By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on (left) and Dr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa (right) took their oaths as the newest Associate Members of the Department of Science and Technology – National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) during the 2025 Annual Scientific Conference & 92nd General Membership Assembly, held at the Reception Hall, PICC, Pasay City, Metro Manila, on March 13, 2025.
Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director of CPU-Office of Communications and Dr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa, Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Resources, and Environmental Sciences, took their oaths as the newest Associate Members of the Department of Science and Technology – National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP). The oath was taken as part of the 2025 Annual Scientific Conference & 92nd General Membership Assembly, which was held at the Reception Hall, PICC, Pasay City, Metro Manila, on March 13, 2025.
The full-day conference was divided into several segments, including the opening ceremonies, panel discussions, awards and recognition ceremony, and the GMA and business meeting. The oath taking of Associate and Regular members was conducted by NRCP President, Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo.
鈥淲hen I applied for membership in the National Research Council of the Philippines, theology courses鈥攆rom bachelor鈥檚 to doctoral levels鈥攚ere not listed in their dropdown menus. I had to select the 鈥极迟丑别谤蝉鈥 category and pointed this out to them. Now, theology is included on their website. Today, I will take my oath as one of the newest Associate Members of the DOST-NRCP. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, the keynote speaker, calls the members of NRCP as the best and brightest minds of our country,鈥 Rev. Dr. Jalando-on wrote on his Facebook post.
It is worth noting Dr. Romallosa has authored operational manuals for the CPUCARES Pellet Mill and the CPUCARES Jack-Driven Briquette Molder, both copyrighted by CPU. Additionally, she has also published several works in collaboration with her colleagues, such as 鈥淛unkshops as Recycling Chain Actors in the Recovery of Waste Resources from a Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines鈥 (Applied Environmental Research, 2024) and 鈥淭echnical Performance of Developed Appropriate Technologies: Its Utilization as an Approach for Sustainable Philippines Agricultural Mechanization鈥 (Association of Agricultural Technology in Southeast Asia, 2022). Moreover, some of Rev. Dr. Jalando-on鈥檚 notable works include, but are not limited to, Seeds of Faith Volumes 1-6, The Story of Juanito M. Acanto: The Centennial President of 黑料专区, and We are CPU: Our Reasons for Being.
听Rev. Dr. Jalando-on, expressed his gratitude and optimism during the conference. He reflected on the inspiring words of Dr. Leah Buendia, a panelist at the General Assembly, who emphasized the power of curiosity in driving innovation. 鈥淓very great innovation starts with a question: What if.鈥 Dr. Buendia鈥檚 message resonated deeply with the attendees, encouraging them to overcome challenges such as limited funding, doubts from peers, and technical obstacles in their pursuit of research and innovation.
On his Facebook post, Rev. Dr. Jalando-on shared his hope for the future of education in the country: 鈥淚 hope and pray that our educational institutions will give space to people who are asking a lot of What if.鈥
The NRCP, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), serves as a national body of researchers, scientists, engineers, and technologists who provide advisory services to the Philippine government on issues of national interest. As new Associate Members, Dr. Romallosa and Rev. Dr. Jalando-on mark a significant milestone for CPU鈥檚 academic community, highlighting the university鈥檚 ongoing commitment to advancing research excellence across a wide range of scientific fields.
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