The Institute of Biology, UP Diliman is saddened by the passing of Dr. Virginia S. Cariño.
Ma’am Virgie was a towering figure, both literally and figuratively, at the then Department of Zoology and at the Institute of Biology. She graduated with a degree of B.Sc. in Zoology (1952) and M.Sc. in Zoology (1961), before she completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Science in the 1980’s, all in UP Diliman. She started her career as a Technical Helper at the College of Agriculture in UP Los Baños in 1951 before moving to the Department of Zoology in UP Diliman as Instructor in 1952 and rose through the ranks until she retired as Professor 12 at the Institute of Biology in 1994. She has made a name for herself as a teacher and researcher in the fields of Developmental Biology and Environmental Science.
Some of the notable accomplishments of Ma’am Virgie include being a founding member of UP’s Zoological Society, Director of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, President of the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society Alpha Chi Chapter, President of the Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines, and a recipient of the Metrobank Outstanding Teacher Award – Tertiary Level in 1988.
Despite retiring in UP in 1994, Ma’am Virgie remained active in teaching, which is one of her primary passions, by becoming a Professorial Lecturer of the Institute. She was also active in Kalayaan College and in the Philippine Society for Developmental Biology.
Though we mourn the loss of Ma’am Virgie, we are grateful that we were able to partake of the full life she lived and the passion she shared.
Rest in Power, Ma’am Virgie!
(The viewing of her ashes is at Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish at PhilAm Homes in Quezon City until the morning of August 1. A Mass will be held at 9 AM, after which her remains will be brought to her hometown of Biñan, Laguna. Another Mass will be celebrated at 1 PM at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador de Biñan.)
Source: UP Institute of Biology Facebook post
