Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/MMSUofficial/videos/1940264720225510
The exemplary accomplishments of the full-time researchers of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Research Directorate (RD) in 2025 were among those recognized during the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) awarding ceremony held on January 16, 2025, at Teatro Ilocandia, as part of the University’s 48th Foundation Anniversary celebration.
The exemplary accomplishments of the full-time researchers of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Research Directorate (RD) in 2025 were among those recognized during the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) awarding ceremony held on January 16, 2025, at Teatro Ilocandia, as part of the University’s 48th Foundation Anniversary celebration.
The annual PRAISE ceremony honors employees who demonstrated exemplary performance and notable accomplishments that contributed to the advancement of MMSU’s mandates in instruction, research, extension, and innovation.
Under the Most Outstanding Achiever Awards, Dr. Menisa A. Antonio was named Outstanding Full-time Researcher, while Mr. Bryll P. Atienza received the Outstanding Research Support Staff award.
Several researchers were also conferred the Presidential Succeed Award, given to personnel who brought distinction to the university through regional, national, and international recognitions, as well as publications in indexed journals and databases.
Several researchers were also conferred the Presidential Succeed Award, given to personnel who brought distinction to the university through regional, national, and international recognitions, as well as publications in indexed journals and databases.
Among the awardees was Dr. Dionisio S. Bucao, RD director, who earned the 2025 DOST–PCAARRD Technology Dissemination and Utilization Award and the 2025 Best R&D Paper Award in the national level.
A research team composed of Dr. Menisa Antonio, Maria Concepcion Birginias, Josefa Pugat, Maingeline Vivit, and Ruby Rose Tamayo was recognized for winning Best Paper in the Sustainable and Smart Agri-Aquaculture and Climate Resilience category during the 2025 State Universities and Colleges–Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (SUC-ACAP) Biennial Conference and General Assembly.
Another team led by Mr. Lemuel Ray Balloyan, together with Ms. Suerte Baranda, Mr. Arc Josam Racho, Ms. Jimmbeth Zenila Fabia, Ms. Ma. Joy Theresa Agcaoili, Ms. Marvielyn Olivar, Ms. Grace Sheila Jalani, and Dr. Peter James Gann, received the 3rd Best Study Award at the national level for their research titled Functional Food and Pharmaceutical Applications of Probiotic Isolates from Indigenous Food Plants in Ilocos Norte Using Genomic Analyses.
Three research groups earned top poster awards at the regional level. The team composed of Marvin Jericho E. Cava, Mae Rose M. Maoirat-Abad, Noralyn B. Legaspi, and Clarita Palacio for their study Alliin and Total Phenolic Content of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Accessions Collected from Ilocos Norte for garnering 1st Place, poster category. Also, the team of Rodel T. Utrera, Nathaniel R. Alibuyog, Christopher D. Zamuco, Jade P. Calumpit, Kenneth A. Tabieros, Irene Joy Aceret, Clein Winslee Duquez, Patrick Ray Borja, Cloann Leizel P. Longboy, Charles A. Mateo, Christine B. Mata, and Tristan Janryll A. Mata won 1st Place, poster professional category. Meanwhile, another group composed of Nathaniel R. Alibuyog, Rodel T. Utrera, Sherlyn B. Nicolas, Lea C. Agbigay, Constante B. Julian, Josefa L. Pugat, Joemel G. Agreda, Floramante C. Pastor, Cristina D. Valentin, Julius Jonar L. Butay, Ma. Concepcion Birginias, Roxanne Opelac, Shaira Camille Santos, Lord Ian R. Galano, Marinique A. Guerrero, Nadine Sharinette R. Bravo, Augustin B. Quidilla, Maricone A. Cabansag, Nelson Junior T. Rodillas, Ian Paul R. Villanueva, and Selwyne Christian E. Ponce also garnered the 1st Place poster award.
Beyond awards, MMSU researchers were also recognized for their 2025 submissions to the National Library of Medicine-National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GeneBank. These internationally registered genome sequences further strengthened MMSU’s contribution to global scientific knowledge.
The submissions credited to the team of Lemuel Ray Balloyan, Ma. Theresa Joy Agcaoili, Jimmbeth Zenila Fabia, Marvielyn Olivar, Peter James Icalia Gann, and Shiela Jalani, Suerte Baranda, James Patrick Peralta, and James Patrick Acang included multiple probiotic strains such as Candidatus Enterococcus willemsii strain S6, Lentilactobacillus hilgardii strain S5, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain S1, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. Paracasei, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain PJG11.
The ceremony also recognized long-serving employees through the Loyalty Awards. Ms. Evangeline Galacgac, Science Research Specialist II was honored for 35 years in government service, while Mr. Celedonio Agron, Farm worker I, received recognition for 15 years of service.
