UPLB Natural Products Development Program

21/03/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓!

🌿 Registration Now Open 🌿

The 30th Natural Products Society of the Philippines (NPSP) Convention invites researchers, scientists, industry partners, and students to gather for two days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and innovation in natural products research.

📌 Theme:
Strengthening the Philippine Natural Products Industry through a Unified Roadmap

📅 May 8–9, 2026
📍 Hybrid Conference

🔬 Program Highlights
• Plenary Lectures
• Oral & Poster Presentations
• 36th AC Santos Memorial Lecture
• Panel Discussion with key stakeholders
• Best Poster Paper Award

📢 Abstract Submission Deadline: 27 March 2026

🔗 Submit your abstract:
bit.ly/NPSP30Abstracts

🔗 Register for the convention:
bit.ly/NPSP2026

🌱 More details:
natprod.org

Join us as we bring together the Philippine natural products research community to celebrate 30 years of scientific discovery and collaboration.

18/03/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓!

17/03/2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓!

Calling all undergraduate researchers!🌿

Do you have a thesis on natural products from indigenous plants or microorganisms with potential health applications? The DOST-PCHRD is now accepting applications for the 2026 Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products (1st Call).

Qualified undergraduate students may receive up to ₱75,000 in research funding to support thesis projects that explore the potential of Philippine natural resources in developing solutions for human health, under the Tuklas Lunas Drug Discovery and Development Program.

📌 Who can apply?

3rd or 4th year undergraduate students in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, and Health and Allied Sciences (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Medical Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and related fields) whose thesis focuses on natural products from terrestrial/marine plants and/or microorganisms indigenous to the Philippines with human health applications.

📅 Deadline for submission to your Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC): April 30, 2026

📖 Learn more and download the proposal forms here: bit.ly/NatProdGrant2026_1stcall

Turn your thesis into research that could shape the future of health. Apply now! 💙

15/03/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗠𝝞𝝢𝝖𝗥 𝝖𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧!

𝐊𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐊𝐀𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨. 𝟓 🌿
𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚 (𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐚𝐲) 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

🗓 Date: 18 March 2026
🕐 Time: 09:00 – 10:30 AM
📍 Venue: PS A102, F.O. Santos Hall (formerly Physical Sciences Building), UPLB

💧 Discover how nature provides sustainable solutions to one of the world’s most essential needs — clean water! Join us as we explore the science behind Moringa (Malunggay) as a natural coagulant and learn about the latest innovations in its application for water treatment.

🎤 Featuring:
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐓𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐣𝐢 𝐎𝐤𝐮𝐝𝐚, 𝐏𝐡.𝐃. – Faculty of Advances Science and Technology, Course of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Ryukoku University

This event is organized by the UPLB CAS Institute of Chemistry in partnership with the UPLB Graduate School.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from an esteemed expert in environmental engineering and sustainable water treatment technologies! 🌱💦

14/03/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝝤𝗚𝝢𝝞𝗧𝝞𝝤𝝢!

Congratulations to our dear NPDP member, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝝾𝗻 𝝖. 𝗥𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗹!

𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗹 was honored as one of the 3 𝝢𝗥𝗖𝗣 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶 during the 2026 𝝖𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝝾𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 93𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝝖𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 by the 𝝢𝗥𝗖𝗣 𝝖𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝝖𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 by the 𝝢𝗮𝘁𝗶𝝾𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝝾𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝝾𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 under the 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝝾𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝝾𝗹𝝾𝗴𝘆 (𝗗𝝤𝗦𝗧-𝝢𝗥𝗖𝗣). This recognition celebrates his longstanding contributions to research, leadership, and service within the scientific community.

𝗖𝝾𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝝾𝗻𝘀, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗹! This honor reflects your decades of dedication to advancing Philippine science and research!

13/03/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝝤𝗚𝝢𝝞𝗧𝝞𝝤𝝢!

Congratulations to our NPDP Chair, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝝖𝗻𝗻 𝗧. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝝾-𝝞𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹!

Continuing a remarkable streak of achievements, she was today honored with the 𝝢𝗥𝗖𝗣 𝝖𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝝖𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 by the 𝝢𝗮𝘁𝗶𝝾𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝝾𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝝾𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 under the 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝝾𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝝾𝗹𝝾𝗴𝘆 (𝗗𝝤𝗦𝗧-𝝢𝗥𝗖𝗣) during the 2026 𝝖𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝝾𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 93𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝝖𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆. She was among 8 𝝢𝗥𝗖𝗣 𝝖𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝝖𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝘀, celebrating her outstanding contributions to research and the growth of the country’s scientific community.

This recognition celebrates her outstanding contributions to Food Science and Technology research, including her work on Saba banana peel pectin and studies on indigenous berries such as bignay, lipote, and duhat as potential functional foods. Beyond research, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝝾-𝝞𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 is known for her leadership and mentorship, guiding both graduate and undergraduate students and inspiring the next generation of researchers.

𝗖𝝾𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝝾𝗻𝘀, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝝾-𝝞𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹, on this well-deserved honor and for your continued impact on Philippine research and innovation!

🌟AWARD RECOGNITION 🌟

IFST proudly celebrates Prof. Katherine Ann T. Castillo-Israel, PhD, PFT, as a recipient of the NRCP Achievement Award in recognition of her exemplary contributions to Food Science and Technology Research. 🎉

Her pioneering work includes the valorization of Saba banana peel pectin, transforming an agricultural by-product into a high-value food ingredient. She also led BerryPinoy, an extensive study of indigenous berries such as bignay, lipote, and duhat, exploring their potential as functional foods to improve human health. 🍇🌿

Beyond her impactful research, Dr. Castillo-Israel’s strong leadership and dedication to mentoring have cultivated numerous researchers and students, both graduate and undergraduate. Her advocacy for research mentoring continues to inspire scholars within the college and across SUCs.

Congratulations, Dr. Castillo-Israel, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏📚

07/03/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝝤𝗚𝝢𝝞𝗧𝝞𝝤𝝢!

Sincere congratulations to our esteemed NPDP Chair, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝝖𝗻𝗻 𝗧. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝝾-𝝞𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹!

𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝝾-𝝞𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 was honored with the 𝗖𝝖𝗙𝗦 𝝤𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝝖𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝝾𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝝾𝗿𝘆) by the College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, during the 17𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝝖𝗙𝗦 𝗙𝝾𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝝾𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 on March 6, 2026.

The award recognizes her exemplary contributions to Food Science and Technology research, particularly her work on the valorization of saba banana peel pectin into a high-value food ingredient and her studies on indigenous berries such as bignay, lipote, and duhat for their potential as functional foods that support human health. Her strong leadership and dedication to mentoring students and young researchers have also inspired many in the research community.

06/03/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝝤𝗚𝝢𝝞𝗧𝝞𝝤𝝢!

Heartfelt congratulations to our dear NPDP members, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝝾𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗛. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘇 and 𝗣𝗿𝝾𝗳. 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗱𝘆𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲 𝗝. 𝗖𝝾𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝝾!

𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘇 has been recognized as the 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝝖𝗚𝝤𝗥𝝖 𝝤𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝝾𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 (𝝢𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀), while 𝗣𝗿𝝾𝗳. 𝗖𝝾𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝝾 has been recognized as the 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝝖𝗚𝝤𝗥𝝖 𝝤𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 (𝝢𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀) during the 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 117𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝝾𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝝖𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝝾𝗻𝘃𝝾𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝝾𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝝖𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝝾𝗻𝘆 for their outstanding contributions to research and the academic community.

Congratulations as well to all the other distinguished awardees of this year’s UPLB AGORA Outstanding Research and Extension Personnel and Projects!

04/03/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓!

03/03/2026

𝗩𝝞𝗥𝗧𝗨𝝖𝗟 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝝢𝗧 𝝖𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧!

3 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 2026
8:30 𝗣𝗠 – 10:30 𝗣𝗠 (𝗣𝗛𝗧)

Tomorrow is ! Don't miss the official United Nations celebration, centered around the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants. 🌺

The livestream begins at 13:30 CET on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcmvUXbdobU

02/03/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓!

23/02/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝝤𝗚𝝢𝝞𝗧𝝞𝝤𝝢!

Warmest congratulations to 𝗠𝘀. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗮 𝗛. 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝝾 on being newly conferred as a Career Scientist under the Scientific Career System!

Ms. Villavicencio, a researcher and genebank curator at the Institute of Plant Breeding, University of the Philippines Los Baños, has made significant contributions to strengthening medicinal plant and root crop germplasm collections and advancing the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.

Your NPDP Family is truly proud of this remarkable achievement!

✨ 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗖𝗦, 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙇𝙚𝙖 𝙃. 𝙑𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙤, 𝙈𝙎𝙘, 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗜 from the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Ms. Villavicencio is a dedicated researcher and genebank curator at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB). She has made significant contributions to expanding and strengthening the diversity of medicinal plant and root crop germplasm collections in the National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory.

Through meticulous morphological characterization and the evaluation of physicochemical properties, she and her research team have identified and selected promising germplasm accessions with high yield potential, superior nutraceutical properties, and other desirable traits aligned with breeder priorities and market demand. As a result, these collections are now actively utilized as important gene sources in the Institute’s crop improvement programs.

Ms. Villavicencio is also a strong advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of traditional and underutilized crops. She advances this work by establishing community genebanks in partnership with farming communities. Supported by an extensive research network, including collaborations with local government units, state universities, farmers’ organizations, international agencies, and private stakeholders, her efforts have strengthened the sustainable conservation, utilization, and improvement of plant genetic resources.

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"Empowering and Promoting World Class Filipino Scientists in the Government Service"