A JOURNALISM instructor and a former features editor of The Flame took home first-place honors in their respective categories at the 13th Jose G. Burgos, Jr. Awards for Biotechnology Journalism on Nov. 21.
Journalism instructor Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas, a business reporter for The Philippine Star, topped in the news story category for his article titled “CA ruling stops imports of Bt talong, golden rice,” which details how the Court of Appeals banned the production of genetically modified eggplant and golden rice.
Arcalas, a UST Journalism alumnus from batch 2016, serves as a research affiliate of the UST Research Center for Social Sciences and Education. He earned his master’s degree in Journalism in 2023 and was part of the Filipino section of The Varsitarian.
He worked as a reporter for BusinessMirror from 2016 to 2024 and was named Agriculture-Mining Reporter of the Year three times.
Meanwhile, Philippine Daily Inquirer writer Kathleen de Villa bagged first prize in the feature category for the article, “Stopping GMO crops may cause ‘more harm than good’ — scientists,” which explores scientists’ concerns over the halting of the use of modern biotechnology in plant breeding. She co-wrote the feature story with Inquirer reporter Jordeene Lagare.
A UST Journalism graduate from batch 2013, de Villa served as features editor of The Flame, the official student publication of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters.
Arcalas and de Villa received a P30,000 cash prize and a trophy.
The Jose G. Burgos, Jr. Awards, established in 2005 by the Biotechnology for Life Media and Resource Center, recognizes journalists’ contributions to scientific inquiry and seeks to promote biotechnology awareness.
This year’s award ceremony was held at the Agricultural Training Institute RDEC Training Hall, Quezon City and received a total of 48 entries, which were judged by Philippine Rubber Institute technical consultant Vivencio Mamaril, Department of Agriculture biotech program director Paul Limson and International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications Inc. Executive Director Rhodora Romero-Aldemita. F
