MANILA, Philippines – A retired Filipina marine scientist was one of five women scientists to receive a prestigious international award.
A report from abs-cbn online said that Professor Lourdes Cruz was the only awardee from the Asia-Pacific among the five scientists honored with the prestigious 12th Annual L’Oreal-UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) awards for women in science at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Cruz was recognized for developing and converting toxins emanating from marine snails and sea shells into drugs used as painkiller for those afflicted with cancer, epilepsy and brain disorder.
Before her retirement last year, Cruz was a bio-chemist at the University of the Philippines Marine Institute. She received masters and doctorate degrees in biochemistry from the University of Iowa.
The other four awardees are from the United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Arab states.
Cruz was also cited for actively helping indigenous tribes, particularly the Aetas in Bataan province.
Cruz shares her vast knowledge in science with rural communities by mobilizing livelihood projects and education which conform with their cultural norm.
The 18-member awards jury was headed by Gunter Blobel, 1999 Nobel Prize winner for medicine.
Cruz thinks more Filipinos, even women, can excel in science if the Philippine government will do its share in the development of science and technology.
She laments that the budget allocation for science and technology does not even reach 1 percent of the entire budget.
Cruz will use her $100,000 award to buy a piece of land to serve as a new base for her rural livelihood laboratory for the Aetas in an effort to preserve and tap into their vast knowledge of traditional medicine. –Philippine Star
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
