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First of a
series
The
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as a
highlight of the celebration of its 50th anniversary, is
honoring “50 Men and Women of Science” who made
significant contributions to the development of science
and technology in the Philippines in the last 50 years.
The
awardees include scientists, researchers, administrators,
educators, technopreneurs and communicators whose
achievements made an impact in DOST’s development efforts.
Selection
committees sifted through considerable reference materials
in support of a significant number of nominees as part of
the thorough selection process.
The 50 Men
and Women of Science awardees will receive an invaluable
customized sculpture designed by Juan Sajid Imao.
“This
trophy is unique in design, such that it symbolizes the
universal attributes of commitment, passion and excellence
along with the dynamism and spontaneity inherent in
science and technology,”the DOST said.
Imao, the
son of National Artist Abdulmari Asia Imao, is noted for
his modern and classical works mainly in cast metal. He is
one of the youngest in what is apparently a small number
of specialists in modern and classical sculpture in the
country. Many of his creations were commissioned by
respected institutions and art connoisseurs both domestic
and foreign over the last 18 years.
As its
tribute to the 50 foremost men and women of science, the
BusinessMirror will feature them in the Science page
starting in this issue.
Educators
 Fr.
Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ, is no ordinary priest in the
Philippines. He successfully reconciled the fields of
science and religion with his work, especially in the
development of mathematics and science in the Philippines
and in Southeast Asia.
After
finishing his MS and PhD 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 in forming a consortium of leading universities
in Manila to develop PhD programs in mathematics, physics
and chemistry. This led to the development of a critical
mass of scientists in these areas.
Fr. Nebres
chaired the Engineering and Science Education Project of
the DOST and directed a team for the Department of
Education on the development of education plans to
strengthen elementary and secondary education in the
country’s poorest provinces.
****
 Dr.
Dolores F. Hernandez founded in 1964 the UP Science
Education Center, now called the National Institute of
Science and Mathematics Education (UP Nismed), through a
proposal to the Ford Foundation. She served as its
director for 21 years until her retirement in 1985.
She
steered UP Nismed in its pioneering efforts in curriculum
development, research and teacher-training in the field of
science and mathematics education.
As a
pioneer in science and mathematics education in the
Philippines, she played a significant role in the
development of instructional materials and in the
retraining of teachers for this purpose.
After her
retirement, she remained as adviser-consultant to Nismed,
as well as director of the
Regional
Center
for Education Innovation and Technology.
Dr.
Hernandez is recipient of various awards, including the
first Jean Jacques Rousseau World Award for Education in
Oslo, Sweden.
****
 Dr.
Milagros D. Ibe is an icon in mathematics education in the
Philippines. Her ability to simplify esoteric concepts
into lessons easily understood by young minds
significantly helped in demystifying mathematics. She has
inspired generations of students to venture into this
once-daunting field.
A
multiawarded teacher, Dr. Ibe pursued numerous
teacher-training programs and research studies that led to
the development of policies in basic and higher education.
Determined
to pass on her legacy to the younger generations, she
advocates the principle of teaching with compassion,
urging teachers to teach while placing their ears to their
hearts. She has also taken up various leadership positions
at the UP
College of Education, the National Institute of Science and Mathematics
Education,
Miriam College,
and at the Professional Regulation Commission.
****
 Dr.
Josette T. Biyo. Teaching runs in the blood of Dr.
Josette T. Biyo. She hails from a family of teachers—her
father and four siblings are all educators.
After
finishing her BS Biology degree, she taught in a rural
high school for eight years. Facilities were inadequate,
but Dr. Biyo regarded it as a challenge, which she hurdled
through creative and novel teaching methods.
With an
innovative teaching method in science research, an
expertise she developed in 24 years of teaching, Dr. Biyo
bested 4,000 teachers from around the world to win the
Excellence in Teaching Award in the Intel International
Science and Engineering Fair held in
Louisville,
Kentucky,
in May 2002. The award honors teachers who promote inquiry
and inspire students to engage in real research.
Dr. Biyo’s
legacy is already immortalized through a minor planet
named in her honor by the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston. The heavenly
object, originally known as “Planet 13241,” is now called
“Planet Biyo.”
****
 Dr.
Reynaldo Vea. An academician most of his life, Dr.
Reynaldo Vea is reputed for introducing innovative
programs to raise the standards of engineering education
in the
Philippines.
He was the
dean of the University of the Philippines College of
Engineering from May 1993 to August 1997, and was elected
Academician in the National Academy of Science and
Technology of the Department of Science and Technology in
2001.
He chaired
the Technical Panel for Engineering, Architecture and
Maritime Education of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
from November 1994 to August 1997. He also founded the
Asean Academy of Engineering and Technology in 2005, which
sought the development of engineering education in the
Philippines.
He has
also published several articles on engineering education,
naval architecture, marine transportation and water
resources. He also contributed to the publication of two
books.
****
 Dr.
Paulino Tan is a summa cum laude graduate of BS Chemical
Engineering at the De La Salle University and was a
topnotcher in the chemical engineering board. He obtained
his MS and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the
University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA.
Dr. Tan is
known for his pioneering work in improving the information
technology (IT) education in the
Philippines. He
served as technical panel member for IT Education of the
CHED, which put together three major programs addressing
the faculty development of IT teachers, accreditation of
IT schools, and industry readiness of IT graduates.
Communicators
 JOSE
G. BURGOS JR. (Posthumous Award). Ten years ago, “rice
crisis” could not have sprouted in public lexicon. But
Jose G. Burgos Jr. already warned that if the rice and
farm sector don’t get the right attention, the Filipino
nation would one day wake up to austere circumstances.
The
ability to look far into the future and illustrate why
things are coming to pass characterized Joe’s life and
passion. Trained as an investigative reporter, he wasn’t
one to settle for the plain 5Ws and 1H formula. There’s an
almost instinctive “why not” or “so what” that reflected
in his illustrious journalism career.
His
commitment to such universal values as truth and courage
in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds were also
validated universally.
Born on
January 4, 1941, in Manila, Joe went to Ateneo de Cagayan
for his elementary education (1953), and studied at the
University of Santo Tomas for high school (1957) and
college (1963). In 1973, he was Jefferson Fellow at the
East-West Center, University of Hawaii where he
specialized in ecology, environment and development and
communication.
The
martial law years brought him at the forefront of press
and other freedom movements. He was founder, publisher and
editor of such notable alternative press icons as We
Forum, Malaya, Midday and Masa.
After Edsa
I, he began to focus on agriculture and environment with
special interest in “farmland protection and
conservation.” He wrote and did AM radio broadcast
program extensively on such topics. In the process, he
also reaped a harvest of awards.
Among a
long list of awards, Joe Burgos was one of the 50 World
Press Freedom Heroes (International Press Institute,
2000), International Journalist of the Year (Interpress
Service, UN, New York, 1986), Ten Outstanding Young Men of
the Philippines (1970), Binhi-Agricultural Journalist of
the Year—Filipino (1994), and S&T Media Award (1998).
Today,
Jose G. Burgos Jr. is also remembered as an Outstanding
S&T Communicator who brought to national consciousness the
importance of rice and food security through appropriate
science-based agriculture methods, and environment
conservation.
****
 Queena
N. Lee-Chua. In this millennium, science literacy is
paramount to remain competitive in the global arena. All
channels of creative and interesting science communication
need to be harnessed for Filipinos to achieve
technological understanding and appreciation.”
Lee-Chua,
in her own words, best describes her passion to share and
spread the value of understanding science both inside and
outside the lecture hall. Numerous books, articles,
lectures, columns and other communication tools in her
name mirror a vastly creative and disciplined persona.
Born on
April 13, 1966, Lee-Chua’s list of accomplishments and
activities stretches out to prolific frontier. She has
written science and math books, a newspaper column, and
teaches both subjects to students, parents, the media and
practically to everybody else. But she remains consistent
in her goal to make science and math learning “fun”
through “simpler, more understandable language.” She
brings the “fun” to print, radio, TV, online, and
interpersonal audiences.
Lee-Chua
earned her college education (BS Math, summa cum laude,
1987), graduate (MA in Counseling Psychology, 1992), and
post-graduate (Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, 1995) at the
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).
She is
currently a full professor at the Mathematics Department
of ADMU.
Among her
numerous awards are The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s
Service (2001), Outstanding Young Scientist (National
Academy of Science and Technology, 2002), First Multiple
Intelligence Award (Dr. Howard Gardner, Multiple
Intelligence International School Foundation Inc., 2005),
Outstanding Teacher Award (Metrobank Foundation, 2003),
National Book Award for Science (2003), Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Literature (first place, English
Essay, 2001), S&T Journalism Awards (Philippine Press
Institute-Philippine Geothermal Inc., 1992), and DOST-Best
S&T Columnist, special citation (2005).
****
 Juan
L. Mercado is a leading voice against apparent government
apathy and social inequities. His widely followed
“Viewpoint” column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer is a
must-read for well-researched commentaries on issues
covering environment, health and nutrition, education,
children’s welfare, food and agriculture, population,
political economy, and science and technology development
policy, among others.
He also
writes another column for the Cebu Daily News, as well as
syndicated column for Sun-Star Cebu, Bohol Chronicle and
other community papers.
Mercado
was born in 1930 in
Cebu City.
He graduated with an AB degree from San Carlos University
in 1953 and did part of his MA studies at Ateneo de Manila
University in 1954-55. He was a Kissinger Fellow
at Harvard University in 1963 and trained at the American
Press Institute in Columbia University in 1969.
He
started his journalism career as a reporter in Southern
Star, a Cebu daily, in the early 1950s and later joined
the Evening News in Manila covering the Philippine Senate.
He also covered the United Nations in New York as
correspondent for foreign publications, including
London’s
Financial Times and the Honolulu-Star Bulletin.
Mercado
was the founding-director of the Philippine Press
Institute, and then editor of DEPTHNews published by the
Magsaysay Award-winning Press Foundation of Asia.
Along
with 21 other journalists, Mercado was detained following
the first wave of arrests during martial law. No charges
were ever filed but, like other detained journalists, he
was kept under city arrest.
He joined
the United Nations as communications officer, which posted
him in Thailand and then in Italy as attache de’cabinet.
Following
the people power uprising in 1986, and after 19 years of
UN service, Mercado returned to the
Philippines
and resumed his journalism work.
The Manila
Rotary Club named him Journalist of the Year in 1968 and
Opinion Writer of the Year in 2004. The San
Carlos University also recognized him as
Outstanding Alumnus in Journalism in 1970.
The
Society of Publishers in
Asia cited him
for excellence in opinion writing in 2004. In 2005 and
2007, he received the Best Columnist award from the
Catholic Archdiocesan Commission for Mass Media.
Writing in
brisk cadence, Mercado methodically chips away at the
usual 24-karat bureaucratic and technical jargon to focus
on the common sense issues. He brings attention to issues
that truly matter to the common man. In the process, he
shows that understanding science means understanding
ourselves.
****
 Angelo
B. Palmones. In the
Philippines,
the AM radio is an influential medium. Bringing science
and technology to a broad spectrum of listeners is not
just refreshing. It’s an innovation in an industry that
prizes celebrity and hustle.
Angelo B.
Palmones brought sense and reason to AM listenership
through Bago ’Yan Ah! science-oriented program in
one of the top AM stations in the country. But his
commitment to wider S&T public awareness does not start
and stop with the multiawarded Sunday program.
Palmones
initiated and supported many environment-protection and
science-education programs. He has conceptualized “Bantay
Kalikasan Hotline,” a media watch against raiders of the
environment. He has organized “Invent Clubs” in several
provinces to encourage creativity among students and
out-of-school youth. He is also deeply involved in
science-related activities in campuses and among student
and teacher organizations.
A unique
“Fisheries School on Air” program that he hosts, now on
its seventh year, has 90 alumni so far who are into
tilapia, seabass and crab cultures.
Born on
August 8, 1966, in Kidapawan, Cotabato, Palmones earned
his Bachelor of Science in Commerce at Notre Dame College
of Kidapawan (1987), and took up law subjects at the Far
Eastern University. He also went to the Asian Institute of
Management for an executive development program (1999).
Palmones
is currently director of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.’s AM
Radio Network, station manager of dzmm, program host of
Bago Yan Ah! and Radio Patrol Balita, senior
lecturer at the
College
of Mass Communication of the University of the Philippines
in Diliman, and council member of Biotechnology Conference
of the Philippines.
He is also
cofounder and current president of the Philippine Science
Journalists Association Inc., and regular member of the
National Press Club and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa
Pilipinas.
Among his
numerous awards are DOST Media Award Hall of Fame (winner
in 1998, 1999, 2000), Best Newscaster—12th and 13th KBP
Golden Dove Awards (2002 and 2004, respectively). DOST S&T
Media Service
To be
continued ... ... | 
