Anabelle Tulin shares with us her insights on the deep connection between science and spirituality, looking back at her stint as a professor and researcher at Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte.
This sharing is meant to be a moment of reflection together on the relationship between our spiritual life and the call to take care of creation. We could ask ourselves: What have we truly done to nurture, preserve, and conserve nature to its fullest?
At Visayas State University (VSU), nestled in the lush heart of Eastern Visayas, the relationship between science and spirituality finds fertile ground. For decades, the soil has not only been a subject of study — it has been a sacred text, revealing the quiet presence of God beneath every leaf, root, and grain.
Before retiring from government service, I served as a Professor of Soil Science, teaching both undergraduate and graduate students the delicate balance between human progress and ecological stewardship. Each semester began with a simple yet profound question: “Can you imagine the world without soils?” What followed was always a spirited hour of reflection, awakening students to the invisible foundation of life itself.
Soil, often overlooked, is the silent witness to humanity’s choices. Its degradation — through erosion, flooding, landslides, and infertility — mirrors the wounds inflicted by careless hands. Climate change has only deepened these scars. But education, rooted in compassion and inquiry, offers a path toward healing.
With my student advisees, we explored the toxic legacy of plastics buried in our soils and seas, uncovering their harmful effects on human health. We studied pollutants along the rivers of Baybay and Ormoc City, revealing their impact on marine ecosystems. These findings, published in Scopus-indexed journals, were not just academic — they were acts of service, embraced by local governments seeking sustainable solutions.
Our work extended beyond borders. In collaboration with scientists from Australia, the Czech Republic, and the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), we launched high-impact projects on integrated nutrient management and disaster risk reduction. One initiative, funded by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, focused on sustainable crop and vegetable production. Another, developed with Belgian partners, aimed to build a smart and resilient disaster preparedness model for Eastern Visayas — equipping communities with early warning systems and practical tools for survival.
Nature’s abundance continued to inspire. Together with fellow researchers, we investigated the biological activity and chemistry of essential oils derived from native tree species. These oils — possessing anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties — hold promise for agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and industry. Our studies on 34 plant species with antidiabetic and antioxidant potential have already identified five candidates for further research.
In all these endeavors, one truth remains: God has entrusted us with a living pharmacy, a sacred garden of healing. But this gift demands reverence. Science must be wielded not for exploitation, but for restoration. Soil and plants are not mere resources — they are expressions of divine generosity.
Our closeness to God draws us closer to nature. And our love for nature compels us to act — for the greater glory of God, and for the flourishing of all creation.
Anabelle Tulin
How the Movement started in VISCA (now VSU)
Anabelle Tulin first encountered the Focolare Movement in 1987. At the time, she and her college batchmate had just completed their Master’s degrees at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (Laguna) and were discerning a call to religious life. They traveled to Cebu for what they called “convent shopping,” hoping to find a place where they could live out their desire to give their lives to God. By providence, they met Anie — also a batchmate from VISCA[1] — who invited them to visit the Focolare house in Lahug (Cebu). There, Anabelle met Wedy Dacut, a focolarina, who shared her life and invited them to attend a one-day Mariapolis gathering in Tacloban City. That encounter stirred something deep within her.
When Anabelle returned to VISCA, she shared what she had discovered with her friends in the church, and more than twenty of them decided to attend the Mariapolis together. For her, it was a moment of grace. After that gathering, they pledged to live the Ideal of unity and embrace Jesus forsaken on the cross in every suffering, as taught by Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare. That commitment marked the beginning of the Focolare Movement at VSU — a journey of unity, love, and spiritual renewal that continues to shape Anabelle’s life and the lives of many others in their community.
[1] Visayas State College of Agriculture, former name of Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte
