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The Manila Times continues the presentation, in alphabetical order, of the 50 great men and women of science, who will be recognized and awarded by President Gloria Arroyo on June 9 in Malacañang.
Part five of six
31. JUAN L. MERCADO
A leading voice against apathy and social inequities, Mercado writes the widely read column "Viewpoint." He often writes commentaries on issues covering environment, health and nutrition, education, children's welfare, food and agriculture, population, political economy, and science and technology development policy. He was imprisoned during martial law. After a sterling career as a journalist, he joined the United Nations as communications officer, which posted him in Thailand and then in Italy as attaché de cabinet. Following the 1986 People Power uprising and after 19 years of UN service, Mercado returned to the Philippines and resumed journalism work.
32. FILIPINAS F. NATIVIDAD
As director of the Research and Biotechnology Division at St. Luke's Medical Center, Dr. Natividad led the establishment of the first Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory in the Philippines that made novel molecular and genetic tests available to Filipino patients. She is also the first to introduce to the country the pioneering application of stem cell transplant for ocular surface disorders at St. Luke's. She also established a curriculum for molecular biology and biotechnology in University of the Philippines in Diliman, where she became a full professor in the late 1980s. Her UP Diliman curriculum was replicated in other UP campuses in Manila and Los Baños. Dr. Natividad's research works have been published locally and internationally, encompassing the fields of infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases and neurological diseases.
33. BIENVENIDO F. NEBRES, S.J.
Fr. Bienvenido Nebres is no ordinary Jesuit priest. He successfully reconciled the fields of science and religion in his work, especially in the development of mathematics and science in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. After finishing his master's and Ph.D. in mathematics at Stanford University in California, he founded the Mathematical Society of the Philippines. He is also one of the founding officers of the Southeast Asian Mathematical Society. He pioneered a consortium of leading universities in Manila to develop Ph.D. programs in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, leading to the development of a critical mass of scientists in these areas. Fr. Nebres chaired the Engineering and Science Education Project of the Department of Science and Technology and directed a team for the Department of Education to develop plans to strengthen elementary and secondary education in the country's poorest provinces.
34. WILLIAM G. PADOLINA
A secretary of the Department of Science and Technology from 1994 to 1998, Dr. Padolina implemented a development agenda that included technological advances in agriculture, manufacturing and services, education program focused on technological systems and industry application, and improvement of research management system.
Under his watch, the department's development of science and technology human resources gained attention through the Engineering and Science Education Project, the Science and Technology Scholarship Act, and the creation of four new campuses of the Philippine Science High School system (Diliman, Mindanao, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas). He also implemented the PhNet project, the country's first link to the Internet.
Dr. Padolina shepherded the Magna Carta for science and technology personnel through the legislative mill until it became Republic Act 8439 in 1997. While serving as secretary, he was admitted as member of the New York Academy of Science, and was listed in the Who's Who of the Asia-Pacific Rim. He has received many awards and distinctions including Academician of NAST, Outstanding Young Scientist (1982), and Ten Outstanding Young Men (1985).
35. CLEMENCIA A. PADRE
Clemencia Padre is the owner and manager of Ilocos Food Products (IFP), which is the "champion" in producing "chichacorn" or crunchy corn bits. It won the "Top Seller in Processed Food Sector, MEGMA" award in 1999, 2000, 2001 and a plaque of recognition as "Regional High Value Commercial Crop Processor, Gawad Saka" in 2001 and 2002.
Today, IFP is a leader in Ilocano delicacies patronized by a widening customer base in the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
36. ANGELO B. PALMONES
Angelo B. Palmones brought sense and reason to AM listenership through Bago 'Yan Ah!, a science-oriented program. And his unique Fisheries School on Air program that he has hosted now for seven years, has 90 alumni so far who have gone into tilapia, seabass and crab culture.
He is co-founder and current president of the Philippine Science Journalists Association Inc., a regular member of the National Press Club and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas.
Among his numerous awards are DOST Media Award Hall of Fame (winner in 1998, 1999 and 2000), Best Newscaster-12th KBP Golden Dove Awards (2002), and the 13th KBP Golden Dove Awards (2004).
37. JURGENNE H. PRIMAVERA
Dr. Primavera is a scientist from the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center in Tigbauan, Iloilo. She focused on brood stock development and pond grow out culture of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and produced a number of publications on P. monodon culture that led to the development and improvement of seed production, hatchery operations, and pond culture of P. monodon in the country.
Dr. Primavera received the 2005 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation from the Pew Institute of Ocean Science. She has a doctorate, honoris causa, from Stockholm University.
38. HENRY J. RAMOS
Dr. Ramos is director of the Project Management Office, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, University of The Philippines System, and is an internationally recognized scientist in the field of plasma science.
He established the Plasma Physics Laboratory at the National Institute of Physics-University of the Philippines-Diliman and published at least 16 scientific papers on the subject. He is currently the country's representative to the Asia-Africa Association for Plasma Training. He also serves as peer reviewer in a scientific journal, IEEE Transactions in Plasma Science.
39. DELFIN JAY M. SABIDO X
In 2002, the Metropolitan Computer Times recognized him as one of the 18 luminaries in Philippine information communications technology. He also received various awards, such as the 4th Gawad-Lagablab, PSHS (Philippine Science High School) Outstanding Alumni for Contribution to Research (2002), Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship (1990), and Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Award for Technology (1989). He was a scholar of the Science and Technology department from 1984 to 1989 and authored more than 60 scientific publications. He is a prolific international speaker on open source software, research and development management, information communications technology, and electronics trends and opportunities, technology road mapping, and science and technology policies.
40. MANUEL J. SALAZAR
Manuel J. Salazar is the president and chief executive officer of Pascual Laboratories, Inc. (IMS), which is the leader in the over-the-counter wound remedy, phytomedicine and generic segments of the market. The firm also has significant presence in the anti-infectives, cardiovascular and nutritional supplements segments.
PLI's adoption of production technologies for lagundi and sambong tablets in 1995, Ascof and Releaf, earned for the Philippines its first recognition for Quality Excellence in locally produced medicines from the prestigious International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products in Geneva, Switzerland. It also got a "Rising Star" citation from the Department of Trade and Industry's Golden Shell Awards, which confirms the products' export potential. PLI's venture into herbal medicines contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of many poor families. It also revived professional and public interest in pharmaceutical products locally produced from indigenous plants and herbs.
To be continued
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