In recognition of her outstanding research contributions in the field of genetics and plant breeding specifically in the development and application of molecular marker techniques, which determine hybridity in coconut; thrips resistance in potato, and aschochyta blight resistance in chickpeas. She is credited with creating the first linkage map of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and the location of six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to aschochyta blight resistance in chickpea. Her research resulted in the establishment of segregating populations, useful in the development of new tomato with resistance to tomato yellow leaf curl virus (ToLCV) and bacterial wilt.

ANTONIO A. ALFONSO, Ph.D.
Plant Biology, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)

In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of plant biology particularly in elucidating the molecular basis of cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoration in plants. His research on petunia resulted in the cloning and functional characterization of the first nucleus-encoded Restorer of fertility (Rf) gene in plants. Long considered by experts as a “black box”, the identification of the restorer gene is regarded as a critical advance in understanding male sterility caused by the interaction between the nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes. His discovery provides practical applications in varietal improvement particularly in the exploitation of hybrid vigor to increase crop production.

CONSTANCIO A. ASIS JR., Ph.D.
Agriculture, Integrated Standards and Systems Office
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)

In recognition of his significant studies on the elucidation of interaction mechanisms of nitrogen fixing bacteria in nonleguminous crops including the discovery of Trigonelline, a chemoattractant for rhizobia and an active medicinal compound in rice seeds as well as the isolation of a nitrogen fixing bacteria from sugarcane and sweet potato. His novel technique in increasing nitrogen fixation in legumes through combined inoculation of Rhizobium and helper bacteria has doubled the capacity of the plants to tap atmospheric nitrogen as their source of nitrogen, thus, reducing, the use of chemical fertilizers.

ARVIN C. DIESMOS, Ph.D.
Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Science
Herpetology Section, Zoology Division
National Museum of the Philippines

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of wildlife ecology and environmental science particularly on systematics, ecology and conservation of Philippine amphibians and reptiles. His over 30 scientific works on invasion biology, taxonomic descriptions and revisions, biogeography, evolutionary biology, conservation status assessments, and faunistics has been published in national and international peer-reviewed journals. He is actively involved in the periodic assessments of the conservation status of the country’s amphibians and reptilian species. Along with Filipino and American colleagues, he has championed herpetological research in the Philippines, which has led to discoveries of over 60 new species of frogs, lizards, and snakes. These collaborative activities bring the Philippines to the front of global amphibian reptilian biodiversity and endemism research and herpetological conservation.

In recognition of his significant contribution in the field of physics specifically on laser microscopy, nanobiophotonics, and wireless technology which have resulted in the establishment of two laboratories, namely, the Laser Microscopy and the Wireless Technology Laboratories at the National Institute of Physics in UP Diliman. His development of novel, low-cost, high-performance optical microscope systems for rapid and non-invasive characterization of embedded defects inside semiconductor microchips is considered to be an important technology that supports the billion-dollar semiconductor industry – the largest export sector in the Philippines. The research merits of these optical techniques and bioimaging have been internationally and locally recognized.

In recognition of his outstanding research contribution in the field of mathematics, specifically in combinatorics: treating of the formation, enumeration, and properties of partitions, variations, combinations, and permutations of a finite number of element under various considerations, which has important applications in the design and operation of computers. He was the first to study enumerative combinatorics in the Philippines out of which he published several articles in three international journals.

In recognition of his significant scientific and technological research on the science of computing especially on the improvement and application of computational intelligence, soft computing, and high performance computing techniques that enhance agricultural, and chemical systems. His significant accomplishments on the area include the improvement of the computation of genetic coefficients of soybean and rice growth models using genetic algorithms, efficient computation of a complex feed formulation using simulated breeding, the development of a computational paradigm using chemical reaction as a metaphor and the development of a library of loop scheduling algorithms for the purpose of load balancing scientific parallel applications. His research outputs have gained him recognitions and publications in international and local journals.

In recognition of his significant contributions in the field of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases by developing rapid diagnostic tools for determining some etiologic causes of diarrhea, and his significant discovery of micronutrient combinations for rapid mucosal restitution of intestinal epithelial cells. He is a member of the Biotechnology Alliance for Health and Infections team of scientists geared at producing low-cost avian derived immunoglobulins and nucleic acid-based diagnostic tolls for many tropical diseases such as MDR-TB, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Salmonella, Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium.

In recognition of his significant research contributions to the areas of empirical economic growth analysis and financial econometrics, considered s highly empirical disciplines and a domain of relatively few researchers. His paper, “Range-Based GARCH Models for Forecasting Financial Volatility” has introduced a relatively simple but efficient model to describe volatility using intra-daily returns that is very useful in estimating the so-called Value-at-Risk (VaR), an important measure in market risk. His work on financial volatility paved the way for the School of Statistics to offer courses on Financial Econometrics in the undergraduate and graduate programs that he himself designed and developed. He has also shown in his other papers that the Philippines is paying a high price for its high population growth rate resulting in low economic growth and in constricting poverty reduction efforts.

In recognition of his significant research works and studies in the macro-economics and political economy of developing countries, particularly the Philippines, as well as other Asian economies. He is critical of the mainstream line of thinking, hence leading him to pursue issues that are practical rather than esoteric or abstract. For the past three years, Dr. Beja has worked on capital and trade flows, deepening his earlier wok in Amherst, MA where he did his graduate work. His papers on the “hidden transactions” quantify the extent to which such unrecorded transactions impinge on the economic performance as well as verify that these problems are intensifying, even if the policies of international organizations are being followed. His view is that net overflow of resources from developing economies is destructive with long-term impacts.

back to top

For his research and other scholarly work in the field of economics, particularly development economics, which have resulted in a number of internationally renowned publications focusing on poverty, economic inequality, and agricultural and rural development. These have substantially improved the understanding of the nature, causes, and consequences of poverty and inequality in the Philippines, and the critical role of agricultural and rural development in a nation’s well being. Moreover, his research has become an important reference for other development researchers in and outside the Philippines, as well as multilateral development organizations. For his burning passion to make research relevant to policymakers and for policies to be informed by research, coupled with high leadership qualities, consequently inspiring and enabling him to initiate the establishment of groups, forums, and institutions that bridge academic and policy work as well as play a pivotal role in their sustainability, effectiveness, and impact.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of animal science, particularly in reproductive biotechnology. His works involving the development / refinement, transfer of knowledge and skills, and wide scale utilization of various reproductive biotechnologies such as estrus synchronization, predetermined and timed artificial insemination, induced ovulation, superovulation, embryo transfer, in-vitro maturation and fertilization, and ovum pick-up are important stimuli in hastening Livestock Genetic Improvement Program and Development, particularly the water buffaloes and small ruminants. Thousands of smallholder families are beneficiaries of these technologies. Further, for having served in many government and non-government institutions and as member and officer of several national and international professional and scientific organizations that paved way for the establishment of system, facilities, and linkages for sustained scientific endeavors towards livestock development in the country.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the field of marine natural products as team leader of various research projects to discover novel marine compounds with anticancer, antibacterial, anti-tuberculosis, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties; for her pioneering efforts to identify the cellular and molecular targets of these compounds to develop targeted drug delivery systems and demonstrate efficacy in animal models; for her studies on the biochemistry of cancer and certain infectious diseases; for mentoring graduate students and research associates and imbuing them with the passion to pursue scientific research; for her inspiring leadership in the campaign to promote and increase government support for Science and Technology in the country.

In recognition of her contributions to medicine, especially in the field of genetics specifically, newborn screening for genetic disorders in the Philippines; for her professionalism and deep commitment to research, teaching and service in the identification and care of newborn babies with genetic disorders; for helping craft the newborn screening bill and tirelessly pushing for its enactment into law – as Republic Act 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the field of phycology particularly on seaweed biodiversity, taxonomy and culture as a researcher and professor. He successfully developed pond and open-water culture technologies and management of stocks of economically important seaweed species of the Philippines such as Eucheuma / Kappaphycus, Gracilaria and Caulerpa and Sargassum, which benefited seaweed farmers in coastal areas of the country. In his 40 years career as a scientist, he successfully implemented more than 25 locally and/or foreign-funded research project, which resulted to the production of 170 scientific and technical publications. The two-volume books entitled: “Field Guide and Atlas of the Seaweed Resources of the Philippines” are the most authoritative books on the seaweed flora/resources of the country today. He served as technical consultant on aquaculture and seaweed research and development of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and as active member of the Commission on Ecology, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). As a Professor Emeritus at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman, he is an active mentor to graduate students and research associates and still currently implementing projects on biodiversity as well as the culture technology development of other economic seaweed species

In recognition of his significant research contributions to the representation and structure theory of finite groups and related structures. He has applied group theoretic and algebraic methods to investigate association schemes, whose theory serves as a unifying framework for the study of algebraic graphs, codes, designs and finite geometries. His published papers on multiplicity-free representations and characters, self-dual codes, spin models, group association schemes, and Terwilliger algebras, as well as his tireless efforts to promote these research areas and mentor students have spurred the development of a core of young, dynamic and productive mathematics researchers in the country today. Recognized here and abroad, his leadership in the mathematics community is also manifested in his dedicated involvement in various initiatives to strengthen mathematics education and teacher competencies

In recognition of his pioneering and outstanding works and accomplishments in the area of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. His more than fifteen years of research in the theory and application of LCA has earned him international reputation and is now a recognized expert in the region. In 2006, he established the Philippine LCA Clearinghouse (PhiLCA) at DLSU-Manila to provide the link to the International LCA network and serve as the country’s center for LCA research. Results of his LCA work point to a significant dimension in energy0environment interactions from product to process and manufacturing systems. His most recent studies related to bio-energy, alternative energy fuels, and renewable energy and transport systems become highly significant in the light of high current energy costs and global climate change issues. He also established the first and only PhD in mechanical Engineering program in the country through the conduct of various research education and trainings. He exemplifies a new breed of engineering scientist today who can demonstrate the applicability of scientific research in industry and for policy making. His sustained research and publication attest his commitment to scientific work, and his continued engagement with industry and Government makes his work even more relevant and important to society.

In recognition of his contribution to medicine in the field of infectious diseases, particularly for his researches on many aspects of tuberculosis: from epidemiology; molecular characterization of the Philippine strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis- a unique family of M. tuberculosis (now known as the Manila Family of M. tuberculosis), to diagnosis through immunologic tests (ELISA) utilizing different TB antigens, to the use of M. Vaccae, as an innovative adjuvant modality of treatment.

He contributed to the preparation of the current Philippine Clinical Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis.

back to top

For his significant research and publications in applied mathematics which span a wide range of areas – applications of control to smart materials, thin shell dynamics, and liquid film flow, coral reef imaging, simulation of tsunamis, and pioneering work in systems biology. Working with other scientists, he has successfully illustrated the usefulness of mathematical models in explaining peculiar biological phenomena and modeling metabolic networks.

In particular, he performed sophisticated sensitivity analysis on 360 differential equations with more than 30 parameters that enabled him to choose the model parameters that can be improved in an existing model of the flagellar motor of H. salinarum. This improved model explains both wild type and mutant behavior. In another project, he performed extensive numerical computations to show that the lin-log model does not have enough flexibility to fit the data from NMR measurements of key metabolites in the glycolytic pathway of Lactococcus lactis.

back to top