings poured in from all
aspects of my work with the “Microbes of Light” in the form of international and national
awards, publications, thesis completion, and recognition from the Philippine Scientific
Community. PIBiT (Paper-disc Immobilized Bioluminescence Technology) and TuBET
(Tube Bioluminescence Extinction Method) were the simple and green innovations that
came out of my research work.

Through the years, high school students from UST, Assumption (Makati), Quezon City
Science, Manila Science, Immaculate Concepcion (Davao), Parañaque Science,
Philippine Science, Imus Science, and La Consolacion worked with microbial
bioluminescence and many won in various local, regional, national, and international
science fair contests. Undergraduate and graduate students in UST also utilized the
luminous microbes for the successful completion of their theses. Many others and I
surely did have the time of our lives with these unique and wonderful creatures, which
have become a part of my life ever since. Playing around with them, I can proudly say
that I was able to light up the world with the good blue light of bioluminescence. The
benevolent sea has granted me the privilege to borrow this beautiful “Light of the Sea”
that I used on land for many practical health-promoting benefits not only for people but
for our environment as well. Indeed, I was able to light up so many things with
bioluminescence. The first materials I made bioluminous were of course, water
samples, then cotton plugs, small paper-discs, raw foods, metal plates, and to various
produce like meat and beverages and would you believe even a small Christmas Tree!

Rich sources of the luminous microbes found in wet markets

So one cool memorable night on 28 November (Wed), as Christmas 2007 was fast
approaching, I attempted the creation of the first Bioluminescent Christmas Tree in
history or the World’s First Bioluminescence Illuminated Christmas Tree. Several days
before, the idea of a bioluminescent Christmas Tree got me so excited as a Scuttle Fly.
In the past, people used candles to illuminate Christmas trees. Then electricity was
discovered, and light bulbs of various designs and colors completely replaced the use of
candles. Now, a sophisticated electrical novelty for Christmas Trees like the use of fiber
optic has dazzled the public. Two years ago, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree introduced
the use of LED lights to promote a greener Christmas because of its small electrical
consumption. An idea struck me one day; why not use bioluminescence to illuminate a
Christmas Tree. Surely, it will be a first, it will be splendid and it will epitomize
something really green because there is no consumption of electricity nor will
greenhouse gases be emitted. It can symbolize all the “Green Movement” against
Global Warming.

So one afternoon, I excitedly visited the malls in and around Manila looking for the right
tree. At the Gotesco Grand Central Department Store, I found a two feet tall dark green
pine tree standing quite robust and thick. The smaller the tree the easier it will be for me
to light it up entirley with microbial bioluminescence. I started the cultivation of my
microbial friend, Aliivibrio fischeri in nutrient agar plates a day before I was to use them
to light up my newly bought tree. The big night soon came; in the laboratory, I made a
brightly shining liquid by suspending the luminous colonies from the plate culture in
saline. Then, I rapidly filled twenty-five small glass vials the size of thumbs with the
brightly shining suspensions. Next, I immediately capped the vials and tied short black
strings around their necks. One by one, I hung the shining vials like light bulbs all over
the branches of the tree. I hurriedly did it because I knew that once the dissolved
oxygen in the liquid inside was consumed by the luminous cells the light would go out
instantly. I just don’t know how fast that will occur with the vial size and physico-
chemical conditions present at that time. If I can just be given 20 minutes to pour, cap,
tie, hang and photograph them up on the tree then I reckon that I can pull it off. Like fire,
bioluminescence is powered by oxygen and without it, bioluminescence is extinguished
immediately. Half way through the process of putting the vials up on the tree, the
expected happened abruptly. One by one, the shining vials were “blacking out”
indicating the depletion of the dissolved oxygen. I shook the vials in a desperate attempt
to aerate the liquid inside. Aerating the liquid inside the vials should light them all up
again though fleetingly. Since the vials are small, the dissolved oxygen is low, the
quicker it is consumed by the luminous microbes and the faster the light will fade out. It
was a futile exercise as the vials were “blacking out” again much faster than I can keep
them alight. The entire exercise that night was so utterly disappointing. Using my digital
camera, I frantically took long-exposure photographs of a dimly lit tree with half of the
twenty-five vials’ light already gone. The mossy green color of the robust tree must have
also exacerbated the results, as the tree appeared so dark and gloomy. The dark green
color seemed to be absorbing the light of bioluminescence and not reflecting it.

The robust dark-green Christmas Tree In darkness with the luminous glass vials

But hope indeed springs eternal. From the lessons of this failure, I tried my best to come
up with a better tree in my next attempt. Another opportunity has to be forthcoming I
said to myself. The next time around, I thought of using long cotton strands wetted with
luminous suspensions instead of putting them inside closed vials. Previous experiences
with cotton plugged flasks of luminous broth cultures that accidentally got wet in the
shaking produced shining cottons plugs for hours. In closed vials, the oxygen supply is
small and limited it comes mainly in dissolved form in the liquid suspension of the
luminous cells. However, I realized that in cotton impregnated luminous suspensions an
abundant supply of oxygen should come from the surrounding air. This infinite supply of
oxygen in the air should be able to sustain bioluminescence strongly and brightly over a
long period.

The mere thought of brightly shining suspensions in cotton reinvigorated me once more
in my quest to make a bioluminescence illuminated Christmas tree. I cultivated once
again my Aliivibrio fischeri in nutrient agar plates to produce the luminous colonies and
then the luminous suspensions. I also replaced my dark bulky green tree with a two feet
tall white plastic pine tree that I bought from Robinsons Place Manila. White should give
a more brilliant and reflective appearance. I extended open the main branches of the
tree from the central stem and started loading the entire length with thick strands of
absorbent cotton. The tree was also decorated with small shiny orange Christmas balls.
Then I freely sprinkled a brightly shining suspension of the luminous microbe on the
cotton strands using a glass dropper. At around 6 PM, I was finished and that time close
to Christmas time in Manila, it’s already quite dark due to the gradually lengthening
night. Luckily, it was also a holiday since its Andres Bonifacio Day, November 30 and so
I was all alone in the research complex. I moved back to the door, took a deep breath
and said to myself that this is it! I turned off the lights and what I saw from afar was truly
an awe-inspiring scene. On a working bench, fronting the wall stood a Christmas tree
brightly illuminated by the light of microbial bioluminescence. Feelings of relief and
accomplishment seethed inside me. To capture the historical moment that could be over
in hours, I swiftly prepared my digital camera and took several long exposure shots. The
camera screen showed shining strands of cotton with a dramatic bluish color and cool
snowy effect resting tenderly on the branches of the tree. One can even see luminous
drops of the shining suspensions at the base of the tree. After taking the photos, I
decided to transfer them immediately to my laptop for better viewing and storage. When
I saw the photos on the screen of my laptop, I was so amazed and thrilled. All the efforts
and stress that went into days and nights of preparation were definitely worth what I
accomplished that night.

Once again, in my thoughts as I beheld the beautiful bioluminescent photos, I

expressed my deep gratitude to my “Microbes of Light”. Indeed, once again they did not
fail me in my efforts to promote bioluminescence to the public for a greener world. The
night of 30 November 2007 was truly memorable because aside from being the night
after the foiled coup d’ etat in Makati, I can proudly say that I succeeded in creating the
world’s first bioluminescence illuminated Christmas tree. Surely, it was not a “Franken
Christmas Tree”, a living pine tree incorporating a bioluminescence gene from another
organism introduced by DNA Recombinant Technology. A genetically modified brightly
shining Christmas tree will still probably take years to be developed and the financial
resources to make it must be quite big. Not to mention the intricate laws and regulations
that one need to secure from the appropriate national authorities to be able to perform
genetic manipulation experiments in the Philippines. Besides, what I wanted to make
was a natural and more acceptable Christmas tree to the general public. And the best
way to do it was to use microbial bioluminescence in its simplest and purest form. When
I left late that night, I placed the tree in front of a large and long glass window of our
laboratory exposed to the outside for others from the neighboring high-rise condo to
perhaps see it as well. Three hours after I created it, the bioluminescent Christmas tree
was still shining brightly and I was sure for many more hours after I left the laboratory.
The university was practically empty of students and personnel that night as I walked
out of the campus alone through the almost dark streets.

I made a Christmas card of the photo bearing a brief “green” message highlighting a
greater awareness in our fight against global warming. I immediately sent the card to
the prestigious American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the largest US life science
organization, of which I am a full member. Since the light is from microbial
bioluminescence, I was sure that the ASM would take notice of it. It was also sent to the
venerable “International Society for Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence” (ISBC)
because my work dealt with bioluminescence. Suffice it to say, both the ASM and the
ISBC, acknowledged what I did and featured the photo of the first bioluminescent
Christmas tree in history in their famous websites. ASM featured it in their popular
microbeworld.org website for 3 weeks in the run up to the holidays of 2007. For that, I
am eternally grateful to both of them; it was the best Christmas gift that I received in a
long while. Searching the net, I found out that Edward H. Johnson in his home in New
York introduced the first electrically illuminated Christmas tree in 1882. Well another
Edward made the world’s first bioluminescence illuminated Christmas tree in Manila in
2007. I disseminated the unique card by email to all my friends, colleagues, and people
who I believed would be interested in it and I must confess that the replies were highly
encouraging.

The Bioluminescence illuminated Christmas tree in darkness and under fluorescent white light

These were some of the encouraging and generous messages:

“Hello Edward, Very many thanks for your email and lovely BL (BioLuminescent)
Christmas Tree! I have today sent the image to my colleague at the University of
Bologna. He is the person who maintains the ISBC web site. Best regards,” Philip 03
DEC 07 (Dr. Philip Stanley of Cambridge Research & Technology Transfer Ltd,
Cambridge, England).

“Hi Edward! Ang ganda naman (It’s so beautiful)! Very uniquely micro. Thanks for the
Christmas greetings,” Rose (Dr. Rose Monsalud, President of the Philippine Society
for Microbiology).

“Hi Edward, very nice and very intriguing. Congratulations!” Toby (Prof. Fabian Dayrit,
Ph.D., Dean of Ateneo de Manila University’s School of Science & Engineering
and a highly respected towering figure of Philippine Chemistry).
“Hi Sir Quinto, Thank you for the beautiful and creatively done Christmas tree. I will
forward your mail to our group and also to microbiology dept. (Dr. Kohring). Advance
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Regards to everyone there in the CS and GS,”
Ronald (Ronald Garcia, Ph.D. student in microbiology at the University of
Saarland, Germany known for his work on the taxonomy of the Myxobacteria).

“Fabulous Edward -- wow. Thanks for sending this most amazing Christmas card!” ~
Sam (Sam Stier, Biomimicry Institute, USA).

“Dear Edward, Thank you for this email. The Christmas tree looks beautiful, if a little
spooky. We’d be very interested to hear whether you think this may have more practical
applications, but we prefer people to go via their national offices to prevent duplication
and the confusion which can result. The contact details for our office in the Philippines
are - PHILIPPINES (Greenpeace Southeast Asia) Regards,” Graham Thompson,
Supporter Services, Greenpeace UK.
“Dear Edward Quinto, Your bioluminescent holiday tree was forwarded to me by
Barbara Hyde, director of communications for ASM (American Society for Microbiology).
I would love to post this to the front page of www.MicrobeWorld.org closer to the
holidays and perhaps include it as a .pdf in the MicrobeW orld podcast feed. I also would
like to set up an interview with you about this cool project and how it serves as an
example for “greener” living and climate control. If you are interested in the interview
please email me your direct phone number and I will have Bridgett Ennis call you for an
interview. Happy holidays! I’ll post this on the front of MicrobeWorld closer to the
holidays”. Chris Condayan (Manager of Public Outreach, American Society for
Microbiology, USA).

Yes, I would still like to set up an interview. Hopefully, we still have the time to air it this
month. Either way, we can use it next year as well. Please email me your phone
number so I can pass it on to Bridgett Ennis who will be conducting the interview. Also,
does this mean you give me permission to post the tree on www.microbeworld.org?
Sincerely, Chris Condayan, Manager, P ubl i c Outreach
American Society for Microbiology, 1752 N Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone 202-942-9302, Fax 202-942-9367, www.asm.org , www.microbeworld.org

Ed, I just wanted to let you know I placed the “Microbes of Light” image on the
www.microbeworld.org site with a brief bit of text crediting you with the photograph. If
you have any links you would like me to add or any text changes or additions, please let
me know. “The above image of the world's first bioluminescent Christmas tree was sent
in to MicrobeWorld by Edward Quinto, an assistant professor at the University of Santo
Tomas in the Philippines. Mr. Quinto created the holiday effect by spraying cotton balls
with a heavy luminous suspension of vibrio fischeri, a rod shaped bacterium that he
isolated from locally available squids. He then attached the treated cotton balls to a two
foot tall white plastic tree and used a camera with a 60 second exposure to take the
photograph. The tree maintained is bioluminescence for more than five hours. Mr.
Quinto hopes this picture will make people more aware of microbial bioluminescence
and its potential for affordable "green" technologies.” Happy holidays and thank you for
this great photo! Sincerely, Chris Condayan, ASM.
Very “cool” Barbara Hyde (Director of communications for American Society for
Microbiology).

From OEDOED@amsusa.org To Edward Quinto edwardquinto@gmail.com, OED

OED@asmusa.org, Communications communications@asmusa.org, “Houston,
Clifford”chouston@utmb.edu, International <International@asmusa.org>,
webmaster<webmaster@asmusa.org>, jcampos@asmusa.org. Date Mon, Dec 3, 2007
at 11:31 PM Subject RE: Bioluminescence for Greener W orld mailed-by
asmusa.org. Thank you. I will send to the ASM Council. It is nice to hear from members
who care about ASM. Best wishes for a Happy Holiday and a good New Year. Michael
Goldberg, ASM.

Dear Dr. Quinto, Do you have any more information on the bioluminescent Christmas
Tree? W ere you the one who created it, or do you remember where you heard about it.
We are thinking of doing a story on MicobeWorldRadio(www.microbeworld.org) about
the tree. Thanks for your help! Best, Garth Hogan, Media Relations –
Communications, American Society for Microbiology. Fax – 202.942.9367

“Hi Edward - W hat a creative idea. Thanks for the greeting and for sending your image.
Maybe some day I will be able to make one of these myself. Best wishes”, Steve
(Steven Haddock, PhD . Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, USA).

“HI Edward: thank you so much for sharing this with us. It's so cool! So, did you have to
do this manually as you "decorated" the tree with the bioluminescent microbes? If it is
okay with you, can I share this with some students/ teachers in a seminar I will conduct
in January? Many thanks and Merry Christmas too!” Jess (Dr. Jessamyn Yazon,
Director, Philippine Science High School, Quezon City).

“Hi Edward, Thank you for the card. I saved it in pdf format, which should be easier to
disseminate. Just wondering --- how exactly did you make the bioluminescent tree? At
first, I thought that you genetically modified the tree by inserting the bioluminescent
gene into the tree genome. But it looks like the "snow" on the tree is the luminescent
material, not the tree itself. My guess is that you streaked the bioluminescent bacteria
on an agar plate and superimposed the plate on a picture of a tree. Am I right? I hope
you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too! I did see in the Filipino news
channel that it was cold in Manila (19 C). That is actually considered "nice" here. :-)
Right now, it's about 5 - 6 deg C outside. Regards to all our friends there in UST. Best,”
Leah (Dr. Leah Tolosa, University of Maryland, USA).

“Hi Ed! Very nice Christmas Tree!” Poyie (Prof. Florenda Valera, Ph.D., Institute of
Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City).
“Thanks Edward! Cool .....Now”, that is better with the date”. Tina (Prof. Christina
Binag, Ph.D., Director, Research Center for the Natural Sciences, University of
Santo Tomas, Manila).

“Dear Edward, Thanks for sharing your progress and developments with us. W ow...this
is beautiful. Are you going to commercialize this? Your home will probably be lighted up
with this tree! W ishing you a joyous and blessed Christmas. Yee Foong, by the way,
has left HP. Michelle has kinda replace her in her previous role. Best rgds,” Cecilia
(Cecilia Pang, Hewlett Packard Asia-Pacific, Singapore).

“Hi Edward, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Love the X-mas tree. W ill
send it around. All the best and send my regards to Caloy and Fem”. Gerry (Gerardo
Luna, an old friend from UST now living in Sydney, Australia).

“Dear Ed, Thank you!! Pretty cool gift card! I wish you and your family Happy Holidays,”
Barbara Schulz (Dr. Barbara Schulz, Institute of Microbiology, Technical University
of Braunschweig, Germany).

“W ay too cool, Edward. Magnificent creature, Can't help to marvel at the beauty even in
the smallness of things God has created. Merry Christmas (blue green) to you too.
Sunday and family”. Sunday (Mrs. Sunday Duque Phillips, an old friend who
travelled with me to Germany on a DAAD Scholarship, now living in Texas, USA).

“Hi Edward, Ang ganda naman (It’s so beautiful). How did you do it. I will pass this
around. Take care,” Sheila (Asst. Prof. Sheila de Jesus, College of Science,
University of Santo Tomas, Manila and Head of Laboratory Analysis, First Asian
Hospital, Alabang).

“Hi Ed, That was really great and such a scientific way of saying Merry Christmas to all.
Thanks so much”. Evy (Prof. Evelyn Laurito, Ph.D., College of Engineering,
University of Santo Tomas, Manila).

“Nice one sir EQ. advance merry christmas to you too,” Gil (Mr. Gil Penuliar, Institute
of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City).
“Hi Edward. I think this is the most beautiful christmas card I've received. Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year! till our next kitakits (meetings). Take good care,”
Espie (Prof. Esperanza Cabrera Ph.D., former president of the Philippine Society
for Microbiology (PSM) and esteemed Professor, Department of Biology, De La
Salle University, Manila).
“Hi Edward, Very pretty bioluminescent christmas tree. A blessed Christmas to you too
and all the best for the New Year. By the way, I have retired from Ateneo since last
June. I am using this email address until the end of this year. Please send all
communications to my other email: baby.angtuaco@gmail.com Thank you. Best
regards”, Baby, Prof. Baby Angtuaco, Ph.D. Ateneo de Manila University

“Dear Edward: Thank you very much”. Jimmy Montoya, Jaime Montoya, M.D., M.Sc.
Executive Director, PCHRD, Former President, PSMID

“Dear Dr. Quinto; Thank you very much for the creative card. Holiday greetings to you
too”! All best, Linda Graham ( Prof. Linda Graham, Ph.D. author of the impressive
Biology Textbook by Brooker, Widmaier, Graham, Stiling).

“Hey Edward! Amazing creatures! Thanks a lot”. Mafel, Prof. Mafel Ysrael, Ph.D., UST

“Dear Edward, I haven't met you and I hope we will in the near future. Am from NISMED
a neighbor of NSRI.Thanks for the creative christmas tree which Auxie sent to friends.
Peace be with you”. MERLE (Merle Tan University of the Philippines)

“Thanks much Edward. Real nice. W ill pass it to micro friends, in particular”. Lou
(Prof. Lourdes Cardenas, Ph.D. University of the Philippines at Los Baños).

“Edward, AW ESOME!! (Idol talaga kita”! =) – Philip (Prof. Philippina Marcelo, UST
College of Engineering, a friend and colleague).

“Nice shot of the bioluminescent microbes”. Fortune (Prof. Fortunato Sevilla, Ph.D.
UST my undergraduate teacher and MS Thesis adviser)

“Lieber herr EQ, Gruesse aus Malaysien!!! ! Die Bakterien sind sehr schoen, vielen,
vielen dank!!! alles gute....bis bald...Tom” (Prof. Thomas Edison dela Cruz, UST, a
former student and now a colleague)

“Amazing. Thanks for sharing it”! Xenia Tigno (former DAAD and Hanns Seidel
s c hol a r )

“Hi edward, frustrated ako kasi I can't open your bioluminnescent card. please help, di
yata supported ng pc ko yung ginamit mo. what will I open it with? excited pa naman
ako makita at ipagmagaling sa mga hischool classmates ko. warm regards”, Del (Prof.
Dr. Delia Ontengco of the UST Graduate School and former president of the
Philippine Society for Microbiology and the Philippine Academy for Microbiology)

“Very innovative”! Merry Christmas too! Prof. Dr. Maribel G. Nonato, Dean of the
College of Science and P r o f e s s o r o f C h e m i s t r y , D e p a r t m e n t o f C h e m i s t r y ,
C o l l e g e o f S c i e n c e a n d R e s e a r c h C e n t e r f o r t h e N a t u r a l S c i e n c e s University
of Santo Tomas, E s p a n a .
“I can't agree with them more Sir. It was indeed cool and awesome. 'can't help but feel
dumbfounded. Thank you & Merry Christmas”! Karen (Asst. Prof. Karen Santiago,
Dept. of Chemistry, UST, a colleague in research and teaching)

“D
Dear Edward, Ang galing-galing naman...Merry Christmas too Edward. That's my first
and the best Christmas Card”! Cecile (Asst. Prof. Cecile Villaraza, Dept. of
Chemistry, UST, a colleague and friend)

“Hi Edward! Thanks for sharing this wonderful tree! Keep up the good work and hoping
to have a more colorful tree next year. best regards”, Irene (Prof. Irene E. Samonte,
Dr. rer. nat./PhD)

“Alam mo ba, Edward, I sent it to all my friends and at the end I gave my Christmas
greetings and ended with... from a microbiologist... proud to be one! And I have so
many encouraging feedback and beautiful comments. Pero di ba plant talaga yan?
Kasi we are having our NPSP convention and Mafel and I were apeaking about it. I
said I think Edward incorporated the microbe into a tree. She said no, it is media and
he streaked the organism on it. No I said, plant yun. Ano nga ba... kasi yung mga
friends ko na non-science tinatanong ako... nung una nga sabi ko sa fish, yun pala
squid. Naku Edward, palagay ko ilalagay nila yang front cover ng journal, tamang tama
sa Christmas season! Biro mo from the Philippines! Una kang nakaisip... sana magka
award ka dyan! Para tuloy gusto ko subukan. Curious talaga ako.
This was also sent to PSM Board and PNMCC and all good comments... I'll tell Anton
to show it to Espie. Thanks, Edward”, Del (Prof. Delia Ontengco, Ph.D., UST a
colleague and friend in the Graduate School, PSM and PAM)

“Dear Edward, Thank you very much for the bioluminescent Christmas tree! Thanks for
changing the format. At least, I don't feel hopeless this time. You're just great! Up and
on, dear friend! Merry Christmas too! Ciao”, Alice, (Prof. Alicia Aguinaldo, Ph.D., an
esteemed Natural Products Chemist working in UST)
“Hallo Edward, danke für die guten Wünsche und den biolumineszierenden
Weihnachtsbaum. Gute Idee! W ir wünschen auch Ihnen ein Frohes W eihnachtsfest.
Sehr genau erinnern wir uns noch an die Vorbereitungen auf Weihnachten auf dem
Campus der Universität. Hier in Deutschland ist es diese Jahr weniger Trubel mit
Weihnachten. Ich bekomme da gar nichts von mit, da ich keine Zeit habe, in die Stadt
zu gehen. Herzliche Grüße auch an Frau Prof. Aguinaldo”! Ihr K. Krohn, Prof. Dr.
Karsten Krohn, Paderborn University, Germany. (Hello Edward, thanks for the merry
wish and the bioluminescent Christmas tree. Good Idea! We wish you also a Merry
Christmas. Exactly we remembered the preparation for Christmas at the campus of the
university. Here in Germany in this year there is fewer hustle and bustle with Christmas.
I don’t received much of it since I don’t have time to go to the city. Heartfelt greetings to
Prof. Aguinaldo”! Your K. Krohn, (Prof. Dr. Karsten Krohn, Paderborn University,
Germany).
“Hi Sir, Ang ganda! Ano ang secret duon? Nilagay nyo sa soap suds yung V.f.”?
Miman (Asst. Prof. Mary Ann Gonzalez-Santos, a former student and friend
pursuing PhD at the Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman)
Dear Edward, Hello!!! Merry Christmas!!! Glad to hear from you...W OOOOWWW
AW ESOME!!!! christmas tree!!!! me and mom were impressed!!! W ish we see it for
real!! Anyway if ever you visit me here just bring me some of those ...am off today, am
always in contact with Flores family. Always, Sinie (Sinie Reselosa, a friend and
former teaching colleague in UST now working as a nurse in Texas)

Hello Ed! thanks a lot. Its very nice. Merry Christmas to you. Regards, Yoly (Yoly
Ochoa Ilagan, Chemist working in UniLab and a friend from way back in the UST
Graduate School Lab)

Hi Ma’am Millie! thanks a lot for the bioluminescent x'mas tree! Ang galing naman ni sir
EQ! Please extend my congratulations! Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year
too! Ingat lagi! Cheers, Vivian & Darwin (Vivian Nicolas, a friend and former
teaching colleague in UST now living in London)

Merry christmas everyone! Our microbiology professor of the college of science, UST,
Ed Quinto, came up with the first bioluminescent christmas tree! read on! Hope you like
it! Galing 'no?! Love, peace and prayers, Millie Girl (Millie Ocampo, a friend and
former teaching colleague in UST now residing in New Zealand)

CONGRATS! Panginternational ka talaga. I'm happy for you. Dapat gawin kang Full
Prof 3 na dahil super -meritorious case ka. God bless... Ingats....Cheers, Mayet (An
esteemed friend - Prof. Dr. Marietta Baysa, UST College of Education)

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your family . Prof. Dr. Clotilde N. Arcangel,
Dean, College of Education; University of Santo Tomas

Hi Edward! Great to hear from you my friend! Thanks for the

unique Christmas greeting. Saka na kita greet kasi hihingi pa ako ng regalo Ninong
hahaha...joke joke joke.....Regards and God bless...Fides (Prof. Fides Tambalo, a
good friend from the PSM and a faculty member at the Institute of Biology, UPLB)

Eto pa... but did not know how to answer her question. niloko kasi ako nung iba
n a p i n a t a y mo d a w y u n g s q u i d ! ! ! h e h e a m s u r e y o u d i d n o t ! ! ! o r d i d y o u ? ! M y
God! Thanks for this Mil lie! Ikakalat ko ito. Ang galing - galing ni Ed! Is this real?
P l e a s e t e l l h i m t h a t . M e r r y C h r i s t ma s ! T h a n k y o u f o r t he g i f t y o u d o na t e d.
L u mi g a y a k a m i . M a ' a m E v e l y n (Prof. Evelyn Songco, a beloved colleague and
esteemed Professor of the College of Education, UST)
Hi Sir EQ, I am greatly honored to received such amazing photo from one and only
greener pasture microbes ..... ang ganda ganda!!!!! Regards to everybody.....miss you
all, Tess (Teresa Calwit, a friend and teaching colleague in UST, now residing in
Canada)

Hi Sir Quinto, Salamat po Sir Quinto. Congrats po sa bioluminescent christmas tree!

Kristine (Kristine Hutalle, a former student pursuing Ph.D. in Germany)

Hi Ed, Great Christmas tree! Merry Xmas and more bioluminiscence to you and for all of
us! Vivian T. (Prof. Vivian Tolentino of the Department of Biology, Ateneo de
Manila University, a colleague and friend).

Hi Edward, Your Christmas tree is beautiful. Can I forward it to some members of apsap
(Asia Pacific society for applied phycology) outside the country. Thanks
Tito Evangelista (A colleague and an officer of the Association of Systematic
Biologists of the Philippines).

The message in the Christmas card that I sent reads “No electricity to illuminate, just the
cold and clean blue-green radiance of the “Microbes of Light” shining in the dark for
hours in water and at room temperature”. Wishing one and all a Merry Blue-green
Christmas. The photo can surely make a good screen saver for the coming yuletide
season. You can email me at edwardquinto@gmail.com or
edward_quinto@hotmail.com and I will send you the photo for your desktop and laptop
computers.

A wonderful screen saver for your computer this Christmas time

Bioluminescence holds so much promise for providing green solutions and practical
applications to safeguard public health and to protect environment from pollution. So let
us explore and try to uncover the full potentials of this promising blue light. In a world
beset with so many problems on energy and pollution, it is perhaps wise to the see the
world in a different light, the light of Bioluminescence.

Last year for 2008, I sent this card of a digital-camera enhanced photo of a
Bioluminescence illuminated Gift-bearing Santa Claus.

A heartfelt wish of a Merry Bioluminescent Christmas

to One and All.

Let us all wage war on Global Warming to ensure the

continued healthy existence of our beautiful Biosphere
long into the distant future!!!