NRCP honors top 11 Filipino scientists

By Jowi A. Carteciano
MediaCore, NRCP

The National Research Council of the Philippines honored 11 Filipino scientists for significant achievements last year in time for its 70th foundation anniversary March 15 at Manila Hotel's fiesta pavillion.

The scientific achievements contributed to the advancement of science and technology in the Philippines. More than 2,000 NRCP members affirmed the significance of their colleagues' scientific accomplishments towards the realization of the government's objective of developing a strong pool of R&D skilled human resource.

The 11 scientists received plaques of recognition and P20,000 each. The following are the year's achievers:

Dr. Rosalinda C. Solevilla, pharmaceutical sciences, for research and that established the anti-microbial activities, diuretic, analgesic, anti-pyretic, and the anti-inflammatory properties of some Philippine medicinal plants. Dr. Solevilla's research findings contributed significantly in the promotion of the use of medicinal plants as alternative medicines, and in the government's program to improve the country's health care and healthy lifestyle.

 

Dr. Teresita P. Acevedo, engineering and industrial research, a food chemical engineer whose researches helped and influenced the country's lawmakers in formulating food development policies and standards.  Her research studies are now used as bases in the design and creation of globally competitive food processing technologies that continuously help the country's food manufacturing sector in producing world-class quality food products. 

 

Dr. Leoncio A. Amadore, earth sciences, the scientific works of this atmospheric scientist resulted to an empirical method of forecasting tropical cyclone movement, which had been internationally recognized as the Amadore Method.  His technical and scientific articles enriched with scientific information from his meteorological researches on storm surges, tropical cyclone, disaster management cycle, typhoon climatology, structures and development were published in local and international scientific journals.  Amadore Method and all the published articles of Dr. Amadore significantly contributed to the advancement of atmospheric science and hydrometeorology in the country.

 

Dr. Ma. Cynthia-Rose B. Bautista, social sciences, for her scientific investigations on the impacts of urbanization, labor migration, and Asian economic crisis to the country's diverse culture, lives, and rights of Filipino women, poverty alleviation, and people empowerment.  Her research findings and articles, which were transformed into books gained international recognition and significantly contributed to the enhancement of teaching and research in the social sciences in the Philippines.

 

Dr. Maxima J. Acelajado,  governmental, educational, and international policies, the NRCP picked this mathematician for outstanding researches on upgrading mathematics teaching in the Philippines.  All the books in mathematics she authored and co-authored are based on the researches she conducted in different regions of the country.  These books are now used as prescribed books or references for learning and teaching of mathematics in high school and college.  Many education experts in the country acknowledged her works to have contributed to the improved and improving performance of both high school and college students in different fields of mathematics.

 

Dr. Ma. Lilia F. Realubit, humanities, a prolific literary artist and critic cited for her researches on the intricacies of diverse Philippine culture.  Her lectures in many local and foreign literary conferences, seminar-workshops, and symposia promoted better understanding and appreciation of the country's folklore, spoken languages, and literature.  She collected, documented, translated, and published literature in sway in the Bicol region that inspired many Bicolanos especially literary students and artists in safeguarding the uniqueness of their culture.  Her efforts also contributed to the continuing development of Bicol culture as an integral part of Philippine Cultural Heritage.

 

Dr. Lilian Lee, medical sciences, a neurologist who discovered the causes of a brain disorder known as Recessive Dystonia Parkinsonism that became prevalent in the Islands of Panay.  Dr. Lee's discovery is instrumental to the understanding and classification of RDP.  Medical scientists, technologists, and researchers from international scientific communities recognized this discovery and its importance to other medical researches.

 

Dr. Roberto E. Coronel, agriculture and forestry, an agricultural scientist acclaimed for his contributions in the government's effort to alleviate poverty incidence and improve the well being of Filipino people in agricultural sector especially those in remote regions of the country.  His researches on fruits and nuts especially those on asexual propagation methods paved the way for Filipino farmers to produce crops and fruits in large scale all year round and improved the country's fruit industry.

 

Dr. Priscilla C. Sanchez, biological sciences, for two major scientific accomplishments as a parasitologist.  First, she pioneered the scientific research and investigation on Philippine microbial diversity.  She isolated and characterized different species of bacteria and fungi according to habitats and potential biotechnology applications.  She also discovered two species of bacteria - the Caldivirga  maquilinensis and Caldisphaera lagunensis, that both inhabit the mud-spring in Mount Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna.   Second, Dr. Sanchez' research on microbial contents of fermented food products play a vital role in the generation of novel technologies that are now used in the production of healthy fermented food products - i.e., free from disease causing parasites.

 

Dr. Jose A. Marasigan, mathematics, is one of the primary movers in the establishment of Philippine Mathematical Olympiad and the force behind the Program for Excellence in Mathematics.  Dr. Marasigan has developed a special program of instruction for mathematically gifted youth, many of whom pursued successful careers in mathematics and the sciences.

 

Dr. Marco Nemesio E. Montaño, chemical sciences, as a chemist he characterized the algal polysaccharide contents of some species of Philippine seaweed.  His research findings had helped the government in informing and educating many Filipinos especially those living in coastal areas on the food uses and processing of sea vegetables present in their areas.  His work contributed a lot in the development and progress of the country's seaweed industry.