MANILA, Philippines—A Philippine Daily Inquirer story on how the carabao holds the key to the commercial production of biofuel in the country bagged first prize for Best Feature Story at the 2008 Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism.

Anselmo Roque, 70, Nueva Ecija-based correspondent for the Inquirer, wrote the winning story, “Carabao may be key to biofuel, says scientist,” published on Jan. 27. It bested 745 articles, which appeared in various national dailies, winning for him a cash prize of P30,000.

Roque’s story, which appeared in the section, Across the Nation, featured the proposal of Filipino-American scientist Dr. Fiorello Abenes to produce an alternative fuel by extracting “rumen fluid” from carabaos and using it to ferment biomass materials like rice stubble and straw.

Rumen fluid is the “mother liquor” which can convert plant molecules called lignocellulose into carbohydrates, which can be turned into bioethanol through fermentation.

Held annually since 2005, the Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards recognize journalists who, like the late press freedom fighter, promote biotechnology in the Philippines through scientific reports.

Biotechnology is the use of living things, especially cells and bacteria, in industrial processes.

Helping farmers

“[Jose Burgos Jr.] conceptualized the awards. He was a pioneer in scientific reporting. He believed in biotech as a means of helping farmers improve their lives,” said Burgos’ widow, Edita Burgos, who is the executive director of the Biotech Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC).

The awards capped the National Biotechnology Week organized by BMARC, a group of science, agriculture and media-related government and nongovernment agencies.

The award ceremonies were held Thursday at the Institute for Small-scale Industries at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Surprise

Roque, who was informed by phone that he was a finalist, traveled all the way from Nueva Ecija, accompanied by his family. He learned he won first prize only when he arrived at the event.

“It was a surprise. I didn’t even know about this [contest]. I thought I wouldn’t win and that my trip might not be worth it,” Roque said in Filipino.

Roque, who has been writing for the Inquirer since 1986, holds a Ph.D. in Development Education from the Central Luzon State University. After retiring as a professor, he concentrated on writing and started tending his own farm.

Agriculture is one of his advocacies, he said. He has received awards from various institutions for his articles, including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

His published features in the Inquirer ranged from farmers getting access to the Internet to test-tube goats.

Media as link

“We are an agricultural country. Agriculture is our life. Without it, we will fall as a country,” he said.

At the awards ceremonies, Roque thanked the Inquirer and Filipino readers for giving due notice “not only to controversial stories but also to developmental ones.”

“Media provides the link between the scientists and the users. They are able to popularize technology and findings and make farmers understand—that’s a big help,” said Edita Burgos.

DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro lauded the winners for being “champions of scientific inquiry.”

She noted that biotech reportage had gone from writing about an advocacy to stories on actual projects. She cited provincial awardees, like Roque, for helping biotech to be recognized nationwide.

Other winners

Edita added: “We believe that if biotech were accepted [whole-heartedly] by farmers, and if they have an informed choice, we can usher in food security. It can also improve economic conditions.”

Coming in second to the Inquirer’s Roque was Philippine Star’s Doreen Yu, while Emmanuel Libre Osorio of BusinessMirror placed third. Yu and Osorio won P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Another Inquirer reporter, Tessa Salazar, was recognized as a finalist for her stories “RP seas may hold key to cancer cure” and “4 MIT students eye malunggay for fuel.”

Eric Dorente of BusinessWorld placed first in the Best News Story category.

Manila Bulletin landed first place in the Institutional Category for the most number of biotech stories published, with reporter Melody Aguiba achieving Hall of Fame status for placing first for the past three years. Jaymee T. Gamil