Genews EIC is IBS top grad, CAS-UPLB Salutatorian: Challenges biologist to bring country back to life


by Jickerson P. Lado (Integrons)




Los Baños, Laguna | “Be the doctor who will go to barrios and public hospitals to provide healthcare for the poor. Be the company owner who will make biomedical services more affordable and accessible to the public. Be the teacher who will educate students about the beauty of life and nature. Be the biologist who will bring the country back to life.”

These were the words of Sean Lemuel L. Santos, BS Biology Major in Genetics after delivering his valedictory speech during the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) testimonials and awarding ceremony held last June 21, 2019 at the NCAS Auditorium. He was the top BS Biology graduate and the 2019 Class Salutatorian for both the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

The lessons I learned outside the classrooms made me realize that character is as valuable as knowledge,” said Santos on his inspiration in writing and delivering his speech. Many were also impressed with the salient points and challenges he articulated. It earned him loud applause, jubilation, and for some, heartfelt tears. Others expressed on social media their admiration to his valedictory remark on behalf of the IBS graduating class.
  
--- “Yas nice speech naman ng salu ng Graduating Class of 2019 #IBSBornThisWay” - @Lundgren_Reyes

--- “Inform ko lang kayo na ang ganda ng speech ni Sean Lemuel Santos, IBS Class Valedictorian! Serve the people!” - @nirosangasingha


Santos ranked second to Herbert A. Paat, BS Applied Mathematics and the lone summa cum laude (scl) of the class. Together, they led the 2419 undergraduates and 358 post-baccalaureate graduates, with 224 honor graduates (201 cum laude, 22 magna cum laude, and 1 scl) during the 47th Commencement Exercises of the university held on June 22, 2019.

As a genetics major, he worked on the diversity analysis of onion armyworms. His research hopes to assist in providing baseline genetic information on the nature of this pest and its possible management. With this work, he qualified as one of the Top 30 finalists of the BPI-DOST Science Award. He was also a recipient of the UP Presidential Undergraduate Scholarship.

Aside from his academic excellence, Santos shined in extra-curricular activities as well. He graduated as a proud member and active officer of The UPLB Genetics Society (GeneSoc) since his official affiliation in June 2016. He held several positions in the organization both as an officer and committee head to various projects and activities. This balance earned him nominations to several prestigious leadership and service awards namely: UPLB 2019 Outstanding Student Leader, Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines (JRMSP), and Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP - Regional Level). In 2018, he was named as the CAS Outstanding Student, a testament to his holistic character, time management, and good habits.

Santos was one of the 22 GeneSoc graduates of Class 2019. He was one of the five Genes with latin honors. Notably, the four BS Biology genetics major with honors are all members of GeneSoc, including Sean.


The Birth of a Genius and Genews EIC

Graduating with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.23, Sean was 0.03 away from the scl Latin honor. This GWA alone is more than enough proof that he is academically excellent – a genius. All throughout his undergraduate days, he was a consistent recipient of academic distinction. He received the following awards: 2016 Outstanding Freshman, 2017 Outstanding Sophomore, and 2018 Outstanding Junior from IBS, UPLB. Add on this list was his consistent inclusion as one of the Top CAS Students from 2016 to 2018.

Yet most would be in awe to know that he was a transferee. Prior to his program, he was a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science student in the Adventist University of the Philippines. The first learning institutions that molded Santos were Wondrous Works Speed Learning Center and Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School for his primary and secondary education. From then on, his brilliance, passion, and determination continuously developed, and with the right environment at the right time, his potentials became fully realized.

A line in his speech described his first year here in UPLB to be a routine and a struggle. He felt “insignificant and without a purpose”, and a cycle of school-dorm-school-dorm was all his daily life. All that changed when he joined an organization – GeneSoc.

Indeed, he transformed. GeneSoc environment was ambient for the development of his skills and attitude he never thought he would have. That vicious cycle turned to work-life balance, marveling people at the sight of his ‘cool’ side and meaningful character leap. He changed some, yet maintained his core values intact – honesty, humility, and adaptability. With these that he had been assigned to various roles, the biggest of which was his stint as the lead person of Genews.

Santos served as Editor-in-Chief  (EIC) of Genews, the official publication of GeneSoc for two consecutive terms (AY 2017-2018 and AY 2018-2019). “Genews was really a daunting challenge for me,” reflected by Santos who was never part of any school paper nor given proper training on journalism. However, during his tenure, he successfully led the production of four Genews volumes released during the Genetics and BIO 30 Week celebrations of the organization .

Such feats demonstrated Santos’ ability to adapt and learn new skills. Moreover, he was able to manage effectively an editorial staff by being a good example and by providing the team individual tasks and room for independent work.

As the EIC, Sean would inform us from the start of the semester about the articles he would want us to write. He would genuinely ask us if we could do it so that he either helps us, or find someone else to write the article because, as a student himself, he worries about our academics,” said Louise Jan Lopez (Replichore), one of the Genews staff during Sean’s term. Understanding proper time management and tasking that is rooted on one’s strength and weakness enabled him to lead and mentor his staff.

Sean Santos is consummate as he reads and edits each draft several times until he's satisfied, and at the end of the semester, he treats us with food as a gesture of his heartfelt appreciation,” Lopez added.

After college, Sean will be taking the MD-PhD program at UP Manila. He was one of the few individuals selected annually to be part of this fully funded 8-year course. This is his gateway to achieving his dream of becoming both a medical doctor and a research scientist, another journey to his genius, and more importantly a path to paying it forward.


The Impressions and Expressions of the Class Salutatorian

More than the ATCGs making Sean’s blueprints, now let’s get to know him more with these Q&As:

Genews: Who is Sean Santos?

Sean: Sean Santos is a BS Biology graduate of UPLB who is very passionate in joining videokes. He served as Editor-In-Chief of Genews and the official road trip driver of GeneSoc for two terms. Sean likes to read science books and watch sci-fi films such as the MCU and Star Wars. He plans to become a medical doctor and dreams to travel around the world someday.

G: What enables you to achieve your current distinction?

S: It really comes down to passion. I love studying, and serving the community that I pour all my energy in doing these things. And I do these not and never because of the awards but because I want to be a contributor in the transformation of my community and our country.

G: When did you join GeneSoc?

S: I dove into the Gene Pool during the midyear of my sophomore year. Immediately joined GeneSoc in 2nd year because my feelings of boredom, depression and anxiety were very excruciating during my 1st year. I knew in 1st year that joining an org would ease those feelings but I can’t do much that time since freshmen were strictly banned from joining orgs in UPLB.

G: What other plans in the future do you have aside from MD-PhD?

S: I am looking forward to conducting medical researches on aging, cancer and the brain. I also want to specialize and practice neurosurgery. I am also planning to serve as a barrio doctor in Laguna where I was born and raised. Lastly, I want to teach medical courses in UP.

G: What is your message for GENEWS? GeneSoc?

S: Dear GENEWS and GeneSoc, I have always been in your arms and you in my heart for a long time now. Thank you for molding me in becoming a more skillful person and for giving me an opportunity to serve the academic and rural communities. I hope that you would continue to become a source of light and a beacon of hope for this country through the science of genetics.

G: How did GENEWS affect you?

S: When I was first elected as its EIC, I felt very incompetent because I was never an EIC of my school publications, much less a contributor. However, GENEWS drove me to self-study and self-practice everything about news writing. It actually encouraged me to read newspapers, study writing books and research about news writing. GENEWS really taught me that there are things in life that I have to learn on my own the hard way.

G: What GeneSoc experience was very memorable to you?

S: That would be our Medical Mission 2017. What was very memorable at that time is that even if I was very tired in my work, I was still very passionate to serve the community together with my orgmates. In that instance, I saw how awful the healthcare accesses of rural communities are and how important our collective efforts are in solving this problem. For me, it was a very memorable GeneSoc experience that would forever open my eyes to the country’s medical problems and enable myself to serve the people.

G: If Sean were a type of GENEWS article, what is it?

S: If I were an article, I would be an editorial article. This article would tell readers that our nation is under numerous crises that worsen the lives of the poor. It would call on young biologists to serve the nation through their different fields and professions. Reading it would help you realize that the country is dying and that it needs our united effort to resurrect it back to life.

G: As a former EIC of GENEWS, what is your message to other journalists/writers of the country?

S: To other journalists/writers out there, I hope that you would continue to use words to bring truth to the people and that you would serve as a voice for the oppressed and a lens for the blinded.


The Raised Praises for Sean’s Aces

With such character, people cannot help but voice out their high regard towards Sean Santos. Below are some compliments from his former professors and peers:


“Sean is one of the most efficient, punctual and organized persons I know – both in academics and in org work. He complies and exceeds what needs to be done, and delivers even before the deadline. Aside from being a good and focused editor-in-chief, he also works with passion and is eager to teach his Genews staff.” – Ms. Michelia Merrill Linne D. Malabrigo (Hybrizyme), GeneSoc President AY 2018-2019

“I can still vividly recall how he worked patiently to complete all the stages of meiosis in our Cytogenetics lab class – proving he’d go the extra mile. Sean shows respect to his teachers, and not an ounce of self-entitlement. I hope he’ll continue to have that humble and teachable heart in his future endeavors.” – Prof. Riaflor M. Alcabedos, BIO 131 Cytogenetics Lecturer and Lab Instructor

“Sean as a student is exemplary. I know he will reach greater heights after BS and still be grounded. A man of humility, truly an inspiration.” – Prof. Evangeline D. Pascual, BIO 130a Advanced Genetics Lecturer

“From polished and independent research work, to academic excellence and respectful attitude to all individuals immaterial of rank, Sean is the combination of good grades, good habits, and more importantly good character – and that is rare. I must say, he has earned my respect.” – Dr. Ma. Carmina C. Manuel, head of the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, IBS and Sean’s thesis adviser

--------------------------------- 

Jickerson Lado is currently an Assistant Professor of GMBD, IBS in UPLB. He was a former Genews EIC and Secretary of GeneSoc. He occasionally contributes write-ups to Genews, CAS Accents and the UPLB website, and thinks about coconut and cell biology often.


Photo courtesy of Sean Lemuel Santos (Hybrizyme), edited by Alexis Gin Malagotnot (Cybrid)

0 Comments