{"id":653,"date":"2008-09-14T00:00:48","date_gmt":"2008-09-14T00:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/?p=653"},"modified":"2016-10-12T10:10:09","modified_gmt":"2016-10-12T17:10:10","slug":"olah-on-rice-technology-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/olah-on-rice-technology-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Olah on rice technology development"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rhodora “Olah” Romero-Aldemita (DST ’77) recently moved to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) as a Senior Program Officer. She obtained her BS Agriculture (Plant Pathology) and MS (Agronomy) degrees from UP Los Ba\u00f1os in 1980 and 1988, respectively. She obtained her Ph.D. from Purdue University under a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship.<\/h5>\n
\"Olah\"

Olah<\/p><\/div>\n

Olah is married to Nestor Aldemita, a forester and a co-choir member of the First Evangelical Church. They have two daughters, Yvette Joy<\/em> and Dyan<\/em>.<\/h5>\n
For a more in-depth life story of Olah, please go to the First Person<\/a> page.<\/h5>\n
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Several years ago, you have been given an award by the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines recognizing your efforts in improving rice through biotechnology. How significant is this award to you? In your evaluation, how is the state of science and biotechnology in the Philippines? What is the outlook?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nAs I always say in the beginning of my biotechnology lectures, advances in science and technology are the gauge of how developed a country is. We are still considered under developed in every sense of the word. This is ironical since the Philippines has all the potentials of becoming a leader in biotechnology in South East Asia. We have immense natural resources and we were the first Asian country to develop our scientific and technological capacities way before the other ASEAN countries. Scientific leaders in leading state universities who were trained in developed countries like the US, Europe, and Japan, were already mentoring young minds, and laboratories have already been set-up in the mid 70\u2019s. Many scientific institutes were built in the UP campuses and budding scientists were hopeful to have an excellent working environment and compensation. But the Philippines was not able to nurture and provide for our scientists, there was a massive brain drain and all the early initiatives were put to waste. Until now, going abroad is still an attractive alternative if you want to pursue any career in science and technology. The Filipino scientist is intelligent, hard working, and can adapt to any culture. This is why we are very much sought after in foreign lands.<\/p>\n

The deprivation of the Filipino scientists should stop. It is only now that the government has allotted money for research and development for science and technology because we are lagging behind the other Asian nations. Billions of pesos have been given by the Arroyo government to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Univeristy of the Philippines system to double their efforts in resolving the food crisis. I hope it is still not too late.<\/p>\n

We need to rebuild our manpower capacity and research laboratories so that we can start anew and face the global challenges of poverty, hunger, dwindling land and water resources and global warming. There should be a realization from the top management that Filipino researchers need to be given more compensation so that they can think, conceptualize and put into action the necessary measures to solve the problems of the country. They also have families to support and children to send to school. Their creativity can be affected if there are other problems they need to contend with.<\/p>\n

I may not be in the government anymore but my heart and mind is still with the Filipino people. My involvement in biotechnology through the DA and DOST will still be there until they get tired of me.<\/p>\n

You have been with the Philippine Rice Research Institute for more than a decade before moving to ISAAA late last year. Why did you decide to move? What are the things that you can do now, which you cannot at PhilRice? And what are the things that you miss being part of PhilRice?<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\n. . . I left PhilRice with a heavy heart. I could have stayed but . . . I reckon that I can be more help if I am an outsider. I am now helping my PhilRice colleagues in getting contacts and collaborators abroad, in helping them direct research based on my exposures abroad, and in giving them insights on funding opportunities.<\/p>\n

I also need to stay with my family longer. I was alone at PhilRice for more than a year. I was joined by my husband later but we left our younger daughter all by herself in our big house. I constantly think of her safety and well-being. I was also thinking that since my two daughters have finished their university schooling, it is high time for me and my husband to re-bond with our daughters and be with them before they leave us for the next stage of their lives\u2026.getting higher education or getting married.<\/p>\n

Of course, I miss my friends, especially Nenet, Norvie, Evelyn, Tony, Ate Thel, Dindo and others, too many to mention. I also miss working with my younger colleagues Gina, Loida, Fely and my assistants Glenda, Rona, Marichelle, Em Em, and many more. I see them from time to time since I have to check on them every month as part of the contract I signed with the Director to be a consultant pro bono for a year. But I guess even if the year is over, I will still go there as part of my commitment to serve.<\/p>\n

My interest on research will never wane, but I will now be in the sidelight helping them in whatever way I could. My work at ISAAA complements what I intend to do since I am more exposed now to the current scientific trends.<\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Olah

Olah with Drs. Ingo Potrykus (left) and Peter Beyer at the University of Freiburg, Germany.<\/p><\/div>\n

Golden Rice is being hailed by scientists worldwide as one of the success stories using biotechnology. What is the involvement of ISAAA to disseminate this variety? What is your involvement? Can you give us the plusses and minuses why the Philippines should adopt this variety?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
[Note: The development of Golden rice technology was spearheaded by Dr. Ingo Potrykus of the Institute for Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich; the biotechnology breakthrough was published in the\u00a0journal Science in 2000<\/a>.]<\/h5>\n

Golden Rice will be an important supplement since it will provide the necessary vitamin A that is lacking in the diet of Filipinos living in rural areas where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is prevalent. Poor Filipinos can hardly afford to buy meat, fish and vegetables which are sources of vitamin A. Currently, 2 in every 10 pregnant and lactating women, and 4 in every 10 children 6 mos to 5 years old have VAD. It is important that people especially these susceptible ones be given vitamin A sources to nurture the growing fetus and the developing minds of the young children.<\/p>\n

My involvement in the Golden Rice project started when I did my postdoctoral studies at the University of Freiburg, Germany. I conducted three research projects on genetic transformation of rice for inulin, improved provitamin A content, and later on the initial experiments for vitamin E. Half-way through my first year as a postdoc, PhilRice was invited to collaborate with the University together with the other members to be a part of a rice consortium on protein, vitamin, mineral. Drs. Leocadio S. Sebastian (then Executive Drector of PhilRice), Rodante Tabien, Antonio Alfonso and I wrote a proposal, which was accepted and funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).\u00a0Three months before I went home, I conducted the initial experiments and they requested me to extend my postdoctoral stint for another 6 months. It was tough because I had to let my husband go home because the two girls have been on their own for two years already.<\/p>\n

When I got home to PhilRice, the experiments were in full swing, and I just have to reiterate to Dr. Alfonso the priorities and to start re-equipping the lab in preparation for the five year project. The genetic engineering part \u2013 my part will have started on the third year of the project, but I left PhilRice already in the beginning of the second year.<\/p>\n

Two local varieties are being improved to contain the genes for provitamin A content through the molecular marker-aided breeding. The Golden Rice is the donor parent and the two local varieties PSBRc82 and NSIC Rc 128 are the two recurrent parents. It is projected that they will be ready for release to the farmers by 2011. Another variety is being developed that contain the provitamin A genes, resistance to tungro and bacterial blight.<\/p>\n

I am still in close affiliation with the PhilRice project. In addition I belong to a committee funded by BMGF who are strategizing ways on how to introduce improved staple crops worldwide.<\/p>\n

ISAAA is not yet involved in the project but I am trying hard to get ISAAA into Gates . . . who knows.<\/p>\n

Can you describe your current job at ISAAA?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Olah

Olah (standing right) attending the ISAAA board meeting in India.<\/p><\/div>\n

ISAAA or the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications is a non-profit organization that networks in the developing countries around the world to enable them to harness the products of biotechnology. We have to conduct technology transfer strategies, information and education campaign, and capacity building in the technical and regulatory aspects.<\/p>\n

Currently, my work in ISAAA involves a lot of writing: proposals, reports, current biotech news for our weekly Crop Biotech Update, Pocket of Knowledge (biotechnology trends in layman format) and other biotechnology learning materials. I am also involved in organizing trainings and workshops for information dissemination, biotechnology capacity building, and coordinating the activities of the Biotechnology Information Centers (BICs) in five countries in South East Asia: Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. My trips abroad when I started in ISAAA were mainly to attend the board meeting (India), to attend and present a paper in the Annual Meeting of the BICs (Kuala Lumpur), to participate in the Annual Grand Challenge Meeting for Health by the BMGF (Kampala, Uganda) and to establish collaboration and present two papers in the Japan BioSummit (Tokyo and Sapporo).<\/p>\n

\"Olah

The DST '77 Batch. From left: Olah, Joy Camero-Espanto, Dix Bravo, and Mario Granados.<\/p><\/div>\n

Can you comment on the role, if any, of the UP Varrons on you as a scientist and as a person? <\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nI was recruited to the Varrons by no less than my high school classmate, roommate and very good friend Malou Torrizo-Santos (Repertory ’76). I was with a group of four: Marideth “Dix” Bravo, Jocelyn “Joy” Camero-Espanto and Mario Granados. It was in the Summer of 1977 and we were called the DST batch for the Daylight Savings Time which was introduced that summer across the country to save on electricity. I was a bit “elitista” then because I used to be \u201cInglesera\u201d – footprints of my status in high school. I remember that Pola and Tess always say something about how I dress and Len Amit always notice my lightly-made up eyes. I am still that way you know but I am wiser to use these to my own advantage\u2026.as a much-sought after lecturer on biotechnology.<\/p>\n

When I joined the organization, I was drawn by the brother\/sisterhood relationships among the members and the ideals of a humane life – which I very much adhere to because of my Christian upbringing. Everybody cares for each other and wants to help or be helped. I was feeling at home and very comfortable with everybody. Of course there were relationships that blossomed which we saw stood the test of time. I also had a short special relationship . . . I think some of you know that. I also had two crushes in the organization and my close friends know that. Anyway, I was usually the quiet, unassuming, cool, romantic lady who loves puppies, smiles and laughs a lot and sing, back when there was no karaoke yet, just a guitar for accompaniment.<\/p>\n

I was always filled with awe, wonder and adoration to the vrods and sis who dominated the discussions during meetings because they have just the right answers to every problem, even small ones . . . like how much should the Tudla be – – he he. I definitely have an adoration for vrods Aris, Jun, Philip, Buboy, Tancho, Jesse and sis Mayen, Pola, Tess, Azun, and all the alumni during my time who have shown me how it is to be a Varron then and now – – vrod Edwin Javier, Manang Cion, Ma\u2019am Nina Halos, Ma\u2019am Virgie Baraquio, sis Lina, sis Tess Lantin, sis Lina Barrion, and vrod Edmund.<\/p>\n

Being a Varron helped me be what I am today, a well-rounded person who knows my craft as a scientist, and who was nurtured to be a good leader by my idols and predecessors. I hope that I will not fall short of their expectations.<\/p>\n

On the lighter side, I had some memorable and funny experiences too as a Varron. I don\u2019t want to embarrass anybody, I just want to share with you some of my escapades.<\/p>\n