ALABANG, Muntinlupa City- Dr. Antonio Laurena, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Agriculture, consistently pursued researchers for the improvement of economically important crops in the country. In a recent convention supported by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, he was the recipient of the Leads Agri Award.

(Photo Credit:https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gIBin2FvgS0/maxresdefault.jpg) 

Leads Agri is a Filipino-owned corporation that has steadily produced excellent products and customer-centered programs aimed at improving the lives of Filipino communities. The award acknowledged Laurena’s expertise on the fields of agricultural plant science, analytical chemistry, and chemical biology.

Laurena is one of the pioneer researchers on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country. He is instrumental in the development of the delayed ripening papaya, one of the ‘Pinoy GMOs’ being developed by the Institute of Plant Breeding at UPLB.

Together with his colleagues, Laurena developed and instituted the undergraduate curricular program on agricultural biotechnology, the first in the country.

His achievements were also recognized by various award giving institutions including the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Outstanding Achievement Award for Research, UPLB Outstanding Research Team Award, and 1995 National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Outstanding Young Scientist Award. ■

ALABANG, Muntinlupa City- Dr. Enrico Paringit, Professor of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering, was one of the five outstanding researchers recognized during the annual convention of the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilASST).

(Photo Credit: Henri De Leon of DOST-STII)

Paringit contributed almost two decades of his research and development (R&D) works to utilization of various spatial technologies such as resource management, environmental monitoring, and hazard assessment, which led to the creation of models for hazard and disaster risk reduction and mitigation.

He graduated with a degree of BS Geodetic Engineering in 1997, MS Remote Sensing in 1999, and Doctor of Engineering in 2003 and dedicated his professional career in serving his academe, the University of the Philippines. 

“Dr. Paringit’s academic leadership is exemplified when he held the positions of Chairman and Director of the UP Department of Geodetic Engineering and Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry (TCAGP),” PhilASST cited.

Paringit was also entrusted with government-based projects by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Climate Change Commission such as the sensor calibration and validation component of DIWATA, the Philippines' first microsatellite, and hazard mapping of the Philippines using LiDAR, a surveying method using laser light.

His award, the David M. Consunji Award for Engineering Research, was recently established by PhilASST and DMCI Holdings, Incorporated to give recognition to outstanding researchers in the field of engineering. ■

ALABANG, Muntinlupa City- Another outstanding researcher recognized during the 65^th Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilASST) Convention was Dr. Antonio Dans, President of the Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine (PSGIM).  

(Photo Credit: Henri De Leon of DOST-STII)

Dans bagged the Dr. Paulo C. Campos Award for Medical Research, an award established in 2012 to recognize outstanding medical researchers who have devoted their professional careers in the service of the country.

By establishing the foundations of evidence based medicine (EBM), Dans helped improve the practice of medicine and delivery of quality health care in the country. He spearheaded the conduct of training courses on EBM, particularly in the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines, for health care workers and professional societies.

Dans also initiated and implemented health researches with local and international collaborations that lead to better understanding of disease prevention and management in the country. Some of his studies were published in international, peer-reviewed, and highly cited journals including the Lancet, a medical journal in United Kingdom.

“He leads the initiatives to strengthen the practice of general internal medicine in the country that provide a holistic approach to patient care through the development of relevant training prorams for physicians,” PhilASST explained.

In a press conference, PhilASST also noted that Dans’ health advocacies have resulted in the passage of significant laws and policies such as the Sin Tax Law, which contributed to a significant reduction of smokers in the country.

The Dr. Paulo C. Campos Award for Medical Research also serves to honor the memory of Dr. Campos, a National Scientist and former president of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and PhilAAST.■

ALABANG, Muntinlupa City- Dr. Rizalinda De Leon of the University of the Philippines (UP) received the Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Applied Science Research in the recent annual convention of the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilASST). 

(Photo Credits: Henri De Leon of DOST-STII)

The award was established by the family of National Scientist Gregorio Y. Zara and the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (former PhilAAST) in 1968 to honor the most outstanding national scientists of the country.  To date, the award already recognized 70 Filipino scientists and researchers.

Dr. Rizalina De Leon, Dean of the UP College of Engineering, was recognized due to her contributions in energy fuels and thermal systems.

De Leon also engaged in different projects related to energy by being the head of the UP Fuels, Energy and Thermal Systems Laboratory, faculty coordinator of the Energy Engineering Program, and co-head of the Engineering Research and Development Technology (ERDT).

With her expertise, De Leon became the project leader of the Mentoring Program in Energy Engineering of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). She has been invited to participate in several local and foreign fora as speaker and lecturer. 

De Leon also received various awards which includes the 2015 Outstanding Professional in Chemical Engineering, given by the Professional Regulation Commission. ■