BEATING 22 other exhibitors from the country’s top public and private research and educational institutions--including the University of the Philippines Diliman, De La Salle University Manila, and Mapua Institute of Technology-- Mariano Marcos State University received the ‘Best of Show’ award during the First Technology Partnering Forum 2010 held Feb. 22-24 at the Philippine Trade Training Center, Pasay City. The event marked Technology Resource Center’s (TRC) 33rd anniversary.

The university was recognized for exhibiting five technology-based products that have strong potential to emerge from pre-commercialization stage into viable business ventures. These were: the sweet sorghum food products developed by Dr. Heraldo L. Layaoen, Engr. Samuel S. Franco, Vina May R. Cabugon, Rosemarie G. Ramos, Ana Fe C. Llaguno, Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco, Maingeline R. Bacarisa, and Shirly Tapon; and the heat-pump dried porphyra or gamet of Dr. Zenaida M. Agngarayngay, Ana Fe Llaguno, Evangeline Galacgac, Loreto Antonio Santos, Lorcelie Taclan, and Susan Aquino.

Also presented were products developed by CBEA students: Mikiloco: Ilocos Instant Miki of Kristine Angelie Allado, Analiza Autriz, Reena Gillaine Barot, Roosevelt Caday, Kristine Elemel Cocson, Angeline Dipit, Danna Mae Katrina Palada, and Zoren JohnMar Singson; and All-ready Tupig Mix (ATM) of Rafael Sandino Guerrero, Paula Michelle Viloria, Daryl Lapdis, Karmela Rose Macatbag, Maridi Baribar, Jonathan Siruet, Ives Jason Sotelo, Divina Domingo, Alejandro Martinez, and Princess Rhoda Reyes.

The dragon fruit food products of Edita A. Dacuycuy, a partner farmer-scientist of MMSU assisted by the Extension Directorate and the Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium through its Techno-Gabay Program was, likewise, exhibited.

During the awarding ceremony, a cash award of PhP30,000 and a trophy was received by the MMSU contingent headed by Dr. Agngarayngay, together with Llaguno, Dacuycuy, Elreneo Castro of CBEA, and two student exhibitors, Guerrero and Macatbag.

The exhibits were judged based on the following criteria: wideness in scope and applicability – 25%; sustainability – 25%; ease of adoption–25%; and overall presentation–25%.

DOST Undersecretary Fortunato T. dela Peña; top Filipino industrialist Cecilio K. Pedro (president of Lamoiyan Corp.), and productivity and management consultant Antonio M. Lucindo (president of Performance Solutions Advocates Inc.), served as members of the board of judges.

Other exhibitors were: Cavite State University, Pampanga Agricultural College, Rizal Technological University, Western Visayas State University, Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD), Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD), Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Post Havest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHMech).

Coordinated by the R&D Directorate, MMSU’s participation in the TechForum is a way of promoting the university’s outputs in its S&T endeavors. In May 2009, MMSU forged a memorandum of agreement with TRC for the promotion and commercialization of technologies generated by the university.