Gisela P. Concepcion, PhD

Filipino Woman
Scientist & Science Advocate

TEACHER, MENTOR, RESEARCHER

Growing Scientific Knowledge and Knowhow (Competencies and Skills) at
The Marine Science Institute of UP Diliman (UPMSI)

Building the UPMSI Marine Natural Products Laboratory (MNPL) presented here as
“8Ps” or 8 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

UP Professor Emeritus Gisela P. Padilla-Concepcion, PhD
(BS Chemistry, 1975; MS Biochemistry, 1982; PhD Chemistry, 1995)

WORK EXPERIENCE:

(1) TEACHER, MENTOR AND RESEARCHER AT THE MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE IN UP DILIMAN

Dr. Concepcion is a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. In 2019, she retired as Professor of The Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPMSI) where she taught graduate courses and led the Marine Natural Products Laboratory (MNPL) with research programs on marine biodiversity, natural products, drug discovery, and related biomedical research. Together with local and foreign collaborators, she discovered numerous new bioactive marine compounds with significant anti-cancer, anti-infective, anti-pain, and other neuroactive properties, several of which are being pursued as drug leads. She has produced numerous publications in international scientific literature and generated many patents, patent applications, and other intellectual property assets for UP. The MNPL Legacy Collection includes a well-curated biobank of >6000 microbial symbiont isolates accumulated through the years through various research programs.

Dr. Concepcion traces her scientific lineage to her mentors National Scientist Lourdes J. Cruz and Distinguished Professor of Biology Baldomero M. Olivera. She has likewise mentored dozens of young faculty and researchers, and BS, MS, and PhD students, throughout her academic career, and through her mentorship, the work at MNPL continues under the very able leadership of young research leaders who serve as her successors. She built the necessary laboratory infrastructure and capability at UPMSI and the Institute of Chemistry in UP Diliman required to perform advanced, cutting-edge experimentation in the chemical, biomolecular and neurochemical sciences.

Her academic degrees are: BS Chemistry, MS Biochemistry, and PhD Chemistry. She entered UP as an NSDB scholar during the most challenging times of pre-martial law and martial law (Student No. 71-01593). After graduating with a BS in Chemistry cum laude in UP Dililman, she became an Instructor at the Department of Chemistry in UP Los Baños and afterward in UP Diliman. After she completed her Masters in Biochemistry in UP Manila, she became an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, UP Manila. Then she moved with her mentor Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz to The Marine Science Institute in UP Diliman (UPMSI) as a REPS (University Associate 1). After completing a PhD in Chemistry in UP Diliman as Most Outstanding PhD Graduate, she became faculty in UPMSI where she rose to the rank of Professor 12. Dr. Concepcion lived her whole professional career in UP serving in its 3 largest constituent units where she gained valuable insights early on the major challenges and opportunities of UP faculty, researchers and students and the rest of the UP community.

(2) ACADEMICIAN OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NAST-PHL)

In 2008, Dr. Concepcion was elected Academician of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). The NAST citation reads: “Dr. Gisela Padilla-Concepcion is recognized for her significant contributions in the field of marine natural products. With students and co-workers, she led researches that: isolated, purified, identified and characterized marine natural products with anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-tuberculosis, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressant properties; developed innovative and inexpensive bioassay methods for platelet inhibition and other bioactivities; and developed targeted drug delivery systems for efficient and effective immunosuppression and anti-cancer treatment. Dr. Padilla- Concepcion has mentored graduate students and research associates and imbued them with the passion to pursue scientific research. She has demonstrated inspiring leadership in the campaign to promote and increase government support for Science and Technology in the country.”

Dr. Concepcion is a member of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) of NAST. She serves in various NAST committees such as the NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists Committee, NAST Transactions Publications Committee, and the Annual Scientific Meeting Finance Committee. She is involved in planning and conduct of the annual Regional Scientific Meetings; she co-hosted a webinar series on viral evolution, hosted discussions on climate change mitigation through coastal greenbelts of mangroves, and she has contributed to NAST position papers on COVID-19, Avian Flu and African Swine Fever.

(3) FELLOW OF THE WORLD ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (TWAS)

Dr. Concepcion was nominated by NAST-PHL for membership in The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and she was elected TWAS Fellow in 2015. She was accorded this recognition for her work on bioactive marine natural products. In her batch, she is the lone Fellow from the Philippines and one of only ten women who were selected.

(4) RECIPIENT OF LOCAL AND FOREIGN RESEARCH GRANTS

Through the years, Dr. Concepcion has been the recipient of many local and foreign research grants serving as program leader, associate program leader and project leader. These have resulted in numerous scientific publications and other output. The major research grants she received listed from most recent to earliest are: Philippine Mollusk Symbiont-International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (PMS-ICBG) from the US National Institutes of Health, TerraPharma (Moringa), PharmaSeas, AMOR from the DOST-PCHRD, National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group (NCDDG) subcontract from the US National Cancer Institute, and International Foundation for Science (IFS) grants from IFS, Sweden.

(5) RECIPIENT OF PRESTIGIOUS SCIENCE AND SCIENCE ADVOCACY AWARDS

Dr. Concepcion has received various prestigious awards in recognition of her scientific contributions to the field of bioactive marine natural products, and as a science advocate and administrator. The most recent awards are: PAASE Distinguished Service Award in 2022, DA Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Award in 2019, Scientist III, UP Scientific Productivity System Award in 2019, One UP Professorial Chair Award in 2017, and NAST-DOST Dioscoro Umali Outstanding Science Administrator Award in 2016.

ocean wave at beach
ocean wave at beach

PEOPLE

Scientific Suprastructure (S&T Human Capital Development

PRODUCTS

Biobank and Marine Natural Products

shallow focus photography of books
shallow focus photography of books
white printer paper close-up photography
white printer paper close-up photography

PUBLICATIONS & PUBLICITY

Research Articles and Feature Materials

PATENTS

Intellectual Property Assets

PLACES

Scientific Infrastructure and Laboratories

PARTNERSHIPS

Research Programs and Collaborations

a person holding a glass globe in their handa person holding a glass globe in their hand

POLICIES

DA BFAR Wildlife Act Compliance

PRESTIGE

Recognition and Awards

ACADEMIC AND R&D LEADER

AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OF THE UP SYSTEM in 2011-2017

Dr. Concepcion served as Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) of the University of the Philippines System from February 2011 to February 2017.

She formulated the UP Academic Framework which served as the academic and R&D blueprint of the university during the term of President Alfredo E. Pascual. Based on her extensive experience and deep expertise gained through the years as a teacher, mentor and researcher, she conceptualized an academic complex system scheme and identified 20 agents and processes in the system which served as points of interventions to move the UP system forward, identifying measurable outputs or key performance indicators or KPIs. The three mandates of UP, namely: education or teaching & learning, R&D and creative work (R&D & CW), and knowledge-based public service, are depicted as three closely intersecting circles with R&D & CW serving as the top priority mandate that infuses and enriches both UP education and public service with new knowledge generated in UP.

Further, Dr. Concepcion conceptualized, designed and created the OVPAA website as it exists today. The OVPAA website serves as the “GO TO” site of faculty, REPs, students and administrators, with information accessible to all UP Constituent Units (CUs) and other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), both private HEIs and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). It serves to disseminate information on UP’s three mandates. The OVPAA website provides information on its various programs including recognition, incentives and awards programs, announcements of calls for nominations, grant proposals, and timetables for submission of reports, and features outstanding academic publications and other output. It also serves as a repository of all academic and R&D information, i.e., as an archive of all OVPAA records. The OVPAA website is linked to the website of the eight OVPAA-affiliated offices.

President Pascual’s vision was to transform UP into a great, research-intensive university, and one “shaping minds that shape the nation”. Dr. Concepcion implemented the vision using an evidence-based, “knowledge-to-action” scheme that was coordinated, innovative and sensitive. She created a value chain of “push” effects, i.e., high level recruitment, training and support, “process or flow” monitoring of programs, and “pull” effects, i.e., attractive recognition, incentives and awards schemes, which would lead to a “saltatory” or great leap forward of academics and R&D in UP. First and foremost, she recognized that the faculty are the greatest treasure of the university - its heart and soul. She aimed to build UP’s Suprastructure (PhD-level expert faculty capable of leading R&D and producing publications) and to increase the number of PhD faculty from 30% to 50%. She championed Universitas thinking among them, which was her broadest interpretation of true academic freedom, even as she emphasized the need to uphold “KVCS” - that Knowledge and Knowhow (Competencies and Skills) must always be accompanied by the teaching of ethical Values.

Dr. Concepcion implemented programs and initiatives in very close coordination with 4 Assistant Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs (for Curriculum, Quality Assurance and General Education, for R&D, for Internationalization, and for Procurement), 1 Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs (AVPSA), the Executive Directors and Directors of 8 OVPAA-affiliated offices, namely: the Office of Admissions (OA), Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), Office of International Linkages (OIL), UP Press, Center for Integrative Development Studies (CIDS), Center for Women and Gender Studies (CWGS), Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), and several Project Development Assistants (PDAs), i.e., for the OVPAA website, EIDR, iAADS, etc. She would meet informally with whoever were available among the “OVPAA Family” every Wednesday without fail, and called it the “OVPAA Wednesday Habit”. As head of the Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) of the UP System, Dr. Concepcion expanded the AAC to include not only the Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs but also the Vice Chancellors for R&D of each CU.

The noteworthy OVPAA programs initiated by Dr. Concepcion, all approved by the BOR, with lasting impact on the U.P. community, are the following:

  1. Foreign-trained Balik PhD Faculty “Come Home to UP for Good” with a relocation package, a startup research grant and a research collaboration grant

  2. EIDR (Emerging Inter-Disciplinary Research) program managed by an EIDR Evaluation and Monitoring Committee (EEMC) composed of expert UP Professors Emeriti researchers.

  3. RDG (Research Dissemination Grants) for travel to international conferences

  4. Visiting Professor program, Scientist-in-Residence, Artist-in-Residence, Academic-in-Residence program

  5. WELS (World Expert Lecture Series) program

  6. Short-term Postdoctoral Fellowship program

  7. COOPERATE (MS thesis and PhD dissertation sandwich) program

  8. MOVE-UP (undergraduate study abroad) program

  9. Writeshops/publication writing workshops

  10. GIVE to UP (alumni donation) program

  11. One UP Professorial Chair award system

  12. Six Gawad Pangulo Competitions (Progressive Teaching & Learning, Chorale Group, UP Naming Mahal Video, On-Your Spot Art, Innovative Products with Functional Design Competitions and the Oxford-Oregon Student Debate)

  13. FRASDP (Faculty, REPS, Administrative Staff Development Program)

Dr. Concepcion and the OVPAA Team organized the following UP System-wide events:

  1. UP Academic Conference in 2014

  2. UP R&D Research Conference in 2015

  3. UP Knowledge Festival in 2016

  4. Annual OVPAA Symposium

The existing UP programs that were enhanced or improved by Dr. Concepcion in terms of criteria, evaluation process and incentives, are the following:

  1. Enhanced Creative Work and Research Grants

  2. Enhanced International Publication Awards

  3. Enhanced Arts Productivity System

  4. Enhanced Scientific Productivity System

  5. Improved Professor Emeritus Criteria, Nomination and Selection Process

Dr. Concepcion was responsible for the following documents:

  1. Shepherding UP’s Academic Development Program

  2. The UP Knowledge Paper: Knowledge-based Development and Governance, which was presented to the national Presidential Candidates and to President Duterte in 2016, was the brainchild of Dr. Concepcion.

  3. She prepared a UP Vision Paper as a UP Presidential Candidate in 2016.

Dr. Concepcion, through former UPOU Chancellor Grace Alfonso and Professor Eimin Tim Wu of ShuTe University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was responsible for bringing several groups of CU officials and faculty on visits to Kaohsiung to explore opportunities for MS and PhD studies of UP faculty, to increase the number of PhD faculty in UP from 30% to 50% and later to 70%. She inspired philanthropist and owner of Kindness Hotel in Kaohsiung, Engr. Picasso Chen about the need to build UP’s Suprastructure (PhD-level experts). Engr. Picasso Chen, who told her he had “a bleeding heart for suprastructure”, built the UP Guest House as an Annex to Kindness Hotel and was named “The Powerhouse of Suprastructure”.

Also through Dr. Alfonso, Dr. Concepcion co-hosted with UPD IESM Professor Dr. Benjamin Vallejo, the TV UP Science Innovations series of 6 interviews with UP experts on topics of important relevance to the country.

References:

Academic framework with 20 agents and processes identified as points of intervention: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/academic-framework/

OVPAA website: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph

OVPAA End-of-Term Report 2017: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/ovpaa-end-of-term-report/

Shepherding the Development of UP’s Suprastructure: Knowledge Creators and Implementers (UP’s Academic Career Development Plan) https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Shepherding-UP-Knowledge-Creators-and-Implementers-Sept-2016_rationale2.pdf

UP Guest House in Kindness Hotel, Kaohsiung: The Powerhouse of Suprastructure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt6-Hd7luGg

UP Knowledge Paper: Knowledge-based Development and Governance: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2.Summary-of-UP-Knowledge-Paper-Updated.16Mar2016.pdf https://cids.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ppj-18-university-of-the-philippines-2017.pdf

UP Presidential Candidate 2016 Vision Paper: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Concepcion-Gisela-Vision-UP-LEADS-IN-NATION-BUILDING-22-Sept-2016-1.pdf

TV UP Science Innovation series: https://tvup.ph/?s=Science+innovations

AS LEADER OF 2006 PAASE CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE COUNTRY LEADING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNDING ALLOCATION OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE COMPLEX AND TECHNO-INCUBATION FACILITIES IN UP DILIMAN (EXECUTIVE ORDER 583)

In 2006, Dr. Concepcion led the Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering (PAASE) in a campaign to increase government support for S&T which resulted in the funding allocation and construction of the P1.7 billion National Science Complex in UP Diliman, P200M for Masters and PhD scholarships and P400M for research projects (additional funds lodged at the DOST).

As the new emerging leader of PAASE at that time, having successfully organized the 2005 annual PAASE meeting in Cebu where aside from scientific talks, an extensive discussion on the country’s key challenges in S&T was held, Dr. Concepcion then proceeded to organize and mount a campaign for government to increase government support for S&T. She delivered a set of documents including a position paper entitled “The Role of S&T in Socio-Economic Development” co-authored by 6 PAASE members led by UP Economics Professor Ernesto M. Pernia and herself, to sixty government officials inc. Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA), and selected senators and congressmen. In August 2006, the campaign culminated in a meeting in Malacanang with PGMA arranged by her staunchest supporter of the PAASE campaign, Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte. PGMA approved the first P700M for the National Science Complex. In December 2006, Executive Order 583 was signed by PGMA “Establishing the National Science Complex and Techno-Incubation Facility in UP Diliman”. It was the single biggest investment in S&T infrastructure of the Philippine government as of that time. Responsible for the concept and rationale, construction and completion of the National Science Complex consisting of infrastructure for eleven science institutes was then College of Science Dean Caesar Saloma who subsequently became UP Diliman Chancellor.

A silver lining for S&T in RP
https://www.philstar.com/business/science-and-environment/2007/03/15/389605/silver-lining-sampt-rp

The National Science Complex: A strategic investment in higher education
https://www.philstar.com/business/science-and-environment/2009/04/23/459846/national-science-complex-strategic-investment-higher-education

The National Science Complex: Its vital role in Philippine higher education and scientific R&D
https://www.philstar.com/business/science-and-environment/2011/02/03/653461/national-science-complex-its-vital-role-philippine-higher-education-and-scientific-rd

The National Science Complex operates Techno Incubation Core Facilities to serve the research community
https://www.philstar.com/business/science-and-environment/2010/12/23/641501/national-science-complex-operates-technology-incubation-core-facilities-serve-research-community

PAASE’s Tribute to Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo:

SCIENCE ADVOCATE

Dr. Concepcion is a staunch, outspoken advocate of science and of S&T human capital development including STEM education, which are essential to drive STI (Science, Technology and Innovation)-based community and regional socio-economic development in the country.

AS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING (PAASE) IN 2011 AND THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN 2020-21

PAASE is the largest organization of PhD-level scientists and engineers and MDs of Philippine descent based in the Philippines, the United States and other countries. PAASE aims to promote the advancement of science, engineering & technology; encourage collaborative work among scientists & engineers of Philippine descent in research and development through scholarly and scientific endeavors; support efforts that advance science & technology; and recognize and honor the achievements of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent.

Following the success of the PAASE campaign in 2006, Dr. Concepcion took on more responsibilities in PAASE. As PAASE President in 2011-2012, also then as UP VPAA, she organized the annual PAASE scientific meeting in UP Diliman which was attended by many foreign-based PAASE members. Aside from scientific talks, business and government leaders were invited as plenary speakers, and focused group discussions were held on several topics such as research collaborations, project evaluation and funding, education and training.

As PAASE President in 2020-21, Dr. Concepcion co-authored a position paper entitled PAASE Recommendations on S&T Human Capital Development which was shared with government leaders in the executive (DOST, NEDA) and legislative (selected senators and congressmen) branches.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led in producing many PAASE advisory bulletins written by PAASE experts and addressed to relevant government agencies, on 4 major categories of actions: containment & mitigation, triage & treatment, mass screening & fast tracking, and education, capacity building, training & public dissemination.

Dr. Concepcion likewise redesigned the PAASE website to become the repository and GO TO site of all parties interested in PAASE events, projects and activities. The membership of PAASE grew to >500 members during her term and she organized PAASE into 15 Research Expertise Clusters or RECs. In the President’s Corner found in the PAASE website, she updated PAASE members regularly on the various projects of PAASE covered by 15 MOUs signed with partners, most notable are 4 MOUs signed with SUCs, LGUs, other NGOs, in the provinces of Bataan, Rizal, Leyte and Bukidnon to pursue priority S&T projects. PAASE signed 5 MOUs with 4 Southern Taiwanese universities and their umbrella organization Edu-Connect, to explore opportunities for MS and PhD studies of SUC faculty in the regions. Also, PAASE Foundation Philippines, Inc. (PFPI), a PAASE subsidiary, signed an MOU with DOST and was approved as a DOST-certified foundation.

In April and May 2023, together with current PAASE President Mario Sto. Domingo and Vice President Gladys Completo, Dr. Concepcion will be accompanying officials and faculty of 4 SUCs on a visit to universities in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan (ST) (PAASE signed MOUs with 4 SUCs and with ST universities), to explore MS and PhD study opportunities for SUC faculty and researchers.

References:

PAASE website:

https://paase.org


PAASE Recommendations on S&T Human Capital Development:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VtULUovNTk0zx81ZnwIV9aYO3_DciFzL/view


PAASE COVID-19 Bulletins and PDI article on Ivermectin:

https://www.paase.org/downloads

https://opinion.inquirer.net/139497/ivermectin-whats-the-score


PAASE President’s Corner and MOUs:

https://www.paase.org/presidents-corner

https://paase.org/collaboration-and-linkages

AS EDITOR OF THE PHILIPPINE STAR’S WEEKLY COLUMN STAR SCIENCE FROM 2004 TO 2014

Dr. Concepcion always had a mission to improve scientific literacy in the country. With assistance from UPD CAL Professor Jose “Butch” Dalisay and MSI Professor Edgardo D. Gomez, The Philippine Star in 2004 agreed to feature a weekly Thursday column titled STAR SCIENCE with Dr. Concepcion as editor and columnist. Dr. Concepcion solicited articles for STAR SCIENCE from her colleagues in PAASE, UP, other academic institutions and organizations. She never missed sending an article to the PhilStar science editor Mr. Tony Pano. STAR SCIENCE was terminated when Mr. Pano passed away in 2014. However, many STAR SCIENCE articles are available in PhilStar archives online and the complete set of articles has been published by the UP Press in 5 volumes. The first book entitled Essays on Science and Technology for Securing a Better Philippines, was followed by 4 volumes entitled SCIENCE PHILIPPINES, Volumes 1-4.

References:
Some STAR SCIENCE articles written by Dr. Concepcion:
https://www.philstar.com/authors/1754948/star-science-by-gisela-padilla-concepcion,-phd https://www.philstar.com/authors/1339989/gisela-padilla-concepcion-phd

UP Press books SCIENCE PHILIPPINES Volumes 1-4 of STAR SCIENCE articles:
https://press.up.edu.ph

AS FOUNDER AND CO-EDITOR OF THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SCIENGGJ (FORMERLY PHILIPPINE SCIENCE LETTERS), THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING (PAASE)

Dr. Concepcion is the founder and co-editor of the ISI/Clarivate- and SCOPUS-listed online journal SciEnggJ, formerly named Philippine Science Letters. SciEnggJ is the Official Journal of PAASE. It is powered by Clarivate’s ScholarOne manuscript submission and management system. SciEnggJ was conceptualized as a training journal where young researchers including Masters and PhD students can publish their first papers together with their mentors, i.e, PAASE members, UP and other faculty. The journal publishes original research articles, invited reviews, mini-reviews titled Perspectives and Prospectives, commentaries, position papers and PopSci or popular science articles to take the place of the defunct STAR SCIENCE column. SciEnggJ also publishes Special Issues consisting of 8-12 articles on a theme, i.e., on macroalgae, microbiology, biomedical and public health. SciEnggJ is an international, peer-reviewed journal with an international Board of Editors and expert reviewers selected from the PAASE roster of scientists and engineers.

References:
SciEnggJ:
https://scienggj.org/

Special Issue on Microbiology:
https://scienggj.org/special-issue/

SciEnggJ Review Article on 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing:
https://scienggj.org/2022/SciEnggJ%202022-vol15-no02-p128-144-Gache%20et%20al.pdf

SciEnggJ PopSci article on VUCA and CHEM
https://scienggj.org/2022/SciEnggJ%202022-PopSci-50.pdf

SciEnggJ Commentary on PAASE keen to accelerate Philippine development:
https://scienggj.org/2022/SciEnggJ%202022-vol15-no02-p179-180-Pernia.pdf

SOCIO-CIVIC LEADER

Dr. Concepcion is dedicated to uplifting the lives of Filipino women and children through the alleviation of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, and through edukasyon.

She is serving as President of the Zonta Club of Manila Foundation Inc. (ZCMFI) or Zonta Manila 1 for Biennium 2022-24. ZCMFI is the oldest Zonta Club in Asia and is celebrating its 70th anniversary in September 2023. Zonta Foundation For Women (ZFW)’s advocacies are focused on the protection of women against violence and the education and empowerment of women. ZFW’s tagline is “build a better place for women and girls”.

Ongoing projects of Zonta Manila 1 led by Dr. Concepcion are the Zonta Tondo Center Kiddie Classes, Raja Soliman S&T High School Binondo and Don Honorio Ventura S&T State University (DHVSU) scholarships, Biofertilizers for Ahon Sa Hirap Inc. (ASHI) Nanay Farmers, Young Mothers Food and Future scholarships with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED).

Projects of Cluster 3 Zonta Clubs (Manila 1, Manila 2 and Baliuag), belonging to Area 1 of District 17 of Zonta Foundation for Women (ZFW) are the following: providing seeds for mangroves and beach forest trees to grow coastal greenbelts as shelters from the storm, participation in Salute to a Clean Flag ceremony in Rizal Park in March - National Women’s Month - to foster patriotism and citizenship, and helping eradicate Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) through training of more anti-VAWC medical and legal staff in the Philippines.

Dr. Concepcion is bringing her broad knowledge, contacts and linkages in science and education to impact on various Zonta projects. Examples are the introduction of VISSER Science Instrumentation developed by Dr. Ganni Tapang at UPD National Institute of Physics based on the technology provided by PAASE member Dr. Romel Gomez of the University of Maryland to the Rajah Soliman S&T high school teachers and students, biofertilizer Mykovam developed by Dr. Nelly Aggangan at UPLB BIOTECH for use by ASHI Nanay farmers, mangrove and beach forest seed distribution and planting to be directed by the country’s coastal greenbelt expert NAST Academician Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, and medical training of anti-VAWC medical staff by trauma and emergency medicine expert, Dr. Pauline Convocar.

References:
Interview of Dr. Concepcion in DZRH KAYA MO YAN:
https://youtu.be/s4lD-DNVuME

Zonta Club of Manila Foundation Inc. website:
https://sites.google.com/u/0/d/1fODGi1KE4_dEMuXcFuJGv-owu89fPTHm/preview?pli=1&authuser=0

Salute to a Clean Flag:
https://youtu.be/AU8dF9gl5DA

Tondo Kiddie Class:
https://youtu.be/bhamsVAUlP8

Shelter from the Storm:

https://youtu.be/6K65aI3XIf8