June 2024 Dentistry Licensure Examination UP Topnotchers



The University of the Philippines Manila warmly congratulates the 18 passers, 6 of whom were ranked among those at the top of the June 2024 Dentistry Licensure Examination!

Rank 1 – Delfin, Nathaniel Kyle Adrian Lim
Rank 2 – Gonzaga, Maxine Denielle Trinidad
Rank 3 – Alvarez, Nicole Eunice Rogel
Rank 5 – Figueroa, John Deuter Manalang
Rank 6 – Marabut, Gianna Marie Linchangco
Rank 8 – Tuazon, Aaron Eduardo

Kudos to the UP College of Dentistry for the 100% passing rate!

Your UP Manila family is very proud of you.

Padayon, and shine on, mga Dentista ng Bayan!

Source: University of the Philippines Manila Facebook

UP-OAR holds first “Pagkilala sa mga Natatanging Mag-aaral na Nagkamit ng Pinakamatataas na Marka sa Licensure Exam”

Written by Thea Claudette Castañeda

Photo from Jun Madrid, UP MPRO

The Office of Alumni Relations under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs held its first reception dinner for topnotchers last June 11, 2024, at the Atencio-Libunao Hall. The event, titled “Pagkilala sa mga Natatanging Mag-aaral na Nagkamit ng Pinakamatataas na Marka sa Licensure Exam”, aims to recognize and celebrate UP graduates who embody honor and excellence. It also serves as a reminder to everyone present of the role of UP alumni with respect to service to the nation.

Over 120 topnotchers attended the event out of the 276 recorded alumni topnotchers from various 2023 licensure examinations, and among them were 12 individuals who ranked first. Attendees were called on stage and were recognized by UP President Angelo Jimenez and Vice President for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino, as well as other UP officials present.

UP President Angelo A. Jimenez (Photo by UP OAR)

During the congratulatory speech, President Jimenez emphasized the importance of putting one’s professional endeavors for public service before personal gain, in line with the UP core values of honor and excellence.

“On the most trying moments, let us go back and remind ourselves who it is we serve. Not any politician, employer, or company, but the people and communities who look for our service. We have our whole lives and youth ahead of us. Or maybe our lives are just about to begin. Let us build the stamina and grit we need to be able to stay true to our desire to serve the people,” said Patricia Marie Imperial, Top 1 from the 2023 Social Work Licensure Examination, further emphasizing the spirit of public service in her speech. Ms. Imperial was chosen to represent the topnotchers as she embodies honor and excellence since she serves as a Social Worker at the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Daraga, Albay.

UP Conchords (Photo from Jun Madrid, UP MPRO)

The event was hosted by Prof. Ma. Crisanta Flores, who livened up the recognition ceremony. The acapella group ConChords also grabbed the attention of the audience in their intermission performances and their rendition of the Philippine National Anthem and UP Naming Mahal.

The dinner reception and topnotchers’ recognition is part of the week long celebration, Linggo ng Unibersidad, with the theme “Hayag: Pagpupugay sa Lingkod Bayan”, which aimed to recognize the contributions of faculty, staff, students, and alumni in advancing the core values of the University.

June 2024 Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Licensure Examinations UP topnotchers







Congratulations to our alumni who passed the June 2024 Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Licensure Examinations!
UP CAMP has a 100% passing rate for both occupational therapy and physical therapy, with two of our graduates garnering top spots!

Nicole Deszherie M. Recaido, PTRP (UP PT 2023) – Top 3
Jasmina Anne B. Lamadrid, OTRP (UP OT 2023) – Top 4

We are so proud of our newly licensed colleagues! May you serve our fellow Filipinos with honor and excellence!🌻

Source: UP College of Allied Medical Professions Facebook

UPMin faculty member earns PhD scholarship for KIST Park

UP Mindanao Assistant Professor Cyrose Suzie S. Millado at the Kyoto University of the Dept. of Biological Science and Environmental Studies
Architect’s rendition of the initial UPMin KIST Park facility to house the Lactic Acid, Biomass, and Biopolymer pilot processing plants

University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Prof. Annabelle Novero announced that the Mindanao Japan Science and Technology Platform (MJSTEP) awarded its first scholarship slot to UPMin faculty member Asst. Prof. Cyrose Suzie Millado.

Asst. Prof. Millado will pursue her PhD studies in the Division of Biological Sciences (Department of Biophysics) at Kyoto University’s Uji campus.

The MJSTEP scholarship grant covers school fees, airfare, and living expenses for the entire study period.

The MJSTEP scholarship originated from an understanding between UP Mindanao and Japan Consul-General Mr. Yoshiaki Miwa to establish a Knowledge Innovation Science & Technology (KIST) Park on campus for an academe-industry-government innovation ecosystem modeled after the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park in Japan.

Asst. Prof. Millado’s study grant coincides with the anticipated approval of initial funding for UP Mindanao’s KIST Park from the Department of Trade and Industry’s PRISTINE project.

“Upon completing my PhD, I am expected to foster networks and projects related to the KIST Park project,” Millado said.

In addition, Millado said that Kyoto University and the MJSTEP organization allowed her family to accompany her.

“My faculty host and research mentor, Associate Professor Tomohiko Tsuge, and Sir Tony Miwa of MJSTeP have always supported me since my application and have been very helpful so I can bring my family,” she said

The MJSTEP scholarship and the KIST Park project align with UP President Angelo Jimenez’s plan to produce more Ph. D.s and campus innovation hubs. They also address the Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Decent Work and Economic Growth, among other goals.

Article from Up Mindanao PRO

2 UP alumnae belongs in the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes Finalists



The University of the Philippines takes pride in having two of its alumnae as finalists in the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes.

Congratulations, Ren Galeno and Hannah Reyes-Morales!

Along with Claire Healy and Nicole Dungca, visual artist Ren Galeno, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, in UP Diliman, produced a multimedia story for the Washington Post titled Searching for Maura, a comic form presentation about a group of Filipinos who were exhibited at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Read more here: https://www.pulitzer.org/…/claire-healy-nicole-dungca…

Meanwhile, photographer Hannah Reyes-Morales, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication, Cum Laude, from UP Diliman, was nominated for her work with the The New York Times titled ‘youthquake’, which is a documentary work of the youth of Africa, expected to account for one-quarter of the world’s population by 2050.

Read here: https://www.pulitzer.org/…/hannah-reyes-morales…

Source: University of the Philippines Facebook

SSS welcomes the newest member of the Social Security Commission

Newly-appointed Social Security Commissioner Jesus P. Sale Jr. meets with Social Security System President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet during a courtesy call at the SSS Main Office in Quezon City on April 5.

The Social Security System (SSS) welcomed Jesus P. Sale Jr.’s appointment as the newest member of the Social Security Commission (SSC), the SSS’ highest governing board.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Sale to the SSC last March 26, 2024 and he took his oath of office before Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma on April 11, 2024.

Macasaet said that Sale will represent the Workers’ Group in the policymaking body of the SSS.

“We welcome the newest member of the SSC as announced by Malacañang, Atty. Jesus “Jojo” Sale. We look forward to working closely with him in the Commission, especially for programs that will benefit the labor sector,” Macasaet said.

Sale will replace Anita Bumpus-Quitain, who has served in the SSC since October 2016. Quitain headed several committees involved in information technology, coverage, and collection.

“We are indebted to Commissioner Quitain for lending her wisdom and expertise to the SSC in championing policies to serve SSS members and pensioners better. We wish her all success in her future endeavors,” Macasaet said.

As a member of the SSC, Sale will provide policy directions to the SSS and formulate, adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the Social Security Law.

Sale is a seasoned public servant who served in various capacities in the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Central Bank Board of Liquidators from December 1985 until August 2003.

He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He also completed his Master’s degree in Development Economics from the Williams College in Massachusetts, USA, and his Bachelor’s degree in Economics, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Currently, Sale also serves as the Vice President for Internal Affairs of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), a Filipino seafarer organization that promotes the welfare of Filipino maritime professionals.

Source: https://dailyguardian.com.ph/sss-welcomes-the-newest-member-of-the-social-security-commission/

Two UPD College of Science Professors Win the NRCP Achievement Award

By Harvey Sapigao

Dr. Cristine Villagonzalo and Dr. Reynaldo Garcia from the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) received the prestigious Achievement Award from the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) in the recently held Annual Scientific Conference and 91st General Membership Assembly last March 12, 2024.

 

Dr. Villagonzalo of the UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) was lauded for her contributions to Physics, and Dr. Garcia of the UPD-CS National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB) for his contributions to the field of Medical Sciences.

 

Dr. Villagonzalo served as the President of the NRCP Governing board from 2022 to 2023. She is a Professor and the Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at NIP and the Project Leader of the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD) Philippines. Dr. Villagonzalo received her doctorate of natural sciences at Chemnitz University of Technology in Germany. She is currently working on a research project to integrate a quantum mechanics principle called the perturbation theory in a quantum circuit.

 

Dr. Garcia founded the Disease Molecular Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory (DMBEL) at NIMBB in 2011. He and his team played a crucial role in detecting and preventing the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Dr. Garcia received his doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Australian National University and is currently a Professor at NIMBB. He is currently investigating how specific mutations in colon cancer cells affect their resistance to treatments, and how these mutated cells divide, migrate, and survive.

 

The NRCP started awarding the Achievement Award in 1979 to those who have significantly contributed to the research and development of natural sciences, health sciences, engineering, industry, social sciences, and humanities in the Philippines.

 

Aside from Dr. Villagonzalo and Dr. Garcia, three professors from UP Los Baños also received the Achievement Awards, namely Dr. Inocencio Buot Jr. for his contributions to Biological Sciences, Dr. Maria Ana Quimbo for Social Sciences, and Dr. Remil Galay for Veterinary Medicine.

 

The UPD Department of Chemical Engineering was awarded the 2023 NRCP Outstanding Institution Award. It joins the ranks of UPD-CS institutes that have received the award, namely NIP, Marine Science Institute (MSI), and Natural Sciences Research Institute DNA Analysis Laboratory (NSRI-DAL).

 

For interview requests and other media inquiries, please contact: media@science.upd.edu.ph

 

 

 

5 UP alumni among the TOYM awardees for 2023



Five UP alumni are among the 10 recipients of the Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards 2023, as announced by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines.

“These outstanding individuals have demonstrated unparalleled commitment, innovation, and leadership in their respective fields, embodying the spirit of positive change and progress.” said JCI Philippines on their Facebook post

The five UP alumni are:

Ruel Amparo, CEO and Founder of Cropital Enterprises Corporation, for Agri Entrepreneurship

Jan Carlo Punongbayan, assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) and Rappler Columnist, for Economics

John Mark Napao, President and Founder of Solar Hope, for Sustainable Energy

Ma. Regaele Olarte, officer-in-charge-chief education supervisor of the Muntinlupa SDO’s School Governance and Operations Division, for Education Leadership

Stephen Michael Co, co-founder and CEO of WTH Foods, for Food Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Previously known as the Outstanding Young Filipinos, the annual national recognition is awarded to Filipinos between 18 and 40 years old who have made significant contributions to their field or community, according to the JCI Philippines website.

Last year’s UP alumni awardees were Dr. Paul Gideon Lasco, Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Dr. Ramon Lorenzo Luis Guinto, Manix Abrera, and Dr. Rico Ancog.

UP CAMP alumna receives IASCL Inaugural Early Career Award (ECA) for 2024



Congratulations to Rowena Garcia on her inaugural Early Career Award (ECA) for 2024, awarded by the International Association for the Study of Child Language (IASCL). She will be presented the prestigious award at the IASCL 2024 Congress in Prague, Czech Republic, where she will also be delivering the ECA Plenary talk entitled “Casting a wider linguistic net: Language acquisition insights from an Austronesian language.”

Rowena Garcia is a graduate of the UP CAMP BS Speech Pathology program (Batch 2011) and currently serves as a visiting professor for the Department.

For more information on her award and her contributions to the field of child language acquisition, you may visit this link: https://www.mpi.nl/…/iascl-inaugural-early-career-award…

Source: UP College of Allied Medical Professions Facebook

Scientists’ group names Filipina in Germany as ‘Planet Earth’ awardee

Mari-An C. Santos



‘How can you do proper science if your needs are not met? Science is not a priority in the Philippines. But I hope it will be,’ says Germany-based Filipino professor Denise Margaret Matias

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipina professor in Germany has been named as an awardee in the 2024 Planet Earth Awards of the Alliance of World Scientists (AWS).

Nakakahiya nga, e (It’s embarrassing, really),” Denise Margaret Matias said as she sat down for an exclusive online interview with Rappler on March 23.

The professor at the Biosphere Reserves Institute at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in Germany was named a recipient of the Planet Earth Awards on March 14 by the international body of scientists composed of more than 26,000 from more than 180 countries.

Matias said, “Part of me is insecure. I mean, to be in the company of such established names in their respective fields!”

FIELDWORK. Dr. Denie Margaret Matias (standing, second from left) with members of the Tagbanua community during a training for mapping giant honey bee nests. courtesy of Denise Margaret Matias

Matias, who holds a Ph.D., is the youngest among the group of scientist awardees which include Dr. S. Faizi from India, Dr. James Hansen from the United States, Dr. Kimberly Nicholas from Sweden, Dr. Jamie Pittock from Australia, and Dr. Fernando Valladares from Spain.

The award acknowledges individuals who champion life on Earth and demonstrate exceptional creativity or contributions in their work in science-based advocacy with the public, policymakers, or other non-scientist groups seeking solutions to environmental challenges. The nominees went through a rigorous screening process.

Charting a course

Growing up in Pasig, Metro Manila, Matias recalled that she always had an acute awareness of the value of the environment.

She was president of her high school’s Eco Team club and thought “science was cool.” But when the time came to enroll for a college course, conferred with a BPI Foundation scholarship, she was surprised to find that Environmental Science was not on the list of courses she could take.

Matias decided on the next best thing: a biology course.

She knew that, unlike most of her peers, she didn’t want to become a medical doctor. So she subsequently pursued a master’s degree in environmental science at the University of the Philippines while working for Greenpeace Southeast Asia but soon succumbed to the perils that many who try to pursue higher education while working professionally in the Philippines.

While working at UP-Diliman’s Marine Science Institute, Matias started to seriously consider a career in the academe, thanks to Dr. Arturo Lluisma, a principal investigator who introduced her to the rigors of research.

She earned an International Climate Protection Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, then a scholarship to finish her MSc in Environmental Sciences and Policy from the Central European University in Hungary. She was awarded a PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn in Germany in 2017.

She received a European Science Award from the Eiselen Foundation and Foundation Fiat Panis in 2018 for her doctoral dissertation entitled Sustainability of Community Forestry Enterprises: Indigenous Wild Honey Gathering in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, Palawan, Philippines.

It was a work borne of her engagement in fieldwork with various Philippine nongovernmental organizations, including the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP Asia). She found out from the indigenous Tagbanua community that they had a problem with honey gathering in Aborlan, Palawan.

She subsequently carried out a project with the community to help restore giant honey bee habitat by planting native species.

In 2018, she, with Loreta Alsa, a Tagbanua, went to Yale University to present the project and they were awarded first place by Yale’s International Society of Tropical Forests for the Innovation Prize.

Giving back

“I always look for a way to give back,” she said. She recounted how she would actively raise funds after extreme emergency events in the Philippines by making handmade items, especially with recycled paper.

After Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Philippines in 2013, for example, she sold products at a Christmas market in Germany to raise funds for relief aid.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she solicited donations through her Instagram account (@thegreenitch) for NTFP-EP Philippines and sent handcrafted notepads to donors.

All these served as her way to contribute to her country even if she was physically away.

“I don’t want to build a career by using people, especially since I conduct research with indigenous communities,” she said.

For her current research project on Palawan pangolins, she is helping several Filipinos by giving them access to information, training, and opportunities that are not, sadly, available to most Filipino scientists.

She said, “We need to advance science because, at the moment, it exists in a silo. There is limited interaction with the social sciences and the humanities. In Germany, interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged and promoted, and they are supported with research grants.”

Matias, a tenured Filipino professor in Germany, currently serves as a member of the Selection Committee of the International Climate Protection Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; lead author of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Thematic Assessment of the Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health (Nexus Assessment); and senior fellow of the Manila Observatory.

Something that she heard Dr. Jurgenne Honculada-Primavera, a mangrove ecosystem scientist, say has been her north star: “We need science-based development.”

“How can you do proper science if your needs are not met? Science is not a priority in the Philippines. But I hope it will be,” she said. – Rappler.com

Source: https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/scientists-group-names-filipina-denise-margaret-matias-germany-planet-earth-awardee/