By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL – The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) on Friday (July 4) held the #PilipiNAST Kapehan here in Quezon City.
The NAST PHL is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) mandated to recognize outstanding achievements in scientific research and development, advise the President and the Cabinet on matters related to S & T, and engage in projects and programs that promote scientific productivity.
In the forum, the newly-elected NAST PHL Members, the 2025 Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS), and the winners of the 2025 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists (NTSYS) were revealed.
In his welcome remarks, Academician Jaime C. Montoya, President of NAST PHL, said “This is supposed to be a joyous occasion.”
Montoya welcomed the participants in the 7th episode of the Kapehan as a venue to introduce the awardees on the timely science and technology advancements.
He said “The occasion is to gain insights on the 2025 NAST Awardees.”
Montoya also welcomed the three newly-elected Academicians Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian (Plant Breeding), Dr. Wilfredo Roehl V. Licuanan (Marine Ecology), and Dr. Charles V. Yu (Pulmonary/Infectious Disease).
He also invited the participants to the 47th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on July 9-10, 2025 at The Manila Hotel.
Montoya expressed appreciation to the presence of the members of the media for their invaluable support.
He gave assurances to the awardees that they can get financial support from the NAST PHL for their respective studies.
During the open forum, Dr. Sebastian said that he started his Plant Science in High School in Ilocos Sur.
He added that he also participated in the “Science Cup” in the province and in the region.
Dr. Sebastian had also been an OYS himself. He cited the importance of the scholarship for students.
He noted that there are now many students in the Philippine Science High School.
Dr. Sebastian recalled that Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin and Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas were both advisers of the DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform).
“Adopting to climate change is not as easy as making an experiment. In climate change, there are winners and there are losers. We cannot generalize. We have to map out the areas. Identify the areas,” Dr. Sebastian said.
He cited that Baguio City has a cool weather and the low land areas have hot weather.
Dr. Licuanan, 61, said “Our coastline is more than three times with that of the US (United States).”
“It takes a lot of science to get to a stage where you know what to do and make a recommendation that could make an impact,” he added.
He stressed that it takes a lot of science to make a meaningful result to change the society.
Dr. Licuanan is a biologist. He is teaching high school students to know about coral reefs.
He said that he was one of the few scientists who would like to avoid commenting on the alleged “destruction of the coral reefs” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before the foreigners came in.
“We don’t have a map on the coral reefs in the Philippines. We don’t have a coordinated monitoring system,” Dr. Licuanan said.
“We have no contribution or monitoring system on the coral reefs. We don’t have a hard data to hold in court. We have no map. We have no monitoring system so we have to stop there. We don’t have hard data to hold in court,” he added.
The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) has set up the Marine Scientific Research Center. “Meron ng nangyayari. Things are changing. Government and people are going into the right direction,” Dr. Licuanan said.
Dr. Yu said “We have to go out to the people in order to solve the problems.”
He is working as a tuberculosis for life long. “We are No. 4 in Tuberculosis in the world,” he said.
“We have to make science and technology sexy. It’s the challenge to the community. We have to make it sexy,” Dr. Yu added.
Dr. Montoya said that he is happy that at least there is a performer in the group of Awardees.
The 10 OYS are Dr. Rowalt C. Alibudbud (Psychiatry and Health Social Sciences), Dr. Garry A. Benico (Aquatic Bioscience), Dr. Jake Rom D. Cadag (Geography and Spatial Planning), Dr. Mark S. Calabon (Biological Sciences), Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr. (Ceramic Materials and Surface Treatment-Physics Discipline), Dr. Fresthel Monica M. Climacosa (Molecular Medicine), Dr. Andres Philip Mayol (Mechanical Engineering), Dr. May Ann E. Mata (Interdisciplinary Studies-Applied Mathematics), Dr. Excel Rio S. Maylem (Animal Science), and Melissa P. Montecalvo (Plant Pathology).
Dr. Mata said that she had the ability to be with the community. She said that he helped the Davao City government in controlling the rabies by collaborating with the scientists to develop analytics dashboard to fasttrack the monitoring and controlling of rabies.
She was a former rapper in Davao City and she wanted to make something that is “catchy to the masa”.
Montecalvo said that she had been encouraged to join the awards, but it was only last year that she had the great chance to be with the Academy.
Dr. Climacosa said that the Award is an “answered prayer” for her. She noted the innovative program in Molecular Medicine.
Dr. Maylen said that the Award is a “stepping stone” towards more achievements.
“This Award is a testament of our hard work and more hard work,” Dr. Maylen said.
Dr. Cadag said that after the research, communicate with the community on disaster reduction.
He said that on a scale, he gives himself a grade of “10” as he works with the community.
Dr. Alibudbud said that in 2023, there was a systematic program. On mental health, it is affected by social media platform.
He added that social media has been part of the society. He said that he was not able to get funding for his study.
The top 2 winners of the NTSYS are Dr. Isaiah Paolo A. Lee (Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology) – 1st prize, and Dr. Victor Manuel R. Aricheta (Mathematics) – 2nd prize.
NAST PHL Executive Director Luningning E. Samarita-Domingo also participated in the program.
The #PilipiNAST Kapehan is a series of dialogues that gather together the NAST PHL scientists and the press, media, and science communicators.
It serves as a platform to introduce the programs, activities, awardees, and members of the Academy, as well as to tackle the pressing science and technology issues.
It also gears to provide an opportunity to present the exemplary contributions made by Filipino scientists to the advancement of science and technology in the Philippines. ###
