DLSU Department of Biology

30/05/2026

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Congratulations to the BS in Biology students whose research papers were selected for oral presentation at the 2026 Annual Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) Meeting and Symposium, held on May 28–29, 2026 at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Bagac, Bataan.

• Farmed vs Wild: A Comparative Study of Microplastic Contamination in Scylla spp.
Elisha Ocson, Ysabella Dominguez, Ariane Galicia, Reimee Tan, Kenneth Jay Solis, and Dr. Chona Camille Vince Cruz-Abeledo

• No Clear Signal: SST Does Not Predict COTS Outbreak Patterns
Eshylle Lee, Nyah Maamo, Francinne Labrica, Jovie Nicolas, and Dr. Chona Camille Vince Cruz-Abeledo

• Shells of Value: Identifying Key Mollusk Species in the VIP
Amanda Sablay, Clarisse Nacino, Jade Caroline Valientes, Krisandra Reyes, Jovie Nicolas, and Dr. Chona Camille Vince Cruz-Abeledo

Congratulations to the students and their adviser, Dr. Chona Camille Vince Cruz-Abeledo, on this achievement.

26/05/2026

NEW BOOK CHAPTERS | Dr. Jose Isagani Janairo and Dr. Mark Balendres of the DLSU Department of Biology are among the eight Filipino contributors of this two-volume reference book examining the impact of viral diseases on horticultural systems worldwide. They are also joined by Mr. Peter Immanuel Tenido of the DLSU Innovation and Technology Office.

BOOK CHAPTERS | Eight Filipino researchers contributed chapters to a comprehensive two-volume reference book examining the impact of viral diseases on horticultural systems worldwide.

Led by Mark Balendres of the De La Salle University Department of Biology and the DLSU Plant and Soil Health Research Unit, the team included Fredmoore Orosco (DOST, UP Manila), Reynaldo Peja Jr. (Visayas State University), Darwin Landicho (Central Luzon State University), Leny Galvez (DA-PhilFIDA), Jose Isagani Janairo (DLSU), Peter Immanuel Tenido (DLSU), and Mark Gabriel Sagarbarria (UP Manila).

Their contributions form part of an international scholarly discourse exploring how plant viruses affect fruit and vegetable health, crop productivity, market value, and broader economic outcomes, while also highlighting emerging technologies and innovative strategies for virus detection and management in horticultural crops. The two-volume reference work was published by

Book 1: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-95-7265-6

Book 2: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-95-7261-8

23/05/2026

NEW PUBLICATION | A new paper co-authored by Dr. Mark Balendres of the DLSU Department of Biology and his colleague, Dr. Darwin Landicho, has been published in Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology. The paper reviews recent progress in diagnosing tomato anthracnose.

NEW PUBLICATION | Progress in tomato anthracnose disease diagnosis: from traditional to molecular and emerging techniques

Journal: Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology (Elsevier)

Authors:
Dr. Darwin Landicho, Central Luzon State University
Dr. Mark Balendres, De La Salle University

This paper reviews methods for diagnosing tomato anthracnose. Traditional methods involve growing the fungus from infected plant tissues and identifying it by its appearance under a microscope. Molecular methods, especially Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), are considered the most accurate because they detect unique fungal DNA. New rapid diagnostic tools are also becoming more common. Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) allows quick testing in the field, while Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) can be combined with simple test strips for easy use. Other modern methods include spectroscopy, sensor-based devices such as electronic noses and biosensors, and artificial intelligence systems that identify disease from images. Each method has strengths and weaknesses, so combining traditional, molecular, and AI-based techniques gives the most reliable diagnosis of tomato anthracnose.

22/05/2026

THESIS DEFENDED

Congratulations to BS in Biology students Zhalaine El Casandria Bon, Raphael Cinco, Jazmene Fajilago, Jorge Gabon, and Ranon Malijan for successfully defending their thesis.

The panel was chaired by Mr. John Martin Mondragon, with members Dr. Jennifer Maries Yap and Dr. Gerard Anthony Espiritu. The study was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Mariquit De Los Reyes.

18/05/2026

FACULTY RECOGNITION

The Department of Biology congratulates Dr. Jose Isagani B. Janairo on receiving the 2026 PFCS Outstanding Achievement Award in Chemical Research.

The PFCS Outstanding Achievement Award in Chemical Research is awarded to Dr. Jose Isagani B. Janairo, RCh for his significant contributions to the chemical sciences through the systematic integration of peptide chemistry, molecular machine learning, and chemical ecology. Dr. Janairo is recognized for his refined approach to decoding the molecular information inherent in biological systems. By employing data-driven methodologies, he has advanced the application of molecular intelligence to understand peptide behavior and the chemical signals that define ecological relationships. This award honors his consistent scholarly productivity and his ability to utilize computational and experimental tools to address environmental and agricultural challenges, contributing to the steady advancement of chemical research in the Philippines.
Dr. Janairo is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology at De La Salle University. He earned his BS Biochemistry (cum laude) and MS Chemistry from De La Salle University, and his PhD in Chemical Science from Hokkaido University as a Japanese Government Scholar. His academic excellence is marked by prestigious recognitions, such as the NAST Outstanding Young Scientist and the St. Jean Baptiste De La Salle Pillar of Excellence Award. Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Janairo’s advocacy as a scientist is centered on active editorial service as a catalyst for institutional growth. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the NRCP Research Journal and as Associate Editor for several international journals, including BMC Artificial Intelligence, PeerJ, and Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics. Through these roles, he champions ethical publishing, editorial governance, and high-integrity standards, viewing the editorial process as a critical tool for shaping the discipline and elevating the quality of Philippine research and graduate education. By bridging the gap between molecular intelligence and scholarly stewardship, Dr. Janairo’s contributions continue to shape the landscape of digital chemistry and the future of open, ethical scientific discourse.

🌟 Congratulations to the 2026 PFCS Achievement Awardees! 🌟

The Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies proudly recognizes outstanding individuals whose contributions continue to advance chemistry in the Philippines:

🏆 Chemistry Education (Secondary Level)
Dr. Rohit C. Tilwani – PFCS-RainPhil Outstanding Achievement Award

🏆 Chemistry Education (Tertiary Level)
Dr. Joel R. Salazar – PFCS-Chemhub Technologies Outstanding Achievement Award

🏆 Chemical Research
Dr. Jose Isagani B. Janairo – PFCS-Molave Outstanding Achievement Award

🏆 Chemical Industry
Ms. Donnabel Kuizon-Cruz – PFCS-Bihis-Maala Basics Achievement Award

✨ These awardees exemplify excellence, innovation, and leadership in their fields. Their work inspires the next generation of chemists and strengthens the role of chemistry in nation-building.

📅 They will be formally awarded during the 40th Philippine Chemistry Congress / 17th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences. Learn more here: https://www.pcc.org.ph

👉 Full roster of awardees: https://www.pfcs.org.ph/pfcs-awards/roster-of-awardees/

17/05/2026

PRACTICUM ORIENTATION

All BS Biology (MED, SEC, and MBB) students (ID 122 and earlier) who will take their practicum in the 1st Term AY 2026–2027 are REQUIRED to attend the Biology Practicum Orientation.

Students who previously attended a practicum orientation but did not proceed with their practicum are still required to attend, as prior attendance does not count toward current requirements.

📅 Date: May 20, 2026
🕓 Time: 4:00–5:00 PM
💻 Platform: Zoom
🔗 Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92368516632?pwd=LthWdOZQn5VZlGpHwwmE47aN5kAnnC.1

Your attendance is MANDATORY. Please mark your calendars and join promptly.

For questions, please contact:
Dr. Thaddeus Carvajal
Dr. Jennifer Maries Yap
Ms. Sarah Grace Zamudio
Practicum Coordinators

16/05/2026

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | Dr. Mark Redillas and Dr. Mark Balendres, faculty members of the DLSU Department of Biology and researchers from the DLSU Plant and Soil Health Research Unit, served as resource speakers in separate academic and community engagements.

Dr. Mark Redillas delivered the plenary talk at the Food and Agriculture Research, Marketing, Innovation, and Extension Conference 2026, organized by the College of Agriculture of Caraga State University on May 15, 2026, at CSU in Butuan City.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mark Balendres delivered a series of lectures on research publication writing during the International Training Workshop on Research Writing, organized by the Professional Organization of Researchers and Educators in the Philippines on May 16, 2026, via Zoom.

13/05/2026

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT | Congratulations to Ma. Julia Cayetano and Felicity Blaise Saracho for their research paper entitled “Assessing the Cardiac Compression Fraction (CCF) Through In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Inclusive of Contributing Factors to ROSC and Possible Survivability,” which was selected as a finalist in the Descriptive/Analytical Paper E-Poster Presentation category at the Annual Scientific Assembly of the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine, held at the Novotel Hotel, Araneta Center.

Ms. Cayetano presented the paper on April 28, 2026.

11/05/2026

FACULTY ENGAGEMENT

Dr. Jose Isagani Janairo, Chair of the Department of Biology and Editor-in-Chief of the NRCP Research Journal gave a lecture on ethical editorial governance during the 2026 Editors Forum held last May 8, 2026 at the Heritage Hotel Manila. The hybrid forum was attended by editors of Philippine academic journals and was organized by the National Research Council of the Philippines in cooperation with the Andrew Gonzalez Philippine Citation Index.

Photo credits: NRCP

05/05/2026

STUDENT ORIENTATION | Incoming and enrolled students for THBIOL2/LBYSCI0 and THBIOL3 (including deferred students) are invited to attend the upcoming orientation sessions via Zoom.

Topic: THBIOL2/LBYSCI0 Orientation
Date: May 9, 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 6:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92680744822?pwd=22PGqIOLOonzQrlC97MgpdanhgT2bs.1

Topic: THBIOL3 Orientation
Date: May 6, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92157435437?pwd=U9mpc2ZDAxznxyTbXpY7DuylUDjHve.1

For inquiries, please contact: Dr. Priscilla Hope Swann at [email protected]