Two additional scientists from UP Diliman were recently honored by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), joining Aries A. Arugay, PhD of the Department of Political Science (DPolSci) and Jillian Aira S. Gabo-Ratio, DEng of the National Institute of Geological Sciences as award recipients.
Alongside Arugay and Gabo-Ratio, Aurelio A. de los Reyes V, Dr.rer.nat of the Institute of Mathematics (IM), received the 2025 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) NRCP Achievement Award (NRCP Award) for his contributions in the field of mathematical sciences.
The NRCP awards recognize members who advance knowledge, strengthen the research community, and contribute to the nation’s progress through scientific inquiry and scholarly excellence.
A professor at IM, De los Reyes was cited for his works on infectious disease modeling by translating biological processes into dynamical systems and equations.
His research interests include mathematical biology, optimal control applied to biological systems, cancer models, and infectious diseases dynamics. He is also the recipient of the 2024 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week Outstanding Research and Development Award for Basic Research.
Meanwhile, the NRCP conferred National Scientist and UP Professor Emeritus Lourdes J. Cruz the title Member Emeritus for Division X – Chemical Sciences.
Cruz is known for her groundbreaking research on the biochemistry of conotoxins, a poisonous peptides extracted from marine cone snails which led to further studies on the therapeutic applications of conotoxins.
Arugay, De los Reyes, Gabo-Ratio, and Cruz were honored during the NRCP 2026 Annual Scientific Conference and 93rd General Membership Assembly on March 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.