Dr. Fe del Mundo died at 99, received Grand Collar Presidential Award

The country’s distinguished Pediatrician and National Scientist Dr. Fe del Mundo passed away on August 06, 2011 at the age of 99.

President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino conferred the Grand Collar (Maringal Na Kuwintas) of the Order of the Golden Heart” on Dr. Fe del Mundo at the State Necrological Service held at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicutan on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 9:00 -11:00 a.m.

The Presidential Award is given to individuals who have rendered distinguished service in the amelioration and improvement of the moral, social and economic conditions of the marginalized sectors of our countryman.

Dr. del Mundo was a woman of many first, she was the first female and first Asian to be enrolled in Pediatrics at the prestigious all-male Harvard Medical School (1935-1940) as a Philippine Commonwealth scholar.

She was also the first woman to head a government general hospital in the Philippines when she was appointed as director of the Manila Children’s hospital (later renamed Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Hospital) in 1943.

She was also the first Filipino diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics (1947), which introduced the Filipino women and physicians to the world.

She was also the first Asian president of the Medical Women’s International Association, holding this post from 1962 to 1966. In 1967, she became an Emeritus Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

She was a pioneering force in child health care. She was the founder and first woman president of the Philippine Pedriatic Society, wherein she served from 1952 to1955. She likewise founded the Philippine Medical Women’s Association and became its first president.

She became the first woman president of the Philippine Medical Association, a first in the association’s decade-long history.

After more than a decade, she became the first Philippine delegate to the World Academy of Science in Trieste, Italy (1993).

In 1957, Dr. del Mundo established the Children’s Memorial Hospital (later renamed Dr. Fe del Mundo Medical Center). To do this, she sold her own home and personal effects.

The hospital was expanded in 1960 with the establishment of an Institute of Maternal and Child Health, the first of its kind in Asia. The said hospital continues to admit thousands of children requiring quality medical help.

Dr. Fe del Mundo, in addition should also have been the first person or a woman alive who received the “Grand Collar” (Maringal na Kuwintas) of the order of the Golden Heart” Presidential Award, which could have been possible considering her life span of 99 years.

Could the Grand Collar be not awarded by any president of the country when she was 90 years old or so while she is still breathing?

If so, why wait till she is dead? Is the Grand Collar (Maringal na Kuwintas) of the Order of the Golden Heart” Presidential Award meant to be a posthumous award?

If it is a posthumous award, something must be done to it, someone has to receive it alive for as long as that someone has satisfied its criteria, most especially when the accomplishments are all superlatives, beyond comparison, one of its kind in intelligence, dedication and perseverance on the pursuit of selfless health service to mankind, especially in remote rural areas.

It is very regrettable that she spent half of her life serving the Filipino mankind (as she lived for 99 years) with her deeds or accomplishments unmatch by anyone, yet did not have a chance even for a awhile to savor and enjoy her glory.

It is very lamentable that given that life span (99 years) and knowing that she is the only one who had the best capabilities, unsurpassed up to this time and knowing too, that she, at the age of 99 is waiting for nothing except death, the award should have been conferred to her while she can feel, while she can know, that her eyes and thousands of eyes could have been filled with tears of joy.

Indeed, what had happened to Dr. Fe del Mundo was very regretting and very lamenting!

Dr. del Mundo joined the faculty of the University of Santo Tomas as an associate professor of pediatrics from 1943 to 1954. She then transferred to Far Eastern University (FEU) as professor of pediatrics and chairman of pediatrics department from 1954 to 1974.

She eventually became Professor Emeritus of FEU in 1974. The Philippine Women’s University, the Medical Women’s College of Pennsylvania, Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and the University of the Philippines (1996) conferred on her Honoris Causa degrees.

Part of her commitment to quality medical education was her acceptance of students from different schools to be trained at her hospital, an idea she adapted from the Harvard Medical School.

She was admitted to the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phil) in 1979, in recognition of her important contributions to science and community as pediatrician, teacher, researcher, humanitarian and grand dame of Philippine Pediatrics and medicine.

In 1980, Dr. del Mundo became the first woman National Scientist when she was conferred the Rank and Title of National Scientist, the highest honor that the Philippine Government can bestow on a Filipino scientist for her outstanding contributions to science and technology.

Her undeniable devotion to child care earned her numerous prestigious national and international awards, including the Elizabeth Blackwell award for outstanding service to mankind in 1966.

After some years, the distinguished Ramon Magsaysay award for public service by a private citizen in 1977, the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award in 1980, and recently, the 2010 Order of Lakandula with the rank of Bayani by the Philippine Government.

Dr. del Mundo was a valedictorian of the University of the Philippines, College of Medicine (1933). She placed 3rd in the national medical board exams, thereafter and was named Most Outstanding Scholar in Medicine in the Philippine in 1933.

In 1936, she was granted a scholarship by then President Manuel Quezon and obtained post-graduate training in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School for five years.

In 1940, she received her M.A. in Bacteriology from Boston University in Massachusetts.

Her most significant researches dealt mainly with viral diseases, particularly those on polio-myelitis, rubeola, rubella, and varicella. These clinical researches served as reference in the use of vaccine and immunizations in the country.

The absence of well-equipped laboratories for analysis did not restrain her from determining the nature of the sickness. Dr. del Mundo would send specimens or blood samples for polio to New York, measles to London, rubella to Switzerland, and chicken pox to Japan.

In 1954, she helped characterize dengue fever at the clinical and laboratory levels, which contributed to a better understanding of the disease.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo and National Scientist Mercedes B. Concepcion, Vice President of National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) delivered their eulogy messages.

The NAST, Philippines, the nation’s highest recognition and advisory body on issues concerning science and technology, joins the scientific community in mourning the demise of National Scientist del Mundo. Ester Gallardo, PSciJourn MegaManila

CSC NAGKALOOB NG DONASYON SA MGA BAYANI NG KALIKASAN

ENDOWMENT FUND FOR ‘ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES’. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje (third from right) receives from Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Francisco Duque III (second from left) a facsimile of a check amounting to Php314,241.00, representing the proceeds from the In a R.A.C.E.(Responsive, Accessible, Courteous and Effective) to Serve Fun Run organized by the CSC to help families of DENR forest guards who died in the line of duty. Conducted last Sept. 4 at the grounds of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, the Fun Run was participated in by close to 3,000 runners composed mostly of government employees to kick off the nationwide celebration of the 111th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service. Paje said the DENR will put up an endowment fund for ‘environmental heroes’. Also in photo are (left to right): DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr.; CSC Director Myrna Macatangay; CSC Assistant Commissioner Anicia Marasigan-De Lima; DENR Assistant Secretary Corazon Davis; and DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr.

SA ginanap na ‘Flag Raising Ceremony’ sa ‘compound’ ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) noong ika-14 ng Setyembre 2011 ay ipinagkaloob ng Komisyon ng Serbisyo Sibil sa pamamagitan ni Chairman Fracisco T. Duque III ang tsekeng nagkakahalaga ng Tatlong daan labing apat na libo at dalawang daan apat napu’t isang piso (P 314,241.00) na nalikom mula sa isinagawang R.A.C.E. (Responsive, Accessible, Courteous and Effective) to Serve Fun Run noong ika-4 ng Setyembre 2011 sa Philippine International Convention Center na dinaluhan ng ikalawang pangulo ng bansa na si Jejomar C. Binay sa pakikipagtulungan ng Philipine Sports Commission, lokal na pamahalaan ng Pasay, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Pasay City Police District, Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at Philippine Information Agency.

Ang nasabing Fun Run ng Civil Service Commission (CSC) ay pasimula lamang ng mga nakahanay na gawain para sa pagridiwang ng ika-111 taong pagkakatatag ng Serbisyo Sibil sa Pilipinas na nilahukan ng dalawang libo at walong daan at dalawampu’t dalawang (2,822) kawani ng gobyerno mula sa iba’t ibang sangay kasama ang ilang pribadong sector bilang pagkilala sa mga manggagawa ng Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman (DENR) na nagbuwis ng buhay maipagtanggol lamang ang inang kalikasan.

Isa sa sampung gagawaran ng parangal ng Serbisyo Sibil bilang “Dangal ng Bayan” ng taong kasalukuyan ay si Elpidio “Jojo” Malinao, Forestry Technician I o Forest Guard na nakatalaga sa Makiling Forest Reserve sa lalawigan ng Laguna. Samantala ang Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas Yaman (DENR) sa pamumuno ni Kalihim Ramon J. P. Paje ay nakatakdang magkaloob ng pinansyal na tulong sa mga pamilya na nag-alay ng buhay sa pagpapatupad ng nakaatas na tungkulin na tinaguriang ‘Environmental Heroes’ ng bansa.

Ang ibinigay na halaga na nalikom mula sa ‘Fun Run’ ng CSC ay ilalagak ng DENR sa ‘Trust Fund’ at magtatalaga ng isang grupo na mag-aasikaso para sa mga pamilya ng mga kawani ng kanilang ahensya na nasawi dahil sa atas ng katungkulan gayundin upang matiyak na ang mapapalawig ang ganitong uri ng programa para sa mga bayani ng kalikasan.

Samantala, hinimok naman ni Chairman Duque ang mga empleyado ng DENR na sumama sa susunod na taunang pagtakbo upang makamit ang sampung libong (10,000) makakasali sa 3K at 5K Fun Run at mapalaki pa ang maiipon na halaga para sa namatay na kasama nila na nanatiling tapat sa trabaho. Cathy Cruz, PSciJourn Mega Manila

PDEA KINILALA ANG PANGULO NG ELLIPTICAL PRESS CORP

SA ginanap kamakailan (Setyempre 5, 2011) na pagkilala ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) sa mga samahang sibiko, mamamahayag, kapulisan at mga ‘Prosecutors’ kasama si Ben Figura, Brodkaster ng AFP-DWDD sa hanay ng mamahayag sa mga naging katuwang ng nasabing ahensya sa paglaban ng paggamit ng bawal na gamot.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang nasabing Brodkaster ay Pangulo rin ng Elliptical Press Corp na humihimpil sa DA Press Office. Bukod sa pagiging ‘Announcer’ at ‘Commentator’ ay matatandaan na taong 1998 pa nang maging magkasama sina PDEA Director General Jose “Sonny” Gutierrez at Ben Figura sa Rotary Club North Balintawak.

Kapwa isinulong ng dalawa ang iba’t ibang paraan ng serbisyong bayan tulad taunang pagsasagawa ng ‘Educational Tour’ kabilang ang San Jose High School sa Lungsod Quezon. Bago pa man umano naging pinuno ng PDEA si Gen. Gutierrez ay naging masidhi na ang kanyang bokasyon kontra droga at naging kasama sa mga labang ito si Ben.

Kinilala ng PDEA si Rotarian Figura sa hanay ng ‘media practioner’ bilang brodkaster ng programang “Misyon Aksyon Ngayon” na napapakinggan tuwing Lunes hanggang Biyernes 11:30 hanggang 12:00 ng tanghali sa pagbibigay ng mga impormasyon sa kanyang segmentong “Magkasangga Kontra Droga” tuwing Miyerkoles ng kaparehong oras ng pagsasahimpapawid. Sa nabanggit na programa ay na pawang mga opisyal PDEA ang kanyang tagapagsalita upang ipaliwanag ang kasamaang dulot ng bawal na gamut sa katawan ng tao at kung paano maiiwasan ito. Inilalahad din ang pakikipagtulungan ng iba’t-ibang sangay ng pamahalaan sa PDEA katulad ng Bureau of Immigration.

Ayon kay Figura, nais niyang makamit ang tuwid na daan gamit ang kanyang propesyon upang maipalaganap ang mga programa ng pamahalaan lalo na sa paglaban sa bawal na gamot na itinuturing nyang salot sa bayan at ugat ng mga karumal-dumal na krimen sa bansa.

Panawagan pa rin Ben sa lahat ng sektor na dapat aniya na maging kaakibat sila ng pamahalaan sa layunin nitong tulungan ang mga mahihirap at hikahos na kababayan upang maipaabot ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan tulad ng nilalayon ng mga Rotarian na tuwina’y may kaisipang “Rotary Serve Above Self”. Cathy Cruz, Pscijourn Mega Manila

“PITO MO, KALIGTASAN KO” INILUNSAD NG UPHNA BISE NG KYUSI TUMULONG

NASA larawan si Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte habang ipinagkakaloob ang 100 Stainless Steel Whistle (pito) sa Founder ng United Pampanga Hills Neighborhood Association (UPHNA) na si Cathy Cruz, Broadcast Journalist ng DWAD “Lingkod Bayan” kaugnay sa paglulunsad nila ng “Pito Mo, Kaligtasan Ko” sa mga residente ng nasabing lugar sa Barangay Payatas. Kasama nya rin ang UPHNA Interim Officers na sina (mula kaliwa) Treasurer Jezreel Tabisora, President Ismael Payawal Jr., Vice President Engr Jess Fernandez at Seargent-at-Arms Raymond Manjares.

Ang nasabing proyekto ay bunsod ng kabi-kabilang krimen na nagaganap sa kanilang lugar. Sa pangunguna ni Cathy Cruz ipinakita nyang walang imposibleng makamtan ang kapayaan sa isang lugar kung ang bawat naninirahan ay tunay na nagmamalasakitan at nagkakaisa tungo sa isang layunin, ang magkaroon ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa kanilang lugar.

Sa kabilang banda, tanging nasambit ng UPHNA Vice President na si Jess Fernandez na “Hindi nasayang ang aking nag-iisang boto sa kanya” dahil aniya tinupad ng butihing Bise Alkalde ang kanyang ipinangako nang nakaraang halalan na tutulong sa mga mahihirap na taga-Kyusi sa sandaling sya ay palarin manalo. Marie Santos, Tuklasin Natin

Two-time MILO® Marathon Queen Jho-Ann Banayag, Did it Again!

MANILA, July 31, 2011— Two-time MILO® Marathon Queen Jho-Ann Banayag led a 1-2-3 finish by the Filiipina bets in the Metro Manila elimination of the 35th National MILO® Marathon, which started and ended at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.


The 29-year-old Banayag of Compostela Valley left behind RP training pool teammate Mary Grace de los Santos in the first 18 kilometers along Gil Puyat Ave. going to the Fort to finish the full 42.195-km race in 2:53:37. “I could not improve my best time because of the rain--the course was slippery at times and my damp shoes made my feet heavier,” said the Philippine Army private first class Banayag.


Organizers have put a Php 20,000 bonus prize to the first female runner who breaks Jhoan Banayag's MILO® Marathon women’s course record of 2:48:16. With this, Banayag looks to better her performance in the finals and break her own record.


She added that the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) is considering the MILO® Marathon as a qualifier for inclusion to the RP national team. “I really hope to make it to the RP team and do a repeat of my 2009 Laos Sea Games marathon victory,” added Banayag, the Milo National Finals champion in 2005 and 2006."


De los Santos of Cebu settled for second with a time of 2:55:10 while Ailene Tolentino was a far third with a clocking of 3:11:32, denying Kenyan runners, Susan Jemutai and Peris Poywo of a chance to grab the limelight. Jemutai managed a 3:11:43 finish for fourth and Poywo finished seventh in 3:48:29.


It's a different story on the men's side, as 24-year-old Tallam of Item, Kenya made his presence felt when he crossed the finish line all alone in 2:28:42 besting Eric Panique for the crown in the elite men’s category. Panique timed 2:31:16 for second followed by Ireneo Raquim for third with a clocking of 2:32:26 and Elmer Sabal at fourth in 2:33:15. Benjamin Kipzaki also of Kenya finished fifth with a time of 2:48:14. “My strategy was to maintain my pace on the first half of the race, then I sped up to gain my lead from there. I think my training joining different marathons across Southeast Asia helped boost my performance in the race,” said 24 year old Tallam.


Aside from making it to the National Finals on Dec. 11 in Manila, both Banayag and Tallam earned P50,000 cash each, while runners up, Panique and De los Santos received P30,000 and P20,000 each for Raquim and Tolentino.


Rafael Poliquit (1:13:58) and Nhea Ann Barcena (1:33:48) won the men and women’s ’s 21-km category respectively, while Milbert Nabuab dominated the men’s 10-km race in 36:25 and Mars Devera for the distaff side with a time of 44:25. For the 10-km run, Manolo Refugia (16:47) and Catherine Bristol (22:06) topped the men and women’s 5-km run respectively and for the 3-km kiddie run, Kim Sayrio Dela Cruz (0:11:32) and Leonalyn Raterta (0:12:22), daughter of Luisa Raterta, ruled the boys' and girls' division respectively.


The 35th National MILO® Marathon heightens its commitment of building champions in sports and in life by continuing its advocacy of providing running shoes to underprivileged children. Last year, a total of 4,200 pairs were donated to public school children nationwide. This season, in line with Nestle’s celebration of 100 years, the advocacy aims to give 100 pairs of shoes to 100 students from 100 schools nationwide—a total of 10,000 more shoes donated.


Nestle officials led by Milo Sports Events Assistant Vice President Patricio Goc-Ong expressed elation over the good turn out despite heavy rains. "Today's race saw hosts of local and foreign runners, families, friends and a number of running groups even with drizzles here and there. This is a delightful indication on the still increasing fanfare for running in the country and strong support for the marathon's "Help Give Shoes" advocacy.


A total of 1,000 pairs of shoes were given to students of 10 Manila schools, including Pasay City Science High School, Caruhatan National High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Tatalon Elementary School, Gen. Pio Del Pilar High School, Carlos L. Albert High School, Benigno Aquino High School, Kalayaan National High School, Gen. Ricardo Papa Memorial High School and Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School as part of Milo’s "Help Give Shoes" advocacy.


Some 115 runners including 17 women met the age group qualifying time and will be joining other regional leg winners Mercy Taypoc, Reynaldo Pascua, Hernani Sore, Jessa Mangsat, Robeno Javier, Jujet de Asis and Geraldine Sealza in the Finals at the SM Mall of Asia on December 11.


From the Manila race, organized by RunRio Inc., the 17-leg eliminations will shift to Southern Luzon in Batangas on August 21, Puerto Princesa on August 28, Naga on Sept 4 and San Pablo on Sept 11. Then the Milo Marathon heads to Ilo-Ilo (Sept 18), Bacolod (Sept 25), Cebu City (Oct 2), Tagbilaran (Oct 9), Cagayan De Oro (Oct 16), Butuan (Oct 23), General Santos (Oct 30), Davao (Nov 6) with Manila Finals slated on December 11.


The National MILO® Marathon is made possible by event sponsors, Bayview Hotel, Powerade, Summit, Timex, Air21, Department of Education and SM Mall of Asia.

For more info on the National MILO® Marathon and how to be part of its advocacy, visit the exciting new MILO® website via www.milo.com.ph or be a fan of MILO® Philippines on Facebook

Source: MILO® website

Ingat Yaman ng Lungsod Quezon, Ang Tunay Na Lingkod Bayan

Taong 1986 nang unang pumalaot si Edgar T. Villanueva sa larangan ng serbisyo publiko bilang inspektor sa upisina ng Ingat Yaman sa Lungsod Quezon. Bagaman isiniling na may gintong kutsara sa bibig hindi naging sagwil ito upang ang paglilingkod sa bayan ay isakatuparan.

Hindi nabanaagan ang tila Adonis na si Ed ng anumang yabang sa katawan. Nananatiling may kababaang loob na naghatid sa kanya sa tagumpay. Sa kanyang pagiging inspektor hindi nya inalintana ang mga di magandang posibilidad na mangyayari sa kanya magampanan lamang ng mahusay ang atas ng katungkulan. Kung tutuusin, maaari namang gawin nya ang sya ay mag-negosyo na lamang subalit sadyang ibig niya na maging bahagi ng kaunlaran ng kanyang bayan.

Lalong napatunayan ang angking katalinuhan at dedikasyon sa kanyang trabaho sa pag-upo nang mahalal ang ngayong Speaker of the House na si Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte nang kunin si dating Ingat Yaman Victor B. Endriga at piliin sya ng huli na maging katuwang sa itinatatag nitong Special Task Force noong Marso 3, 2003 upang ibangon ang pinansyal na kalagayan ng Kyusi.

Sa binuong sampung (10) Examiner nang ngayon City Administrator nang si Endriga, namumukod tanging si Edgar Villanueva ang may pinakamataas na koleksyong nalikom sa loob lamang ng siyam (9) na buwan (Marso-Disyembre 2003) na 40 Milyong Piso sa kabuuang 100 Milyong Piso. Nagsilbing dahilan ito ng kanyang ‘spot promotion’ nang isang bahagdanang taas mula sa kanyang posisyon.

Ang kamangha-manghang pag-angat ng Lungsod Quezon ay naging usapan sa mga karatig na lungsod at munisipyo, dahilan kung bakit sina Victor B. Endriga at Edgar T. Villanueva ay naging matunog ang pangalan at naging daan upang hingin ang kanilang tulong noong Hunyo 2004 na ibangon ang munisipyo ng Cainta mula sa lugmok na kalagayan nito.

Dahil napatunayan ang kagalingan sa aspetong pinansyal ipinadala si Edgar T. Villanueva sa Cainta at naging pansamantalang Ingat Yaman nito. Sa loob lamang ng anim (6) na buwan ay unti-unting tumaas ang koleksiyon ng nasabing munisipalidad hanggang sa kilalanin ang Cainta bilang may pinakamataas na nakolektang buwis sa kasaysayan ng pamamahala ng mga munisipyo.

Sa isang Resolusyon iginagawad ng mga Sangguniang Munisipyo ng Cainta Bilang 32 taong 2007 ay kinilala ang di matawarang kagalingan bilang Ingat Yaman ni Ed Villanueva, na naghatid sa kanyang upang masungkit ang opisyal na pagkakatalaga nito magpahanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Matapos ibangon ni Ingat Yaman Edgar Villanueva ang Cainta hiniling muli noong 2008 ang pagseserbisyo nito sa Lungsod Quezon lalo na nang magretiro ang Assistant City Treasurer na si Atty. Rosario V. E. Reyes.

Nagpatuloy ang pagyabong ng Lungsod Quezon, patunay ang kabi-kabilang imprastrakturang proyekto at lalong pagningning ng siyudad sa iba’t ibang serbisyo publiko. Sa kasalukuyan, pagkatapos magretiro ni Victor Endriga at italagang City Administrator ay inilipat na ang pamamahala ng yaman kay Edgar Villanueva.

Sinasabi ng mga taong nakasama ng masipag, matalino at mababang loob na Tresurero ng Kyusi tulad nina Antonio A. Saur, Revenue Examiner, Special Task Force at Eduardo Evangelista na ang kinakailangan na lamang ni Edgar Villanueva ay kumpirmasyon ni Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima upang permanenteng maging Ingat Yaman ng Lungsod Quezon sapagkat anila nasa kaniya na ang mga kwalipikasyon upang maitalaga.

Wika nga ni Examiner Tony kung serbisyo rin lang ang pag-uusapan, higit pa sa limang (5) taon ang karanasan ni Ed dahil tinatayang nasa dalawampu’t limang taon (25) na sya sa serbisyo sa upisina ng Ingat Yaman. Dagdag pa nya na lahat ng trabaho sa Treasurer’s Office ay nagampanan nya nang higit pa sa inaasahan.

Matatandaan na upang maitalaga kang permanenteng Ingat Yaman ng isang munisipalidad o lungsod ay kinakailangang permanente na ang posisyong kinalalagyan, may limang (5) taong karanasan sa nasabing tungkulin, residente ng lungsod at higit sa lahat ay may mataas na rekomendasyon ng Alkalde at maging Konseho nito, na pawang taglay na ng matalinong Villanueva.

Kapansin-pansin din sa kanyang tanggapan na sa ilalim ng kanyang pangalan ay nakatatak ang ‘Public Servant’. Dapat nga talagang ipagmalaki ang tulad ni Ed Villanueva hindi lamang bilang Treasurero ng Cainta o Lungsod Quezon kundi dapat ding irekomenda sa Honor Awards Program ng Civil Service Commission dahil sa kanyang Outstanding Work Performance. Cathy Cruz, PSciJourn Mega Manila

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: JUAN CARLOS T. GONZALEZ, M.S. (Zoology)

For his important contributions in biodiversity research and conservation which led to the discovery of new species of vertebrates including Gallirallus calayensis and Platymantis diesmosi; for his implemented researches that led to the establishment of localized conservation programs for key areas in the Philippines (i.e., South Luzon, Polilio, Cebu, and Mindoro) regarded to be global hotspots for biological diversity in collaboration with other conservation organizations across the world; and for his involvement in the advancement of conservation initiatives and expansion of applications of biological conservation focused on preserving the exceptionally rich biological diversity of the country, Mr. Juan Carlos Gonzalez was chosen as one of the grantees of the 2011 Outstanding Young Scientist award by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl). The award is given to deserving young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made outstanding contributions to science and technology.

His research interests focus on ornithology, phylogepgraphy, conservation biology, vertebrate biology, evolutionary ecology, and ethno-biology, among others.

He actively participated in various local and international professional or scientific organizations, like the UPLB Zoological Society, American Ornithologist’s Union, and the Wild Bird Society of Japan, to name a few. He has also presented papers and posters to numerous national and international conferences and symposia and has been recipient to many academic awards, including the Luisito S. Cuy Memorial Award (1992), Metro Manila Commission Professorial Chair Award (2005), and the BPI Conservation Award (2007).

Mr. Gonzalez is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines Los Banos, where he took up his B.S and M.S. in Zoology in 1992 and 1997, respectively.

He is currently on study leave to pursue his doctorate degree in the United Kingdom under the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program, awarded in 2007. This program is implemented through a partnership of the Philippine Social Science Council, the British Council and the International Institute for Education. In October 2008, he had started his first autumn term (Michaelmas) at the illustrious University of Oxford, after being given a place to read at St Anne’s College. He is now on his third year reading for a D.Phil in Zoology at the equally historic Edward Grey Institute for Field Ornithology (EGI) at the Department of Zoology, under the supervision of Professor Ben Sheldon, Dr Joseph Tobias and Dr Nigel Collar. His research at the EGI represents an integrated approach to tropical evolutionary ecology and conservation biology, including studies in phylogeography, behavioural ecology and ethno-ornithology. His main model system is hornbills, a charismatic group of Asian and Afrotropical birds with a unique habit of nest incarceration, exhibits a fused atlas-axis and elaborated casque to support their long decurved bills.

There are ten species of hornbills endemic to the Philippines, half of which are threatened with extinction and are relatively poorly known. Taxonomy of these hornbills necessitates a comprehensive study, to which he intends to resolve in my dissertation – the Evolution, Ecology and Conservation of Philippine Hornbills. he hopes to understand the dispersal direction and colonization history of these enigmatic birds by constructing a complete species-level multi-locus molecular phylogeny of the Order Bucerotiformes, using different phylogenetic approaches – from estimates of sequence divergence using Maximum Likelihood to construct of calibrated Bayesian chronograms using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Mitochondrial and novel nuclear genes were sequenced largely from historical samples derived from study skins kept in a dozen museum collections worldwide (NHM, OUMNH, UMZC, AMNH, DMNH, NUS-RMVB, NMP, UPLBMNH, UPD-IB, SU-RBGNSM, MSU-AKNSM, MSU-IITCSM) including hornbills collected in the 1850’s by celebrated naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace. This project was also supported by grants from the North of England Zoological Society and the British Ornithologist’s Union. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: CARLO P. MAGNO Ph.D. (Educational Psychology)

For his important research works on metacognition, self-regulation, and student achievement which explain ways how individuals find solutions to problems, control negative emotions, achieve critical and scientific thinking, speak and write in a second language, develop beliefs about learning, and value learning; for introducing modern test theory as an alternative to the use of classical test theory among educators, Dr. Carlo P. Magno was named as one of the grantees for the 2011 Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) award, conferred by the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST Phl). This award is given to outstanding young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made important contributions to science and technology. He has showed professional association in developing educational and psychological assessment in the country wherein he was able to advocate improvement on the practice of assessment among educators and the value of assessment in teaching and learning and demonstrated how sound scientific psychology, dedicated professional work, and passion for the Filipino learners can create ways to improve our educational system that are responsive to the Filipino learner’s needs and aspirations.

Dr. Magno has developed different measures in line with the construction of tools for learning and performance. He developed the scales, such as Academic Self-Regulation Scale (A-SRL-S), Responsibility for Learning Scale (RLS), Scientific Thinking Scale, and Volunteerism scale, among others. He has also developed standardized tests such as the Assessment of Engineering Potential (AEP) with components of achievement, aptitude, and attitude. He pioneered the work on developing taxonomy of different aptitude test items classified according to utility and skills measured. He also developed a line of instruments and systems for assessing teacher performance. These measures include the Learner-Centered Practices (LCP), Student Instructional Report for NSTP, a series of Students’ Teacher Assessment Report (STAR), and the Peer Assistance and Review Form (PARF).

He also used the modern test theory approach such as the Item Response Theory (IRT) in the analysis of test data. Most of his published scales and tests were analyzed using different IRT mathematical models. He trains teachers and higher education students across the country on the construction of assessment tools, assessment process, and alternative forms of assessment. He initiated a movement to develop a set of assessment competencies for teachers to improve teacher skills and instruction.

The theoretical models tested by Dr. Magno further extended learning theories involving the constructs on self-regulation, metacognition, language learning, responsibility for learning, learner-centeredness, and teacher performance. The results of the models tested provide a change in the perspective on how Asian learners are viewed. The models provided new perspectives that infer ways how to approach the Filipino learners in particular. These results can be used to inform educational policies to improve better the teaching practice and how earning is facilitated.

Dr. Magno is active member to many professional organizations, like the Philippine Educational Measurement and Evaluation Association (PEMEA) where he sits as Board Member, the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA), and the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) to name a few. He received many distinguished awards, including Most Outstanding Teacher from De La Salle University (2007), Honorary Award, St. Peter School (2009), and the Natividad G. Fajardo Distinguished Chair in Research Methods (2010).

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the De La Salle University (1998). He holds his M.A. in Basic Education Training at the Ateneo de Manila University (2003) and his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, also at De La Salle (2008).

At present, Dr. Magno teaches at the De La Salle University. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: WAREN N. BATICADOS, Ph.D. (Veterinary Science)

To recognize his significant contributions in the area of molecular research and detection of significant animal diseases caused by Protozoans and Rickettsia specifically trypanosomosis, babesiosis, neorosporosis, and ehrlichiosis which have worldwide importance especially in the tropics including the Philippines, using molecular techniques and biotechnology which prompted rapid diagnosis for timely and proper intervention against the diseases cited, Dr. Waren Baticados was chosen as one of the grantees of the 2011 Outstanding Young Scientist award. The recognition is given by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl) to those is given to deserving young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made outstanding contributions to science and technology.
His research interests include functional genomics (RNA Interference of African trypanosomes), cloning of genes from blood parasites of animals, bioinformatics, establishment of specific molecular diagnostic system for rickettsial and protozoan parasites of small and large animals, and in vivo and in vitro cultivation of blood parasites of animals.
His (and co-workers) twin works on the Trypanosoma congolense L3000 and the T. Brucei rhodesiense have contributed to a better understanding on how trypanosomes, major human pathogens, evade the host’s immune responses. His recent studies on the livestock dilemmas in the country have established appropriate protocols on the quick diagnosis of infectious diseases through molecular detection, PCR, and recombinant DNA technology. Such pieces of information are critical in policy formulation by concerned government agencies regarding these diseases.

Dr. Baticados has published a number and diversified journal publishers where his works are recognized including the countries of Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Turkey and the Philippines. For the year 2010 alone, he was able to publish a total of 11 peer-reviewed journals. He is the senior author of twelve (12) and co-author of fourteen (14) publications in ISI-indexed and other peer-reviewed journals in thirteen (13) different local and international journal publishers. Furthermore, he currently has different clone sequences (AB183873, GU475125, GU475126, GU245936, GU245937) deposited in the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), USA. He is also a member of the editorial board of several local and international peer-reviewed journals.

As a teacher, he is actively involved in several committees of the College as well as the mentoring of students in his his field of expertise as shown by the number of thesis students he advises. He has also consistently received good teaching evaluations by students in the college.

Dr. Baticados is a very productive researcher as evidenced by his scientific publications in most of which, he is the senior author and most were published in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) indexed journals and has demonstrated the capability of undertaking good and relevant science. He is a young man who has already demonstrated the capability of undertaking good and relevant science being the recipient of several research grants, nine UP System International Publication Awards and four UP Professorial Chair Awards. He is also actively mentoring other researchers and students in his field of expertise as shown by the number of thesis students he attracts, the research awards garnered by his students, and the peer-reviewed papers he co-authored with his colleagues, university research staffs and students.

Dr. Baticados obtained his Ph.D. in Veterinary Science at Gigu University in Japan (2005). He finished his masters and bachelors degrees at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (1996 and 1999, respectively).

At present he is Associate Professor III at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Up Los Banos. He was Head of the Parasitology Section of the Department of the Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences for five years and was also a former Head of the Veterinary Molecular Biology Laboratory. He has been a resource speaker in several veterinary conferences and conducted seminars to farmers, farm owners and fellow veterinarians. He was also actively involved in extension services to the K9 Unit of Presidential Security Group (PSG) and various communities. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: REGINA C. SO, Ph.D. (Chemistry)

One of the recipients to receive the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) award for 2011 as given by the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST Phl) is Dr. Regina So, in recognition of her significant contributions in the design and faster synthesis of biologically important unique sphinganine-containing glycosphingolipid analogs used in elucidating the relationship between the structure of glycosphingolipids and the type of immune response they generate. The mentioned award is given to outstanding young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made significant contributions to science and technology.

Dr. So received her B.S. degree in Chemistry from the De La Salle University in Manila (1996). She joined Professor Amy R. Howell’s group at the University of Connecticut in 1998. She also worked at the Department of Chemical Development in Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals with Dr. Carl A. Busacca on asymmetric catalysis before she finished graduate school. After finishing her Ph.D. in 2003, she joined Professor Mukund P. Sibi’s group as a postdoctoral research associate where she worked on the synthesis of P, N ligands and their application in asymmetric catalysis.

In 2005, Dr. So joined the Department of Chemistry at the Ateneo de Manila University as an Assistant Professor, later an Associate Professor in 2009, teaching undergraduate and advanced organic chemistry lecture and laboratory classes and Science and Society.

She also handled important positions in the department, like being Associate Chair of the department and moderator of Ateneo Chemistry Society from 2007 to 2009, and then Chair of the department from 2009 to 2011.

Dr. So is also the founding member of Global Young Academy, which is active in the area of Science Education and Science and Society Group. She is also a member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) and the Kapisanan ng mga Kimiko sa Pilipinas. Moreover, Dr. So has successfully mentored a number of undergraduate and graduate students in Chemistry. She also won the NAST Talent Search for Young Scientist 1st place (2007) and obtain her doctoral dissertation fellowship, University of Connecticut.

She has published worked on the synthesis of sphinganine-ocontaining glycosphingolipids. She has also published articles related to functional materials, like silica sol-gel microcapsule for the controlled release of insect repellant on cotton, molecular recognition properties of Arteminisin-imprinted polymer microspheres, and overcoming multidrug resistance of breast cancer cells by the micellar Doxorubicin nanoparticles of Mpeg-PCL-Graft-Cellulose with a collaborator in Taiwan.

Her research group at Ateneo currently delves on the preparation of novel functionalized materials for natural products separation, environmental and biomedical sensors and devices. She and co-workers have developed molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as functional materials for the separation of artemisinin, as catalysts for the production of monolaurin, and as sensors for the detection of environmental pollutants and histamine as well as fluorescent films and modified-cationic polythiophenes for sensors to detect tuberculosis. Her research outputs have been published in international and national refereed journals. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: NATHANIEL C. AÑASCO, Ph.D. (Fisheries Science)

One of the grantees of the Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) award for 2011 is Dr. Nathaniel C. Anasco in recognition of his important contributions in determining the presence, distribution, and effects of agricultural pesticides, ballast water treatment chemicals, spilled oil, and other marine pollutants on the coastal ecosystems which are important factors in the effective integrated management system of the Philippines coastal zones, since our country, being archipelagic in nature, and has large areas of rice paddy fields and aquaculture farms located near the sea. The said award is given to deserving young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made outstanding contributions to science and technology.

Dr. Anasco research interests include marine pollution and ecotoxiclogy, water quality, marine chemistry, and fisheries biology.

He graduated from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu College in the course B.S. Biology in 1993.in 1991, Dr. Anasco obtained his M.S. in Fisheries at the UP Visayas, Miag-ao campus. He got a scholarship grant from the Japan Ministry of Education in 2004 and eventually earned degrees in M.S. in Fisheries Science and Technology and the Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries Sciences at Kagoshima University in 2007 and 2010, respectively.

His studies aimed at studying the impacts of environmental pollutants to marine habitats and fishery resources in Philippine coastal waters. His technical expertise in the assessment and monitoring of water quality, extent of marine pollution, and marine productivity in the country’s important fishing grounds are significant contributions to both fisheries and environmental sciences. He performs laboratory exposure experiments involving marine bivalves. He conducts the uptake and elimination of agricultural pesticides which will be examined using water and food-borne sources to determine bioaccumulation potential of pollutants and to know their sub-lethal toxicities.

He has published important papers on the biology of non-target fishery catch such as puffer fishes that can be utilized in the future as food, fish meal, and sources of industrial chemicals.

Dr. Anasco works on the toxicology of biotoxins and natural products from marine organisms in the coastal waters of Western Visayas as possible sources of selective and non-persistent pesticides. He just recently initiated the establishment of the Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology (MPE) Laboratory at UP Visayas.

Dr. Anasco is newly-conferred UP Diamond Jubilee Professorial Chair in Fisheries Science from the University of the Philippines. He won Best Paper Presenter award from UP Visayas (2003) and the Director’s Award from the Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture (2002).

He is currently an Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Marine Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas. He continues to participate in international and local scientific meetings to present his activities and results. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: MUDJEKEEWIS D. SANTOS, Ph.D. (Applied Marine Biosciences)

For his outstanding marine biosciences, specifically for his work in utilizing molecular biology and biotechnology for food security and conservation in fisheries to increase aquaculture productivity and for proper management of capture fisheries for its sustainable use to enhance the opportunities for fisherfolk livelihood and the fisheries industry in contributing to sustainable development and poverty alleviation, Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos was chosen as one of the recipients of the Outstanding Young Scientists award for 2011. The said award is given to deserving young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made outstanding contributions to science and technology.

The work of Dr. Santos has been cited in many significant studies and reviews in the understanding of blood formation in humans and other vertebrates published in reputable journals like the Blood ad Cytokine Research. In addition, this work established the true identity of the well studied chicken Myelomonocytic Growth Factor (cMGF) to actually be the chicken orthologue of GCSF, wherein the past and present studies of cMGF has been placed into proper context.

His work on the protocol for the polyclonal anti-recombinant IgM antibody is useful and cost-effective, compared with conventional methods, such that it has tremendous promise for future development of other cell surface markers badly needed in studying blood cells in fish. On the other hand, the results of his work on eastern little tuna (Euthynnus affinis) showing that this resource is shared in Southeast Asia is already being cited and used in regional level management discussions in the ASEAN, even if it has been published.

Through the research of Dr. Santos, a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions has been achieved, and new products for cell marking and virus inhibition have become possible for disease monitoring, control, and prevention. With improved aquatic animal health, increased aquaculture productivity is expected. Likewise, as a result of more accurate information on tuna population structure, better and more effective management of the said tuna in the region can be put in place, which ensures the sustainability of the resource. Couple this with increased aquaculture productivity that directly lessens fishing effort on natural populations, and one can attain food security for generations to come.

Dr. Santos finished his BS in Biology at the University of the Philippines College Baguio, where he also graduated as the Deputy Corps Commander of the UPCB ROTC and a member of the UP Vanguard Incorporated. He obtained his MS in Aquatic Biosciences from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMSAT) in 2005 and further continued until he achieved his Ph.D. in Applied Marine Biosciences in the same university in 2008. While studying, he was active in community work, becoming the president of Science and Technology Advisory Council-Japan Chapter (STAC-J), an organization of Filipino Science and Technology students and professionals based in Tokyo from 2007 to 2008.
Dr. Santos continues to work for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (BFAR-NFRDI) as Officer-in-Charge of the Marine Fisheries Research Division (MFRD). He is also a member of different international and local scientific organizations, committees, and inter-agency task forces such as the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), National Committee on Marine Science (NCMS) of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines and the Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) among others.

He is a recipient of various awards and scholarships including the Leading Labs Fellowship Grant, Leading Labs Network (LLN) of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) in 2011, DOST-PCAMRD Elvira O. Tan Award (Marine Fisheries) in 2010, the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship from 2002 to 2008, Asian SEED Research Institute Grant for Foreign Students from 2004 to 2006, the UNESCO Short Term Fellowship on Biotechnology 1998 to 1999, and the UP Vanguard Inc. Scholarship from 1988 to 1992.

Dr. Santos continues to lead various government-funded and international research projects and collaborate with local and foreign research and academic institutions centered on applying biotechnology and current molecular biology methods, in particular genomics or the use of genes and nucleotides (DNA and RNA), to address: 1) problems in aquatic animal health particularly disease monitoring, control and prevention in fish and shellfish species; 2) problems on the lack of accurate information on aquatic animal population in the natural environment, which is very much needed for proper management and resource enhancement. His specific achievements include the discovery of novel cytokine genes and their duplicated properties that are involved in blood formation and defense in teleost fish namely, development of a polyclonal antibody from a recombinant IgM protein for marking IgM-positive fish white blood cells, development of an RNA aptamer that inhibits virulence of a fish virus, analysis of the multiple drug-resistance phenomenon in some fish pathogenic bacteria by looking at their R-plasmids. Moreover, he established the population structure of a small pelagic tuna in Southeast Asia as being a “shared stock” using a genetic marker (D-loop of mtDNA), and genetically profiled rare fish species such as mullids “ludong” and theraponids “pigek" in the Philippines. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: JOSEPH M. PASIA, Ph.D. Social and Economic Sciences (Applied Mathematics)

For 2011, Dr. Joseph M. Pasia was chosen as one of the recipients of the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) award by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl), in acknowledgment of his significant contributions to the study of evolutionary computation and its applications in the field of operations research, finance, and health care. The award is given to deserving young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who showed significant contributions to science and technology.
His research involves the analysis, design and implementation of evolutionary algorithms for optimization problems in transportation and logistics, scheduling, and financial portfolio selection. Using his training in mathematical optimization, he has found solutions to real-life problems such as vehicle routing and flowshop scheduling problems. With collaborators, he developed a risk-group oriented chronic disease progression model for breast cancer patients. In his various researches, Dr. Pasia developed sophisticated metaheuristic methods to obtain insights and good solutions to these problems which do not have exact solutions. His research outputs have been published in various national and international refereed journals.
Dr. Pasia has produced a significant number of published papers, in which a majority was published in ISI-indexed journals. His undergraduate study on braid theory (using concepts from group theory and geometry) are now important objects especially with their connections to string theory. His masters’ thesis on the other hand, has employed methods from operations research. Further, his doctorate studies bring together all the tools and theories that he has learned in applied mathematics.
His solid training in various fields and versatility has allowed him to mentor at an early point in his career to a good number of graduate and undergraduate students. Moreover, he has been consistently been evaluated by peers and students as one of the best teachers in the Institute of Mathematics.

The vehicle routing problem (VRP) consists of finding the optimal route for a fleet of vehicles, starting and ending at a single depot, that must serve as a set of n customer demands such that each customer is visited by only one vehicle route. If each vehicle can only collect a maximum capacity of units of demand, then the problem is known as a capacitated VRP (CVRP). The objectives of the CVRP that Dr. Pasia has tackled are minimization of tour lengths and balancing of routes. Although exact approaches have been proposed to solve the VRP, it is now known that VRP is NP-hard (computationally difficult) and therefore metaheuristic methods may be the best approach to get good solutions.

When done indiscriminately, metaheuristic approaches may not lead to efficient approaches. Thus, an important research concern of Dr. Pasia is the rigorous analysis of these methods. However, in the papers of Dr. Pasia, he has shown that the computational results he has obtained outperform the best known algorithms for the problems tackled.

Mathematics is often criticized for being an ivory tower discipline, with mathematicians engaging in esoteric and complicated concepts. The work of Dr. Pasia reveals a gifted mathematician – with solid grounding in theory but who can use these complicated theories to help solve practical and pressing problems of society.

Dr. Pasia obtained his doctorate in Social and Economic Sciences at the University of Vienna (2006). He received his M.S. in Applied Math and B.S. in Mathematics at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2001 and 1998, respectively. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: JOSE BIENVENIDO MANUEL M. BIONA, Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering)

To recognize his important scientific undertaking on the development of vehicle drive cycles and testing protocols as well as life cycle assessment (LCA)-based dynamic energy and emissions models for evaluating alternative motor vehicle propulsion, Dr. Jose Bienvenido Manuel M. Biona was chosen as one of the grantees of the annual Outstanding Young Scientist (OYSI) award spearheaded by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl). The said award is in recognition to outstanding young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made exemplary contributions to science and technology. The stated models and methodologies have been significant in developing transport technology and policy evaluation for the Philippines.

As Director of the Center for Research and Training at Don Bosco Technical College prior to joining De La Salle University (DLSU), he initiated a number of clean vehicles research projects which involved technical, economic, and environmental evaluation of various alternative tricycle technologies and analysis of the long term life cycle soundness of various phase-out policies and standards. The evaluation made use of the drive cycle based vehicle performance, energy, and environment simulation tools which provides an alternative way of quantifying emission and fuel economy factors through steady state dynamometer testing and computer simulation.

He also led a team in the evaluation of the different ways in utilizing waste cooking oil in jeepneys including running on pure oil with pre-heating, mixing the crude with diesel and mixing used oil biodiesel with diesel. Further, he headed a DOST-ETV panel in the evaluation of the LPG fumigation technology for jeepney engines and initiated a program on the technical and life-cycle assessment of energy utilization pathways for jatropha press cakes.

He has been involved in electric vehicle-related initiatives which include the development of simulation models for hybrid-electric and plug-in electric tricycle for the local market, which was also used to analyze the long term economic and technical viability of the technology in jeepneys and tricycles. Results of the study have been shared in various for and utilized in the green transport planning in various identified cities.

Dr. Biona is involved in many diversified projects and consultancies from different institutions here and abroad. He has also convened to many local and international conferences. He is member of the Electric Vehicles Alliance and Partnership for Clean Air and sits as a Board Member of the Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines (EVAP). Moreover, he is member of the technical working group tasked to formulate the standards for electric vehicles in the country and also serves as a consultant for the Energy and Environment program of the Congressional Commission for Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE). His work has produced a number of internationally refereed papers in high impact research publications such as the Transportation Research and Clean Technology and Environmental Policy journals.

He finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Don Bosco Technical College in 1995. He received his masters and doctorate degrees in Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University (DLSU) with support from the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Scholarship of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DLSU Graduate Student Fellowship programs.

Dr. Biona is currently an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department and a Research Scientist at the Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research of the De La Salle University. In addition, he is also leading the German Agency for International Development (GIZ) funded mobile emissions inventory and port emissions inventory modeling projects in Iloilo City and Cagayan De Oro, in cooperation with the local universities in the area. The mobile emissions model being developed is designed to provide the hourly vehicular emissions for each street in the city throughout the year. Results will be combined with area and stationary emissions and fed to a dispersion modeling tool to simulate ambient air quality for baseline conditions and under various traffic policy, rerouting and vehicle technology scenarios, emission load addition or reductions, and re-zoning plans. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: CLARO N. MINGALA, Ph.D. (Infectious Diseases)

Dr. Claro N. Mingala is one of the recipients of this year’s Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) award in recognition of his significant studies on the immunology of water buffaloes by evaluating the immune responses at the molecular level, providing the baseline information necessary for the development of DNA-based technologies in the production of vaccines, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic agents. The said award, spearheaded by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl) is given to young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has made significant contributions to science and technology. His studies also include epidemiological assessment and diagnostic identification of important water buffalo diseases such as Trypanosomiasis, Mastitis, Cryptosporidiosis and viral diseases.

His career started as an animal health consultant in UNIVET, a private veterinary pharmaceutical company. He joined the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in 1996 and stayed with the agency holding various positions such as technical staff in PMED, GIP coordinator, Animal Health coordinator, ISO Lead Auditor and as JICA-WBBCIP project counterpart expert before his graduate studies in Japan in 2004.

Dr. Mingala’s studies aim to elucidate the differences in the immune responses of swamp-and riverine-type water buffaloes. He did an initial epidemiological survey followed by analysis of cytokine expression dynamics and evaluation of possible effects of nucleotide polymorphisms in the cytokine expression. This molecule-epidemiological and immunological study is a comparative evaluation of the pathogen-host immune system interaction and disease progression between swamp-and-riverine water buffaloes. It is feasible that the identified polymorphisms include additional control elements such as modifiers or enhancers that explain water buffalo could be more disease tolerant than the riverine-type water buffalo.

The identification of genetic factors, .which influence disease resistance and susceptibility may lead to development and wise formulation of an effective disease prevention and control strategies to increase production and propagation of water buffaloes. Suffice to say that identification of a more resistant or tolerant species to diseases would be more economically viable especially to rural farming communities and the whole livestock industry of the country.

He participated in various trainings locally and abroad sponsored by JICA (Japan), MTCP (Malaysia), FAO-APHCA, and OIE. Recently, he participated in the WHO/TDR Protocol Development Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an a.ctive member of the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, the Philippine Society of Animal Science, the Philippine College of Ruminant Practitioners, the Nueva Ecija Veterinary Medical Association, Society for the Advancement of Veterinary Education and Research and mthe Asia Pacific – International Molecular Biology Network.

Dr. Mingala earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Veterinary Studies (MVSt) at the Central Luzon State University under the CSC MS Local Scholarship Program, and his Ph.D. in Veterinary Science at the Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine in Hokkaido University, Japan under the Monbukagakusho (Japanese Government) Scholarship Grant. He specializes in the field of large ruminant immunology, epidemiology, and virology.

Currently, he is doing collaborative researches with the RITM and WHO/ TDR on Schistosomiasis vaccine studies, the Japanese Center for Zoonoses Control on Mycobacterium TB research and the US-PL480 funding on Animal Health Biotechnology capacitation. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: CHRISTOPHER P. MONTEROLA, Ph.D. (Physics)

For his significant contributions in the fields of complex networks, self- organization, nonlinear forecasting, granular matter, physics education and psychophysics, Dr. Christopher Monterola was chosen as one of the grantees of the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) award conferred by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl). The said award is given to outstanding young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has demonstrated significant contributions to science and technology.
His work on complex networks analysis demonstrated that neural networks can benefit from ambient noise in both temporal and spatial processing of information and provided understanding of the crack propagation in woven fabrics and multilevel marketing. He and co-workers demonstrated mathematically that self-organization such as herding of animals, firing of neurons, avalanche dynamics in granular materials can be achieved even in dissipative environment, in contrast with prevalent views. His work on analytic and numerical models with scaled experiments has helped understand the clogging and stability of granular systems.

Further, he showed that nonlinear forecasting tools such as neural networks combined with statistical filtering techniques can be used in accurate forecasting of the behavior of undecided population in an opinion poll, hit songs, chalk use and author attribution, as well as for information propagated in a classroom. His latest research focused on the use of physics undergraduate and graduate students in physics. His research works are well documented in various international journals.

Dr. Monterola is a successful scientist who is capable of formulating and carrying out interesting research topics on his own or in collaboration with colleagues and students. He has been consistent despite the prevailing unfavorable socio-economic conditions that have made the pursuit of high-level scientific research doubly difficult in the country.

He is among the active members in numerous professional organizations, such as the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas, International Institute of Forecasters, and the Instrumentation Physics Laboratory. His published articles totaled 29, six index articles, and 94 citations, including two book chapters and eight national refereed journals.

Dr. Monterola has been recipient to various awards, like the Gawad Chanselor: Best Published Research (2002), National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Achievement award for Physics (2008), and the UP Centennial Professorial awardee (2008, 2009, and 2010 respectively).

He obtained his B.S. in Applied Physics (magna cum laude) at the University of the Philippines Diliman (1997). Similarly, Dr. Monterola finished his masters and doctorate degrees in Physics at the stated in 1999 and 2002, respectively. He had pursued his Postdoctoral Fellowship at Max Planck Institute for the Physics of the Complex Systems in Dresden, Germany.

Currently, Dr. Monterola is Associate Professor 7 at the National Institute of Physics; Coordinator, Instrumentation Physics Laboratory; and Chair, Academic Personnel Committee. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

2011 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist: ALLAN N. SORIANO, Ph.D.Chemical Engineering

For his significant research activities in the field of chemical engineering, particularly on thermo-physical and transport property characterization and correlation development for industrially-important solvent systems, Dr. Allan Soriano was named as one of the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) awardees for 2011, given by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl). This award is given to outstanding young individuals not more than 40 years old (in the year of the award) who has done exemplary contributions to science and technology. His works on ionics liquids and alkanolamines are essential in the design of absorption processes for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration technology.
Dr. Soriano’s research interests covered the following: (1) carbon dioxide absorption using various absorbents (such as alkanolamines, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents); measurement of properties (thermophysical, kinetics, and transport) and development of correlations (mathematical and theoretical models); (2) property measurement and correlation development of specialty chemicals; and (3) mathematical modeling of chemical and environmental engineering processes and statistical and thermodynamic analysis of industrial systems.
His engineering stint started when he applied as a faculty member of the School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at the Mapua Institute of Technology right after graduation. While teaching, he continued to study and applied for the School’s Dean’s Council Scholarship and finished his masters degree in 2004, also in Mapua. In 2007, he pursued his doctorate at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) in Taiwan, considered as one of the top universities in the country in terms of research publications.
Dr. Soriano also contributed to the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers Journal, a refereed local journal, on the application of freeze concentration technique in the treatment of waste water from semiconductor and paper mills industries. He served as consultant for Philippine Affairs at CYCU. As consultant, he helped establish research collaborations and linkages between CYCU and some of the prominent universities in the Philippines like Mapua, De La Salle, University of the Philippines, Adamson, etc.
He also facilitated Filipino students who went to CYCU for their undergraduate thesis and on the job trainings, in which the research outputs where also published in international peer-reviewed journals.
His published works numbered more than 40 scientific and technical papers in peer-reviewed journals, including 43 papers published locally and internationally. He was given several recognitions for his prolific works, including the Prof. Yen-Ping Shi Research Paper Award for 2010 given by the Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chinese Taipei, Best Research Paper Competition (1st and 4th place) in the 16th Regional Symposium of Chemical Engineering in 2009, Manila, and the Outstanding International Student PhD Researcher of Chung Yuan Christian University (2009).
Dr. Soriano is an alumnus of Mapua Institute of Technology (cum laude). His research undertakings have helped in the advancement of science and technology in the country as evidenced by his commendable activities to promote S&T through his interests in the above mentioned fields. At present, he teaches at the School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Mapua Institute of Technology. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

Agnes C. Rola, Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) 2011 Academy Member

One of the newest Academician elected by the members of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl) is Dr. Agnes C. Rola in recognition of her outstanding scientific accomplishments to the field of agricultural economics and policy in the development of a framework and estimating for the externalities surrounding agricultural production. Her work has examined the economics, policy, and institutional aspects of such externalities like pesticides and intensive cultivation. Academy membership is by peer recognition that have demonstrated and earned distinction in various scientific and technological pursuits.

Her research on her long-term farm work on the impacts of pesticide use in rice (which was started in 1986) on farmer’s health was instrumental in the banning of the three most toxic insecticides used in production in the country and led a shift towards government support for more sustainable technologies like the Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Furthermore, her work in economics of pesticides is used as a reference by international students and policy advisors.

Realizing the need of important agricultural policies to augment farm production, Dr. Rola conducted several studies using many localities across the country as bases of her researches. (1) Her study on the “Evaluation of the Performance of the Farmer Field Graduates in Iloilo” had shown that farmer-to-farmer sharing of knowledge is essential to attain productive results; (2) her work on “Winning the Water: Watersheds, Water policies and Water Institutions” recommended for a community-based management and to use the watershed as the unit for water resource planning (as implemented in the Cordillera region); (3) the results of her research on “An Upland Community in Transition: Environment and Economic Development in the Philippines” have demonstrated that agricultural intensification due to response to markets by upland farmers led to soil and water degradation because of the lack of local institutions to safeguard the natural resource use in a rapid economic development scenario and the lack of capacities of local governments to regulate such activities despite the law that give them authority. Capacity building could slow down such degradation and put the community in a more sustainable way; (4) her research on the “Role of Institutions in Managing Agriculture-Related Climate Risks: Angat Reservoir Case Study” has showed that capacity building in using climate information will help improve decision mechanisms towards climate risk management strategies at the local level.

Dr. Rola’s published scientific and technological researches already totalled 65, with other significant studies in progress. She also held a number of memberships in professional organizations, such as the Philippine Agricultural Economics and Development Association (PAEDA), International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), and the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

Moreover, her important works earned her a number of awards: NRCP Achievement Award (2005); NAST Outstanding Book Award on “Winning the Water War...” (2007); and UP Science Productivity Award (2008 to 2010). Furthermore, as one of the scientists involved in the preparation of the report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), the 2005 Zayed International Prize for the Environment awarded MEA for the collaborative scientific and technological achievement in environment.

Also, Dr. Rola has been editor of the Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development from 1995 to 2000; the present member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability and the Philippine Journal of Crop Science; and reviewer of some local and international journals.

Dr. Rola finished her B.S. in Statistics at the University of the Philippines Diliman (1974). In 1978, she finished her M.S. in Agricultural Economics at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and her Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin Madison (1985).

Currently, she is a Professor and Dean of the College of Public Affairs at UPLB. She is also a partner scientist of the Global Network for Climate Solutions (GNCS) coordinated by Columbia University, USA. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

Aura C. Matias, Ph.D. (Industrial Engineering)

Dr. Aura C. Matias is one of the newest elected Members of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl) in recognition of her invaluable contributions as a researcher, mentor, and professional in the field of industrial engineering for imparting her expertise with regard to engineering education, sustainable development, and environmental management. Her involvement in various governmental projects has been characterized by both application of her skill and her creativity in generating new knowledge that form the basis of government policy formulation and decision-making structures. Academy membership is by peer recognition that have demonstrated and earned distinction in various scientific and technological undertakings.

Her research interests covered human factors engineering and ergonomics, occupational safety and health, operations research, productivity and quality management, and energy and environmental planning and/ or optimization.

For 21 years, Dr. Matias has been involved in many research and extension projects such as manufacturing, banking and management companies specializing in human factors (engineering or ergonomics), specifically in the area of occupational health and safety.

She has been involved with the Public Assessment of Water Services (PAWS) project as the project manager and principal consultant for the past 9 years in the creation of a monitor and evaluation tool of the two concessionaires, Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) and the Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI). The project aimed at assisting the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) in its decision making process, provide the concessionaires with valuable operational and business planning information, and increase public awareness.

Also, Dr. Matias has actively participated in the drafting of the recommended standard minimum curricular guidelines and requirements for the undergraduate program in Industrial Engineering to be implemented in all engineering schools in the Philippines by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Her active participation in the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers has contributed significantly towards the professionalization of the Industrial Engineering practice.

At the national level, she is called upon to provide expert opinion in various government initiatives by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) such as the 4-day work week policy, evaluation of the Philippine Quality Awards (PQA) system and the IDS Corruption Resistance Employee Survey. She was also involved in various transactions with other government agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Labor of Employment (DOLE).

A dynamic resource speaker, Dr. Matias conducts continuing engineering education seminars for professional engineers not only in the field of industrial engineering but for other engineering disciplines as well. She has represented the country in various international and local conferences and symposia as a government official and as a member of the academe.

She holds key positions in many international and local organizations, namely; Senior Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, Council Member of the International Ergonomics Association, and as President of the Philippine Ergonomics Society, among others. She has earned many academic awards, like The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service or TOWNS (2002), Outstanding Engineering Professor (2007), and Top 100 Outstanding Engineers (2010).

Dr. Matias holds her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman (1982 and 1989 respectively). She obtained her Ph.D in Industrial Engineering at Purdue University (1996).

At present, she served as Dean and Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman and as Executive Director at the National Engineering Center. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST

Eduardo R. Mendoza, Ph.D. (Mathematics) 2011 Corresponding Member

For his important contributions to science and technology in the country and in the world, specifically, his expertise in mathematics and the emerging field of systems biology, Dr. Eduardo R. Mendoza was elected Corresponding Member for 2011 by the members of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phl). His leadership in many aspects of scientific and mathematical endeavours and his significant studies in the new field of systems biology have resulted important breakthroughs in many academic and technological undertakings. Corresponding membership is conferred on non-resident Filipino scientists who have made exemplary contributions to the advancement of science and technology and must have continuing connections and contributions to Philippine science.

His Ph.D. thesis on Cohomology studies was recognized as one of the pioneering works in a highly sophisticated area of mathematics which was cited in many international publications worldwide. His Systems Biology studies and dynamics of complex biological systems in terms of its components through a combination of quantitative experimentation and computational modelling has achieved many academic success, including the organization of the “Joint Experimenter-Modeler” projects at U.P. Diliman and the development of Systems Biology in the Munich region through the establishment of the “Munich Systems Biology Forum.”

He co-designed the EUCLIS (EUCLOCK Information System) initially for the European project (EUROCLOCK) but now supported by the two largest professional societies for Chronobiology, Society for Research in Biological Rhythms (SRBR) as part of the worldwide information infrastructure of the field.

He was also instrumental in the modelling of halophilic archae (in close collaboration with the group of Prof. Dieter Oesterhelt at the renowned Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry). The pioneering computational models for these organisms have contributed to new insights for these biotechnologically important organisms.

Furthermore, he initiated the development of “algorithmic systems biology” methods such as the Brane Algebra PABM and pioneering application to modelling influenza A infection which was presented at the 11th International Conference in Systems Biology in Edinburgh, UK (2010).

Dr. Mendoza co-edited the book entitled “Systems Biology in Psychiatric Research which help orient researchers in the quest for the deeper understanding of complex brain diseases. He is Founding Member of the European Electronic Messaging Association (1987) and the Center for Digital Technology and Management (1998). He has been member of the German Society for Informatics and the German Mathematical Society. Concurrently, he is Member for the Center of Nanoscience at Ludwig Maximilians University and Board of Trustees at the Max-Planck Institute for the Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems at Magdeburg, Germany. He was awarded the Microsoft’s President Award (1997), the first Filipino to achieve such distinction during his stint at the international software industry.

Dr. Mendoza obtained his bachelors degree in B.S. Mathematics from the University of Heidelberg in 1968 (magna cum laude). He earned his master and doctorate studies in Mathematics at the University of Bonn in 1974 and 1980, respectively.

He has always strived for excellence in all his undertakings which he tries imbue in his students and advisees. During his visits as “Balik-Scientist” and on many personally financed visits, he devoted all his time to teaching graduate courses and mentoring graduate students and researches in the University of the Philippines, Ateneo, La Salle, and other universities. Students and institutions have benefited from the pioneering research and course offerings of Dr. Mendoza.

At present, he is Senior Research Scientist at Ludwig Maximilian University and Adjunct Professor at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Manila, and Los Banos campuses. Luningning Samarita, Executive Director, NAST