Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Three faculty members and five graduate scholars from the Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, and Microbiology (MBBGM) Division of the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS), Central Mindanao University (CMU) proudly represented the university and the Philippines at the 2025 Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) International Conference, held on May 20–23, 2025 at BEXCO, Busan, South Korea.
With the theme “Revolution in Biomedical Sciences,” the international gathering brought together over a thousand research presentations from researchers across the globe, featuring pioneering studies in molecular biology, biochemistry, and biotechnology.
A standout achievement from the CMU delegation was the Best Poster Award received by faculty member Ms. Rosita C. Mabolo for her research titled, “Phytochemical Profile, Safety Evaluation, Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Homalanthus macradenius Extract and its Effect on mRNA Level of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Treated Mice.” The study highlights the therapeutic potential of Homalanthus macradenius, an endemic plant, in contributing to biomedical science.
Ms. Mabolo expressed heartfelt gratitude to her advisory committee, especially her chair, Dr. Reggie Y. dela Cruz, and panel member Dr. Glenda Z. Doblas.
“This award affirms the hard work behind our research on exploring the therapeutic potentials of endemic plants like Homalanthus macradenius in advancing biomedical research…Upon receiving the award, it inspires me to continue pushing boundaries in the field of molecular biology and research,” she shared.
The CMU delegation also actively participated in the Korea-Philippines Breakfast Symposium on May 22, where Filipino and Korean scientists exchanged key findings and explored research collaborations.
The CMU-IBS team presented two oral and eleven poster presentations, underscoring the university’s growing presence on the international scientific stage. Another Best Poster Award was given to Dr. Edward Laurence L. Opena, a PhD Biology major in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Dr. Reggie Y. dela Cruz, who led the CMU delegation, stressed the importance of national investment in science:
“The Philippines—especially in the field of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology—has to level up. Korea’s economy is driven by science, and we should do the same,” she asserted.
The CMU delegation was composed of faculty members Dr. Reggie Y. dela Cruz, Dr. Joliesa Mae S. Toledo, and Ms. Rosita C. Mabolo, along with DOST-STRAND graduate scholars Walter Clint E. Bayani, Kristina Casandra L. Pava, Edward Laurence L. Opena, Michelle S. Suelo, and Gio Patrick A. Balansag.
This international engagement reflects the commitment of CMU’s IBS-MBBGM Division to excellence in research and reinforces the university’s vision of contributing meaningfully to global scientific advancement. (Iyren D. Neri with information from Dr. Reggie Y. Dela Cruz, IBS Director)
