Filipino Association of Nagasaki Students (2026)

19/03/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Mary Anne Mandario! This proud Ilongga continues to make waves in the world of science.

From earning her Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Master of Science in Fisheries Biology at the University of the Philippines to serving as an Associate Scientist at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center SEAFDEC/Aquaculture Department, her journey is a testament to excellence, dedication, and purpose.

With numerous scientific publications and presentations at both local and international conferences, she has consistently contributed to the advancement of knowledge in her field. In 2023, she reached another significant milestone by patenting a process for culturing the mud polychaete Marphysa iloiloensis, a species she helped identify in 2019, further demonstrating her remarkable contributions to marine science and aquaculture, even while pursuing her PhD in Japan. Today, she celebrates yet another extraordinary achievement as she graduates from Nagasaki University with a Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries Science. During her three-year doctoral studies under the guidance of Prof. Yosh*taka Sakakura at the Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, she exemplified academic excellence and research innovation.

Her dissertation, “Studies on the Use of Bioflocs in Maintaining Water Quality During the Culture of Marine Zooplankton and Fish Larvae,” stands as a meaningful contribution to sustainable aquaculture and fisheries innovation. Dr. Mandario’s passion, perseverance, and impact inspire not only the scientific community but also every Ilonggo and Filipino striving to make a difference.

Padayon, Dr. Maran! Your work is shaping the future of sustainable fisheries.

19/09/2025

🎓 Huge Congratulations, Gian Paolo Rueme Corpuz! 🎉

A massive round of applause and heartfelt congratulations to Gian on the incredible achievement of completing his Master of Public Health degree, sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)! 🌏✨
His dedication to public health is truly inspiring, as shown in his master's thesis: "Understanding barriers to the successful implementation of Rabies Data Share System." His research in Bulacan Province is crucial work that aims to improve rabies management and save lives through better data sharing and response systems.

His academic journey also took him to Okinawa, Japan, where he presented a poster at the Joint Congress on Global Health 2024 on environmental protection and stakeholder collaboration in Minamata City. What an incredible international experience!

We are excited to see him return to his role as a Veterinarian II at the Bureau of Animal Industry. The expertise gained from his Master's will be a powerful asset in his work drafting national veterinary policies and safeguarding our agricultural trade.

Your hard work and commitment to making a difference in both human and animal health are commendable. The future of public health is brighter with professionals like you!
Cheers to your next chapter! 🥂

Your FANS family is truly proud of you! 😊
Mabuhay! 🇵🇭

27/07/2025

Fireworks summer festival in Nagasaki City 2025🎆🎇

25/03/2025

Congratulations, Miya Shairah S. Pamutan!

From the halls of the University of the Philippines, where she earned her BSc in Geology (2018), to the prestigious grounds of Nagasaki University, Miya’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Today, she graduates with a Master of Science in Water Environmental Science under Professor Tetsuji Muto, as a Monbukagakusho (Japanese Government MEXT) Scholarship recipient and a distinguished Dean’s Awardee, a testament to her academic excellence and dedication to research.

Her contributions to the field of geosciences are already making waves, with her paper:
“Stratigraphic response of the downstream alluvial system to the middle−late Quaternary base-level changes: A two-dimensional flume tank experiment” (Pamutan et al., - Journal of the Sedimentological Society of Japan).

Miya has also showcased her research on international platforms:
American Geophysical Union Meeting 2024, Washington, DC – Poster Presentation:
"Autostratigraphic response of the alluvial-shelf system to middle-late Quaternary eustatic cycles: A 2D experimental model"

Japan Geosciences Union Meeting 2024, Chiba, Japan – Oral Presentation:
"The alluvial-shelf stratigraphy in response to 630 ka-present sea level cycles: A 2D experimental study"

Miya, your dedication, perseverance, and passion for geosciences are truly inspiring! This milestone is just the beginning of even greater achievements ahead.

Congratulations once again! 🎉👏

20/09/2024

To our dearest Dr. Maria Lourdes “Malou” Macalinao, congratulations on your remarkable achievement in earning your PhD! Your thesis, "Investigating the Generation and Maintenance of Immunological Memory to Malaria Infection," showcases your dedication and expertise in a field that is crucial for public health. Publishing your research in international journals further underscores your commitment to advancing knowledge in this vital area.

Your role as a researcher at the Department of Parasitology, National Reference Laboratory for Malaria and Other Parasites at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health (RITM-DOH) speaks volumes about your passion for tackling real-world challenges. Being part of the prestigious World-Leading Innovative and Smart Education (WISE) Joint Program between London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Nagasaki University, under the guidance of esteemed professors Katsuyuki Yui, Kenji Hirayama, Julius Hafalla and Chris Drakeley, is indeed a testament to your hard work and determination.

Moreover, your contributions to the Filipino Association of Nagasaki Students have made a significant impact on the community, fostering a welcoming environment and bringing joy to those around you. Your ability to balance academic rigor with community involvement is truly inspiring.

As you embark on this new chapter, may your journey continue to be filled with success and fulfillment. We are all excited to see how you will further influence the field and your community.

Warmest congratulations again on this outstanding milestone!

15/04/2024

Spring 2024 @ Nagasaki

20/09/2023

Another milestone unlocked!🥳
Congratulations Dominic Franco Casquejo Belleza, Ph.D. on earning your doctorate degree in Fisheries Science. Your hard work and grit finally paid off. It is indeed a job well done!👏

Dr. Dominic Franco Casquejo Belleza, aka “Doms”, completed both his master’s and doctorate degrees at the Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Science of Nagasaki University, Japan. In both degrees, his research topic focused on sea urchins and their role in the marine environment, making him an expert in this field. His Ph.D. dissertation is entitled, “The role of trait-mediated indirect interactions in the restoration of urchin barrens”. Sea urchins forage on benthic seaweeds and their abundance can deplete seaweeds leading to the formation of barrens. This takes place when sea urchin predators are overfished. Thus, Dr. Belleza’s research explores how the threat of predation affects the behavior of purple sea urchins Heliocidaris crassispina and how this concept can be used to mitigate the problem of sea urchin overgrazing. The method he developed in reducing sea urchin grazing pressure on seaweeds can be used in tandem with seaweed forest restoration methods. Out of his dissertation, two papers were published in peer-reviewed journals namely, “Effects of dead conspecifics, hunger states, and seasons on the foraging behavior of the purple urchin Heliocidaris crassispina” and “The behavior of sympatric sea urchin species across an ecosystem state gradient”.

While pursuing his doctorate degree, Dr. Belleza is a research assistant under his supervisor’s research project. He is also the president of the Filipino Association of Nagasaki Students (FANS) for the academic year 2022-2023. Indeed, he has proven to many that all goals are achievable with hard work and determination.

On a personal note, Doms has been a reliable and kind “kuya” to the FANS family. We will surely miss dining out with you while listening to your funny stories. Your presence as a “kuya” to us makes Nagasaki a home away from home.🥰

Again, congratulations Dr. Belleza! Your FANS family is extremely proud of you. We hope that your doctorate degree serves as a diving board for your future endeavors. Our best wishes are with you! See you someday. Let’s keep in touch!😊🤗

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If you want to dive deeper into the behavior of purple sea urchins, you may view or download copies of Dr. Belleza’s papers below:

1. Belleza, D. F. C., Kawabata, Y., Toda, T., & Nishihara, G. N. (2021). Effects of dead conspecifics, hunger states, and seasons on the foraging behavior of the purple urchin Heliocidaris crassispina. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 664, 133-148. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13653

2. Belleza, D. F. C., Urae, T., Tanimae, S. I., Toyama, K., Isoda, A., & Nishihara, G. N. (2023). The behavior of sympatric sea urchin species across an ecosystem state gradient. PeerJ, 11, e15511. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15511

Happy reading!😀🤓

01/04/2023

Springtime in Nagasaki🌸🌸🌸
Glad to see that the landscapes here in Nagasaki are coming to life again after a long cold winter.

27/03/2023

We would like to extend our huge congratulations to Ms. Maxilee Vanebel Quimno Serafin for successfully completing her master's degree in Advanced Engineering on March 24, 2023. Your FANS family is super proud of you!

Max, as we call her, earned the highly competitive Japan International Cooperation Agency - Road Asset Management Program (JICA-RAMP) scholarship given by the Japanese government for her master's study at Nagasaki University's Graduate School of Engineering under the supervision of Professor Takafumi Nishikawa. Max was also the vice president of our FANS community throughout her graduate study here in Nagasaki. She contributed a lot to the FANS community while juggling a full-course load and for that we are extremely proud of her achievements.

In the Philippines, Max works as an Engineer II at the Planning and Design Division of the Department of Public Works and Highways - Region VII. The knowledge she acquired during her graduate study here in Nagasaki will surely be helpful in her work at DPWH.

Max, you are a real gem, a wonderful friend, and a one of a kind masterpiece! Continue to soar high and pursue greatness! We will always be here rooting for your success! We will surely miss you, let's all keep in touch!

22/09/2022

Congratulations Dr. Mary Grace Sedanza, Dr. Aden Kay Celis-Seposo and Dr. Rhanee Lota-Salvado for finishing your graduate degrees despite the ongoing global pandemic! All of us in the FANS community are so proud of what you have accomplished.

Dr. Mary Grace Sedanza is an assistant professor at the Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas. She finally completed her doctoral degree from the Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, with several papers published in international peer-reviewed journals. Her dissertation entitled, “Molecular and biochemical approaches to understanding conspecific cue mediated larval settlement induction in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas”, aimed at identifying and understanding the role of signaling molecules on how settlement operates in oysters. As the Philippines is ranked among the top fish producing countries in the world, her findings may find application in the development of oyster aquaculture and has the potential to aid in increasing the production of oysters in the country. Dr. Mary Grace, you have worked so hard in your studies, and you should be proud of all the things you have accomplished during your stay here at Nagasaki University. We wish you every success as you move forward in your career!

Dr. Aden and Dr. Rhanee are both licensed medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of children. They finally completed their master’s degree on tropical medicine from the Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health. The tropical medicine course is a one-year intensive master’s program aimed at nurturing medical professionals to contribute in promoting the health and wellness of individuals and communities globally.

Dr. Aden’s master’s thesis entitled, “Incidence of Kawasaki disease in children in the Philippines, its seasonality, and association with ambient air temperature” is the first population-based study on the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease in the Philippines. Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile illness that occurs most frequently in young children. In her thesis, Dr. Aden was able to determine the seasonality of Kawasaki disease in the country and was also able to show that ambient air temperature is linearly associated with monthly Kawasaki disease cases. The linear association was mainly noted during the dry season of December to May. Her study highlights the importance of establishing a surveillance system of Kawasaki disease in the country and underlines the need to conduct further studies on the effect of other meteorological variables on Kawasaki disease incidence in the country.

Dr. Rhanee’s master’s thesis entitled, “Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection in a tertiary referral hospital in Manila, Philippines” evaluated epidemiological data and clinical characteristics of children with COVID-19 admitted to San Lazaro Hospital Manila from 2020 to 2022. Her findings showed that children remain susceptible to COVID-19 infection, and usually present with mild or moderate symptoms, and that adolescents comprised a substantial proportion of COVID-19 admissions and mortalities highlighting the value of vaccination in this age group. To date, her study is one of the few studies on pediatric COVID-19 in the country, thus providing invaluable insights into the clinical status of Filipino children with COVID-19 infection.

Again, congratulations! All of us in the FANS community are super proud of you! You have earned your degree and we know you have a lot of wonderful things ahead of you. Please stay in touch and always remember that we will always be here to celebrate your achievements as public health professionals and academic researchers. Continue the push for health equity and global food security through excellence in service, education and research!

Filipino Association of Nagasaki Students

19/03/2026

19/09/2025

27/07/2025

25/03/2025

20/09/2024

15/04/2024

20/09/2023

01/04/2023

27/03/2023

22/09/2022

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