ON JULY 9, at the Manila Hotel, nine researchers, all under 40, were named Outstanding Young Scientists by the National Academy of Science and Technology.
Agriculture, marine culture
Antonio G. Lalusin of the Institute of Plant Breeding-Crop Science Cluster in the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB), uses biotechnology to improve crops. On a scholarship from the Japanese government, Lalusin did graduate work in bioresource engineering at the University of Tsukuba in 2000-2006, focusing on plant molecular biology and biotechnology.
Upon his return, Lalusin became involved in the breeding of superior crops and developing high-yield varieties of sweet potato, cassava and abaca. He currently leads biotech studies in abaca breeding, with a P3.9 million funding from the Department of Agriculture, and in sugarcane improvement, with a P6.2 million grant from the Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers.
Lucille C. Villegas, head of the microbiology division, Institute of Biological Sciences, in UPLB, has been involved in several studies of viruses and bacteria. She aims to use these organisms to develop new and cost-effective technologies to help the economy and, at the same time, protect the environment.
Villegas’ studies on bacteria have helped improve sugarcane production. She has also studied the genetics of rice viruses. Currently, she is intent on using bacteria to clean up heavy-metal contaminated water.
Ronald D. Villanueva, Villegas’ colleague, studies seaweed chemistry and taxonomy, coral reproduction and cultivation. A former pharmacist, Villanueva turned to marine science, initially studying the importance of algae at the Marine Science Institute in UP Diliman. Later, at the University of Porto in Portugal, he developed techniques to improve the quality of food from algae.
In his dissertation that was funded by Shell Philippines Exploration, Villanueva focused on reproduction and biology of corals in northwest Philippines, as well as effects of fish farm waste and petroleum byproducts on corals. After earning his doctorate, Villanueva received a fellowship from the World Bank/Global Environment Facility, and continued his work on corals. Now he is involved in restoration of damaged coral reefs.
Mathematics, engineering
Julius M. Basilla of the Institute of Mathematics, UP Diliman, has served as adviser to undergraduate and graduate students in many areas, ranging from number fields and cryptography to robotics and graph theory. Recently, he received a grant from the Erasmus Mundus Mobility for Asia program for further work in the Bordeaux Institute of Mathematics in France.
Basilla is also involved in math competitions. In 2008 and 2009, he served as deputy team leader of the Philippine contingent to the International Math Olympiad, training and coaching the students. In 2008, our country got a bronze medal after 13 years of drought. He is now training the current team, hoping to surpass last year’s achievement.
Melito A. Baccay, dean of the College of Engineering of the Technological University of the Philippines in Manila, is locally and internationally recognized for his research on steel corrosion. He received a grant from Japan to finish his doctorate at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2006. He continues to study steel corrosion in existing concrete structures, with a view to environmental protection and conservation.
“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance,” says Baccay, “and it takes character to keep you there.” His sustained research attests to his commitment to scientific work, and his active participation in industry and government makes his work relevant to our society.
Economics, medicine
Lawrence B. Dacuycuy, chairman of the Department of Economics at De la Salle University-Manila, does research on econometrics. From 2003 to 2006, with a Japan scholarship grant, he focused on labor research, including wage functions and inequality, at Kyoto University.
Dacuycuy has branched out to other areas, such as migration, particularly that of health workers, and business cycles, especially those in the Philippine reform years of the 1980s.
Stella A. Quimbo of the School of Economics in UP Diliman, graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian in 1991, and continued her graduate work at her alma mater. After finishing her doctoral studies, she spent a year at Brown University in the United States, studying the health-seeking behavior of tuberculosis patients.
Health economics is Quimbo’s specialty, and right now she is involved in the Health Policy Development Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development and the UP Economics Foundation. The program provides technical assistance to the Department of Health, through a review of the PhilHealth benefit delivery system to evaluate its effectiveness in providing financial protection, especially to the poor.
Leoncio L. Kaw of the Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, UP Manila, has trained in general surgery, vascular surgery, trauma and critical care. His pioneering work on colon and rectal cancer revealed that screening guidelines in the US may not be entirely appropriate for Filipinos, emphasizing the need to establish a local registry for colorectal cancer.
Kaw also developed new and practical ways to improve survival of the critically ill and the seriously injured. Now he concentrates his efforts on a comprehensive approach to vascular disease. Even if he is a surgeon, Kaw is convinced that a multifaceted approach is best, including lifestyle modification, diagnostic tests and use of new technologies in surgery.
Ma. Stephanie Fay S. Cagayan of the UP Manila College of Medicine is a professor of pharmacology and toxicology, and obstetrics and gynecology. She is a Jill of several trades – gestational trophoblastic diseases, drug use in pregnancy, holistic medicine, and general pharmacology.
A believer in the body-mind connection, Cagayan has developed an innovative birthing preparation program called Sayuntis (sayaw ng buntis). Uniquely Filipino, the program consists of Bukang Liwayway (warm up), Bigay Pugay (stretches, meditation and breathing exercises), Indayog (workout proper), and Takip Silim (cool down). Hopefully, Sayuntis will help reduce maternal deaths.
E-mail the author at blessbook@yahoo.com.
