Featured image above shows the 12 2026 Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) on June 9 as they raised their trophies in an inspiring scene of joy. Two of those behind them DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. and NAST PHL President Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, smiling. (Photo: SDN Chronicle) 

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THE MANILA HOTEL, Rizal Park, Manila, June 9, 2026 (SDN) — Hard work pays. Dedication pays. Constancy of purpose pays. Research pays. Science pays!

Payment? Realization. Satisfaction. Travel. Etc. And as Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., the ccountry’s science chief, so appropriately sounded off, “fulfillment and full payment”!

If you’ve been to the two press conferences of the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) here on June 8-9, organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL), you would have learned the inspiration and the drive of the 12 awardees of the agency’s Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Award, their fulfilment of such an achievement through hard work, dedication, constancy of purpose as the engine that drove them to reach the height of their career in the realm of science, technology, and innovation (STI). But as they aptly noted, the OYS recognition they achieved is ONLY the BEGINNING of their journey in STI to help better the lives of their countrymen through the application of their work.

Unquestionably, they also passed through a gauntlet of hurdles, not the least doubts and tribulations wrought by failures, or at least frustrations in their research activities that only pushed and motivated them to continue plodding on.

NAST PHL is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the nation’s “highest recognition body on science and technology. Its 48th ASM revolves around the theme “UN SDGs: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development“, obviously a tribute to the United Nations’ 17 SDGs described as “a universal call to action adopted by all (UN) Member States in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.”

Conferment of the three new academicians and the awarding of the OYS and other honorees were some of the highlights of the event’s second and final day.

The three new academicians of NAST PHL are:

• Dr. Edwino S. Fernando, PhD (Botany)
• Dr. Michael Y. Roleda, Dr. rer. na’t. (Biology) and
• Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Ph.D. (Nutrition)

NAST PHL’s OYS Awardees each receive a trophy, a cash prize of Php150,000, and a research grant worth Php1 million granted by the DOST for an approved research proposal.

For the 12 OYS honorees, they are:

• Eldrin D. Arguelles, PhD (Aquatic Biology), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) 
• Joseph Q. Basconcillo, PhD (Marine Meteorology), DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geological and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
• Rohani B. Cena-Navarro, DVM, MS (Veterinary Medicine), UP MManila
• Mark Nell Corpuz, PhDr (Environmental Science), Bataan Peninsula State University
• Rafaela Jane P. Delfino, PhD (Meteorology/Atmosphere, Oceans and Climate), UP Diliman
• Cherry P. Fernandez-Colorado, DVM, PhD (Veterinary Medicine), UPLB
• Mayzonee V. Ligaray, PhD (Environmental Science and Engineering), UP Diliman
• Ryan Michael F. Oducado, PhD (Nursing Education), West State University
• Karl Ezra S. Pilario, PhD (Energy and Power), UP Diliman
• WWilfred John E. Santiañez, PhD (Natural History Sciences), Ateneo de Manila
• Joseph C. Velasco, PhD (Sociology), De La Salle University (DLSU) 

Meanwhile, the DOST attached agency also has its NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists (NTSYS), which is aimed at encouraging young Filipinos to pursue a career in science.

Each of the three winners and the recipient of the Special Citation are entitled to a NAST PHL Plaque of Recognition. Cash prizes of Php100,000 go to First Prize; Php50,000, Second Prize; and Php30,000, Third Prize.

This year’s winners of the NTSYS are:

• First Prize: Joe Anthony H. Manzano, MS (Biology), University of Santo Tomas
• Second Prize: Rance Derrick N. Pavon, MS (Microbiology), UP Diliman
• Third Prize: John Vincent R. PMEto, MS (Environmental Science), UPLB
• Special Citation: Timothy Scott C. Chu, MS (Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Engineering), DLSU

The NTSYS First Prize winner — Joe Anthony H. Manzano — is also entitled to a Php500,000 research grant from the DOST for an approved proposal.

NAST PHL also announced recognition for the:

— NAST Award for Outstanding Research in Tropical Medicine (NAORTM) which went to Vachel Gay V. Palmer, DSc (Medical Science), UPLB, with Plaque of Recognition and Php150,000 cash incentive; NAST Environmental Award (NESA) for Rachel June Ravago-Gotanco, PhD (Marine Science), UP Diliman, and got a Plaque of Recognition as well as Php150,000 monetary award from NAST PHL, and a Php2 million research grant from DOST Secretary’s Grant for Environment on approval of the awardee’s project proposal.

— Outstanding Book/Monograph (OBM) Award for books and/or monographs published by PPhilippines- based ilipino publishers inside five years preceding the award.

OBM Awardees are:

• Corpuz, A.T.(2025) — Philippine Cattle Feeding Handbook: Feeding Cattle the Philippine Way, Inspired by Global Best Practices, RFM Printing Corporation
• Sarabia, A.S.; Palacpac, E.P.; Abella, M.P., et al — Dairy Buffalo Handbook (2nd Edition), Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC)
• Arceo, H.O.; Velos, M.J.P., Nuñez, M.A.C., & Aliño, P.M. (Eds). (2024) — The West Philippine Sea: State of the Coasts, Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman
• Santiago, A.P.D., & Valbuena, M.N. (2022) — Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis and Management — Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, College of Medicine, UP Manila
• Magboo, C.V.E. (2023) — Being a Church of the Poor: The Philippine Catholic Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Toward Growth in Unity and Mission — UST Publishing House

Here’s more, for Outstanding Scientific Paper (OSP) Award

The awardees for the OSP are:

• Jiminez, A.P., Buday, G.J.R, and Opulencia, R.B. (2025) — Antiobiotic Resistome, Mobile Genetic Elements, and Virulence of Profile Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Healthy Philippine Native Chicken as Revealed by by Analysis of Whole Genome Sequence, Philippine Journal of Science
• Ancuelo, A, and Perez, R.H. (2024) — Potent Bioactivity of Bacteriocin-producing LAB Strains against Multi-drug-resistant Pathogens Isolated from Dairy Cattle with Clinical Mastitis, Philippine Journal of Science
• Santiañez, W.J.E., & Kogame, K. (2022) — Manzaea minuta gen. & com. nov. (Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyceae) from the Tropical Northwestern Pacific Ocean, Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology
• Flores, P.C.M., Reyes, R.B., Amedo-Repollo, C.L., Rediang, A., Alfante, R.M., Bauzon, M.D.A., Pasaje, N., & Bringas, D. (2022) — Local Tide and Geoid Corrections Significantly Improve Coastal Retracted Jason Sea Surface Heights in the Philippines, Philippine Journal of Science
• Mercado, M.J., Cai, W., Futalan, C.M., Ligaray, M. & Choi, A.E.S. (2024) — Water Quality Assessment of Mananga River Using Principal Component Analysis, Philippine Journal of Science
• Geronimo, J.O.V., Arguelles, E.D.L.R., & Abriol-Santos, K.J.M. (2023), Automated Classification and Identification System for Freshwater Algae Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Philippine Journal of Science
• Yu, K.D.S., Solis, C.A.P. & Andiappan, V. (2023) — A Sector Prioritization Index with Carbon Emission Intensity Considerations, DLSU Business and Economics Review
• Chow, N., Dabbay, M.F.C., & Sauler, M.M. (2024) — Wage Gaps in the Philippines: A Decomposition Analysis, DLSU Business and Economics Review

Interested individuals may contact NAST PHL for its many award categories and nominations requirements on Facebook for its official page (@nastphl). Note that deadline for submissions for the 2026 NAST PHL Awards nominations is on/or before November 27, 2026.

NAST PHL, one of the 17 or so attached agencies of the DOST, is “mandated to recognize outstanding achievements in scientific research and development, advise the President and the Cabinet on matters related to S&T, and engage in projects and programs that promote scientific productivity.” — EDD K. USMAN (√)

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The author

EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (®)