6 Filipino scientists among Asia’s top 100 researchers in 2026
MANILA, Philippines — Six Filipino scientists and innovators have been included in Asia Scientist Magazine’s Asia Scientist 100 list for 2026, which recognizes outstanding researchers, academicians, innovators, and business leaders across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Asia Scientist 100 list, now in its eighth edition, was launched in 2016 to honor individuals who received national or international awards in the previous year for their research, made significant scientific discoveries, or demonstrated leadership in academia or industry.
Among those recognized this year were University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) researchers Romulo Davide and Marcela Navasero, University of the Philippines Diliman scientists Mary Donnabelle Balela and Aurelio De Los Reyes V, Central Luzon State University researcher Garry Benico, and University of the Philippines Mindanao scientist May Anne Mata.
Davide, who was named the Philippines’ 44th National Scientist in 2024, is known for his pioneering work in plant pathology and nematology, particularly his research on plant-parasitic nematodes.
Known as the “Father of Philippine Nematology,” Davide also established the Farmer-Scientist Training Program, which has helped train about 70,000 Filipino farmers nationwide.
Navasero, a recipient of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, was recognized for her leadership in natural pest control and agricultural biosecurity.
Asia Scientist cited her contributions to “strengthening long-term, cost-effective pest management systems that safeguard national food security” through her work with the National Crop Protection Center’s Quick Response Team.
Balela was honored for developing modular Kapok booms for marine oil spills, earning the Outstanding Research and Development Award during the 2024 Department of Science and Technology National Science and Technology Week.
Her innovation uses biodegradable and locally sourced Kapok fibers to create reusable oil sorbents capable of absorbing several times their weight in oil, providing a sustainable solution for oil spill response and marine environmental protection.
De Los Reyes, meanwhile, received the 2024 National Science and Technology Week Outstanding Research and Development Award for his mathematical modeling of optimal contraception dosing strategies aimed at improving reproductive health.
He was also named the 2025 National Research Council of the Philippines Achievement Awardee for Mathematical Sciences.
Benico, an expert in aquatic biosciences, was recognized as a 2025 Outstanding Young Scientist by the National Academy of Science and Technology for his research on the taxonomy and diversity of harmful microalgae in the Philippines.
He is involved in efforts to strengthen the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ red tide monitoring capabilities and serves as a reviewer for several international journals.
Mata also received the 2025 Outstanding Young Scientist award from the National Academy of Science and Technology for her research in infectious disease modeling and analysis, applied mathematics, mathematical biology, and operations research.
The 2026 Asia Scientist 100 list likewise includes Nobel Prize laureates Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University and Shimon Sakaguchi of the University of Osaka. /dm
