Palace fetes 2 winning Pinoy savants

President Arroyo feted yesterday two Filipino scientists who bagged awards at the Seoul International Fair 2002 in South Korea – one of whom won in the fair competitions for the feminine hygiene products he invented.

The President gave financial awards to Dr. Virgilio Malang and Ronaldo de la Cruz, who were presented to the Chief Executive by Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro.

Mrs. Arroyo was beaming as she entered the Ceremonial Hall, patently proud of the two Filipino scientists who bested other inventors at the fair "billed as an intellectual battleground for 385 inventions from 30 countries."

Malang bagged a gold medal for his invention called "Psidium Guajava Effervescing Gynecological Insert;" a silver for his "Patient Side-Turning Hospital Bed;" and three bonze medals for his inventions of an "external vaginal cleanser," "light refracting earpick" and "broom’s way of hanging."

Besides the prestige he earned for himself and his country, Malang received a P1-million check from the President’s Social Fund and a photo opportunity with Mrs. Arroyo amid his inventions for posterity’s sake.

De la Cruz, meanwhile, received a check for P500,000 from the President for winning a gold medal in the fair competitions for his "Cashew Nuts Extract in the Removal of Warts, Moles and Other Skin Growths — a Future Filipino Herbal Monopoly Like Ginseng." — Marichu Villanueva