THE BusinessMirror placed third in the Institutional Category for papers devoting editorial space to biotechnology issues, in the Third Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism at the Balai Kalinaw, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City

In the same awards rites, journalists from the Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business World were recognized for their work— Melody Aguiba of Bulletin, Delmar Cariño of Inquirer and Jo Florendo Lontoc from Business World bagged the first, second and third prizes, respectively, of the awards sponsored by the Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center.

Aguiba won for her article “Filipino scientist secures patent for bioplastic” while Cariño was awarded for his article “Forests get new hope in the cloning project.” Lontoc was recognized for his article “UP scientists trying to help abaca industry.”

The winners received P30,000, P20,000 and P10,000 respectively, and plaques of recognition.

Broadcast journalist Angelo Palmones, dzMM station manager and president of Philippine Science Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc. (PSci Journ), was given a special citation in recognition of his outstanding and consistent commitment in popularizing biotechnology.

The newspapers Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star garnered the first and second prizes, respectively, in the Institutional Category, for publishing the most number of biotech stories in the past year.

The Burgos biotech journalism awards were in partnership with the Samahang Plaridel, an organization of eminent and veteran journalists and the PSciJourn.

The awards board of judges was led by Mr. Rolando Estabillo, president of Samahang Plaridel and vice president for corporate communication of the Philippine Airlines, as chairman.  Members were Dr. Luis Rey Velasco, chancellor of the UP   Los Baños; Dr. Mariechel Navarro, manager of the Global Knowledge Center of Crop Biotechnology of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications; Ms. Rosalie Ellasus, president of Philippine Maize Federation Inc.; and Palmones.  (Biolife News Service)

THE lawyer of wanted Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon turned the tables on the government on Sunday, saying that her client is being held by security forces and did not escape as claimed by the government.

THE United Nations (UN) reinvigorated its warning on the continued danger of an avian-influenza epidemic in individual nations and possible pandemic in the world in its joint report with the World Bank (WB) on the bird flu, although incidence has declined.

AN international group of activists from over 125 counties urged, in a report released last week, all governments to strengthen their political will toward the easing accessibility of drugs to treat HIV-AIDS, a disease that remains a threat to populations around the world.

THE BusinessMirror placed third in the Institutional Category for papers devoting editorial space to biotechnology issues, in the Third Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism at the Balai Kalinaw, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City

SORSOGON CITY—A newly elected barangay chairman and his two bodyguards, including a policeman, were gunned down on Saturday evening while attending a political gathering at a coastal village of this city that is known to be the “whale shark capital of the world.”

THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division told the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to terminate the presentation of witnesses as it finally took cognizance of the protracted proceedings in the Lucio Tan case.

A TOP official of the Aboitiz group in Cebu denied they have links with the group led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr. that is bidding for the National Transmission Corp. (Transco).