The 52nd Commencement Exercises of UPLB, held on August 3, 2024 at the E.B. Copeland Gymnasium, conferred degrees to a total of 2,024 undergraduates. Out of these are 23 Genes brimming with hopes, dreams, and smiles as they marched, embellished with the Sablay on their shoulders, for graduation. A chapter of their lives may have closed, but another one unfolds as they pursue new paths in the vast fields of sciences.
These 23 freshly graduated Genes are composed of 17 students from BS Biology, two from BS Nutrition, two from BS Agricultural Biotechnology, one from BS Agriculture, and one BS Math and Science Teaching.
Among the graduates from BS Biology, four were Microbiology majors, namely: Rani Athena R. Fabros (Isochore), Danica Nicole M. Del Rosario (Crypton), Lana Rose C. Mangi (Ikirara), and Alyssa Mae L. Santos (Hachimoji). From the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, four were Cell and Molecular Biology majors: Bryan Harold C. Vital (Polyplex), Kyle Anikehn A. Francisco (Polyplex), Koozae Calvin C. Umali (Hachimoji), and Hannah Corinne T. Cantaros (Resistome). Additionally, three were Genetics majors, namely: Alyssa Mae C. Ausa (Polyplex), Chantel Angeli R. Paña (Crypton), and Ivien Prinze F. Fetalino (Reprimo). There were two graduates from the Systematics major program: Brian Alfred V. Mortera (Crypton) and Justin Gabriel J. Badlis (Crypton). The rest of the BS Biology graduates were from the Animal Biology Division, with three Zoology majors: Christy Ann C. Go (Crypton), Krisanti Amiel T. Felix (Ikirara), and Maria Carmela Regina M. Lanip (Hachimoji), and one Wildlife Biology major: Hanz Benedict B. Aguilar (Ikirara).
Another graduate from the Institute of Biological Sciences was Lorenzo Gabriel A. Requizo (Pseudouridine), from the BS Mathematics and Science Teaching major in Biology program.
From the College of Human Ecology, two GeneSoc members, Allen Christianne U. Gabor (Crypton) and Candice Andrea D. Luzon (Crypton), graduated from the BS Nutrition program.
There were three Genes who graduated from the College of Agriculture and Food Science. Geromn Gabriel P. Dacquil (Reprimo) finished his degree in BS Agriculture major in Animal Science. John A. Acosta, Jr. (Ikirara) and Fatima Serene S. Desuasido (Hachimoji) were both BS Agricultural Biotechnology graduates who majored in Crop Protection Biotechnology and Animal Biotechnology, respectively.
Genes with Latin honors in Class of 2024
From the GeneSoc Class of 2024, 11 finished with academic honors comprising of three magna cum laude and eight cum laude.
Justin Gabriel J. Badlis, magna cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Systematics
Thesis: Ants of the Genus Tetramorium Mayr, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Selected Caves and Environs in Tayabas City, Quezon, Philippines
Throughout his years at the university, Badlis received astonishingly numerous achievements. Badlis placed third among the UPLB passers in the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) and ranked first among the UPCAT passers in the BS Biology program of UPLB in 2019. In his sophomore year, he was recognized as one of the Top Students in the College of Arts and Sciences. On his graduation, among his awards were the DOST-SEI Medal of Academic Excellence and the Humanitarian Award of the Red Cross Youth of UPLB. In his pursuit of Systematics as his major study, he went on to excel in his chosen field. Before graduating, he presented his undergraduate thesis at the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines’ International Symposium and 41st Annual Meeting, which won 3rd Place in the Young Systematic Biologists’ Forum (YSBF) Undergraduate Category. During the institute’s recognition rites, he bagged several awards: 1st place in the 2024 IBS Gawad Karangalan for Outstanding Theses in Ecology and Field Biology, and 1st Place in the 2024 Adelina A. Barrion for Outstanding Theses in Systematic Biology. Ultimately, his thesis work was awarded the 2024 IBS Best Undergraduate Thesis Award for Systematics. Badlis was elected as an officer in the organization for two consecutive terms: Secretary and Documentation Committee Head in A.Y. 2021-2022 and Vice-President and Membership Committee Head in A.Y. 2022-2023.
Christy Ann C. Go, magna cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Zoology
Go, as a scholar, received a DOST-SEI Medal for Academic Excellence for her exceptional performance throughout her college years. With her ever-bubbly personality and empathetic nature, since she became a part of GeneSoc, she belonged to and served under the Membership Committee throughout her stay in college.
Hanz Benedict B. Aguilar, magna cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Wildlife Biology
Thesis: Morpho-Geometric and Behavioral Sexual Characterization of the ex situ-managed Philippine Forest Turtle, Siebenrockiella leytensis (Taylor 1920), in Avilon Zoo, Rodriguez, Rizal
Aguilar was also a recipient of the DOST-SEI Medal for Academic Excellence. During his senior year, he presented his thesis at the 31st Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium where he also received the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP) Dissemination Grant for undergraduate students. As the week-long graduation kicked off, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) and Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG) awarded several distinctions to Aguilar for sharing his knowledge and service in academic tutorials and volunteering. As one of the nominees of the UPLB Natatanging Iskolar ng Bayan (UNIK), Aguilar won the Top 1 Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) Peer Tutor Academic Excellence Award. He was also a recipient of the following: UPLB GABAY Volunteer Corps Service Award, OCG Peer Tutor Service Award, and the Learning Resource Center PEER Tutor Service Award. During the Animal Biology Division Testimonials, he was one of the awardees of the 2024 IBS Best Undergraduate Thesis for Wildlife Biology wherein he ranked 3rd Place. A day after his graduation, he travelled to Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia to present his thesis in front of the international community at the 10th World Congress of Herpetology. He served as the Education Committee Head of the organization in A.Y. 2021-2022.
Allen Christianne U. Gabor, cum laude
BS Nutrition
Thesis: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) amidst the Gradual Reopening of Face-to-Face Classes and the Nutritional Status of Grade 6 Students in Public Elementary Schools in Silang, Cavite, Philippines
Gabor’s exemplary performance in academics and heart of service to the community led him to receive numerous achievements. In his Hospital Dietetics Field Practicum at East Avenue Medical Center, he received the Best Case Study Poster, Outstanding Performance in the Therapeutic Unit, and Outstanding Performance in the Enteral Nutrition Unit. Furthermore, he was a speaker in the 2022 Forum on Child Rights Advocacy: Youth Volunteering, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency and the sole student organization representative in the Global Handwashing Day 2022 event, a collaboration of DOH, DepEd, and UNICEF. Gabor was elected as the Outreach Committee Head of GeneSoc in A.Y. 2022-2023.
Candice Andrea D. Luzon, cum laude
BS Nutrition
Thesis: Association of nutritional status with the eating habits, lifestyle factors, and symptoms of stress and anxiety of UPLB BS Nutrition practicum students
Luzon’s academic excellence led her to be inducted as a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was a part of the Education Committee of the organization.
Brian Alfred V. Mortera, cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Systematics
Thesis: Systematic Fruit Morpho-anatomy of Selected Pinanga spp. (Arecaceae) from the Philippines
Mortera’s stellar performance in academics made him a recipient of the DOST-SEI Medal for Academic Excellence. His passion and heart for serving the community also earned him the Humanitarian Award of the Red Cross Youth of UPLB. He became a poster presenter at the 16th CAS Student-Faculty Research Conference for his work in the course BIO 154 (Cave Ecology). Mortera was also an oral presenter for his undergraduate thesis at the 1st IBS Undergraduate Research Conference and the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines’ International Symposium and 41st Annual Meeting. His research won 2nd Place in the 2024 Gantimpalang Adelina A. Barrion for Outstanding Theses in Systematic Biology during the institute’s recognition rites. He served as GeneSoc’s Projects Committee Head in A.Y. 2021-2022 and President and Executive Committee Head in A.Y. 2022-2023.
Chantel Angeli R. Paña, cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Genetics
With her intelligence, Paña was awarded the DOST-SEI Medal for Academic Excellence. She became part of GeneSoc’s Executive Committee in A.Y. 2022-2023 as the Secretary and Documentation Committee Head.
Fatima Serene S. Desuasido, cum laude
BS Agricultural Biotechnology – Major in Animal Biotechnology
Thesis: Screening of Prevotella ruminicola and Selenomonas ruminantium of cannulated Holstein-Fresian X Sahiwal Cattle Fed With Lactobacillus plantarum Silage Inoculant
Desuasido was a recipient of the DOST-SEI Medal for Academic Excellence. She was elected in GeneSoc as the Publicity Committee Head in A.Y. 2021-2022 and the Projects Committee Head in A.Y. 2022-2023.
Alyssa Mae L. Santos, cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Microbiology
Thesis: Morpho-cultural and Molecular Characterization of Putative Pantoea spp. Isolated from Corn (Zea mays L.) Naturally Infected with Maize White Spot Disease
With her brilliance in academics and passion for service, Santos was inducted as a member of the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society and is a nominee for membership at The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She also received a Pahinungod Service Award as one of the student-volunteers who dedicated their time, effort, and commitment in serving the underserved. Santos was appointed as the Genetics Camp Education 3 Head in A.Y. 2021-2022 and was elected as the Education Committee Head in A.Y. 2022-2023.
Koozae Calvin C. Umali, cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Cell and Molecular Biology
Thesis: De Novo Transcriptome Analysis of the Gill, Kidney, and Liver Tissues of the Philippine Endemic Freshwater Sardinella (Sardinella tawilis Herre 1927)
Special Problem: In Silico Mining of Antimicrobial-related Genes and Secondary Metabolites from a Bacterial Isolate from the Whole Genome Sequence of a Bacterial Isolate from Manleluag Hyperalkaline Spring, Pangasinan
In Umali’s pursuit as a Cell and Molecular Biology major, he decided to conduct both a special problem and thesis. Gifted with excellence in academics, Umali was inducted as a member in the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society and was nominated for The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He was also a recipient of the DOST Medal for Academic Excellence. Alongside his academic brilliance is his remarkable passion in leadership. Umali served The UPLB Genetics Society as part of the Executive Committee for three consecutive terms: GENEWS Editor-in-Chief (A.Y. 2021-2022), Public Relations Officer and PR Committee Head (A.Y. 2022-2023), and President and Executive Committee Head (A.Y. 2023-2024).
Ivien Prinze F. Fetalino, cum laude
BS Biology – Major in Genetics
Thesis: Promoter motif analysis and CpG island detection of putative bidirectional promoters from Cocos nucifera L. ‘Catigan Green Dwarf’ (Arecaceae)
Fetalino’s unparalleled determination and stellar academic performance led her to become an inducted member of two honor societies, namely, the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society and The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She also received an amazing feat as a Genetics major when her undergraduate thesis won the 2024 IBS Undergraduate Best Thesis Award for Genetics. She was also a recipient of the DOST-SEI Medal for Academic Excellence. Fetalino was the GENEWS Editor-in-Chief of the organization in A.Y. 2022-2023.
The UPLB Genetics Society would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to each and every Gene who graduated in 2024! The organization will always be proud of you, not only for reaching this milestone in your lives but also for persevering and overcoming all the hardships you have encountered in your stay in the university. The memories we weaved together are incorporated forever in the tapestry of our gene pool! As you venture into new paths, may you always foster passion and excellence and integrate these values into your work for science and for the people.
Padayon, GeneSoc Class of 2024!
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