DLSU Department of Biology

PROPOSAL DEFENDED | Congratulations to PhD student John Mark De Jesus on the successful defense of his Dissertation Proposal. His proposal was evaluated by Dr. Mark Christian Felipe Redillas (Chair), Dr. Albert Remus Rosana, Dr. Shyatesa Razo-Regino, Dr. Darwin Landicho (External Panelist), and Dr. Tamie Solpot (External Panelist). Congratulations, John Mark, on this significant academic milestone, and all the best as you advance in your doctoral journey. John Mark is mentored by Dr. Mark Balendres.

Ms. Jessamine Gail Inson, together with Mr. Shad Natthew S. Arce, Dr. Ma. Luisa D. Enriquez, Dr. Zeba F. Alam, and Prof. Eiji Haramoto published their research on the detection of arboviruses in Philippine wastewater systems. Their study presents the first evidence of detecting Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), dengue virus (DENV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Philippine wastewater, demonstrating the feasibility of wastewater-based surveillance for monitoring arboviral circulation in endemic settings.

[𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍]

Ms. Jessamine Gail Inson, together with Mr. Shad Natthew S. Arce, Dr. Ma. Luisa D. Enriquez, Dr. Zeba F. Alam, and Prof. Eiji Haramoto published their research on the detection of arboviruses in Philippine wastewater systems. Their study presents the first evidence of detecting Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), dengue virus (DENV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Philippine wastewater, demonstrating the feasibility of wastewater-based surveillance for monitoring arboviral circulation in endemic settings.

This is a collaborative research study between the members of the Environmental Biomonitoring Research Unit of the Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research and the Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment of the University of Yamanashi.

The full article can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128458

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL DEFENDED

Congratulations to Mr. Jude Christian Francisco, PhD in Biology student, for successfully defending his dissertation proposal.

This milestone marks an important step in his academic journey, made possible through the guidance and support of his dissertation committee. His adviser is Dr. Thaddeus Carvajal, with Dr. Billy Almarinez serving as Chair, and panel members Dr. Divina Amalin (DLSU), Dr. Ma. Luiza Enriquez (DLSU), Dr. Kozo Watanabe (Ehime University), and Dr. Joeselle Serrana (Stockholm University).

FACULTY RECOGNITION | Congratulations to Dr. Ma. Luisa Enriquez for being recognized as the Health Researcher Exemplar Awardee of the Metro Manila Health Research and Research Consortium. Dr. Enriquez received the award during the consortium’s 10th International Symposium and 17th Annual Scientific Conference.

Photo credits: MMHRDC

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT | Graduating MS student Nico Bravo attended the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting and Symposium of the Mycological Society of the Philippines, held at UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna. During the event, Nico presented a portion of his MS thesis, showcasing his research to mycologists, professionals, and students in the field. Nico was mentored by Dr Mark Balendres.

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.

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

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.

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.

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/