By: Sean Santos (Hybrizyme)
LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – On June 24 (Saturday), 19 members of The UPLB Genetics Society wear their sablays during the 45th Commencement Exercises of UPLB, signaling the culmination of their years of hardwork and perservance in the University. They are among the thousands of fresh graduates who will be part of the next set of leaders, scientists and educators who could change the nation and uplift the lives of the masses.
Among
the 19 graduates of GeneSoc are 14 BS Biology students. Among these, six
are Microbiology majors, namely: Nicole R. Espinas (Polylinker), Mary Faith Y.
Adan (Proteasome), Patricia Rose A. Melanio (Proteasome), Keach Nicole F. Lotho
(Riboswitch), Jerard Iane R. Monge (Riboswitch), and Jenica L. Salvatierra
(Riboswitch).
The
other five are Cell and Molecular Biology Majors who are: Paul Jhon P. Diezon
(Phagemids), Nadine Q. Lutao (Riboswitch), Lorenzo Raphael M. Roxas
(Riboswitch), Morel Dominic D. Umipon (Proteasome), and Mary Krystel V. Carmona
(Proteasome).
The
other BS Biology students are Rochelle B. Sarmiento (Polylinker) who has a
major in Genetics, Pamela Ysabel B. Medoza (Cyclosome) in Zoology and Louis
John Angelo Reaño (Iterons) in Ecology.
Also
among the list are 3 Genes from the College of Agriculture. The two are BS
Agriculture students namely: Jayson L. Gandia (Riboprobes) who has a major in
Horticulture, and Heway Christian Serra (Phagemids) in Agronomy. The other one
is Shaira Bañega (Polylinker) who took up BS Agricultural Biotechnology.
Meanwhile,
Professor Jickerson P. Lado (Integrons) and John Carlo Marasigan (Euchromatin) graduate
in UPLB for an MS in Genetics.
The five laudes
A
total of five GeneSoc members were called on stage with a Latin honor after
their names. Morel Dominic D. Umipon and Paul Jhon Diezon have a magna cum laude distinction while
Rochelle B. Sarmiento, Mary Faith Y. Adan and Heway Christian L. Serra graduate
as cum laude.
Morel Dominic D. Umipon, magna cum laude
Course: BS Biology – Major in Cell and Molecular Biology.
Course: BS Biology – Major in Cell and Molecular Biology.
In 2015 and 2016, Umipon
was ranked 3rd in the Top CAS Outstanding Students (Junior and
Senior category). He is also a member of The International Honor Society of Phi
Kappa Phi. In AY 2016-2017, he was
elected as the Education Committee Head of GeneSoc. For his plans, he wants to pursue
Medicine after he graduates.
Paul Jhon P. Diezon, magna cum laude
Course: BS Biology- Major in Cell and Molecular
Biology
In 2016, Diezon was named as the Jose Rizal
Model Student of the Philippines and CAS Most Outstanding Student. He also ranked
4th in the Top CAS Outstanding Students (Senior category). Due to
his excellent academic performance, he was inducted as a member of the Phi Sigma
Biological Sciences Honor Society and The International Honor Society of Phi
Kappa Phi. He also once became the Editor-In-Chief of GENEWS, the official
publication of the organization. After graduation, Diezon plans to teach and
earn a Master’s degree. He also wants to delve into cancer research.
Rochelle B. Sarmiento, cum laude
Course: BS Biology – Major in
Genetics
In
2016, Sarmiento ranked 11th in the 2016 Top CAS Outstanding
students. She is also a member of The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa
Phi and the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society for her exemplary
academics. She also held several roles in the organization. In AY 2015-2016,
she was elected as the head of the Outreach Committee. The following school
year, she was elected as the Public Relations Officer, becoming part of the
Executive Committee. She plans to go to Medical school the next year.
Mary Faith Adan, cum laude
Course: BS Biology – Major in
Microbiology
Adan
is the recipient of the 2017 Drina Sta. Iglesia Best Undergraduate Thesis Award
(Microbiology). Due to her excellence in her studies, she was inducted as
member of The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Phi Sigma
Biological Sciences Honor Society. She was a member of the Documentation
Committee ever since she became part of GeneSoc. She plans to pursue research
in the Microbiology field and desires to contribute in advancing the fields of
science and technology in the country.
Heway Christian Serra, cum laude
Course: BS Agriculture – Major in
Agronomy
Serra’s
academic excellence also led him to be inducted as a member of The
International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Phi Sigma Biological
Sciences Honor Society. He was once appointed as the Technicals Committee Head
of National Intercollegiate Genetics Quiz Contest in 2014.
Prof. Lado and Mr. Marasigan graduates
with an MS degree
Prof.
Jickerson P. Lado, the head of the Student Organization and Activities Division of the Office of Student Affairs (SOAD-OSA) and a member of the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division (GMBD-IBS) faculty,
graduates with an MS degree in Genetics – minor in Biochemistry. In 2013 and
2015, he was awarded as one of the Outstanding Teachers of IBS (Institute level). He was also
given the UPLB Outstanding Teacher Award (Biological Sciences Junior Faculty
category) in 2014. In his undergrad, Prof. Lado took up BS Biology where he
majored in Cell and Molecular Biology and graduated as cum laude.
Aside
from Prof. Lado, John Carlo M. Marasigan also graduates with an MS degree in
Genetics. Marasigan is a University Researcher at the Institute of Plant Breeding of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Sciences. He attended the Cornell Alliance for Science Asia Leadership Course in Thailand last January 2016.
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