National Institute of Geological Sciences

19/05/2026

Congratulations to the recipients of the UP Geology Merit Award (UPGMA) 2026 for Outstanding Geology Students!

Undergraduate Students
Ella Sofia O. Lopez
John Dominique M. Pagay

Graduate Students
Mariz L. Alcancia
Joshua Godwin Cuevas
Andrea Denise A. Pamintuan

The awarding ceremony will be held on June 5, 2026 at the Audio-Visual Room of the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS).

14/05/2026

[ANNOUNCEMENT: MASTER'S EXAMINATION OF MR. JOSHUA GODWIN CUEVAS]

Name of Student: Joshua Godwin Cuevas
Degree Program: Master of Science in Geology
Thesis Title: Crustal Thickness Modeling of the Arc-Continent Collision Zone in Central Philippines using Gravity Inversion
Date and Time: 02 June 2026 (Tuesday), 1:00 PM
Mode: Hybrid (Zoom and NIGS Seminar Room)

As the Zoom platform can only accommodate up to 300 participants, interested individuals are advised to accomplish the Registration below before 25 MAY 2026 (MONDAY), 5:00 PM. The log-in details in Zoom meeting will automatically be sent to you via email.

Link of Registration: bit.ly/3P5TJVZ

13/05/2026

[ANNOUNCEMENT: MASTER'S EXAMINATION OF MR. KENNETH JAN F. SANGALANG]

Name of Student: Kenneth Jan F. Sangalang
Degree Program: Master of Science in Geology
Thesis Title: Provenance Study on the Santa Cruz Formation: Implications on the Unroofing History of Western Pangasinan
Date and Time: 01 June 2026 (Monday), 9:00 AM
Mode: Hybrid (Zoom and NIGS Seminar Room)

As the Zoom platform can only accommodate up to 300 participants, interested individuals are advised to accomplish the Registration below before 22 MAY 2026 (FRIDAY), 5:00 PM. The log-in details in Zoom meeting will automatically be sent to you via email.

Link of Registration: bit.ly/48XFRUB

12/05/2026

The Philippine Hydro Hub successfully conducted a two-day conference and workshop on May 4–5, 2026 at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, bringing together researchers, stakeholders, and decision-makers from various institutions to discuss key issues and advancements in hydrology, hydrogeology, and water resources in the Philippines.

The Philippine Hydro Hub successfully conducted a two-day meeting and workshop on May 4–5, 2026 at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, bringing together researchers, stakeholders, and decision-makers from various institutions to discuss key issues and advancements in hydrology, hydrogeo...

07/05/2026

The National Institute of Geological Sciences is currently looking for applicants for the position of University Researcher I.

Interested applicants may visit the link below for the complete details on the qualifications, requirements, and application procedures:

HRDO Diliman Official Link: https://bit.ly/4nf4i5G

We would appreciate it if you could share this opportunity with interested and qualified individuals.

Deadline for submission is on May 20, 2026.

Thank you.

https://nigs.upd.edu.ph/blog/job-opportunities-9/university-researcher-i-211

SG 16

05/05/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: NIGS MS Geology Thesis Proposal Colloquium

There will be a Thesis Proposal Colloquium at the NIGS Seminar Room on 08 May 2026 (Friday), 08:00 AM onwards.

Below are the following students who will present their thesis proposal:

Larissa Gabrielle O. Babon
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Volcanic Rocks in the Batanes Group of Islands: Implications for Magmatic Processes and Arc Evolution

Mary Julia H. Elizaga
Metamorphic Xenoliths of Batanes and their Pressure-Temperature (P-T) Paths: Markers of Arc Crust Evolution

Lorenzo Angelo D. Valeriano
A Collison Course in Western Mindanao: Pressure, Temperature, and Deformation Path of Metasedimentary Rocks in Northern Zamboanga

Mark B. Sumaden
Mineralization Characteristics of the Fatima Epithermal System, Mankayan Mineral District, Luzon, Philippines

Lyndsey Joyce DC. Torda
Geophysical Structures of the Bicol Arc: Tectonic and Magmatic Controls along the Western Philippine Sea Plate Margin

Katherine M. Velasquez
Geochemical and Structural Processes Controlling Serpentinization of Gabbros: Implications on Natural Hydrogen Generation in the Zambales Ophiolite, Upper Tarlac River Watershed

Mark Solomon C. Ferino
Structural and Geochemical Factors in the Genesis of Small Lakes and Domes in the Sapang Kulas Sub-Watershed, San Jose, Tarlac

Jyll Radbert P. Botardo
Sedimentological and Petrographic Analysis of Allodapic Limestones from Northwestern Luzon: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Northern Luzon Volcanic Arc

28/04/2026

Greetings, aspiring licensed geologists! 🪨⛏️

In preparation for the 41st Geology Board Review, Cwm Zena'na plans to conduct this year’s review in a blended format, from July to September 2026. This setup will include both online and face-to-face sessions, with the majority of sessions tentatively held in person at the UP Diliman campus. Specific venues for these face-to-face sessions will be announced soon.

To help us better understand the needs and circumstances of this year’s batch of reviewees, we kindly ask you to complete the survey linked below:
https://tinyurl.com/CZBR2026Survey
https://tinyurl.com/CZBR2026Survey
https://tinyurl.com/CZBR2026Survey

The survey will be open until May 7, 2026. Please note that a separate Google Form for official registration will be released soon.

Should you have any queries, you can contact them through
Facebook: facebook.com/CwmZenanaBoardReview
Email: [email protected]

A kind reminder that Cwm Zena’na is an all-female organization based at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines Diliman, and is not in any way affiliated with the Professional Regulation Commission.

27/04/2026

UPD NIGS Professor Mario Aurelio writes about the dynamic tectonic and geologic history (and future) of the Persian Gulf-- and why it hosts vast oil and gas resources:

"...the strait, together with the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has been closing and will continue to do so — geologically.

"Among the best petroleum traps are in fold and fault belts located in collision zones, like those in the Zagros Mountains of southwestern Iran."

In reality, the strait, together with the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has been closing and will continue to do so — geologically

27/04/2026

[ANNOUNCEMENT: MASTER'S EXAMINATION OF MS. MARI SHYLLA G. JOAQUIN]

Name of Student: Mari Shylla G. Joaquin
Degree Program: Master of Science in Geology
Thesis Title: Sea-level Changes and Coastal Tectonics in Poro Island, Ilocos Sur Deduced from Late Quaternary Marine Terraces and Coastal Notches
Date and Time: 22 May 2026 (Friday), 2:00 PM
Mode: Hybrid (Zoom and NIGS Seminar Room)

As the Zoom platform can only accommodate up to 300 participants, interested individuals are advised to accomplish the Registration below before 8 MAY 2026 (FRIDAY), 5:00 PM. The log-in details in Zoom meeting will automatically be sent to you via email.

Link of Registration: bit.ly/4tqlIP7

24/04/2026

UP Cwm Zena'na is an all-female academic, professional, and non-partisan organization dedicated to the upliftment of the status and protection of the rights of female geology majors and professionals. The organization also promotes solidarity and sisterhood among its members and fosters harmonious relationships among geology students and professionals.

This year, applications for the UP Cwn Zena’na Scholarship Program (UPCZSP) for AY 2026–2027 will open to deserving 3rd- or 4th-year female BS Geology students. One (1) slot is available under the UPCZSP for a qualified 3rd- or 4th-year female BS Geology student. Please see the summarized details of the scholarship below to check your eligibility.

Eligibility:
Female Filipino citizen with a good moral character
Between 17 to 25 years old
Total annual gross income of both parents or guardian is less than PHP 500,000.00
Full-time registered student in the B.S. Geology degree program at the University of the Philippines Diliman
Not engaged in paid employment, part-time or full-time;
Not receiving any other form of scholarship from any entity, public or private
Must have passed the core Geology subjects prescribed for the first and second year of the BS Geology Program
A weighted average of 2.5 or higher ((on a grading scale with 1.0 = highest and 3.0 = passing)
Advanced English and Tagalog communication skills

Benefits:
Php 8,000 per month for the whole academic year
Php 10,000 for two (2) months as field allowance (when enrolled in Geol 170)
One (1) economy round trip fare per semester from the regional area of permanent residence to the UP Diliman campus
Php 5,000.00 per semester for textbooks and other academic necessities

Requirements:
Application Form
Certified true copy of grades (TCG) from the 1st and 2nd year of enrollment
Written essay not more than 1000 words
Endorsement letter from authorised person as per Scholarship Guidelines
Passport or any Government ID copy
Certified true copy of Birth Certificate (PSA)
Income Tax Return (ITR) for all household members contributing to finances

Two (2) slots are available under the Geology 170 Fieldwork Grant for 3rd-year female BS Geology students. The same eligibility criteria apply to applicants for the fieldwork grant except for the 6th dot point stated in the guidelines. An applicant for this grant is considered eligible even if the student is in receipt of a government scholarship (i.e. DOST).

Benefits include a total of Php 20,000 for the two (2) months mid-semester field allowance (Php 10,000 per month). The application process for the fieldwork grant adheres to the same requirements as the CZSP.

Applications for both programs will open on April 27. The UPCZSP application period will run until June 20, while the Geology 170 Fieldwork Grant will accept applications until May 16.

In addition, the Dr. Rosana Balangue-Tarriela (RBT) Graduate Student Research Travel Grant is available year-round to female graduate students pursuing their master’s degrees at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP Diliman.

For more detailed information, kindly take time to read the UPCZ scholarship guidelines on our website: tinyurl.com/CZSPApplication, and for Dr. Rosana Balangue-Tarriela Travel Grant guidelines: tinyurl.com/TravelGrantApplication. You may also refer to the flyer attached to this email for further information.

Don't miss this amazing opportunity to further your academic journey, and apply today!

22/04/2026

𝐔𝐏 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐒 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

The National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) of the University of the Philippines Diliman awarded on 22 April 2026 the Dr. George Bacuta Undergraduate Thesis Grant to three (3) undergraduate geology students, recognizing their academic excellence and research potential in the field of geosciences.

The 2026 recipients and their respective thesis advisers are:

𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐏. 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚 (Cluster 1)
Thesis Adviser: Mario A. Aurelio, Ph.D.

𝐉𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐂. 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐧 (Cluster 2)
Thesis Adviser: Noelynna T. Ramos, D.Sc.

𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐑. 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞 (Cluster 3)
Thesis Adviser: Jillian Aira S. Gabo-Ratio, D.Eng.

The Dr. George Bacuta Undergraduate Thesis Grant is administered through the UP Foundation, Inc. and is funded through a donation by Ms. Evelyn Magsino-Bacuta, established in 2023 to support undergraduate thesis research in geology at UP NIGS. The grant is awarded annually to qualified students enrolled in the BS Geology program and is intended to provide financial assistance for the completion of their undergraduate thesis projects.

Dr. George Cuario Bacuta, Jr. (1954–2020) was a UP geology graduate and geologist who built a distinguished career in both the Philippines and the United States, including service with the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked on geoscience and water resource management projects. The undergraduate thesis grant established in his honor fulfills his expressed wish to support deserving UP geology students and promote research in a field he was deeply committed to.

Recipients of the grant are selected based on academic standing and their readiness to undertake thesis research, in line with University guidelines. The initiative also underscores the role of mentorship, with faculty advisers guiding students throughout the research process—from proposal development to final thesis completion.

Through this initiative, UP NIGS continues to reinforce its commitment to academic excellence, research development, and the cultivation of future geoscientists who can contribute to addressing geological and environmental challenges in the Philippines and beyond.