Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña urged Wednesday, March 10, the country’s scientists, researchers, and artists to continuously work together and “make this world a little better”, especially during this time of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
He made the call during the National Research Council of the Philippines’ Annual Scientific Conference and 88th General Membership Assembly with a theme “Pagbangon at Pananaig: National Recovery and Rebuilding” held on Wednesday, March 10.
"Our gathering here today constantly reminds me of our collective passion, commitment, and desire to make this world a little better than it was when we got here. I always see this annual event as an opportunity to look at how we, in the scientific and artistic community, continue to evolve, adapt, and rise up to the challenges of the fast-changing world we live in,” he told the participants of the conference and the assembly.
"If there’s anything in today’s modern world that I believe has been helpful in enabling us to bounce back from adversities, is our opportunity to overcome borders, transcend boundaries, gather ourselves towards a collective cause and believe that we are not alone in our struggles. This, I believe, is crucial in our road to recovery.”
De la Peña, who served as NRCP president from 2002 to 2007, cited the Council members’ “resilience and grit” to survive the challenges posed by the pandemic.
"Our world may have grinded into a halt, but our inquisitive and creative minds did not stop thinking of the why’s and how’s of things that happened, things that are happening, and things that may happen. There’s probably nothing that can stop an inquisitive and creative mind from making sense of what’s going on around it, no matter how bad or good it may be. Indeed, in as much as the mind is vulnerable to distress, it is just as a powerful in propelling us to overcoming adversities.”
The 71-year old DOST chief said the pandemic may be different in form or type than the other adversities the country already survived and triumphed over, "but I believe that it takes the same inquisitive and creative mind, grit, commitment, and concern for others that can help us prevail over this no matter how impossible it seems at times.”
"As the head of the DOST, I have also seen first-hand how a lot of you, our dear researchers, scientist, artists, innovators, and educators also prevailed over adversities brought on by this pandemic. From your respective project implementation, to the conduct of your classes in the academe just to continue feeding the minds of your dear students, I’ve seen how we, when subjected to extreme pressure and adverse conditions can behave like carbon that turns into diamond,” he said.
"I wish I can say that the pandemic will be over soon, but regardless of how long it goes, I have every reason to believe that we will get through this,” de la Pena added.