Winners in 2008 Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism awarded

The reporters from Philippine Daily Inquirer and BusinessWorld topped the winners in the 2008 Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism which awarding ceremonies was held on Thursday, November 27, at the Institute for Small-Scale Industries in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Anselmo Roque of the Philippine Daily Inquirer bagged the first prize in the Best Feature Story category for his article "Carabao may be key to biofuel, says scientist", while Eric Dorente of BusinessWorld won the first prize in the Best News Story Category for his article "Biotech and GMO use on the rise in RP."

The Manila Bulletin, BusinessMirror and The Philippine Star won the first, second and third prizes, respectively, in the institutional category for supporting the information dissemination of biotech stories by printing the most number of such stories.

Melody Aguiba of Manila Bulletin was conferred the Hall of Fame award for having won the top prize in the J.Burgos biotechnology awards in the past three years.

Special citations were given to Sonny Tababa former Network Administrator of Searca-Biotech Information Unit, and to Dr. Randy Hautea, Global Coordinator and SEAsia Center Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications for effectively promoting biotechnology in their respective fields.

The other awardees for the Best Feature category are: Doreen Yu (Philippine Star), second place, for her article "Scientist of the Year: Baldomero M. Olivera discovers poisonous secrets;" and Emmanuel Libre Osorio (BusinessMirror), third place, for "The future in a grain: The Rice Profit Protocol prompts the birth of an innovative school." Two articles of Tessa Salazar of Philippine Daily Inquirer were among the finalists. They were "RP seas may hold key to cancer cure" and "4 MIT students eye 'malunggay' for fuel."

The other awardees for the Best News category are: Dennis Estopace (BusinessMirror), second place, for his story "Pinoy scientists speed up filing of US patents to secure their sea-snails studies;" and Jojo de Guzman (Malaya), third place, for "Rice that can withstand 2-week submergence developed." The finalists in this category are Conrad Cariño (Manila Times) for article "Coconut, 'malunggay' present golden opportunity to farmers;" and Danny Calleja (BusinessMirror) for his "'Smart' biofuel crops now being promoted."

Keynoting the ceremonies was foremost Filipino scientist Dr. William Padolina, the current deputy director general of the International Rice Research Institute and former secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.

The annual biotech journalism award, which started in 2005, was part of the celebration of the National Biotechnology Week from November 24 to 29.

This year's board of judges was composed of experts in biotechnology and communication, and from the academe. They are Dr. Patricio Faylon, executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources and the board of judges chairman; Dr. Gaudencio Petalcorin Jr., national president of Biotechnology Information and Organization Network (BIONet); Dr. Saturnina Halos, chairperson of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Advisory Team; Rolly Estabillo, vice president for corporate communications of Philippine Airlines; and Angelo Palmones, president of Philippine Science Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc.

The 2008 Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism was organized by the Biotech Media and Advocacy Resource Center, a consortium that promotes the government's biotech program. BMARC is composed of the Department of Agriculture-Biotech Program Office, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, Biotech Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), and the J.Burgos Media Services Inc.

Biotech journalism news_winners.JPG (Manman Dejeto for BioLife News Service)

Winners in the news category of the recently concluded Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotechnology Journalism are awarded in the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute for Small-Scale Industries. In photo are Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines secretary general Abe Manalo; Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center executive director Dr. Edith Burgos; BCP president and chief executive officer Dr. Nina Gloriani; second prize winner Dennis Estopace from Business Mirror; first prize winner Eric Dorente from Business World; third prize winner Jojo de Guzman from Malaya; finalist Danny Caleja from Business Mirror; Institute for Rice Research Institute deputy director general Dr. William Padolina; Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano; and DA-Biotechnology Program director Alicia Ilaga.

Biotech journalism feature winners.JPG (Manman Dejeto for BioLife News Service)
Winners in the features category of the recently concluded Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotechnology Journalism are awarded in the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute for Small-Scale Industries. In photo are Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines president and chief executive officer Dr. Nina Gloriani; Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center executive director Dr. Edith Burgos; third prize winner Emmanuel Libre Osorio of Business Mirror; first prize winner Dr. Anselmo Roque from Philippine Daily Inquirer-Central Luzon; second prize winner Doreen Yu's representative Helen Flores from the Philippine Star; national editor Pergentino Bandayrel Jr. representing finalist Tessa Salazar; Institute for Rice Research Institute deputy director general Dr. William Padolina; Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano; and DA-Biotechnology Program director Alicia Ilaga.