The SU Angelo King Center for Research & Environmental Management (SUAKCREM) has been known for its research and advocacy programs on marine and terrestrial biodiversity especially its publication record. What is perhaps not known is its scholarship program for needy students who have potentials for sustaining its research and conservation agenda in the future. So I am dedicating this column to them and my friends and colleagues who have helped sustain the scholarship program.
Since 2007, SUAKCREM has given five students financial assistance and educational advice to enable them to continue their schooling.
Four of these students studied or are studying in Silliman University, and one is in Negros State College of Agriculture in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Michael Lawton R. Alcala finished his M.S. Biology at Silliman with a thesis grant from SUAKCREM. He is at present a faculty member of the Silliman Biology department. Michael has potentials for research in the biological sciences. He has co-written some papers on the ecology of caves and is completing a manuscript on the cave vertebrates and invertebrates for publication.
Kin Israel Notarte is taking B.S. Biology at Silliman, and is graduating this school year, most likely with honors. Kin’s interest is physiology of marine invertebrates under the tutelage and support of Dr. Fred Vande Vusse, a SUAKCREM Research Associate.
Madonna Marabi was given a biological background for two years, but is now doing very well in the course B.S. Social Work, and will graduate from Silliman next year. She is a daughter of a manager of a successful marine reserve on Bantayan Island. Her father could not afford to send her to Silliman, so Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Atty. Tony Oposa, and SUAKCREM decided to support her. Madonna expects to be a community organizer for the reserves in the Bantayan Group of Islands, off northern Cebu Island.
Community organizers have been shown to be necessary for the establishment of community-based marine reserves.
Jembee Ledesma is a 4th year education student at the Negros State College of Agriculture in Kabankalan. Her father Jejo, who dedicated his life to the protection of the last remaining rainforest in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, died four years ago after being stabbed in the abdomen by an illegal logger. This patch of forest of about 1,000 hectares was the subject of Ely Alcala’s published study of forest fragmentation on Negros Island. SUAKCREM assumed Jembee’s educational expenses after her father’s death as a way of supporting heroes of terrestrial biodiversity.
Abner Bucol is a Master of Science graduate student at Silliman University. He is a member of the Alcala (Biodiversity Component) ICRMP team. He has great potential as researcher on both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. At this stage of his career, his knowledge of Philippine biodiversity is impressive. As of this date, he has authored or co-authored four scientific papers in refereed journals, an indication of his research potential. He deserves to be a Silliman faculty member.
For supporting SUAKCREM’s program on biodiversity and ensuring that SUAKCREM continues to function well, I would like to express my gratitude to the Angelo King Foundation Inc., Dr. Rolando V. del Carmen, Trustee Roselyn Delloso, the several contributors in the U.S.A., my colleagues and friends mentioned above, and my office staff who often worked beyond office hours.
