Three students from Sillliman University are this year’s recipients of the prestigious Bank of the Philippine Islands-Department of Science & Technology Science Awards, now on its 23rd year. They are: L. Athena Gene Duran, BS Information Technology, with her project F-ExSys: An Anura Morphometric Classification Expert System; Kia Angela Gargantiel, BSA Biology, with her project The Antibacterial Activity of Cobra-Cobra, Ipomoea Setosa (Ker Gawi), Seed Extract against Staphylococcus Aureus (Rosenbach) and Escherichia Coli (Migula); and, Jason Jun Patula, BS Mechanical Engineering with his project Non-Conventional Mini Refrigerator for Chilling.
In fitting ceremonies held Feb. 23, the awardees each received a cash prize of P25,000; a plaque of recognition; and a letter offering a job position as a junior officer of the BPI, including the distinction of having their names inscribed on a bronze tablet together with past awardees from Silliman University permanently installed at Villareal Hall in the campus.
On hand to personally present the award were Senior Vice-President Emmanuel Herbosa, Vice-President and Executive Director of BPI Foundation Inc. Florendo Maranan, and Roslyn Tambago, assistant director of the PS & T-NO. Assisting them were SU President Dr. Ben Malayang III, VPAA Dr. Betsy Joy Tan; Prof. Mirasol Magbanua, chair of the SU Biology Department and chair, BPI-DOST Science Awards Committee; Dr. Tessie Cabije, dean of the College of Engineering & Design; Engr. Jesus Amiscaray, thesis adviser; Dr. Margaret Helen Alvarez, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences; and, Engr. Ed Omictin, thesis adviser of the College of Computer Studies.
Dr. Malayang challenged the two agencies that these researches should have a niche in the marketplace and perhaps, they could use a third partner so that these brilliant ideas can be made usable, commerciable, and applicable to society in general. “Science has to be done and applied to serve others. How might these ideas translate into a creative power of society? Great science is like great poetry. It has to be read and heard, thereby sharing and appreciating the high level of creativity and the elegance of thought of these bright, young minds.”
To date, more than 600 awardees have been recognized coming from only 10 universities all over the country including Silliman — Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University, St. Louis University in Baguio City, University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Los Baños, University of San Carlos in Cebu City, University of Sto. Tomas, and Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.
