AN amusing news item that briefly bubbled to the top of the information stew last week was an announcement by scientists at the University of the Philippines that their research had 'found evidence of the presence of gas hydrates in the Manila Trench.' This was immediately followed by a proclamation that this 'can be a great source of alternative energy,' although the scientists stressed that 'more feasibility studies need to done' in order to 'establish mechanisms to maximize the use of the alternative energy source.'