Matalunggaring Awardees 2024

 

Matalunggaring Awardees 2024

 

 

Carmen Camacho Velasquez: National Scientist, A Pioneer in Parasitology

Dr. Carmen Camacho Velasquez was born in Bayambang in 1913. A graduate of BS Zoology from UP Diliman, she had successful a teaching career and later on did groundbreaking research in the field of parasitology. Eventually, she became known largely for her work on the discovery and taxonomy of parasitic worms. All in all, Dr. Velasquez discovered 32 new species and one new genus of digenetic trematodes from Philippine food fishes and other species. These discoveries are important not just in parasitology, but in the applied sciences of aquaculture, fisheries, and fishery management. Because of her outstanding contributions, Velasquez received the title of National Scientist of the Philippines, the Presidential Distinguished Service Medal and Diploma of Honor, Outstanding Woman in Science in the Philippines, and has been recognized abroad as one of the American Men and Women of Science, International Who’s Who of Intellectuals, and the World Who’s Who of Women, and was listed in the International Scholars Directory. Dr. Velasquez has left behind a legacy of scientific excellence that continues to influence the field of parasitology in the country and beyond.

 

 

DILG Asec Josephine Frias Cabrido-Leysa: A Woman of Innovation, A Catalyst for Positive Change in Government Service

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Josephine Frias Cabrido-Leysa is a daughter of Anastacia Junio Frias from Brgy. Tanolong, Bayambang. Asec Leysa started her journey as a Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO), slowly rose through the ranks, until she became DILG South Cotabato’s Provincial Director, where her leadership shone brightly. But this was only the beginning of her journey. Eventually, she became Assistant Regional Director for DILG Region 12. Then, in a twist of fate, she found herself serving as the Head Executive Assistant to various distinguished DILG Secretaries at the Central Office in Manila. Her tireless efforts and groundbreaking initiatives have not only transformed the landscape of governance but have also inspired a new generation of leaders. As a result, she has been a recipient of several local and international awards and recognitions, which paved the way to her appointment as the new DILG Assistant Secretary for Human Resource and Development. Among her many innovative contributions is the Gender and Development (GAD) Seal Program, a pioneering initiative now replicated nationwide, a recognition program for NGAs and LGUs that have gone above and beyond in promoting gender equality and empowerment. Another notable initiative is the collaboration between DILG and TESDA called “DILG-BOOST,” a project that will provide opportunities for livelihood training programs to empower DILG personnel nationwide to acquire practical skills, for them to find supplemental sources of income to enable holistic growth.

 

 

Dr. Danilo Lardizabal Concepcion: 21st President of the UP System

Danilo Lardizabal Concepcion has roots in Bayambang on his mother's side, the Lardizabal family, who resided in Estacion.

He is a lawyer who served as the 21st president of the University of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment as UP president, he was the dean and a professor of law at the UP College of Law and the Executive Director of the UP Bonifacio Global City Campus, among many positions of leadership in other institutions of learning. He is husband to well-known lawyer Gaby Concepcion.

During his term as UP President, 60 new degree programs were institutionalized across the UP system and degree programs in data science and artificial intelligence were developed.

Concepcion has always been an achiever: he finished summa cum laude in Agricultural Engineering from De La Salle Araneta University and topped the board exam after graduation, cum laude in Bachelor of Laws from UP and again became the topnotcher, this time in the bar exam, then received his Master of Laws from the University of London as a British government scholar.

 

 

Dr. Nicolas Opina Miguel:  35 Long Years of Sterling Service as Medical Doctor and Hospital Director

Dr. Nicolas Opina Miguel, originally of Brgy. Hermoza, is a medical practitioner who is true to his Hippocratic oath by serving unselfishly and efficiently his kababayans for 35 long years, 7 years as a Senior Resident Physician of Bayambang Emergency Hospital and 21 years as Chief of Hospital of Bayambang District Hospital. Due to his creative and innovative mind, favorable linkages and relationship with community leaders and top government officials, Dr. Miguel successfully transformed BDH into one of the best government hospitals in Pangasinan.

His concept of nature-nurtured recovery and healing environment was realized through his initiative of massive planting of fruit-bearing and forest trees around the hospital, which has been benefiting BDH’s clients to this today. Among his other projects were the establishment of a nursery of trees at the hospital, securing financial assistance from private individuals and national government for indigent patients and for hospital facilities and upgrading, and assistance in establishing the PSU School of Nursing.

Even in retirement, he has not stopped from serving the public in various capacities, thus embodying generosity of spirit that is truly worthy of emulation.

 

 

Dr. J. Prospero 'Popoy' E. de Vera III: Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education

Dr. J. Prospero 'Popoy' E. de Vera III, whose family hails from Brgy. San Vicente, currently holds the position of Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. He serves as an academician who has used his technical expertise to help policymakers and educate the public. He is a professor of Public Administration at the University of the Philippines and served as its Vice President for Public Affairs. He is also a popular public figure. Thanks to him as the “father of Unifast,” the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education is now successfully rolling out, providing free college education to more than 1.5 million students in state colleges and universities. He is also the man behind the massive internationalization program of SUCs, thus allowing a greater number of Philippine universities to be ranked and rated in international rating systems

Dr. De Vera is not just an academician and administrator, but also a legislative staff, policy expert, political adviser, and technocrat in the executive and legislative branches of government in the Philippines and in the US, particularly in California State Legislature.

 

Dr. Razeale Gloria-Resultay: Top Academician and Researcher in Education

Dr. Razeale Gloria-Resultay of Brgy. Nalsian Norte is a Profesor VI at PSU Bayambang Campus and holds a PhD in Reading Education. She has been an educator for 31 years.

In 2019, she was tapped by LGU-Bayambang to become the project proponent of the Bayambang Community-Based Literacy Program, a program to help readers who were lagging behind in school during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2015, she has been previously recognized by the Municipality as Outstanding Faculty Member for "her dedication and commitment to service." As PSU Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation, she continues to  make breakthroughs by nurturing a research culture, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, strengthening community partnership and engagement, and maintaining gender and development (GAD) practices across all disciplines. At the helm of GAD initiatives, one of her groundbreaking research  initiatives is empowering mothers as literacy champions. As a former University Director for Curriculum and Instruction, she has made various innovations, among which is the inclusion of Global Citizenship Education in the curriculum.

Beyond PSU, she leads pioneering  initiatives like Literasya para kay Nanay at Inang or LINANG, to empower women from all backgrounds. 

 

Patricia C. Todio Annie Courtin: 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Patricia C. Todio Annie Courtin of Brgy. Pangdel was a senior secretary of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 alongside then-US Vice President Al Gore. The IPCC was established in 1988 and tasked with advancing scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities.

The IPCC prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for reducing the rate at which climate change is taking place.