The new study, entitled “Conservation of Sustainable Ecotourism on the Island of Siquijor through Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods, Training and Development,” was published in The International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic, Social, and Cultural Context. The participants, who were inhabitants of the island, favored sustainable ecotourism but expressed the need for intensive capacity-building in both interpersonal and computer skills. In terms of actual livelihood activities, the participants identified housekeeping, healing massage training, and tour guiding/tour car driving as immediate areas of concern. To help manage the desired influx of tourists, the residents likewise expressed the need for basic first aid training.

Santos is the incumbent Chair of the Department of Economics of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, while Ancheta teaches at the Graduate School. Meanwhile, the Garcias are academic researchers of the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Science.

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The paper “Shifts in the feeding ecology of the endemic and Endangered Sardinella tawilis in Lake Taal, Philippines” showed that the tawilis, which have been found to feed on zooplanktons,preferred “cyclopoid copepods and [showed a] noticeable increased preference for Moina micrura, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, and Bosmina fatalis.” This showed a shift from its earlier preference for calanoids. The findings were elicited from an application of stable isotope analysis and gut content analysis.

The new study was published on June 5, 2025 in Endangered Species Research, Volume 57, and was authored by a team of scientists from UST, De La Salle University, University of Rizal System, and the Department of Science and Technology. The authors are: Dale Anthony L. To (UST, DLSU), Asst. Prof. Elfritzson M. Peralta, MSc (UST), Justine R. De Leon (UST), Alexis E. Belen (UST), Lloyd Matthew L. Pineda (UST), Inst. Walled T. Ali (UST), Miguel Angelo F. Dollete (UST), Inst. Ray Allan N. Zafra (UST), Norman Mendoza (DOST), Prof. Richard Thomas B. Pavia, PhD (UST), Assoc. Prof. Dino T. Tordesillas, PhD (UST), Jonathan Carlo A. Briones (UST, URS), and College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD.

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Asst. Prof. Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, MSc, will be the division’s Secretary. Meanwhile, Prof. Donna May D.C. Papa, PhD will suit up as the Section Chair of Microbiology, while Prof. Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro, Dr. rer. nat. will serve as the Section Chair of Plant Biology.

NRCP promotes and supports the fundamental research for the continuing improvement of the research capability of individual or group scientists; foster linkages with local and international scientific organizations for enhanced cooperation in the development and sharing of scientific information; provide advice on problems and issues of national interests; and promote the scientific and technological culture to all sectors of the society.

Diesmos’ research interests include Systematics, Ecology, and Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles of the Philippines, as well as Amphibian Disease. Papa’s research interest include Bacteriophage Ecology, Aquaculture, Therapy, and Systematics, as well as Bacterial Viruses/Bacteriophage Therapy/AMR. Lastly, Alejandro’s research interest include Systematics & Taxonomy of Philippine Flora (esp. Rubiaceae), Molecular Phylogenetics (cpDNA & nrDNA), DNA Barcoding of endemic and medicinal plants, as well as Collaborative studies on Phytochemistry of endemic plants.

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A team led by Biological Sciences Professor Cecilia I. Banag-Moran, Dr. rer. nat. developed digital and print learning materials for children, whose schools now adopt the tools. In an announcement by the NRCP, the funding agency announced that the Department of Education – Schools Division of Siargao approved the use of the materials to “strengthen literacy and promote environmental education for young learners.”

The materials include a printed workbook, the Siargao Flora & Fauna Puzzle mobile game, and twenty-one (21) animated videos focusing on what comprise Siargao’s famed biodiversity. The materials have a focus on mangrove research areas.

Banag-Moran’s team is composed of the following academic staff: Inst. Jorge Anton D. Ordas, MSc, Inst. Genea Nichole Cortez (content writer for the workbook), MSc, Asst. Prof. Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, MSc, Academician Mudjekeewis Santos, PhD (Graduate School), and Academician Arvin Diesmos, PhD.

The project was based on a 2019-2020 study entitled “Assessment, Inventory, and Biological Field Survey of Flora and Fauna of the Mangrove Forests in Del Carmen, Siargao Island.” The team worked closely with Del Carmen Mayor Hon. Alfredo Coro, Jr. and his team for the endeavor.

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The study, entitled “Regional and institutional trends in assessment for academic promotion,” was co-authored by Prof. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Dr. rer. nat., a full professor of the Department of Biological Sciences and Member of the country’s Teacher Education Council.

Surveying a total of 314 policies pertaining to full professorship, the study acknowledged the “assessment as research performance [as a] vital tool in upholding the highest standards of quality, with selection and competition believed to drive progress.” The study covered a total of 121 countries, with 32 from the Global North and 89 from the Global South. While there were marked differences between Global North and Global South, as well institutional and national policies, the study found that this diversity was less present across disciplines—despite the inherent uniqueness of each.

The provided strategic implications for researchers, research managers, and national governments.

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Dr. Papa, who leads the three-year project which began in July 2024, said that the project aims to “isolate bacteriophages infecting various clinical strains of A. baumanni collected from different hospitals and to produce a working prototype of phage formulation—composed of characterized bacteriophages that show high viability for therapeutic use.” In particular, the study aims at potential intravenous administration of the treatment using bacteriophages, which are a group of viruses aimed at targeting bacteria.

So far, the team has collaborated with ARSP sentinel sites and tertiary hospitals to collect water samples and doing enrichment set-ups and testing the filtrates. The team also procured necessary equipment, which will be transferred soon to the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

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Within various technical panels are Thomasian academics and researchers, namely:

ACCOUNTANCY

1. Prof. Patricia M. Empleo, PhD

BIOLOGY, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology

1. Prof. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Dr. rer. Nat.
2. Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD
3. Prof. John Donnie A. Ramos, PhD

CHEMISTRY

1. Academician Professor Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato, PhD
2. Assoc. Prof. Oliver B. Villaflores, PhD

FINE ARTS

1. Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

1. Prof. Marilu R. Madrunio, PhD (Chair)
2. Prof. Camilla D.J. Vizconde, PhD

GRADUATE TEACHER EDUCATION

1. Prof. Camilla D.J. Vizconde, PhD

LITERATURE

1. Prof. John Jack G. Wigley, PhD

MARINE SCIENCE

1. Prof. Mary Beth B. Maningas, PhD

MATHEMATICS

1. Prof. Ma. Carlota B. Decena, PhD

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

1. Prof. Ma. Freida Z. Hapan, PhD

MEDICINE

1. Prof. Ma. Minerva P. Calimag, MD, PhD

MUSIC

1. Assoc. Prof. Dolores T. Andres, PhD

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

1. Asst. Prof. Kathlene Anne V. Hernandez, MHPEd

OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING

1. Assoc. Prof. Ma. Ninia I. Calaca, MA, MAPhl
2. Prof. Belen L. Tangco, PhD

PHARMACY

1. Prof. Aleth Therese L. Dacanay, PhD (Chair)

PHILOSOPHY

1. Prof. Robert A. Montaña, PhD

PHYSICAL THERAPY

1. Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH

PHYSICS

1. Assoc. Prof. Angelita Silverio, MS (ret.)

REAL ESTATE

1. Prof. Eduardo G. Ong, PhD

SOCIOLOGY

1. Prof. Clarence M. Batan, PhD
2. Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict R. Ignacio, PhD

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

1. Inst. Elinor Bautista
2. Asst. Prof. Judith S. Damian, MS (ret.)

The newly reconstituted technical panels will have a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2028.

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The study, co-authored by fr. Austriaco with Mary Chelsea E. Diego and Red Lazaro of the Department of Biological Sciences, Angus White of Providence College – USA, and Allan Paola L. Almajose of the Department of Chemical Engineering, adapted a susceptible-infected-recovered model to help vaccinators administer the needed COVID-19 deterrent and arrest the spread of the disease. The model targeted the National Capital Region as the main focus area of widespread vaccine distribution to mitigate viral transmission, which was high in the capital, while the rest of the archipelago can first focus on medical frontliners, senior citizens, and adults with comorbidities.

The study, entitled “,” was published in the Philippine Journal of Science and helped the Philippine government in distributing limited vaccine supply to the sectors who needed it most.

The NRCP Gabay Award is given annually to active NRCP members whose research works have resulted or translated to adopted technologies and policies; or have informed local and national policy-making.

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Pavia, the immediate past Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, has worked on non-native aquatic organisms and non-native freshwater fish species. In 2023, he published an article warning about the risk of non-native fishes invading due to climate change, with Lake Taal as the study site. Recently, he co-authored the article “Development and application of a second-generation multilingual tool for invasion risk screening of non-native terrestrial plants.”

First chartered in 1968, FIFMS now has over twenty-three members comprised of both public and private higher education institutions. The federation provides an avenue for greater collaboration among members through collaborative research undertakings and the sharing of expertise and resources.

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This conference is also the St. Thomas Aquinas Forum and the 12th Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. Lecture.

To speak in the conference are Dominican priests frs. John William Emery, O.P., Adrian Adiredjo, O.P., and Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P.

For more details, .

Registration for the Conference (either onsite or online) is free and is now open until February 10, 2025. You may click this link to register: or scan the QR Code provided on the poster. For inquiries, please contact the Secretariat through Email (aquinasconferences@ust.edu.ph) or Telephone (+63-2-3406-1611 loc. 8659.

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