In ceremonies at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City, 2009 Ramon Magsaysay awardees are to get recognition and receive the title Asia’s Heroes: Science in the Service of Humanity.

Along with the awardees is Filipino Antonio Oposa Jr. He will be joined by five others: Krisana Kraisintu of Thailand, Deep Joshi of India, Yu Xiaogang of China, Ma Jun also of China and Ka Hsaw Wa of Myanmar.

Ms. Karen Rosal, who completed her Master of Science in Molecular Biology at Okayama University in Japan and Mr. Carlo Castillo, who is currently taking up Master of Science in Molecular Medicine at St. Luke's College of Medicine. They are the 2 young Filipino scientists who represented the country in the prestigious Novartis Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp).

According to a British-Filipino scientific expedition, one of the rarest deer has been found in a territory of the Philippine forest. The statement was given as a result of the group's three week sortie into Mount Mandalagan in the north of Negros Island last month.

Cervus alfredi are found only in the central Philippines and before the herds dwindled through heavy hunting and rapid habitat loss, they were represent on the islands of Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, Negros, Panay and Samar.

To upgrade the fruit wine processing in the province of Kalinga, DOST (Department of Science and Technology) grants P200,000 financial assistance for the proposal of Nancy Busacay of Dagupan West.

Alfonso Berto, DOST Provincial Officer, said that the P200,000 financial assistance will be utilized in packaging, design and labeling of the product including the provision of a fermentation kit to improve the quality of fruit wine extracted from Bugnay fruit tree.

In the recent International Trade Challenge (ITC) held in Singapore, two young entrepreneurs overpowered many other competitors from all over Asia.

Funded by FedEx Express, ITC is organized by Junior Achievement (JA), an international non-stock, non-profit organization devoted in developing entrepreneurial skills and spirit among the youth.

It also honors the role of international trade in shaping business fundamentals among the next generation of enterprise leaders.

Filipino scientists were urged to develop genetically modified coconut to increase the production of lauric acid, a substance found mainly in coconut oil and is used in making soaps, insecticides and cosmetics.

Dr. Calixto Protacio of the University of the Philippines Los Banos’ Crop Science Cluster said the development of canola with a lauric acid content of 60 percent is threatening the Philippines’ lead in the oils market.

Protacio said local scientists should use the same biotechnological advances for GM canola in coconut, stressing that it offers the "fastest avenue for coconut improvement and makes it possible to target the gene(s) of interest."

Scientists and green group reject the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant reopening. National Chairman, Giovani Tapary, of Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa sambayanan (AGHAM) said that the proponents of BNPP’S reopening should consider the safety, economic liability sustainability of the 620-megawatts facility. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also cautioned the Philippines not to let commercial interests take precedence over safety issues when considering the revival of delayed nuclear plants.