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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The faculty members who were elected board members are Assoc. Prof. Mary Jane Castilla, PhD of the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy, and Inst. Vitus Paul de Jesus, PhD of the College of Science – Department of Mathematics and Physics.

MATHTED pursues the advancement of Mathematics Education in the Philippines through leadership, research, information exchange, and collaboration.

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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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The winning team of BS Psychology students was led by Team Captain Katrina Angela Tabagan, who was joined by Raymond Josh Geronimo, Micah Anjelo Co (Members), as well as Alessia Montrice Abrenica and Kurt Mathew Lopez (Alternates). Serving as coaches were Dr. Edilberto Gonzaga and Inst. Alvin Joseph Mapoy.

The Quiz Bee has been held 17 times since its inception in 2004. UST emerged as Champion 11 times.

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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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Upon expressed need of the SDO, represented by its Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Elvira B. Catangay, the University’s academic and training programs on teacher education, data science and analytics, information and computing sciences, and music were bared by UST officials as possible focus areas for future trainings. UST officials also shared how service learning programs are embedded in course work and community development initiatives, as well as how guidance and counseling services are delivered.

In her message to the SDO officials, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH expressed the University’s willingness to partner with DepEd SDO-Santa Rosa City. College of Education Dean Pilar I. Romero, PhD also shared how the College and the University have been engaging with public school and diocesan school teachers in terms of capacity-building. UST’s teacher education programs have been certified as Centers of Excellence since 2008 by the Commission on Higher Education and most recently, by the Teacher Education Council.

UST officials who joined the consultative meeting are Assistant to the Rector for Santa Rosa Philipina A. Marcelo, PhD, College of Education Dean Pilar I. Romero, PhD, College of Education Regent fr. Roman Santos, O.P., Conservatory of Music Dean Maria Alexandra I. Chua, PhD, College of Information and Computing Sciences Dean Christopher D. Ladao, MS, Counseling and Career Center Director Janice T. Ocray, MA, RGC, Communications Bureau Director Philippe Jose S. Hernandez, MEng, Simbahayan ľĹÉ« Development Office Assistant Director Christian Rey Rimando, MSPT, UST Santa Rosa Office Executive Assistant Seigfred Prado, PhD, and Data Science and Analytics program coordinator Arturo Patungan, PhD.

Representing the DepEd SDO-Santa Rosa City were Dr. Catangay, Curriculum Chief Luhinia M. Ofren, EdD, Senior Education Program Specialist Jason G. Sagaysay, Education Program Supervisor Maricel S. Saguinsin, Senior Education Program Specialist Jeanne Elaine T. Sangalang, Planning Officer III Adolfo C. Ibayan, and Education Program Specialist II Mouller M. Lumague.

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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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The lecture, entitled “C.A.R.E.: Writing and Publishing Manuscripts and Beyond” was attended by students of the B.Sc. Chemistry program, DOST-ASTHRDP scholars under various natural science programs of the UST Graduate School and academic staff of the Department of Chemistry.

During the event, Prof. Cordell emphasized on the importance of properly communicating one’s scientific knowledge through publications in valid, peer-reviewed journals and how this is important in the development of capable scientists. Throughout his lecture, he used the acronym C.A.R.E. to highlight his key takeaways for the audience such as “Conduct Appropriate and Rigorous Experiments”, “Commit to Accurate Report as an Experimentalist”, and “Critically Assessing Research Expenditures”, among others. These examples, as well as many other CARE acronyms he has developed, have been published in the journal Natural Products Communications last September 2021 ().

Prior to the lecture, Prof. Cordell met with Acad. Prof. Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato, currently serving as Assistant to the Rector for UST General Santos, Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, Dean of the College of Science, Assoc. Prof. Alan Rodelle M. Salcedo, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, and academic staff of the Department of Chemistry to discuss potential program offerings in the soon-to-be opened School of Science of UST General Santos. Prof. Cordell’s insights as an academic official of the University of Illinois and natural products researcher were instrumental as the department is preparing its program offerings for UST’s first campus in Mindanao.

Prof. Cordell, who is an emeritus professor in the University of Illinois at Chicago and former Dean of its College of Pharmacy, is a long-time collaborator of several natural products chemists of the UST Department of Chemistry, such as Prof. Emeritus Beatrice Q. Guevara, Acad. Prof. Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato and Prof. Ma. Alicia M. Aguinaldo. He was given the title Honorary Professor of Chemistry by the College of Science of the ľĹÉ« in 2017.

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