DOST honors S&T achievers

By Rodel G. Offemaria
Science and Technology Media Service

The triumph of excellence permeated through the closing activities of the 47th National Science and Technology Week July 18 at the Philippine Trade Training Center along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City organized and led by the Department of Science and Technology.

Twenty-one awards were handed out to top performers in molecular biology and pathology, herbal medicine, fisheries and aquatic research and development, industry, and media.

Dr. Cynthia Hedreyda of University of the Philippines ’ National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology received the prestigious Dr. Eusebio Y. Garcia award for her outstanding work in gene markers and development of DNA-based procedure to identify, classify, and detect genes in bacteria and genetically modified genes in corn and soybean.

Hedreyda’s research has potential applications in food, agriculture, and fishery particularly in routine risk assessment of genetically modified crops.  She received a plaque, medallion, and P20,000.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development selected two 2nd prize winners for the Gruppo Medica Award for outstanding research in herbal medicine.  Karla Banaria and Geshiela Estrelon were cited for their work called “Wound healing property of Centella Gel Formulated from Centella asiatica”.  Another student-research team composed of Sheena Aguilar, Precious Gomez, and Jonalie Sison was also cited for a research called “Hypoglycemic action of a tablet formulated from Anacardium occidentale”.

The 3rd prize winning team of Chelo Briones, Virgael Luzbeth Dimanlig, and Ella Pon-an was cited for a research called “Anti-fungal action of an ointment formulated from Cymbopogon citrates or lemongrass”.  All of the student-researchers are from UP Manila.  The awards had P40,000 and P20,000 cash prizes.

The Dr. Elvira O. Tan Memorial Award for best published paper in aquaculture/inland fisheries went to “A farmer-oriented Nile Tilapia (Oriochomis niloticus) breed improvement in the Philippines” authored jointly by Zubaida Basiao, Adelaida Arago, and Roger Doyle.  It has plaque of recognition and P25,000 incentive.

The new Outstanding Women in Fisheries and Aquatic Resources R&D Award picked achievers in several sub-categories including Dr. Rhodora Azanza of UP Marine Science Institute (Outstanding Filipino Woman Fisheries Scientist, P50,000 and plaque of recognition); Floresma Dacuycuy of Isabela Green Valley Orchid Farm (Outstanding Filipino Woman in Fisheries Industry, P50,000 and plaque of recognition); posthumous award to Dr. Elvira Tan (Outstanding Filipino Woman Fisheries R&D Manager, plaque of recognition); posthumous award to Dr. Julia Pantastico (Outstanding Filipino Woman Fisheries Administrator, plaque of recognition), and; posthumous award to Dr. Medina Delmendo (Outstanding Filipino Woman Fisheries Scientist, plaque of recognition).  

Meanwhile, veteran science journalist Lyn Resurreccion of TODAY broadsheet (merged recently with Manila Standard) led winners of the annual DOST Media Awards for individual/professional category for print media. 

The five-member board of judges picked Resurreccion for her “good writing style and for her “long and continuous years of genuine dedication” to helping DOST in bringing various S&T information and issues to the people.  Resurreccion is also vice president of the Philippine Science Journalists Association.

In the process, TODAY also bagged the print media institutional award.  The board of judges cited the broadsheet for consistently publishing in-depth and insightful S&T articles covering the interrelationship of science, religion, and culture from June 2004 to May 2005.

Meanwhile, AM radio host Margie Ablaza of “Journey to Discovery” program aired over DZEM clinched the individual/professional award for radio while her station secured the institutional award.   Ablaza’s hosting style and program were cited for encouraging and informative content.

For online category, Alex Villafrania outdistanced the cyberpack for individual/professional category while his INQ7.net outfit zipped up the institutional award for cyber media.

The board of judges agreed to give special recognition to Louie Belmonte as “Best S&T Feature Writer” and Queena Lee-Chua as “Best S&T Columnist”.

Dr. Georgina R. Encanto, a member of University of the Philippines board of regents and currently teaching in UP College of Mass Communication was chair of the board of judges.  Other members include Reynaldo Hulog, executive director of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas; Betty-Lou Peñera, director for planning and research of the Philippine Information Agency; Jose Pavia, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute; and Marcy Ballesteros, professor of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication.

Each professional category winner received P50,000 and a trophy while institutional winners received specially designed trophies.  Lee-Chua and Belmonte each received P25,000 and a plaque of recognition.

This year’s DOST Media Awards’ Hall of Fame recipients are Zac Sarian of Manila Bulletin, Devine Reyes of radio station DWAN, Erwin Oliva of Inq7.com, and Mayette Camacho of TV Channel 13 who also received trophies of recognition.

DOST’s National Academy of Science and Technology also handed out 24 awards to leading scientists and researchers in the country last July 14.  In all, the DOST gave 70 awards covering different scientific fields for the last 12 months.