| 1999 | Ms. Zenaida D. Darunday | Zen is a Philippine environmental activist, pathologist, organic farmer, biodynamic practitioner and photographer. She finished her Bachelor Degree in Agriculture at the University of the Philippines – Los Banos and Masters in Plant Pathology at University of Wisconsin, U.S.A. She spent 20 years in New York as a photojournalist to several magazines in the USA and became a Senior Environmental Technologist of Shell Oil Company in New York and Associate Editor of Research Institute of America in New York City. She went back to the Philippines to organize cooperatives for women and protecting the environment. She co-chaired the Bohol’s Environment Summit that drafted the Environmental Code of Bohol. She did lectures on environment, homeopathy, anthroposophy, sustainable agriculture and organic farming, genetic engineering, vermi composting, herbal medicine, agnihotra and wellness programs. She also organized the Tagbilaran All Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative, Bohol Federation of Women Cooperatives, Cedar Children’s Garden, JLW Foundation, Mayacabac Ubi growers and Processors Producers Cooperative and Permaculture Institute of the Philippines (PIP). She also co-founded the Bohol Nature Conservation Society, Ubi Center Foundation and the Bohol Initiators for Sustainable Agriculture and Development. |
| 2006 | Mr. Efren M. Chatto | Efren was born in Manila and is married to Veronica Modequillo-Chatto from Davao and blessed with four children. He graduated from the University of San Carlos with an AB Economics degree as Cum Laude. Right after graduation he was employed as Credit Investigator of Manila Banking Corporation and because of excellent performance, was promoted as Branch Manager. Now, as President of King Louis Flowers and Plants, Inc., a position he held since 1982, he has distributors in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Bohol, and other cities all over the country. Efren has been involved in the cut-flower industry in our country for the past 23 years now. Their company is one of the pioneers in the commercial production of cut-flowers in the Philippines and considered among the biggest cut-flowers in the country today. He directly assisted 35 farmers, trained them in cut-flower production, helped them in securing loans from banks to finance their greenhouse construction, provided them with planting materials and technology and helped them in marketing their produce. This partnership with the smaller partners proved successful through the years resulting to visible improvements in the farmers’ incomes and standards of living. This scheme is now being adopted and promoted nationwide by industry experts, encouraging “big brother – small brother” partnerships – for bigger growers to help smaller growers for mutually beneficial results. For over a decade now, Efren has also involved himself in the National Cut-flowers Growers Federation and had served as President of the said organization in 1998 and 1999. In 2006 he was an awardee of the NIA Employees and GAD Focal System for organizing a Floral Demo. In September 2003 his expertise was internationally recognized with the Floral Nobel Prize Award by the World Flower Council. |
| 2009 | Dr. Agapita J. Salces | Dr. Agapita Jandayan-Salces, a holder of a Doctorate degree in Animal Science from the University of the Philippines is the only Geneticist in the Department of Agriculture, a nationwide distinction that makes Bohol proud. She was born in Cogtong, Candijay, Bohol on November 9, 1964. Dr. Agapita Salces is married to Dr. Caro B. Salces, the Director of the Philippine Carabao Center, Ubay Stock Farm in Bohol. Gigi studied at the Cogtong Elementary School and went to the Girls High School, University of San Carlos. Passing the entrance exam, she enrolled at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1985. Eager to be a wage earner, to augment the family income, she applied for the position of Science Research Specialist at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), United Nations Development Program (UNDP)/Food and Authority Organization (FAO) and was readily accepted. She stayed for 8 years and was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Region VII, as Agriculture Technologist (1988-1991) and became Senior Agriculturist in 1999. She took up Master of Science in Animal Science at UP-Los Baños, which she finished in 1992 and earned her Doctorate degree in Animal Science in 2008. Dr. Salces was picked from among many scientists with big potentials, to go to South Korea for post-doctorate studies in Animal Breeding, at the Animal Genetics and Evaluation Division, Natural Livestock Research Institute in 2006. With Dr. Salces’ professional advancements and awards, she has reaped laurels for her papers, treatises, and performances. Dr. Gigi Salces finds time for community involvement, through the Galilea Center for Education and Development. She handles Pre-Cana Seminars, and is a member of the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church Construction Commission in Ubay. As the only Geneticist in the Department of Agriculture, Region VII her importance in the march to progress cannot be underestimated. |
| 2012 | Dr. Manuel L. Logroño | He completed his doctor’s degree in Agronomy and Soil Science at the University of Hawaii and master’s degree at UP Los Baños. With meetings and conferences in 15 countries, he was able to lead technical trainings both in public and private sectors. He led a team of scientists at the Institute of Plant Breeding enabling the farmers to harvest more than 3 times the national average grain yield and developed sweet waxy corn hybrids for more nutritious food to consumers. He served through Pahinungod project under UP to help train farmers in the Visayas to attain self- sufficiency and sustainability in white corn production. |
| 2015 | Dr. Maria Juliet Cañete-Ceniza | Dr. Ceniza graduated as Salutatorian during her primary and secondary education in Clarin, Bohol. She graduated cum laude in Agriculture at Visayas State University, Leyte. She again graduated cum laude after gaining her Doctoral degree of Science in Agriculture at the University of Hohenheim, Germany. She has received awards as an outstanding teacher in VSU Leyte, where most Boholanos choose to study in the field of Agriculture. She has been successful as a Dean, Director, Professor, Research Assistant and Laboratory Technician in VSU-ViSCA, Baybay, Leyte. Aside from the numerous technical research studies she has conducted, which were funded by national and international agencies, she has also performed Identifications, Collection and Innovations/Scientific Discovery. Dr. Ceniza has also published books, technical and scientific papers in referenced national and international journals. She has conducted trainings, seminars, workshops and conferences all over the Philippines from 1978 up to the present and internationally participated since 1991 up to the present. She has acted as consultant for various agricultural projects in Leyte, Negros and Panay and is a member of professional/scientific and civic societies, as well as university and department committees. She has worked in Germany and speaks fluent German. She passed the Pruefung zum Nachweis Deutscher Sprachkenntnisse (PNDS), Germany. |
| 2024 | Dr. Eugenio P. Mende, DVM MSc | Dr. Eugene was born in Loay, Bohol and is now based in Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila. He graduated Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Cum Laude; and finished his Master’s of Science in Infectious Diseases Degree at the University of Minnesota, USA through a US Fulbright Scholarship. He has played a significant role not only in animal welfare, food security, pharmaceutical development, policy making, and hog-raising education but also in uplifting the lives of many farmers. His service and dedication to the nation are through livelihood caravans, outreach programs, international and local trainings, personal scholarship programs, and town activity sponsorships, among others. His US-patented swine vaccine technology helped control the biggest and most economically damaging swine virus infection in the world. It has always been his dream to help the marginalized since their struggles, aspirations and lives were never a stranger to him. Born to poor but hardworking parents, he only had a dream, a bright mind, and a persevering heart. He knows exactly how it feels to be poor and powerless – making him determined to give back to the community. |
