While COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the way we do things, it did not stop us from celebrating our achievements. In fact, it helped us become more resilient than ever. After two years of virtual gatherings, the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebrated its 15th annual convention on August 8-12, 2022 through a hybrid format of virtual conference and face-to-face gathering at Marriot Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat City, Pampanga with the theme “Health Research: Responding to Challenges towards National Recovery and Resiliency”. It was hosted by the Central Luzon Health Research and Development Consortium (CLHRDC) and the Department of Science and Technology-Region III (DOST III).
With that, the R1HRDC has again proven its legacy of creating quality health researches by bagging awards and recognitions during the 5-day event as follows:
1. Fr. Alfredo V. Corpuz from University of Northern Philippines is the 2021 Best Mentor in Health Research - Undergraduate Category for both North Luzon Cluster and National Level.
2. Dr. Sarah Jane Tan from Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center won Second Place for the Oral Research Paper Competition - Professional Category, with her paper entitled “Serologic SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Level and Factors Affecting its Production after COVID-19 Vaccination among Employees of a Tertiary Hospital”.
3. Ms. Norianne S. Bolibol from Mariano Marcos State University won Second Place for the Visual Abstract Poster Competition - Student Category, with her paper entitled “Formulation and Evaluation of Oregano, Lemongrass, and Karimbuaya Polyherbal Antibacterial Bar Soap”.
4. National Qualifiers:
Mrs. Marcia A. Fellizar from Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center under the 3-minute Pitch to Policy Makers Competition with her paper entitled “Breaking the Silence: The Journey of Sexually Abused Children”;
Dr. James Leslie Rondal from Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center under the Visual Abstract Poster Competition - Professional Category for his paper entitled “The Kinship of Hearing Loss & Bilirubin”; and
Ms. Geraldine Joy Corpuz from Mariano Marcos State University under the Oral Research Paper Competition - Student Category for her paper entitled “Brine Shrimp Toxicity and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Psychotria luzoniensis Leaf Methanol Crude Extract and It’s n-hexane and Aqueous Enriched Fractions”.
5. Recognized also are the regional project staffs of R1HRDC - Ms. Ana Gay Ranga (10 years) and Ms. Liezel Biag (5 years) for their service and contribution to the consortium.
Indeed, the R1HRDC will not flourish without the incomparable leadership of Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza with the help and support of its members in their continued quest to achieve a health resilient country though research.
