"Outrun the Boss" event raises funds for IFSA scholarships and projects

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The IRRI Filipino Scientists Association Inc. (IFSA) hosted a Fun Run event on 24 June. Proceeds went to the IFSA Scholarship and General Welfare Fund. 

To add more excitement and generate more funds, this year’s theme was Outrun the Boss. Globally recruited staff were invited to participate in the race and to serve as sponsors for Bosses to Beat. Ten bosses, including Director General Matthew Morell and scientists David Johnson and George Kotch, joined the 5-km category while three bosses participated in the 3-km category.  

Each boss donated Php100.00 to the scholarship fund for every IRRI staff member who crossed the finish line ahead of him/her. Around 90 runners, both IFSAn and non-IFSAn, participated in the event, with 30 finishing ahead of the bosses. The “outrunners” earned bragging rights and mugs bearing I Beat the Boss signed by the sponsors. 

"We hope that the proceeds from the Fun Run will be enough to support at least a year's allowance for scholars under the IFSA Scholarship Fund," said Maria Ymber Reveche, a geneticist at IRRI and IFSA member.

The IFSA Scholarship has provided grants for the children of IRRI staff since 1974. The IFSA General Welfare Fund will be used to finance upcoming projects for its year-long 50th Anniversary celebration.

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The man they called Tom C (1956-2015)

 Tom Clemeno, fondly called Tom C, has served IRRI for more than 34 years.

Tom Clemeno, agriculturist and former manager (1998-2010) of the Experiment Station (ES) of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), passed away at age 59 on 27 October 2015.

Tom served at IRRI for more than 34 years in different capacities starting as a research aide in 1984. He worked his way up to senior manager of ES, where he served for almost twelve years. Finally, he served as senior consultant at the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division in late 2013. 

              

Known as a man with a big heart, Tom supported various projects and was very active in employees' welfare. He led former IRRI employees’ associations, and groups such as the IRRI Filipino Scientists Association (IFSA) and the Society of IRRI Non-research Professionals (SINOP).

Tom, during the last days of his life, wrote a 14-page memoir The man they call Mr. Tom C, which was shared with family and friends during a funeral service held in his honor on 29 October 2015. He is survived by his wife Jovita, children Joanne Christianne, Timothy John, and Tom Justin, daughter-in-law May Lanuang, and granddaughter Louise Ysabelle. Tom's body was laid to rest on 30 October at Heaven’s Garden, Los Baños, Laguna.

Tom was considered a fine leader and a dear friend to many in the institute, and will be greatly missed. Friends and former colleagues who would like to extend help and contribute financially to Tom’s family may do so through IRRI’s sectoral organizations. 

                              "It's been all rice through my life (until today)." -Tom Clemeno

in a memoir titled The man they call Mr. Tom C.

 Full memoir, shared with permission from the Clemeno family.

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IRRI Filipino scientists' group meets with new communications and partnerships head

The leaders of the IRRI Filipino Scientists Association, Inc. (IFSA) met with V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI's new deputy director general for communications and partnerships, on 17 July 2012 to formally introduce the organization and its goals.

The members of IFSA's board of directors who met with Dr. Tolentino were led by Dennis Tuyogon, IFSA president. They were delighted to hear positive feedback from Dr. Tolentino, but were also keen on learning more ways in which they could continue to help Filipino scientists through the DDG-CP, such as improving the working environment and career path of IFSA members.

The meeting is one of several regular meetings in which IFSA, representing IRRI's nationally recruited research employees, dialogues with the DDGs about the group's role in fulfilling IRRI’s goals and issues affecting Filipino scientists at IRRI.