Dulce D. Elazegui
- Details
Sex: Female
Field of Specialization:
Water governance,
Food and agriculture policy,
Climate change adaptation,
Science and technology
Researches:
Article title: Revitalizing Philippine Irrigation: A Systems and Governance Assessment for the 21st Century
Authors: Briones, Roehlano M.
Publication title: Revitalizing Philippine Irrigation: A Systems and Governance Assessment for the 21st Century, 2021
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/25k8f27j
Article title: Communal Irrigation Systems
Authors: Roger A. Luyun Jr. and Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Revitalizing Philippine Irrigation: A Systems and Governance Assessment for the 21st Century (pp.69-96), January 2021
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/4axce2cz
Article title: Issues on communal irrigation systems in the Philippines
Authors: Roger A. Luyun Jr. and Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Philippine Institute for Development Studies: Policy Notes 7, 2019
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/5325hnv4
Article title: Opportunities and Challenges in Socially Inclusive Innovation: The Case of Genetically Modified Corn in the Philippines
Authors: Linda M. Peñalba and Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Biotechnology (pp.1541-1555), January 2019
Article title: Impact of the closed fishing season policy for sardines in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines
Authors: Agnes C. Rola, Teresita A. Narvaez, Maria Rio A. Naguit, Dulce D. Elazegui, Bing Baltazar C. Brillo, Merlyne M. Paunlagui, Hadji C. Jalotjot, Catherine P. Cervantes
Publication title: Marine Policy 87:40-50, 2018
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Policy and Institutional Challenges in Climate Information Services Provisioning in Philippine Agriculture
Authors: Dulce D. Elazegui, Agnes C. Rola, Roger A. Luyun, Jr., Nico Jayson C. Anastacio, Francis John F. Faderogao, and Maria Cristina A. Alvarez
Publication title: Journal of Public Affairs and Development 4:51-79, 2017
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/2v46kyds
Article title: Enhancing institutional dynamics for multiple uses of water amidst climate-related risks: The case of Lake Buhi, Philippines
Authors: Dulce D. Elazegui, Agnes C. Rola, Erica Allis
Publication title: Lakes & Reservoirs Research & Management 21(3):224-234, September 2016
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Assessing the formulation and implementation of the closed fishing season policy for sardines in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines
Authors: Bing Baltazar C. Brillo, Dulce Elazegui, Catherine Cervantes, Agnes Rola
Publication title: Philippine Journal of Science 145(4):395-404, 2016
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/4y5eva3t
Article title: The Role of Agricultural Public Extension in a Private-Led Technological Innovation
Authors: Rowena dela Torre Baconguis , Linda M. Peñalba , Dulce D. Elazegui ,
and Elvira E. Dumayas
Publication title: Developing Country Perspectives on Public Service Delivery, Chapter 14, 2015
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/ynyyb7vw
Article title: Opportunities and Challenges in Socially Inclusive Innovation: The Case of Genetically Modified Corn in the Philippines
Authors: Linda M. Peñalba, Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Quality Innovation: Knowledge, Theory, and Practices, 2014
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Social and institutional dimensions of climate change adaptation
Authors: Linda M. Peñalba, Dulce D. Elazegui, Juan M. Pulhin, Rex Victor O. Cruz
Publication title: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 4(3):308-322, July 2012
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Seed System, Production and Marketing of Eggplant in Three Major Producing Provinces in the Philippines
Authors: Agnes R. Chupungco, Dulce D. Elazegui, and Miriam R. Nguyen
Publication title: Crop Protection Newsletter 36(2):37-47
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Innovations in Seed Systems for Potential Biotechnology Products: The Case of Genetically Modified Papaya in the Philippines
Authors: Agnes C. Rola, Dulce D. Elazegui, Miriam R. Nguyen, Pablito M. Magdalita, Elvira E. Dumayas, Agnes R. Chupungco
Publication title: Crop Protection Newsletter 35(1):80-91, April 2010
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Consequences of Bt Cotton Technology Importation
Authors: Miriam Nguyen, Dulce Elazegu, Rogelio Tagarino, Agnes Rola
Publication title: Philippine Agricultural Scientist 93(1):9-21, March 2010
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Dr. Ma. Daisy Pedroso-Tabuena
- Details
Sex: Female
Education:
- Electromyography and Dystonia, University of Tokushima, 2004
- Post-Graduate Fellowship Training in Electromyography, University of Tokushima, 2003
- Fellowship in Neurology, University of the East - Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital, 1999
- Residency, West Visayas State University Hospital, 1995
- Doctor of Medicine, West Visayas State University, 1991
- Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of San Agustin, 1987
Field of Specialization
Internal Medicine
Adult Neurologist
Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies
Dr. Aimee Yvonne Criselle L. Aman
- Details
Sex: Female
Education:
- Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology, University of the Philippines Manila, 2014 - present
- Doctor of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, 2012
- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, University of the Philippines Manila, 2006
Field of Specialization:
Clinical Epidemiology
Internal Medicine
Omic Technologies for Health
Genetics
Healing in 3D: How Innovation and Compassion Are Rebuilding Lives
- Details
A Childhood Dream Reimagined
For Dr. Maria Monique Theresita Soliven, becoming a doctor was more than just a goal—it was a childhood promise to herself. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ateneo de Manila University in 2010, followed by a Doctor of Medicine in 2015 and a Master’s in Public Health in 2016, both from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Initially set to pursue general surgery, her experiences during internship—especially witnessing residents catching naps in their cars—led her to reassess the path she wanted to take.
The turning point came during an ENT-HNS (Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery) rotation, where she observed a cleft lip surgery. The visual and emotional impact of the procedure, with its immediate transformation of a patient’s quality of life, made a lasting impression. “There are so many directions you can take with ENT-HNS,” she shares. “That versatility drew me in.”
When Art Meets Innovation
Dr. Soliven met Dr. Rentor Y. Cafino during her residency, and their collaboration began in 2018 over a shared passion for innovation and a casual experiment: a ₱13,000 3D printer initially used to print a toy and skull-shaped pen holder. That skull model, painted by Dr. Soliven—a longtime enthusiast of both traditional and digital art—symbolized something greater: the potential for personalized, life-changing medical solutions.
From that moment of creative play, a mission was born. Together, they established the Zamboanga City Medical Center ENT-HNS Medical Makerspace, where they began using 3D-printed models for surgical planning and patient education. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated their efforts, as they pivoted to producing face shields and PPEs amid global shortages. From modest beginnings, the lab grew into a space of groundbreaking possibility.
Partnering to Bring Ideas to Life
One of their transformative collaborators is Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr. from Mindanao State University (MSU), whose team had long been exploring 3D printing applications. For years, their research remained theoretical—lacking clinical execution. That changed when they partnered with Dr. Soliven and Dr. Cafino, who were uniquely positioned as both practicing surgeons and researchers.
“We had the patients. We had clinical insight. They had the technical expertise,” Dr. Soliven explains. This collaboration allowed long-shelved ideas to be implemented and tested, giving rise to 3D-printed implants that are now changing the lives of Filipinos.
Transforming Patient Outcomes
The impact of these implants is more than technological—it’s deeply human. For patients in a public hospital setting, many of whom face significant barriers to care, having access to custom 3D-printed PEEK implants can mean the difference between chronic suffering and recovery.
To date, the team has collaborated with surgeons from various training hospitals who provided clinical expertise and have supported the project for potentially implanting custom-designed PEEK devices in actual patients. Surgical time could be reduced by up to 50%, leading to shorter exposure to anesthesia, lower operating room costs, and greater efficiency. “When you lessen surgical time, it’s not just about speed,” Dr. Soliven emphasizes. “It’s about making things safer—for both the patient and the surgical team.”
What’s more, these implants are designed to fit precisely, eliminating intraoperative guesswork and instilling greater confidence in the team. “There’s no wasted time. Everyone moves with certainty,” she adds.
Change Begins Within
For Dr. Soliven, these innovations have changed her as much as her patients. Working with the lab has deepened her sense of purpose as a physician, mentor, and problem-solver. “Seeing a patient walk out of the hospital with a part of their body we helped restore—it’s a kind of fulfillment that stays with you,” she says.
But the transformation is also professional. Once hesitant to navigate administrative hurdles, Dr. Soliven now leads the makerspace while Dr. Cafino is pursuing surgical fellowship. She has learned to handle procurement, coordinate with funding agencies, and rally a self-sufficient team—skills that weren’t taught in medical school but became essential to keeping the mission alive.
Behind the Breakthroughs
While Dr. Cafino is the project’s "idea man," constantly imagining what’s next, Dr. Soliven manages day-to-day operations. Their team at the makerspace functions like a well-oiled machine. “I don’t need to micromanage,” she says proudly. “I’m grateful for that.”
Still, the road hasn’t been easy. Skeptics questioned the need for such technology, and institutional resistance—fueled by bureaucracy, red tape, and politics—often made progress difficult. “You have to defend your idea tooth and nail,” she recalls. “But DOST-PCHRD took a chance on us and believed we were worth funding. That made all the difference.”
Many researchers, she notes, are discouraged by the complexity of government systems or by the resistance of peers with differing mindsets. “You just learn on the fly. You do your research. You build your network. And you don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Moving Toward Acceptance
Despite its measurable success, full integration of the technology remains a work in progress. Some departments and units have embraced the lab’s offerings, but many senior surgeons remain cautious, preferring traditional methods. “The technology gap is still a barrier,” Dr. Soliven admits. “We have more work to do to educate and build trust.”
Still, the momentum is growing. The lab’s accomplishments are increasingly featured in hospital annual reports, earning the attention of both the local medical community and national agencies. Every request they receive—every patient served—is a step closer to widespread acceptance.
A Life in Balance
Outside the hospital, Dr. Soliven carves out time to recharge. She listens to music, watches sitcoms, and dabbles in art and design. She even enjoys making PowerPoint presentations and video editing—creative outlets that feed into her professional life. “It helps me stay grounded,” she says.
A Message to the Future
To aspiring scientists and innovators, Dr. Soliven offers simple but powerful advice: “Be curious. Be determined. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
For her, the beauty of science lies in its ability to connect, uplift, and transform—not just the lives of patients, but also those who dedicate themselves to the work.
“Science is a fulfilling field,” she reflects. “Because you can truly change people’s lives. And sometimes, it even changes yours.”