New NU alumni inspire new and ongoing students at 2019 NU Entrance Ceremony

Fresh from a three-year doctoral program under the Nagoya University Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries, Dr. Ronilo O. De Castro and Dr. Dennis M. Gilbero were full of enthusiasm when they shared their research outputs and experiences during the 2019 Entrance Ceremony of Nagoya University held on 22 October 2019 at the auditorium of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) based in Los Baños, Laguna.

   
           Dr. Ronilo O. De Castro                               Dr. Dennis M. Gilbero

Dr. De Castro presented a summary of his dissertation research project titled, “Study on novel feeding systems using coconut co-products in swine in the Philippines.” The study was premised on the need for alternative feed for pigs considering the prevailing problem on increasing feed cost in the Philippines and the fact that the Philippines is the top producer or coconut and coconut co-products that are used as feed for pigs. Thus, there was the need to determine the nutritive value of coconut co-products and develop novel tools to effectively utilize them as alternative ingredient in feeds for swine to increase production efficiency and reduce feed cost. Dr. De Castro, under the supervision of Prof. Satoshi Ohkura of the Nagoya University Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences (GSBS), and Prof. Rommel Sulabo of the UPLB Institute of Animal Science, established the dietary supply of nutrients in copra co-products and developed prediction models. The study concluded that the application of prediction models as novel feeding system to maximize the utilization of the coconut co-products will help animal nutritionists formulate accurate and balanced feed for pigs, thus increasing efficiency of swine production.

Dr. De Castro shared that undergoing PhD by Research in Nagoya University under the transnational program was not an easy task. He has to make sacrifices such as, among others, missing Christmas and New Year’s eve celebrations with his family and spending these holidays with his pigs at the farm and doing experiments at the laboratory, doubling his time between work, study, and doing official functions to represent his agency in seminars and conferences, thus missing important family gatherings on weekends. He said that he was very thankful to his family and academic supervisors who were very supportive during those trying times. He encouraged the new and ongoing scholars of NU to focus and just keep moving forward, mindful of the timetable and study plan and faithfully following the advice of mentors. Dr. De Castro is a Science Research Specialist II of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).



Meanwhile, Dr. Gilbero presented a summary of his research work as a doctoral student of GSBS under the supervision of Prof. Hiroyuki Yamamoto of the GSBS Department of Forest and Environmental Resources Sciences, and Prof. Willie P. Abasolo, local supervisor and Dean of the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources. His dissertation research is titled, “Growth Stress and Wood Property Assessment of Different Provenances of Big-Leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) Landrace in the Philippines.” His research was premised on the prevailing problem in the locally produced lumber in the Philippines which is its distorted form after milling that decreases the targeted volume of finished products, thus affecting the wood industry and livelihood of the people.



The study examined the 1) growth stresses and wood properties of different provenances of BL mahogany landrace in two trial sties; 2) the radial distribution of growth stress and xylem maturation properties of BL mahogany; and 3) effect of girdling and water heated treatment on the growth stress reduction and wood properties of BL mahogany.

Dr. Gilbero shared that when he started his program at NU, he found that undergoing PhD by Researh is not difficult but “very difficult.” Despite the pressures, he said he is lucky to have the full support of his family, his institution, and his academic adviser and co-adviser. He encouraged all new and ongoing students to always connect and keep communicating with their advisers from the start to the finish line. Dr. Gilbero is Science Research Specialist of the Environmental Research and Development Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources based in Butuan City, Mindanao. (contributed by E.Cedicol).